The Ultimate Marrakech Bucket List (by Neighborhood)

If you don’t have much time, skip down to my top 5 recommendations that must be on your Marrakech bucket list.

Heading to Morocco? Read more:

Digital Nomad in Marrakech: A Complete Guide

5 Myths Every Digital Nomad Should Know About Marrakech

Discover the Best Cities to Digital Nomad in Morocco

Things to do in Marrakech – by Neighborhood

Medina

Ibn Youssef School

Ben Youssef Madrasa, as its also known, was completed in 1565 and served as one of the largest Islamic colleges of it’s day. The intricate details of this school are unmatched, from the wood carvings to the mosaic tiles. The courtyard is what Instagram dreams are made of.

If you only do a few things on this list, I recommend this be one of them. It closed for several years for maintenance and restoration, but opened up again right before we arrived. I feel so lucky! It costs about 20dh ($2 USD), making it one of the less expensive sights in Marrakech.

Jemaa el-Fnaa Square

I kind of hate this place, but it is one of the main attractions in Marrakech. During the day you can see all kinds of performers and get really good fresh juices from the stands.

But at night the square really comes alive. Food stalls are swarmed with tourists looking to get a taste of traditional Moroccan delicacies, while street performers vie for your attention.

The reason I don’t like the square… First, we got mega ripped off at a food stand (confirm the price before ordering anything). This was immediately followed by a bad experience with a forced-henna tattoo and some ladies bullying me to pay them (you can read more about that experience here).

There is also a lot of cruel animal tourism, like snake charmers and monkeys dressed in little clothes chained up. If I ever found myself here, I would just cross my arms, look at the ground, and keep walking. Showing ‘interest’ in anything is an invitation to get hassled and solicited for money.

Haggle at the Souks

When we first arrived in Marrakech, we booked a free walking tour and our guide took us around the maze-like streets showing us all the different sections of the medina.

There are different zones for everything sort of like an enormous supermarket, where you can buy olives, leather, metal, fabrics, etc. This was a super helpful introduction, especially being with a local, as the souks can be very hectic and intimidating.

Some classic Moroccan souvenirs you can buy include argan oil, saffron, scarves (for the desert), rugs, and Ras El Hanout (a seasoning made of a bunch of different spices). Remember prices are not set, so try to get a better deal (unless the price is actually written on something).

A tip about buying saffron: don’t get scammed. Many people try to sell fake saffron, which is just the hairs from a corn husk dyed red. There are a few ways to tell real from fake:

1. If you put a couple hairs in water, real saffron will dye the water bright yellow while the saffron itself remains red. The fake one will tint the water, but lose its color.
2. Similarly, if you rub it between your fingers, the real one will dye your fingers yellow/orange.
3. The shape of the little hairs may look similar, but if you really examine them, real saffron has a little bulge on one end. Fake corn hairs obviously have no bulge.

Le Jardin Secret

Though its only been open to the public since 2016, the lavish garden’s history begins centuries earlier. It was built on the grounds on a royal palace, destroyed after the fall of the Saadian Dynasty. After changing hands many times, it eventually fell into disrepair for decades.

Today, the garden consists of two complexes, side-by-side, an Islamic garden and an exotic garden. On your visit, pay special attention to the water features and the information describing how they cleverly designed and operate it.

The tower is an additional 40dh on top of the 80dh to enter the garden, but provides uninterrupted views of the garden and medina ($4, $8). If you don’t want to pay extra, you can still get a nice view by going to the terrace for free.

If you’re pressed for time, I’d skip this one. It’s cool, but there are cooler things on this Marrakech bucket list I’d rather do instead.

Dar El Bacha Museé

This impressive palace is another example of the amazingly intricate detailing of Moroccan architecture, from the carved wooden doors to the mosaic column covers. It is one of my favorites on this list.

The lavish palace was built by one of the most powerful figures of Morocco of the early 1900s, during the French rule. Charlie Chaplin and Winston Churchill even visited the palace as the “governor’s” guests.

Surrounding the courtyard, are rooms with different displays of Moroccan culture and history.

