Planning a trip to Marrakesh, Morocco, and want to make the most of your time in this vibrant North African city? In this 3-day itinerary I’ll cover off everything that I did during my recent visit to Marrakesh, including cultural sites, hot air ballooning, Moroccan jazz and where to drink mint tea!
Marrakesh is a true gateway to Africa, as for many people Morocco may be your first taste of this gigantic continent. Nestled right at the top west corner of the African continent, Morocco is a metaphorical stone’s throw away from Southern Spain, making Marrakesh the perfect winter city break if you’re based in Europe.
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Marrakesh itself has a rich and fascinating history, and is filled with architectural marvels such as the Ben Youssef Madrassa, El Badi Palace, Bahia Palace and the Koutoubia Mosque. Saadian, Almoravid and Moorish styles combine to create a stunning melting point of design.
More recent additions like the Jardin Majorelle and luxurious tea houses give the city an arty, laid back vibe once you escape from the chaos of the busting medina. And the neighbouring Agafay desert is a playground for exhilarating experiences like hot air ballooning and off-road driving in the shadow of the High Atlas Mountains.
Most visitors to Marrakesh will arrive via Marrakesh Menara International Airport (RAK). From there you can get a direct bus into the city centre (bus number 19), which includes Jemaa el-Fnaa and the train station. It sets off from the bus stop in the car park opposite the exit from the airport.
Alternatively, if you’re arriving late or simply want a hassle-free journey to your accommodation, I recommend booking a pickup transfer in advance using Welcome Pickups.
For accommodation I highly recommend staying in a traditional style Moroccan riad. We stayed at the beautiful Riad Deha & Spa, right in the heart of the Medina. The property is centered around a traditional countyard, and a delicious Moroccan breakfast was included.
Le Jardin Secret is the perfect way to ease yourself into Marrakesh life. Hidden away in the centre of the historic medina, Le Jardin Secret is a tranquil escape from the bustle of the city streets.
This newly recreated garden is modelled on a traditional 18th century Islamic garden and located next to a 400 year old riad. You’ll find intricate tile work bordered with scented orange trees. There’s also a cafe upstairs with nice views.
You can book your tickets online via the official website for Le Jardin Secret. Tickets cost 100 dirham (£8). You can stay here all day if you like. If I visit again I’ll bring my book.
The Ben Youssef Madrassa is only a 6 minute walk from Le Jardin Secret, and is an absolute highlight of any visit to Marrakesh. Dating back to the 14th century, this madrasa was a centre of Islamic learning, where students from all over North Africa studied the Qur’an, law and philosophy.
Although the madrassa was founded by the Marinid Sultan Abou al-Hassan in c. 1346-1349, the building you can see today was mostly completely rebuilt by the Saadian Sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib in 1564-1565.
Entrance tickets cost 50 dirham (£4) and you can pay on entry.
Treating yourself to a Moroccan hammam is the perfect way to end your first day and truly relax into your holiday. This traditional steam bath focuses on scrubbing off dirt and dead skin, before you’re wrapped in a clay mask and basically left to marinade in a hot and steamy room.
Hammams are usually separated by gender, and you can choose between public shared bathhouses or more luxury private experiences. We opted for the relaxing package at Les Bains de Azahara, where you can go in as small private groups.
I don’t have any photos from inside, as hammam involves being starkers just with a pair of paper knickers! But trust me, you’ll feel the cleanest you’ve ever been afterwards! I also had the best night’s sleep.
El Badi Palace was actually my favourite palace, although some people say to skip it. I personally enjoyed how peaceful it was in the early morning.
El Badi Palace (meaning “Palace of Wonder”) is an example of Saadian Dynasty architecture, and its construction was ordered by sultan Ahmad al-Mansur in the late 16th century. Nowadays most of the palace is in ruins (bits of it were pilfered throughout the centuries after the sultan’s death, and used to build other buildings across Morocco), but there’s a reconstruction project underway now.
Visitors enter through a section on the northwest side that used to be residential quarters, and then you can walk though to the central courtyard with sunken gardens and a decorative pool. El Badi Palace is open daily from 09:00 – 17:00.
Bahia Palace is huge, so allow plenty of time for your visit. It’s also a bit of a maze and we got lost trying to find the way out! But that’s fine as every single room is absolutely exquisite. And remember to look up!
This ornate palace was originally built in the 1860s and later expanded in the late 1890s. The intricate mosaics took over 10 years to complete, and the best artists in the city were employed for this impressive task.
