23 Best Things to Do in Marrakech (2026 Guide)

The best things to do in Marrakech, in short: watch the evening show at Jemaa el-Fnaa, get lost in the souks, see the carved courtyard of Ben Youssef Madrasa, the painted ceilings of Bahia Palace and the cobalt-blue Jardin Majorelle, then end the day in a hammam or on a rooftop at sunset. Most of the top sights are in the walkable medina and cost 50–150 MAD to enter.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this guide are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

This guide lists the 23 best things to do in Marrakech, grouped by area so you can plan your days on foot. Every paid sight comes with its entry price, opening hours and closing day, checked in October 2026, plus a map of all the stops. For a ready-made plan, see our 3 days in Marrakech itinerary, and for the bigger picture, our Marrakech travel guide.

Marrakech Attractions at a Glance: Prices and Hours

Attraction	Area	Hours	Closed	Adult ticket
Ben Youssef Madrasa	North medina	9:00–19:00	—	50 MAD
Le Jardin Secret	North medina	From 9:30	—	100 MAD (+40 tower)
Maison de la Photographie	North medina	9:30–19:00	—	80 MAD
Dar El Bacha	North medina	From 10:00	Monday	60 MAD
Bahia Palace	South medina	9:00–17:00	—	100 MAD
Dar Si Said	South medina	From 10:00	Check	30 MAD
El Badi Palace	Kasbah	9:00–17:00	—	100 MAD
Saadian Tombs	Kasbah	9:00–16:45	—	100 MAD
Jardin Majorelle	New town	8:00–17:30	—	About 150 MAD (online only)
Musée Yves Saint Laurent	New town	10:00–18:00	Wednesday	Online
Menara Gardens	West of the city	About 8:00–18:00	—	Free (pavilion about 60 MAD)

Sources: Le Routard (Ben Youssef), Nomado’s Jardin Secret, palaces and Menara guides, the Maison de la Photographie, Visit Marrakech for Dar El Bacha and Dar Si Said, the official Jardin Majorelle and Musée YSL sites, and LorenziGo (Majorelle price). Hours are shorter during Ramadan, so confirm before you go.

Map of the Best Things to Do in Marrakech

Red = northern medina, blue = southern medina and Kasbah, green = new town and gardens. Pins are approximate.

Things to Do in Marrakech’s Northern Medina

1. Watch the Evening Show at Jemaa el-Fnaa

The main square is the heart of the city and the first of the free things to do in Marrakech. By day it is fairly quiet, with juice stalls and henna artists. At dusk, food stalls fire up their grills and musicians, storytellers and performers gather. Agree prices before you sit down at a stall, and decide in advance whether you want photos with performers, since they will ask for payment.

2. Get Lost in the Souks

North of the square, the souks spread through a maze of covered lanes grouped loosely by craft: leather, lanterns, spices, carpets, textiles and metalwork. Bargaining is expected. Start well below the first price, stay friendly and be ready to walk away. Getting a little lost is part of the experience, but save your riad’s location on an offline map first.

Traditional souks in Marrakech with colorful spices, lanterns and Moroccan crafts

3. See the Courtyard of Ben Youssef Madrasa

This former Quranic school is one of the most beautiful buildings in Morocco, with carved cedar, stucco and tilework around a central pool, and small student rooms upstairs. It opens daily from 9:00 to 19:00, and tickets cost 50 MAD, sold on site only, according to Le Routard. Go at opening time, before the tour groups arrive.

4. Escape to Le Jardin Secret

A restored riad garden in the Mouassine quarter, Le Jardin Secret is a calm break from the souks. Entry is 100 MAD, plus 40 MAD for the tower, which gives one of the best views over the medina rooftops.

5. Visit Dar El Bacha and Bacha Coffee

Dar El Bacha – Musée des Confluences is a former pasha’s palace turned museum. It is closed on Mondays and costs 60 MAD for foreign visitors, according to Marrakech’s official tourism site. Inside, Bacha Coffee is one of the most popular stops in the medina, so expect to queue at busy times.