Attached to the palace is a coffee shop, which you can also visit on its own if you like. When we toured the palace, the coffee shop was bursting, so we just peeked in. This is one of many 70dh ($7) sights, but it is well worth it.

Koutoubia Mosque

Koutoubia Mosque is Marrakech’s largest mosque and its truly spectacular, especially the architecture of the minaret tower. It is adjacent to the main square, and visible throughout many parts of Marrakech and the medina.

Non-Muslims aren’t allowed inside, but supposedly it’s kind of plain inside anyway. The exterior, however, is breathtaking.

Next to the mosque (northwest side), are the remains of its predecessor. It is unknown why the first mosque was demolished, but the foundation was excavated and is now on full display. Facing the mosque and walking though the arch on the left gives you a great angle for pictures (like above). The best part: looking is free.

Try Moroccan Cuisine

No Marrakech bucket list would be complete without trying the local cuisine. One of my favorite parts of Moroccan culture. Being a vegetarian or vegan is so easy here.

My favorite dish was the vegetable tajine, named for the ceramic tajine it is cooked it. Jack’s favorite was tajine kefta, with meatballs, tomato sauce and usually eggs, and always served with bread.

Other delicious things to try: couscous (traditionally eaten on Fridays), pastilla (meat or veggie pie), harira (soup), lamb tajine (with prunes), qaddid (cured meat), and msemen (a square bread / flakey pastry usually eaten for breakfast with honey or jam – one of my favs).

My favorite restaurant in the medina is Restaurant Regue Jamaa. Hands down the best tajines in the game.

Free Walking Tour

Jack and I love walking tours and getting to know a city through the eyes of a local. You get to know the area so much better, and see things you wouldn’t have by yourself.

The maze-like Medina is the perfect place to take a walking tour so you don’t miss out on anything or get lost. Did I mention you can get one for free? Check out Free Marrakech Tours!

Sip on Moroccan Mint Tea

This is another one of my favorite parts of Moroccan culture, and something I hope to keep doing. Muslims don’t drink alcohol, so coffee and tea seem to be much more prominent.

There is a laundry list of health benefits from drinking mint tea, but I suspect digestive relief might be why it is often consumed post-meal.

Sometimes honey is added, or you can add your own sugar cubes. Rookie move is to put the sugar cube in your own glass instead of putting a couple in the teapot. Oops. Another pro move is to long-pour the tea into your glass. I’m not sure if it cools down the tea faster or what, but at least you’ll look cool doing it.

Kasbah

Bab Agnaou

Bab Agnaou is the most unique gate in Marrakech. It was completed around 1188 and served as the public gate into the royal kasbah and south part of the medina, perhaps why it is so ornate.

You can view it by simply walking across the street outside the kasbah. During our visit, it was partially under construction, but that doesn’t take away from its pomp.

Bahia Palace

The 19th century palace is *technically* in the medina, but its in the south very close to the kasbah so I added it to this section in case you’re in the neighborhood.

Upon entering the palace, it’s scale and grandeur isn’t quite apparent. However, as you pass through several smaller rooms and courtyards, you arrive at the breathtaking Grand Courtyard.

The palace changed hands many times between sultans, kings and the French government, but today it is one of Marrakech’s most visited attractions. Like many other sights, it costs 70dh ($7 USD) to enter.

El Badii Palace

Yet another palace from the Saadian Dynasty, but this one is unique as it is in ruins. After the dynasty fell, the palace fell into a state of total disrepair. At one point it was even stiped of its materials and decorations to be used in other projects throughout the city and Morocco.

I can only image how epic this summer palace would be if it had been preserved, with it’s gardens and pools, constructed of the most expensive materials of the day like gold, onyx and Italian marble.

Today it can be visited for, you guessed it, 70dh ($7). There are a couple underground areas that can be visited as well, so don’t miss them.

Saadien’s Tombs

Located on the south side of the kasbah mosque, is the royal necropolis. Constructed in the late 16th century, the tomb houses a series of mausoleums and monuments with the remains of the Saadian Dynasty.

It is regarded as the highpoint in Moroccan architecture for its lavish interior design and intricate detailing. It is pretty small; only takes 20-30 minutes to see everything, and part of the $7 club.

