Marrakech

UNESCO-recognized as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity, this vast square transforms throughout the day. Mornings bring orange juice vendors and henna artists. Afternoons see snake charmers, musicians, and acrobats. By evening, it becomes the world's largest open-air restaurant with over 100 food stalls wreathed in aromatic smoke.

Built in the late 19th century for Grand Vizier Si Moussa, this sprawling palace is a masterwork of Moroccan architecture. The name means "Palace of the Brilliant" and it lives up to it with 8 hectares of gardens, 150 rooms, and some of the finest examples of zellige (mosaic tilework), carved cedar ceilings, and painted woodwork in Morocco.

This 14th-century Islamic college was once the largest madrasa in all of Morocco, housing up to 900 students. After a meticulous restoration, its courtyard reveals breathtaking zellige tilework, carved stucco, and cedar wood carvings. The central courtyard with its marble reflecting pool is considered one of the most photographed spaces in Morocco.

Created by French painter Jacques Majorelle in 1923 and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge, this botanical garden is an oasis of cobalt blue structures, exotic plants, and tranquil water features. The iconic Majorelle Blue that adorns the Art Deco villa has become synonymous with Marrakech itself. The garden houses over 300 species of plants from five continents.

Hidden for centuries behind a wall and rediscovered in 1917 during an aerial survey, these royal tombs date to the Saadian dynasty (1524-1668). The Hall of Twelve Columns, with its Italian Carrara marble and cedar ceilings, is one of the finest funerary monuments in the Islamic world. Over 60 members of the Saadian royal family are buried here.

The largest mosque in Marrakech and the city's most prominent landmark, the Koutoubia's 77-meter minaret is visible from miles away and serves as the architectural model for the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat. Built in the 12th century by the Almohad dynasty, the minaret is decorated with carved stone, ceramic inlay, and merlon arches.

Built in the 16th century by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur after his victory in the Battle of the Three Kings, El Badi ("The Incomparable") was once considered one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. Though stripped of its precious materials by a later sultan, the vast ruins are still impressive with their sunken orange grove, reflecting pools, and rampart walks offering panoramic city views.

Marrakech's souks (markets) are the largest traditional market complex in Morocco, stretching north from Jemaa el-Fnaa in a labyrinth of covered alleyways. Each souk specializes in a particular craft: leather in the tanneries, metalwork in Place des Ferblantiers, textiles in Souk Semmarine, and carpets in Souk des Tapis. The experience is a feast for all senses.

Opened to the public in 2016 after a painstaking restoration, this riad and garden complex in the heart of the medina dates back to the Saadian dynasty. Two gardens - an Islamic garden with geometric water channels and an exotic garden with plants from around the world - offer a peaceful escape from the medina chaos. A tower provides excellent rooftop views.

The Menara is a vast olive grove and ornamental garden built in the 12th century by the Almohad dynasty. At its center, a large reflecting pool mirrors the green-tiled Menara Pavilion with the snow-capped Atlas Mountains as a backdrop - one of Morocco's most iconic images. The garden covers over 100 hectares of olive trees and is a favorite spot for locals.

Housed in the stunning 19th-century Dar Menebhi Palace, this museum features Moroccan art, Berber artifacts, and contemporary exhibitions displayed in gorgeously restored rooms. The central courtyard with its massive brass chandelier and tiled fountain is one of the most photographed interiors in the city.

Opened in 2017, this museum designed by French architecture firm Studio KO celebrates the legendary designer's decades-long love affair with Marrakech. The striking terracotta brick building houses rotating exhibitions of YSL's haute couture alongside permanent galleries showing his iconic designs. The museum sits adjacent to the Majorelle Garden.

A hammam (steam bath) is an essential Moroccan cultural experience. In Marrakech, options range from local neighborhood hammams where you bathe alongside Moroccans to luxury spa hammams at five-star riads. The traditional ritual includes steaming, scrubbing with black soap and a kessa (exfoliating glove), and a rhassoul clay mask. Heritage Spa, Les Bains de Marrakech, and Hammam de la Rose are highly regarded.

Drift silently above the ancient medina, Palmeraie palm groves, and Atlas Mountain foothills as the sun rises over the Moroccan landscape. Sunrise flights last approximately one hour, offering a bird's-eye perspective on the terracotta rooftops, irrigated plains, and distant snow-capped peaks that is simply unavailable from the ground. Operators include Ciel d'Afrique and Marrakech By Air, both holding international safety certifications.

