15 Best things to do in Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech is a popular long weekend destination for us Brits. Forget Paris, spending a weekend in Marrakech is what’s always a good idea.

There’s an abundance of cheap flights and it only takes three hours of being at 35,000 ft to arrive somewhere that feels a million miles away from home there are plenty of unique top things to do in Marrakech, Morocco!

I spent the entire duration of the transfer from the airport to our Riad in Marrakech with my eyes wide open. The things I love most about travelling; are the numerous new sights, smells and sounds that were all present on that short drive as we began to wind our way through the Medina in Marrakech.

If you’re looking for a weekend adventure not too far away from home then a visit to Marrakech could be the answer.

However, it also seems like EVERYONE and their Aunt are visiting this Moroccan city for the weekend nowadays. Therefore, trying to find something different to do, something your friends haven’t already done can be difficult.

The best moments of our weekend in Marrakech were the moments spent doing things no one else had told us to do when we wandered away from Marrakech guidebooks and advice: the things we just happened to stumble across.

So, whether you’re revisiting or are visiting Marrakech for the first time, skip the usual Marrakech itinerary and try these suggestions on what to do in Marrakech over a weekend.

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About Marrakech

Marrakech, or Marrakesh, is a former imperial city in western Morocco. It’s a major economic centre for the country and is home to mosques, palaces and gardens. The heart of the city is the densely packed and walled medina.

This part of the city is a medieval city which dates back to the Berber Empire. It’s a maze of alleyways with marketplaces (souks) selling textiles, pottery, lamps and jewellery.

Marrakech is full of different sights, tastes and smells and you’ll probably either love it or hate it!

Where is Marrakech?

If you’re wondering “where’s Marrakech?” then you’re not alone. Despite its popularity, many people don’t realise that it’s actually on the continent of Africa and is one of the larger cities in Morocco.

Morocco shares a border with Algeria to the east. The city of Marrakech is fairly centrally located in Morocco and is roughly 2.5 hour’s drive away from the coast.

How many days in Marrakech?

There are lots of places to see in Marrakech and the city is so crazy that you could easily spend a week or 5 days in Marrakech. However, for more a long weekend (4 days, 3 nights) is enough to get a taste of the city.

The ideas in this post are great if you’re wondering what to do in Marrakech in 3 days as that’s how long we spent there.

However, you could easily cut out a few things like the day trip suggestion, hammam and cooking class or some of the day trips if you just have 2 days in Marrakech.

When is the best time to visit Marrakech?

There’s never really a bad time to go but the best time to go to Marrakech tends to be in the Spring (March to May).

Marrakech in May and Marrakech in the fall (September-November) are perfect since it’s not too hot! It’s a pretty sweaty place in the summer months!

Is Marrakech safe?

In general, yes. Moroccans are well known for being hospitable and tolerant people.

However, if you’re a solo female traveller in Morocco, especially if you’re blonde, you’re likely to receive more unwanted attention than if you’re travelling in a group or with men.

Even though I was travelling with my boyfriend there was a lot of catcalling and staring. It gets a bit tiresome as the trip goes on.

I’d advise wearing a maxi or midi dress with sleeves (or at least with the shoulders covered) or loose trousers and t-shirts. Try to avoid low necklines or anything too figure-hugging to avoid too much attention.

How to get to Marrakech

Getting to Marrakech is easy, reasonably cheap and quick. There are many flights leaving from the bigger UK airports every week.

Flights to Marrakech

Flights to Marrakech land at Marrakech airport (RAK). You can find return flights with RyanAir and British Airways for under £150 return.

Skyscanner is what I use to find cheap flights.

Where to stay in Marrakech, Morocco

Looking for hotels in Marrakech, Morocco? I’ve whittled down some of the best places to stay in Marrakech for every budget.

The main thing to bear in mind is that the best area to stay in Marrakech depends on what you’re looking for during your trip. If you really want to be in the middle of it all, amongst the madness then a riad within the city walls may be right for you.

However, if you’re looking for somewhere more relaxing you may want to look at Marrakech hotels with pools which tend to be outside the medina as there’s more space there.

Marrakech where to stay guide on how to find the best Riad for you.

• Budget Marrakech hotels: Mosaic Hostel | Riad 117
• Mid-range: Abélia Riad | Les Jardins de Riad Laarouss | Dar Coram
• Luxury hotels in Marrakech: Riad & Spa le Secret de Zoraida | Riad Adika | La Mamounia

Where to eat in Marrakech

If you’re looking for a Marrakech Moroccan restaurant then look no further! Here are a few of the most popular restaurants in Marrakech.

• La Jardin: Open 10 am – 11 pm daily
• Café Clock: 9 am – 11 pm daily
• Dar Moha: 12pm – 4 pm, 7 pm – 11 pm daily
• Dar Yacout: 7.30pm – 11 pm, closed Mondays

Best things to buy in Marrakech

Marrakech is one of the best places to pick up some home furnishings! There are plenty of places to visit in the Medina where you can get awesome light fittings, rugs and ceramics.