6. Step Back in Time at the Maison de la Photographie

This small museum near Ben Youssef shows photographs of Morocco from 1870 onwards, including albumen prints, glass plates and early autochromes. It opens daily from 9:30 to 19:00, and adult tickets cost 80 MAD, paid on site by card or cash, according to its official website. The ticket also covers the Musée de la Musique.

7. Admire the Koutoubia Mosque at Sunset

The minaret of the Koutoubia is the city’s landmark, visible from almost everywhere. Non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque, but the gardens beside it are a lovely place to walk at sunset, when the minaret glows in the evening light.

Compare guided medina walking tours on Klook →

Things to Do in the Southern Medina and Kasbah

8. Look Up at Bahia Palace

Bahia Palace is one of the most visited Marrakech attractions, famous for its painted cedar ceilings, zellige tiles and garden courtyards. It opens from 9:00 to 17:00, and entry for foreign adults is 100 MAD, according to Nomado. Arrive at opening time, because it gets crowded by late morning.

Bahia Palace in Marrakech with ornate painted cedar ceilings and zellige courtyard tiles

9. Discover Moroccan Crafts at Dar Si Said

Close to Bahia Palace, this 19th-century residence has housed a museum since 1930 and displays the folk art of Marrakech and the surrounding Berber villages, according to Marrakech’s official tourism site, which lists adult entry at 30 MAD. It is usually much quieter than the big palaces.

10. Wander the Mellah

Next to Bahia Palace, the Mellah is the historic Jewish quarter, with its spice market and quieter residential lanes. It is one of the free things to do in Marrakech and fits easily between the palaces.

11. Walk the Ruins of El Badi Palace

El Badi Palace is a vast 16th-century ruin, where storks nest on the walls and you can walk along the ramparts for views over the Kasbah. It opens from 9:00 to 17:00, and entry is 100 MAD.

12. See the Saadian Tombs

Small but richly decorated, the Saadian Tombs hold the graves of the Saadian dynasty. Entry is 100 MAD, and they close earlier than the palaces, around 16:45, so do not leave them until late in the day.

Things to Do in the New Town and Gardens

13. Book an Early Slot at Jardin Majorelle

The cobalt-blue villa, cactus garden and bamboo paths of Jardin Majorelle make it the most photographed place in the city. Tickets are sold only online through the official ticket site, and the garden opens daily from 8:00 to 17:30, according to the official website. Garden-only tickets cost about 150 MAD, according to LorenziGo. Book the first time slot for fewer crowds.

Cobalt-blue villa surrounded by exotic plants and cacti at Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech

14. Visit the Musée Yves Saint Laurent

Next to Majorelle, the museum celebrates the designer who loved Marrakech. It opens from 10:00 to 18:00 and is closed on Wednesdays, according to its official website, and tickets are sold through the same official site as the garden.

15. Spend an Afternoon in Gueliz

The modern district of Gueliz has wide streets, cafés, galleries and shops. It is one of the more relaxed things to do in Marrakech, a contrast to the medina and an easy place for a long lunch after Majorelle.

16. Picnic With Atlas Views at the Menara Gardens

The Menara Gardens are a large olive grove around a basin with a pavilion, about 2 km west of Jemaa el-Fnaa. The gardens are free, and the pavilion costs about 60 MAD, according to Nomado. On clear days from October to April you can see the snow-capped Atlas behind the basin.

Best Experiences in Marrakech

17. Try a Traditional Hammam

A hammam is one of the most memorable things to do in Marrakech. A neighborhood hammam costs 10–40 MAD to enter, plus 50–150 MAD for a scrub, while a spa hammam with scrub costs 250–600 MAD, according to Nomado’s hammam guide. If it is your first time, a spa hammam explains each step.

Traditional Moroccan hammam interior prepared for a relaxing steam bath and scrub

Compare Marrakech hammam and spa experiences on Klook →

18. Take a Moroccan Cooking Class

Many classes start with a market visit to buy spices and vegetables, then teach you to make a tagine, salads and bread. It is a hands-on way to understand Moroccan food and one of the best things to do in Marrakech on a hot afternoon.