Learn to prepare authentic Moroccan dishes under the guidance of expert chefs in a hands-on kitchen environment. Classes typically begin with a guided tour of the spice souk to select ingredients, followed by preparation of a full Moroccan meal: harira soup, a tagine or couscous, pastilla, and traditional sweets. Top venues include La Maison Arabe (the pioneer of cooking classes in Marrakech), Cafe Clock in the Kasbah, and the Amal Women's Training Center in Gueliz.

Tear through the dusty tracks, palm grove corridors, and stony pistes of the Palmeraie on an all-terrain quad bike. Guided tours navigate routes through the 13,000-hectare oasis, passing traditional Berber farmsteads, camel herders, and eventually open scrubland with Atlas Mountain views. Multiple operators depart from the northern edge of the Palmeraie and provide helmets, goggles, and brief safety instruction.

Mount a dromedary camel and sway through the ancient palm oasis on the edge of Marrakech as the sun dips toward the Atlas Mountains. The Palmeraie, planted by the Almoravid dynasty in the 11th century, creates a North African desert atmosphere just 15 minutes from the medina. Sunset rides are particularly atmospheric when the light turns the palm fronds gold and the mountains glow pink on the horizon.

Just 65 km south of Marrakech, the High Atlas Mountains offer world-class hiking through a landscape of extraordinary beauty. The Berber village of Imlil (1,740m altitude) serves as the trailhead for routes ranging from gentle valley walks past terraced fields and walnut groves to serious ascents of Jebel Toubkal (4,167m), North Africa's highest peak. Day hikers can complete the Aroumd circuit or walk to the Kasbah du Toubkal for lunch with panoramic views.

Housed in a gorgeous 19th-century palace built for Si Said, brother of the Grand Vizier Ba Ahmed who built the nearby Bahia Palace, this museum is dedicated to the decorative arts of Morocco. The collection spans Berber jewelry, elaborately carved cedarwood panels, embroidered textiles, weaponry, pottery, and historic carpets from across the country. The building itself - with its painted ceilings, carved plaster, and central courtyard - is as impressive as the exhibits.

Explore Marrakech's labyrinthine medina with a professional photographer or expert guide who knows the city's hidden photographic gems: the light shafts of the tannery, the dyers' souk with its hanging wool skeins, rooftop views across a sea of terracotta, the morning fruit market, craftsmen at work in their ateliers, and the blue doorways of the Mellah. Small-group and private tours available through local operators and riad concierges.

After sunset, Jemaa el-Fnaa transforms into an experience that has enchanted visitors and Marrakchis alike for centuries. Halqa circles form spontaneously around Gnaoua musicians, Berber storytellers recounting tales in Darija, and acrobatic troupes. Over 100 numbered food stalls ignite their grills, filling the square with fragrant smoke. Snake charmers, fortune tellers, and henna artists ply their trades under the stars while the Koutoubia minaret glows on the horizon.

Just 40 km southwest of Marrakech, the Agafay desert is a dramatic moonscape of rocky plateaus and dry river valleys with the High Atlas Mountains as a permanent backdrop - all without the 10-hour drive to the Sahara. Luxury tented camps including Scarabeo Camp, Desert Luxury Camp, and Le Blan Marrakech offer sunset camel rides, traditional music around the campfire, gourmet Moroccan dinners under a vast starry sky, and optional overnight stays in opulent desert tents.

Designed by Cabell Robinson and opened in 2013, the Royal Palm Marrakech is a championship 18-hole course woven through 231 hectares of olive and palm groves on the southern outskirts of the city. The course offers extraordinary Atlas Mountain views from multiple tees and fairways. The clubhouse, adjacent to the five-star Royal Palm hotel, is a luxurious resting point between rounds. Several other courses serve golfers in Marrakech including Amelkis, Samanah, and the Palmeraie Golf Club.

Created by Austrian multidisciplinary artist Andre Heller, Jardin Anima is a 7-hectare artistic garden near the Ourika Valley on the southern outskirts of Marrakech. Opened in 2016, the garden blends botanical richness with contemporary art installations - monumental sculptures, mosaics, and architectural follies are woven among rare plants, water channels, and shaded walkways. It is a more contemplative and artistic experience than the Majorelle Garden, drawing visitors who appreciate the intersection of horticulture and art.