These gifts are some of the best of Marrakech and a great way to remember your trip. If you’re in the market for some new things to buy take a look at the following:

• Leather poufs
• Rugs
• Cushion covers
• Baskets
• Argan oil
• Lanterns
• Tea sets

Best tours in Marrakech, Morocco

A small group tour can be a great way to experience a new city the way the locals do. Take a look at these Marrakech tours to see a new side to this crazy place.

• Open-air Moroccan cookery class
• 3 hour night time tour of Marrakech
• Atlas Mountain Day trip

Ideas for unique things to do in Marrakech, Morocco – What to do in Marrakech

A map of different things to do in Marrakech

If you’re heading to Marrakech here is where to find ideas for fun things to do in Morocco (and specifically places to visit in Marrakech!).

These Marrakech attractions are a must-see!

Save these Marrakech top attractions to your phone and find these Marrakech highlights easily as you wander around. The suggestions below make for a great Marrakech 3-day itinerary.

1. Steer clear of Marrakech hotels and stay in a luxurious & authentic Riad

When I began searching for somewhere to stay in Marrakech I knew instantly that I wanted to stay in a Riad. Why stay in a hotel that could be anywhere when I could be amongst the madness, the action, the craziness?

Riads, the equivalent of a boutique hotel, are beautifully decorated and furnished. They’re usually found in amongst the maze of streets in Marrakech’s Medina (the old city).

I’d highly recommend getting a transfer from the airport to the Riad so you don’t have to rely on your own navigation skills.

GPS doesn’t work that well in the Marrakech Medina market and you’ll be approached by many entrepreneurial Moroccans offering to show you the way for a hefty sum. Most Riads offer transfers and it’ll make that welcome to the city so much nicer!

I can see the pull of staying in a more westernised, luxurious-looking hotel in the “new city”, I really can, but you only get amazing-looking Riads like Riad Star and Alwachma in Marrakech. Hotels with pools and cocktail bars can be found anywhere.

There’s also no need to be worried about your slumber being disrupted by the noise of the Medina. Sure, the Medina is loud but the Riads seem to have some magical ability to cancel all the noise out. In fact, they’re almost eerily quiet!

Do you still need convincing?

Riads tend to come with amazing rooftops for the best views of Marrakech sites! So, if you are after some sunbathing while in Marrakech you need only head to the rooftop of your Riad.

2. Explore the ruins of the Badi Palace

Explore some more Moroccan architecture when you discover the ruins of the Badi Palace. This palace used to be owned by Saadian King Ahmad al-Mansur in the 16th Century and was looted by his successor before being left to the ruins you see today.

Noted as one of the best things to do in Marrakech Morocco, this ruin has walls dotted with massive stork nests (a holy animal in Marrakech) and a sunken down orange grove plus a few reflection pools.

For the best views at one of the best Marrakech points of interest, you’ll want to head upstairs to see the entire complex.

• Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm, daily
• Entrance fees: 70 dirhams
• Guided tours: book a guided tour with skip-the-line tickets

3. Drink mint tea in Morocco

You can’t come to Morocco and NOT have mint tea. It’s pretty much impossible. Whether your first sip is at your hotel or riad or in the Marrakech city centre, you’re sure to enjoy this sweet drink.

You can order them pretty much everywhere and each one will taste slightly different!

4. Take a day trip to Ouzoud Falls from Marrakech

If you’re after a Marrakech day trip then head out to Ouzoud Falls. These waterfalls in Morocco are about a 2.5-hour drive away from the city and are home to some monkeys too.

It’s a great place to escape the noise of the city.

Book a hiking & waterfall tour with transport from Marrakech here.

5. Enjoy a Hammam experience in Marrakech

Having a Hammam in Marrakech is a real experience. These public bathhouses are a great way to experience the local culture and relax at the same time.

There are high-end hammams or more authentic scrub downs (just be prepared they’re reportedly not the most relaxing).

The whole experience involves stripping down, taking a sudsy bath, sitting in a sauna, exfoliating and getting a massage. You’ll feel like a new person if you visit a hammam in Marrakech!

• Recommended hammams in Marrakech: Heritage Spa, Hammam Moussaine
• Average prices: 150 – 200 dirhams (€15-20)
• Book in advance: Hammam and hotel transfer

6. Explore the crazy Jemaa el-Fna day & night

Jemaa el-Fna is the main square in Marrakech. You can visit it during the day but it’s at night that it comes alive at one of the top Marrakech sights.

It’s without a doubt one of the best things to do in Marrakech at night. If you were wondering where to go in Marrakech then check this place out even if you’ve been during the day.

It’s an eye-opening place with so much going on wherever you look and you hear some amusing things from the stall owners trying to entice you to come and eat with them.

Read more: Weird things you head in Jemaa el-Fna at night!

7. Wander Ben Yousseff Madrasa

This is one of the top Marrakech activities. Ben Yousseff Madrasa used to be an Islamic college in Marrakech for around 900 students and now it’s a Morocco must-see.

