20 Best Things to Do in Marrakech: A Local's 2026 Guide

Ben Youssef Madrasa — the most beautiful interior in the Medina, reopened after full restoration. Go at 09:00 for empty courtyards.

Jardin Majorelle & the YSL Museum — Yves Saint Laurent's cobalt-blue garden and the museum next door. Book the first slot online; queues collapse after 11:00.

Bahia Palace and El Badi Palace — Moorish courtyards, cedar ceilings, mosaic floors. Combine in a single morning.

The Souks — Rahba Kedima (spices), the Berber market, the leather quarter. Walk in from Jemaa el-Fna and don't fight getting lost — the getting-lost is the visit.

Jemaa el-Fna after dark — snake charmers, storytellers, food stalls. Eat at stall #1 or #14 (family-run, tables inside).

The Medina (old town) — walled, car-free, the Marrakech of the postcards. Where you should be based.

The Mellah — the former Jewish quarter; quieter alleys, spice market, a slower rhythm than the northern souks.

Kasbah — royal quarter around the Saadian Tombs and El Badi; less shopping, more architecture.

Gueliz — the French-built new town; boutique shopping, contemporary art galleries, coffee shops. Take a €3 petit-taxi over from the Medina for an afternoon break.

Sidi Ghanem — the design district; concept stores, ceramics workshops, riad-supply warehouses.

Sahara desert tour (2 or 3 days) — the classic Marrakech add-on. See our full guide to Sahara desert tours from Marrakech for what to expect and how to book.

The Atlas Mountains — Imlil for a day hike, Ourika Valley for waterfalls and Berber villages, Ouzoud Falls for a picnic. Any of the three is a great full-day driver-guide trip.

Essaouira — 2.5 hours west; a Portuguese-fortified port town on the Atlantic, seafood grills, argan cooperatives, an easy overnight or long day trip.

Ait Ben Haddou — 4 hours over the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass; the fortified kasbah town that plays every ancient city in every Hollywood film.

Book a proper hammam — Les Bains de Marrakech, La Sultana or Hammam de la Rose. 90 minutes of scrub, steam and mint tea is the best jetlag cure in the city.

Eat a slow lunch in a riad courtyard — Le Jardin, Nomad, Cafe des Épices; each is a small rooftop restaurant with a Medina view.

Try a tagine and a bastilla — Al Fassia in Gueliz is the reference, and it is run entirely by Moroccan women.

Watch sunset from a Kasbah rooftop — Kosybar or the Café Clock terrace deliver a call-to-prayer moment you'll remember for years.