It is a city in Morocco full of colours, spices, Arabic buildings and good food. I’m, of course, talking about Marrakech. Soak in the culture, fragrances, people and atmosphere that can’t be found elsewhere. It’s a truly magical place to indulge in the local culture, go shopping at the souks and enjoy food at the most beautiful restaurants and rooftops. In this Marakkech Travel Guide, I provide you an overview of the best things to do in Marrakech, as well as the best places to eat, drink and stay. Spoiler: stay in one of the riads.
From Marrakech, you can also book a 3-day adventure to the Sahara.
The souks and the little alleys of Marrakech are worth exploring. Just walk around and discover something new and local on every corner. A couple of things you’ll find a lot and are worth buying are the huge leather bags (I still use the one I bought a lot, and I do get many compliments about it), other leather items (think belts), decorated kitchen stuff such as pots, rugs and different types of lamps.
The medina (city centre) is definitely the part of the city where it is busiest and buzzing. Take your time to also leave the souks and area with the stalls to experience a bit more off the local vibes (you’ll find many small eateries where locals are having their meal for example). When leaving the Medina (for example on your way to Jardin Marjorelle), the vibes becomes different again.
Easy to take with you, the different colours make sure you instantly become happy, and there are nice places to eat and drink around the L’Espices square.
One of the main sights in Marrakech is this ruined Palace called Badi Palace, built at the end of the sixteenth century. The place is great if you are in ruins, as it gives you an impression of how it looked in the past. Entrance fees are ~€7.
The Koutoubia Mosque can be seen as the main point of the city, as you will recognise it from several corners and angles. The mosque, with its recognisable tower, is located behind the famous Djeema El-Fnaa square.
Missing this square on your city trip to Marrakech is impossible. It is the main square of Marrakech and very bustling in the evenings. Around sunset, they start building up the market for the evening and all the different food stalls become at your service. Enjoy one evening at the square for street food. During the day, there are some stalls present, so you can enjoy juice for example.
A stunning palace with an enormous garden. The rooms in the palace are empty, but the architecture is worth a visit. Unfortunately, the main area (famous for most of the pictures) was closed during our visit. Entrance fees are currently around €7 (in 2024).
The famous Majorelle Gardens, which became famous because of Yves Saint Laurent, is slightly outside the centre of Marrakech (it is within walking distance, though – let’s say 30 minutes). The garden is mainly famous for its bright blue walls, also referred to as Majorelle Blue. The place is pretty. However, it felt a bit overrated, maybe also because of the large amounts of tourists. The blue walls are stunning for pictures, though.
One of the most stunning buildings in Marrakech. It used to serve as a college, hosting around 900 students. Entrance fees are around €5 – but it is well worth a visit. I especially liked the typical ornaments that are all over the place.
An activity to try and a welcome relaxation after a full day in the city. Make sure to walk in somewhere during the day to make a reservation, as just turning up probably will leave you disappointed at the most famous spas.
Our experience was quite interesting – as the full process wasn’t explained. Women and men are separated and the hammam treatment consists out of different stages that weren’t fully explained to us at the start. Therefore, I got left alone in a room with no clue what to do and when or even if they would pick me up.
However, in the end – the experience was one not to miss (stories are worth a lot too) and the soaping/massage was great. A couple of hammams that are known well are Les Bains de Marrakech, Hammam de la Rose or go with a more traditional one such as Hammam Lalla. Prices for treatment will differ but will lie around €40-50 euros.
Looking for an opportunity to add a bit of nature and surroundings to this Marrakech City Guide and your city trip? Then visiting the Ouzoud waterfalls might be the thing for you to do. You can book a day trip here.
This Marrakech City Guide wouldn’t be complete without a short overview of the best places to eat and drink in Marrakech. First of all, you won’t find alcohol (well there might be an exception – we once saw wine, however, it wasn’t too good), so just stick with tea and juices. Food in Marrakech however is great, enjoy a nice tajine or other typical Moroccan foods. If you are into spices, you won’t be disappointed.
Nomad is probably the best-known restaurant in Marrakech, and for a reason. The food is great (with European influences), and the setting is very cool. The place has a rooftop that overlooks Les Espices Square. We popped in for lunch and were lucky to have a spot. I would recommend making a reservation to fully enjoy the experience. Check out their menu here – believe me, it is great.
A patio-like garden with a lot of greens around you. Especially in the evening, the atmosphere is perfect. The menu consists of ingredients from all over the world, all with a Moroccan twist.
Another rooftop place in Marrakech. We went here for a cup of tea and something to snack on. The place is also recommended for your pre- or post-dinner drink. The place can be found in the middle of the Medina, and you escape straight away when entering this rooftop.
A rooftop cafe with great views of Djeema El-Fnaa. The place itself isn’t special at all, but visit slightly before the sun sets as the views on Djeema El-Fnaa are great and you can follow the process of the stalls getting ready for another evening at the square.
Enjoy some sweets and a cup of mint tea at Henna Art Cafe. When you feel like it, you can also get a henna tattoo in this cafe.
The final section of this Marrakech Travel Guide covers the best places to stay in Marrakech. One thing is for sure: you have to stay in a so-called “riad”. The city is filled with beautiful accommodation, but it isn’t easy to find a riad that offers the right value for money. You will probably recognise Riad Yasmine as one of the most famous riads on Instagram. However, after extensive research, we chose different riads. Find my recommendations here!
Riad Lorsya is a basic and decent riad on a 10-minute walk from Djemaa El-Fnaa. The place has a little pool you can use and the rooms are cute with a small walk-in shower. We only paid €40 a night for 2 people. If I remember correctly, we were staying in the Pearl room – in case you are planning to book the same place.
This beautiful place is located in a very central location: only a 2-minute walk from Djeema El-Fna. It has a rooftop with views of the medina and has two beautiful terraces. For €100 a night, Riad Les Bougainvilliers offers amazing value for money.
Another catch! Riad Utopia Suites & Spa offers an amazing experience, with beautiful rooms, a rooftop, a prime location and an on-property restaurant. A junior suite starts at €170 a night for a unique experience.