Rooftop Restaurant

What better way to experience the old city, than to look down on it sipping a fresh juice under a water mister. Head to the roof, like Kasbah Café (right across from Saadien’s Tombs) for lunch.

Place des Ferblantiers

I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to see this place, but when going from the kasbah to El Badii or Bahia Palace, might as well make a quick pit stop. It’s like a mini version of the main square, minus all the things I hate about it.

Artisans sell spices, housewares, and handcrafted tin lamps; it is also know as “ironworkers square“.

Hang at a Cute Coffee Shop

Needing a break from walking around all day? Chill at a cute coffee shop, like Mandala Society, to get away from all the craziness of the medina. Sip on a coffee, or the most delicious hot chocolate I’ve ever had.

Gueliz

Jardin Majorelle

The two-acre gardens were designed by French artist, Jacques Majorelle, which also served as him home from 1923-1947. Eventually, Majorelle had to sell the property and it fell into disrepair.

Luckily fashion designers Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé, whose love of Marrakech has been well documented, purchased and restored the garden in the 80s.

You can now visit the striking gardens and Berber Museum (one of my personal favorites) inside the villa. The YSL Museum is located just next door (see below). I recommend getting the combo ticket for the garden and two museums. Purchasing tickets online at least 24 hours beforehand saves you from having to wait in a long line at the garden.

Yves Saint Laurent Museum

The YSL Museum is definitely a highlight not to be missed. I’m not a huge fashion buff, but this museum encapsulates how truly iconic Yves was and showcases many unique pieces as well as snippets of his process and inspiration.

The museum is an architectural masterpiece in-and-of-itself. Marrakech was a second home to Yves so its cool to see him living on in this way.

Since its located just next door to the Jardin Majorelle, it makes for the perfect day in Gueliz. I recommend the combo ticket which gives access to the garden and Berber Museum, as well as the YSL Museum (220dh / $22 USD).

Try Grey Wine

Grey wine? WTF?

You may be missing happy hour wandering the medina all day, but come to Gueliz to get your fix. Since Gueliz is a more modern, French neighborhood, you will find many expats and digital nomads taking up residence here. European restaurants and bars are sprinkled all over, serving up local and international beer and wine.

Exclusive to Morocco is grey wine, or vin gris. Its a mix of rosé and white wine. I don’t love white wine in general but I still tried it a few times and thought it was pretty good.

Side note – you can definitely find restaurants in the medina to grab a drink, its just not as common and may take several tries.

Catch a Train to Casablanca

The main train station is located in Gueliz. Its a beautiful building – you cant miss it. From Marrakech to Casablanca on the train is only 2-3 hours if you want to make a day or weekend trip out of it. There are standard and first class seats, but every time I checked they were the same price, so not sure why you would ever choose standard.

Get Scrubbed Down at a Hammam

Ok you guys put this at the top of your bucket list right now. I mean I don’t even know where to begin. A hammam is a bath house, and traditionally Moroccans go here once a week instead of showering at home all the time.

Its a clean I’ve never experience before in my life – like I’ve just been dirty for the last 30 years. I wont give away too many details, but basically someone in the hammam bathes you with black soap and scrubs your entire body down with a little glove that feels like sandpaper. It’s amazing, I promise.

Hammam Essalama was near our apartment and I highly recommend. Men and women are obviously separated, so when Jack and I went, we had wildly different experiences. I think its definitely worth it to get the full experience and go to an authentic hammam, not one of the luxury spa’s geared towards westerners.

Here are a few tips if you decide to go:

1. Women wear underwear or swimming suit bottoms, or some don’t wear anything. Men can wear boxers, underwear, or nothing.
2. The workers probably wont speak English, but hand motions go a long way. They will just throw you around where they want anyway.
3. It can take between 30 minutes to an hour depending on the treatments you get.

Stay Hydrated with Fresh Orange Juice

Not to be dramatic, but Moroccan orange juice is the best orange juice I’ve ever had in my life. I’m forever ruined. We went to Europe after Morocco and their orange juice is complete trash. I’m not sure what is it about the oranges in Morocco but you have to try it for yourself.