19. Watch the Sunset From a Rooftop

Marrakech’s official tourism site recommends rooftops such as Nomad on Rahba Kedima square, the Grand Balcony of Café Glacier above Jemaa el-Fnaa, El Fenn near the Koutoubia and the Sky Lounge at The Pearl in Hivernage. Go about an hour before sunset to get a table.

20. Join an Evening Food Tour

A guided food tour takes you to stalls and small eateries you would not find alone, explains what you are eating and helps you avoid tourist traps around the square.

Compare Marrakech food tours and cooking classes on Klook →

For a first visit to Marrakech, one of the most memorable experiences is watching Jemaa el-Fnaa come alive at sunset before exploring the nearby souks. My tip for first-time visitors is to start sightseeing early in the morning, when the historic palaces and medina streets are quieter, and leave the late afternoon for rooftop views and a relaxed dinner. Planning visits by neighborhood also helps you save time and avoid unnecessary walking.

Things to Do Near Marrakech

21. Sunset in the Agafay Desert

The stony Agafay Desert lies about an hour from the city. Half-day trips usually combine a camel or quad ride with sunset and dinner at a desert camp, which makes it the easiest desert experience from Marrakech.

Rocky landscape and desert camp in Morocco's Agafay Desert at sunset

22. Day Trip to the Atlas Mountains

Imlil and the Ourika Valley offer Berber villages, walking trails and cooler air, especially welcome in summer. Our guide to the best day trips from Marrakech compares the options, including Essaouira on the coast.

23. Float Over the Desert in a Hot Air Balloon

Sunrise balloon flights outside Marrakech give views over the plains toward the Atlas Mountains. Flights start very early and depend on the weather, so book for the first days of your trip in case of cancellation.

Compare Agafay, Atlas and balloon trips on Klook →

Free Things to Do in Marrakech

Jemaa el-Fnaa in the evening
Wandering the souks
The Koutoubia gardens at sunset
The Mellah and its spice market
The Menara Gardens
Free open-air screenings on Jemaa el-Fnaa during the film festival in November

Mixing free and paid sights keeps costs low. See our Marrakech budget guide for daily costs.

Tips for Visiting Marrakech Attractions

Start early. The palaces and the madrasa are calmest at opening time.
Group sights by area. Do the northern medina one day and the palaces another to avoid crossing the city twice.
Carry cash. Many sights sell tickets on site only, often in cash.
Check closing days. Dar El Bacha closes on Mondays and the YSL Museum on Wednesdays.
Book Majorelle in advance, especially in spring and autumn.
Ignore unofficial guides. People who offer directions usually expect a tip or lead you to a shop.

The weather changes what is comfortable to do. Our guide to the best time to visit Marrakech covers each month.

Things to Do in Marrakech: FAQs

What is Marrakech best known for?

Marrakech is best known for Jemaa el-Fnaa square, its souks, historic palaces such as Bahia and El Badi, the Koutoubia Mosque, Jardin Majorelle and its riads.

How many days do you need to see Marrakech?

Three days is enough to see the main things to do in Marrakech at a relaxed pace. Add one or two days for trips to the Atlas Mountains, the Agafay Desert or Essaouira.

What are the best free things to do in Marrakech?

The best free things to do in Marrakech are watching the evening show at Jemaa el-Fnaa, exploring the souks and the Mellah, walking in the Koutoubia gardens and visiting the Menara Gardens.

Do I need to book Marrakech attractions in advance?

Jardin Majorelle and the YSL Museum sell tickets online only, so book them in advance. Most other sights, including Ben Youssef Madrasa and the palaces, sell tickets at the entrance.

What are the best things to do in Marrakech at night?

At night, the best things to do in Marrakech are eating at the Jemaa el-Fnaa food stalls, watching the performers in the square, a rooftop dinner, a food tour, or a desert dinner in Agafay.

Is Marrakech good for families?

Yes. Children usually enjoy the square’s performers, the gardens, camel rides in Agafay and pool days. Plan short sightseeing blocks, because the medina’s crowds and heat can be tiring.

Plan the Rest of Your Trip

Now that you have a list of things to do in Marrakech, these guides will help you plan the rest:

For a base close to the sights, see our guide to the best areas to stay in Marrakech.

Compare Marrakech riads and hotels on Klook →