Entrance to Bahia Palace costs 70 dirham (£6). It ‘s open from 8:00-17:00 daily, and gets quite busy.
Lunch at 1112 Moroccan Teahouse was one of my favourite meals in Marrakesh as the food was genuinely delicious. You can also try tastings of 12 different regional Moroccan teas. Mint is the most famous, but Morocco actually has countless varieties, made using different local herbs depending on the season.
Book ahead via the 1112 Moroccan Teahouse website.
Morocco has a very distinctive style of tile art known as Zellij or Zellige, where tiles are made using a mosiac style method. Each tile is made up of several individually hand-chiseled mosaic pieces, placed together to form geometric patterns.
This practice dates back to around A.D. 711, and can be seen all over historic buildings in Morocco. We booked a tile making workshop, which was fun as we got to have a go at making our own tiles while chatting over mint tea. Book your Moroccan tile making workshop in advance before you travel to guarentee a spot.
Marrakesh is filled with endless gorgeous rooftop spots that are a relaxing escape from the rush of the streets below. We chose to have sunset cocktails at Kabana Rooftop, which serves drinks and food too, often with live music.
Book a table in advance through the Kabana Rooftop site.
Having dinner at a Moroccan jazz restaurant is the perfect way to round off a full day of exploring Marrakesh. Bistro Arabe is located inside the Riad Monceau. Small tables are grouped around the edge of the riad’s courtyard pool. The lights shimmering on the surface of the water create a gorgeous atmosphere.
You can book a table for either the first or second sitting. We opted for the second sitting, booking a table for 9pm.
Hot air ballooning over the Agafay Desert was hands down the absolute highlight of our trip to Marrakesh. (I’ll be honest, I kept both feet firmly on the ground as I’m not good with heights, but I enjoyed watching the balloons and seeing my friend Verity floating through the sky!).
We booked via Ciel d’Afrique and they were very impressive and professional throughout the entire experience.
The Majorelle Gardens (Jardin Majorelle) were created by the French artist Jacques Majorelle in 1923, but took over 40 years to complete. Then they were bought by the French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent in 1980.
We got back to our riad after the hot air balloon trip around midday, so we booked our Jardin Majorelle tickets for 1:30pm. You can purchase tickets through the Jardin Majorelle official website.
The gardens are open daily from 8:30am-6:00pm (last entry at 5:30pm).
It goes without saying, but the food in Morocco is fantastic! And joining a street food tour is the perfect way to find all the best places to eat in Marrakesh. If you’re interested in discovering traditional and unique food, this one’s for you!
We tried a wide range of dishes, including prickly pears that turned out tongues purple, snails (eek!), nougat, mouth-watering lentil soup and delicious tagines.
Book your Marrakech: Street Food Tour by Night tour in advance.
Watching a dance show at Comptoir Darna is a true Arabian Nights experience, with belly dancers and ladies balancing candles on their heads! The drinks flow, you dine at small individual tables, there’s shisha, plus a DJ and dancefloor for the end of the night. The perfect finale to any Marrakesh itinerary!
Book your table via the Comptoir Darna site. We went for the first show at 9:30pm, but there’s also a second show at 11:20pm.
Bacha Coffee in Marrakesh is extremely hyped, but I did quite enjoy it. Mostly for the “golden age” style interior decor. This famous coffee spot is located inside the Dar el Bacha palace, built in 1910.
Note that you always need to wait about 1-3 hours, so make sure to allow time. When you arrive you’ll be given a buzzer, and you need to spend the 1-3 hours waiting in the museum area downstairs. You cannot put your name down and leave to come back later.
They serve food at Bacha Coffee too, so we had brunch there to fill up before our flight home.
Create a cute souvenir of your trip at the Deserted Photo Booth in the heart of the Medina. You can choose between colour or black & white, and you can print more than one copy.
Before you head off to the airport it’s worth sneaking in one final glass of Moroccan mint tea! And I have the perfect spot for you: Le Grand Balcon du Café Glacier is nothing fancy, but their upstairs terrace has amazing sweeping views out over Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakesh’s UNESCO-recognised central square.
Marrakesh offers a unique blend of culture and fun, making it the perfect city break. Or you could combine your visit to Marrakesh with a longer Morocco trip, as there’s so much more to explore. From surfing in Taghazout, camping in the Sahara Desert, exploring the blue city of Chefchaouen, and the desert city of Aït Benhaddou, Morocco has so many incredible places to see.
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