Walking down the streets in Gueliz, you’ll find a juice stand on almost every block. If you want to drink it at the stand, its about 10dh ($1) and they serve it in a glass. If you prefer to take it to go, you can get a plastic cup for a little upcharge.

It wont be cold as the oranges are sitting out and they squeeze them fresh right in front of you, but its so delicious I don’t even care about the temperature.

I’m also convinced this business has almost no overhead, as oranges grow on trees all over the city and you could just pick them off the street for free.

Hivernage

Hit the Clubs

When you think of the Islamic state of Morocco, clubs and partying may not be the first thing to come to mind. However, just outside the medina, Hivernage is known for its pulsating nightlife complete with mega clubs, casinos, and chic restaurants. If you want to party until 6am, here are a few nightclubs to add to your list:

• Secret Room
• W Club
• Malak Emerald
• Malak Bay (day club)

Casino Royale in Marrakech

There are actually two casinos in Marrakech: Casino de Marrakech and Grand Casino La Mamounia. You don’t have to be big gambler to enjoy the casinos, they house upscale restaurants and bars, and well as colorful events and entertainment.

Menara Gardens

This little oasis in the desert is a public garden and orchard. Olive trees are sprinkled over a hundred acres, along with a water reservoir used for irrigation. Dating back to the 12th century, the gardens are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day Trips

Pool Day

There are several day clubs and pools in and around Marrakech. We went to Al Kamar Camp one hot day in May and it was such a fun, unique experience. We arranged for a driver to pick us up and drive about 45 minutes into the desert.

Upon arrival, it looked like we were getting dropped off in the middle of nowhere. Then we saw our little oasis; a large pool surrounded by lounge chairs and umbrellas. We got shisha and lounged for a bit before taking a dip in the refreshing water.

There’s a restaurant on location as well, which served up little Moroccan salads and tajine. It was the perfect way to spend a hot Sunday afternoon.

Palmeraie 

Palmeraie is a palm tree grove just north of Marrakech (with over 100,000 trees). Is it now a recreational area, as well as an upscale residential neighborhood. Head here for a day of relaxation at one of the many spas, day clubs, golf courses, or all inclusive resorts. Or get an adrenaline rush quad biking through the rugged desert.

Aït Benhaddou

Any GOT fans around here? Known as Hollywood of Morocco, Aït Benhaddou is located in the foothills of the High Atlas in the Province of Ouarzazate, about 3.5 hours from Marrakech. You may recognize it from iconic films such as Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and The Mummy.

This mud and clay city was the slave-trading city of Yunkai in season 3 of GOT. Daenerys freed the slaves with the help of her Unsullied Army, both of which were portrayed by Moroccans living in the area who also serve as extras when a movie comes to town. Our tour guide said he was cast as slave, although he wished he played a soldier. He even showed us his picture with Daenerys.

Long before Daenerys, Aït Benhaddou served as a ksar (fortified village) along the caravan route between Marrakech and the Sahara throughout the 17th century. Travelers would stop here to rest, replenish their supplies, and trade in their tired camels.

Now, only a few families still live in the historic kasbah while the majority of the population lives nearby in more modern dwellings. Thanks to its well-preserved architectural significance and prominence as a filming location, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Morocco.

If you are planning to do a desert trek with camping, it may already be included in your itinerary.

Desert Trek & Glamping

This is more of a several day trip, but it is the classic tourist experience when visiting Morocco, and should definitely be on your Marrakech bucket list. There are two different desert trips that are commonly offered. Zagora is the easiest to get to from Marrakech, but Merzouga has the iconic sand dunes.

See which desert is right for you:

Zagora

This desert is the closest to Marrakech. The Zagora desert trek is usually 1 night, 2 days; a perfect weekend activity.

Not to be confused with the iconic Merzouga desert (see below), there wont be any sweeping sand dunes. It is more like a flat, white-brown-dirt type of desert, reminding me a bit of Joshua Tree. The plus side of this shorter trip is that you wont be spending half the time driving long distances in a van.

Merzouga

If you’re picturing big orange sand dunes like your Windows desktop screensaver, this is it. Since Merzouga is actually quite far from Marrakech, it is a longer trip of 2 nights, 3 days.

The first night is spent in a hotel in the High Atlas, and the second night is spent in a tent in the desert. You can either return to Marrakech, or continue on to Fes.

