Marrakech is the main tourist destination in Morocco. Located at the foot of the Atlas, it offers a lot of monuments declared World Heritage by UNESCO.
You will not lack things to do in Marrakech: from getting lost in its souks to escaping into the desert.
In this post I tell you about the 25 best things to see and do in Marrakech, about accommodation tips and I include a map at the end of the post with all the places of interest to see in Marrakech, the 22 that I indicate in the list and some places More in case you have time.
25 MUST SEE AND DO IN MARRAKECH
1. The Medina of Marrakesh
The historic center of Marrakech was founded in the year 1070 by a nomadic people from the Sahara. During all these centuries, the Medina has been the economic center of the city, as well as having true architectural wonders.
Most of Marrakech's tourist attractions are within the Medina. Even so, do not limit yourself to visiting them, the real charm is getting lost in its streets. Dead ends that seem to be taken from a movie, lamp shops worthy of Aladdin, wooden doors that are true works of art... In the Medina you will find a thousand wonders if you wander aimlessly. In fact, it is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
2. Book a free tour of Marrakech
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A good opportunity to get to know the city of Marrakech and its different areas is by reserving one of its free tours. There are many options to get to know the Medina, the Palm Grove, free tours full of secrets, gastronomy… The most recommended are:
3. Jamaa el Fna Square
The heart of Marrakech is in this square. Before the sun goes down it is much calmer, with natural juice stalls and street vendors. When night falls, groups of people form around speakers, various musicians provide a lot of atmosphere and a lot of street food stalls take over the center of the square.
It is one of those places that you either love or hate, which is why taking a walk there is an essential thing to do in Marrakech.
4. Have a drink at Café Glacier
The best way to see everything that happens in the Jamaa el Fna square at sunset is to go up to a terrace to have a drink. I recommend you go half an hour before sunset to get a good spot next to the railing.
5. The Bab Agnaou Gate
The wall has 19 entrance gates to the city of Marrakech. This gate was built in the 12th century to give access to the royal kasbah. And it is really beautiful.
6. The city walls
The old part of Marrakech is surrounded by a wall with a perimeter of more than 18 kilometers. Its characteristic reddish color of clay has been preserved since the 12th century. It was built out of the need to protect the military camp and the markets that made up the city at that time.
7. The Koutoubia Mosque and its gardens
Its tower can be seen from almost any point in Marrakech, since it is the tallest building in the city with more than 60 meters. In fact, it is forbidden for any construction to exceed its height. It was inaugurated in 1158 and occupies the territory of a previous mosque that was destroyed. It is a beautiful place that deserves that you come to visit it.
8. Give yourself a massage and a bath in a hamman
With all the hustle and bustle in the Medina, something highly recommended to do in Marrakech is to relax in a hammam. It is a typical Arab bath that will leave your skin soft and your mind very clear. In addition, the prices are much cheaper than in Spain. We had a fantastic experience at Les Bains de Azahara, where in addition to the bath, exfoliation and body mask, they gave us a fabulous massage.
9. Visit Dar Cherifa, the oldest riad to see in Marrakech
You will love this 16th century riad with its colonnaded courtyard. It has a decoration worthy of the best madrasa. Since the year 2000 it has been restored and has become an art gallery with a literary cafe and restaurant. They only open for lunch at noon.
10. Museum of Photography
Here you can see a collection of hundreds of photos, negatives and documents of Morocco from 1870 to 1950. But it's not just worth it for the photos, the building itself is beautiful. In addition, it has a terrace with views of the Medina where you can have a drink.
11. La Qoubba Almoravid
Very close to the madrasa and the museum of Marrakech is the only building of Almoravid architecture that remains in the city. The building was built in 1117 and belonged to a mosque that was destroyed. The dome was used for washing before prayers. It is a pity that it cannot be visited, although seeing it only from the outside is beautiful.