We did an epic Merzouga desert trek after a month in Marrakech, and it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. But be prepared to spend hours and hours in a van driving across Morocco; in hindsight it was worth it.

Marrakech Bucket List Top Attractions

This Marrakech bucket list is pretty exhaustive, I know. Maybe you only have a few days in Marrakech and don’t have time to get to everything.

Here are the top 5 attractions for your Marrakech bucket list:

1. Ibn Youssef School
2. Dar El Bacha Museé
3. Jardin Majorelle & YSL Museum
4. Hammam
5. Desert Trek to Merzouga

Bonus Tip: Free Walking Tours

The medina is legendary and is a MUST-DO when visiting Marrakech. However it is huge and confusing to navigate and you will get lost. The only way to ensure you get to see all the best parts (and avoid the sketch parts) is to have a guide take you around.

Jack and I try to do a walking tour in every city we visit. It’s a much better way to learn and get to know a place than wandering around aimlessly yourself (which we still do too btw).

We discovered GuruWalk not long ago and we’re obsessed. Free walking tours?? Say no more. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

How many days in Marrakech is enough?

In order to see at least the top attractions of Marrakech, you should plan for at least 2 or 3 full days. It is a very walkable city and most attractions are very close to each other allowing you to really knock them off your bucket list.

However, as a digital nomad and slow traveler, I think spending more time here to get to know the city on a deeper level is even better. I spent over 1 month in Marrakech and absolutely loved it.

The key to staying longer in Marrakech than just a few days is to NOT stay inside the Medina. The hectic streets and being constantly bombarded by shop owners is not a sustainable way to stay in Marrakech for the long-term.

To read more about this, read my Marrakech Guide for Digital Nomads.

What to avoid in Marrakech

Now that I’ve told you about all the amazing and beautiful things to see and do in Marrakech, I do have to warn you about a few places.

Saying you should just avoid something is a little dramatic, but there is a dark side of Marrakech.

In order to keep a good memory of Marrakech, avoid these places:

Tanneries 

The tanneries are basically open-air factories where leather is processed and dyed by hand. It looks interesting in pictures, but that’s all you should see of it.

The tanneries have a horrible reputation for bullying, overcharging, and scamming. Our local guide who showed us around the medina refused to take us there and told us never to go.

Certain neighborhoods are run like the mafia (like the area near Ben Youssef School and Maison de Photographie). Groups of guys will be working together to lure people to the tanneries by offering to show them a cool place or saying a road is closed.

This is a red flag and you should immediately bail. If they manage to get you to the tanneries, prepare to be hard sold mediocre goods at a high price and if you refuse, all hospitality goes out the window. The men will become angry and even experienced travelers will feel unsafe.

Jack and I were very close to falling for this scheme. But once we started walking towards the tanneries, seeing less and less tourists, our instincts kicked in and we got out of there back to main streets we knew well by this point.

If I havent scared you enough, just look at the Trip Advisor reviews.

Marrakech is an amazing place and even the pushy shop owners are more of a nuisance that a threat. So just avoid the tanneries and you’ll have a great time in Marrakech.

Jemaa el-Fnaa Square

I know Jemaa el-Fnaa Square is considered one of the top attractions in Marrakech, but I just did not vibe here. Avoid this place or enter at your own risk.

There is so much animal tourism aka animal abuse I couldn’t take it. So many sad monkeys chained up and forced to wear clothes and snakes who look ‘charmed’ because they are days away from dying.

The ‘performers’ angrily demand money from you if you even so much as glance their direction.

The food stalls at night seem fun and a great way to try new foods, but they will completely take advantage of you and overcharge you. I would recommend only going with a guide.

Finally I will briefly mention my forced henna incident where I was cornered and bullied, and when I refused to pay for something I did not want the henna ladies went straight feral. This is one of my only ‘scary’ traveling stories.

Plan your trip to Morocco:

5 Myths Every Digital Nomad Should Know About Marrakech

Digital Nomad in Marrakech: A Complete Guide

Discover the Best Cities to Digital Nomad in Morocco

Your Travel Guide to Dakhla, Western Sahara