12. The Ben Youssef Madrasa
One of the most beautiful places in Marrakech is this old Koranic school founded in the 14th century. It had the capacity for more than 800 students to memorize the Qur'an. But beyond its historical significance, the wood and tile decoration makes the madrasa a magical place. It is an essential visit to do in Marrakech.
13. Majorelle Garden
This garden is home to more than 300 species of plants, it is a beautiful place. It was created by French painter Jacques Majorelle, but became notorious after designer Yves Saint Laurent bought it to prevent a hotel from being built there. It is one of the most popular visits to do in Marrakech.
The entrance to the garden costs 70 dirhams (7€). You can also visit the Berber museum for 30 dirhams more (3€). There you can see Yves Saint Laurent's personal collection of typical objects from the country. I recommend you do the full tour!
14. Get to know Guéliz
Guéliz is the modern area of Marrakech it seems like a totally different city. Here there are shopping centers with international brands, trendy bars and various luxury accommodations.
15. The Marrakech Train Station
The building is very new, it was inaugurated in 2008 and it was built maintaining the essence of the traditional architecture of the city.
16. Visit MACMA
In the most modern area of Marrakech you can visit this small museum. It has a collection of works related to the Arab world of the 19th and 20th centuries. Most of them are from European painters who painted about Morocco in their works.
17. Royal Theater
Right in front of the train station is the Teatro Real. It is a building from 1978. It is the work of the architect Charles Boccara, who combined different typical materials in Moroccan buildings. You can enter for free.
18. El Badi Palace
Although today this palace is nothing more than ruins, this was one of the most beautiful palaces in Morocco. It was built to commemorate the victory in a battle against the Portuguese in 1578.
The area it occupies is enormous, which is why it took 25 years to finish it. According to the plans, experts say that it is inspired by the Alhambra in Granada. The palace had 360 rooms, and just looking at its walls you get the idea of the grandeur of the palace.
19. Bahia Palace
Unlike the previous one, the Bahía Palace is well preserved. It was built in the 19th century with the intention of being the largest palace of all time. It has a spectacular central courtyard around which are the rooms for the vizier and his concubines. In addition, it is surrounded by 8,000 square meters of gardens. A highly recommended visit to do in Marrakech.
20. Saadian tombs
Inside the Kasbah you will find the complex where the Saadian dynasty is buried. There are two beautifully decorated mausoleums, although you will also see soldiers' graves in the garden. You will also find the room where Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur and his closest family are buried. It is decorated with twelve marble columns and a spectacular carved wooden dome. You cannot access the enclosure, to see it you have to look through a kind of window.
21. The Dar Si Said Museum
In this museum you will find all kinds of clothing, fabrics, jewelry, weapons and even carved doors. The building was the residence of a former minister of war and, after being restored, it is a very charming place that houses true relics.
22. Excursion to the Ouzoud waterfalls
Near Marrakech are the largest waterfalls in North Africa. You can walk around and it is even common to see monkeys in the area. If you go on a sweltering day you can even take a bath, although the water is cold.
The place is beautiful and it is worth taking the excursion.
23. Visit Casablanca from Marrakech
Casablanca, the capital of Morocco, is perfect to visit in one or two days. The ideal is to spend a night in the city, but if you do not have time or do not want to change hotels, from Marrakech you only have about 2 hours and a half by car or train. You can book your train tickets for free from here.
Casablanca articles that may interest you:
24. Take an excursion to the desert of Merzouga
One of the best experiences to live in Morocco is to go to the desert of Merzouga and sleep under the stars. In our case, we did the excursion from Fez to Marrakech and you have the whole experience in the post Sleeping in the Merzouga desert, but you also have the possibility of doing the excursion from Marrakech and there are several options:
25. Balloon ride over Marrakech
If you want to add a special activity to do during your trip to Marrakech, a good alternative is a hot air balloon ride. You will be able to discover from the air one of the most beautiful cities in Morocco. During the walk you can also see the Atlas Mountains from the air.
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I hope you enjoy your trip to Marrakech very much and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!