That’s mostly because of the beautiful tiles you’ll find as you wander around and the 14th-Century architecture.

• Opening hours: 9 am – 6 pm, daily
• Entrance fees: 70 dirhams

8. Stay clear of Jardin Majorelle. Wander down Rue Bab El Arhdar

We did visit Jardin Majorelle, favoured by late fashionista Yves Saint Laurent. However, I wasn’t much impressed. We both preferred the prettier, calmer, less touristy and cheaper garden towards the south of the city. Jardin Majorelle was nice but I thought it would be so much better.

The mass of tourists there day in and day out makes it less attractive. The 70 dirham entry fee is even more so.

It’s one of the top things to see in Marrakech when you Google “What to see in Marrakech?” and many would say it’s a Marrakech must-see, but I have an alternative suggestion.

If I’m honest a visit to Jardin Majorelle felt like a bit of a rip-off. Instead, I’d highly recommend taking a walk along Rue Bab El Arhdar which runs adjacent to one of the Palaces.

This garden area is much quieter and it’s free. Plus you’ll get to feel quietly smug about having discovered something secret. Our evening walk around the gardens was one of our favourites.

• Opening hours (Jardin Majorelle): 8 am – 6 pm, daily
• Entrance fees: 70 dirham

9. Swap a sunset drink at La Mamounia for one at Nomad

When looking at the top things to do in Marrakesh, La Mamounia will crop up time and time again. La Mamounia is a five-star palatial hotel just within the Medina walls. It’s known for opulence with Winston Churchill being a fan during his time.

Sure, La Mamounia is pretty, but if you want to feel a bit more in the middle of the action you should visit Nomad.

The souks are almost impossible to navigate but every now and again they open up slightly into squares. In these squares, you’ll find sellers selling their wares whether that’s cumin, live tortoises, lamps or leather goods.

The rooftop at Nomad looks over onto one such square and is both close enough, yet far enough away, to the action for a relaxing sunset cocktail.

Yes, an alcoholic cocktail at that. This is unusual as many places in the Medina aren’t licensed to sell alcohol! That alone makes this an addition to your what to visit in Marrakech list!

The brainchild of well-known eatery Le Jardin, Kamal Laftimi, is behind Nomad. Nomad is a Brazil meets Morocco oasis courtyard Marrakech restaurant with stunning views of the Katouia mosque.

Rumour has it the food here is pretty special too, but make sure you book as it can get pretty busy!

• Website: nomadmarrakech.com
• Hours:  11am – 11pm daily
• Address: 1 Derb Aarjane, Medina

10. See the Koutoubia Mosque

The Koutoubia Mosque is one of the top Morocco attractions and one of the most famous icons in Marrakech. At 77 metres high you can see it from all over the city.

Non-muslims are not allowed to enter the mosque as this Marrakech mosque is still an active place of worship.

However, you can grab a moment of calm by enjoying the exterior of this impressive building that deserves to be in the top 10 in Marrakech.

11. Escape the souks and head to the Kasbah

As much fun as exploring the souks medina in Marrakech can be, sometimes it gets tiring. Things to do in the Medina include; getting lost, haggling or having people constantly try and take you somewhere you don’t want to go.

If you want a break from it all then head south and visit the Kasbah (if you happened to go to Warwick or Coventry uni, or live there, don’t worry it’s nothing like the nightclub!).

This Marrakech market is a much less busy version of the souks and I think it’s one of the best places to visit in Marrakech. You’ll feel safer from runaway motorbikes and will find the initial price given to you by the seller a little bit less than in the souks!

One of our favourite shops on the whole trip was an apothecary-type store and I honestly think these stores are the best places to do in Marrakech.

We were treated to a guided tour of all the spices and treatments. We learnt about how a good sniff of nigella seeds can cure all ailments; including blocked noses and headaches, and walked away with some pretty looking (and smelling) tea and a freebie – Berber lipstick made from poppies and pomegranate.

Learning about how the herbs and spices in the shop are used was fascinating and even better that it didn’t come across as a hard sales pitch!

12. Don’t just eat tagine, learn how to cook it!

I love eating new food when travelling. But I love trying new recipes and finding out where food comes from even more.

There are loads of unusual Marrakech tours to try but this cookery class was the one that caught my interest!

We started by visiting the markets with our Marrakech travel guide to grab our ingredients before heading back to the chef’s Riad and learning how to cook it!

Whilst spending your weekend in Marrakech it almost goes without saying that you have to try a tagine; it’s a must-do in Marrakech.

The vegetable ones were actually my favourite!

Why not take it one step further and learn how to cook it yourself? Your new skills will rival some of the best restaurants in Marrakech and you can recreate holiday memories at home.

13. Take a trip to the desert

Marrakech isn’t very desert-like but you can experience the Moroccan desert by taking a day trip from Marrakech.

There are lots of different options depending on what you’re interested in.

You can do some adrenaline-seeking by riding a quad bike through the Jbilets Desert. You’ll be guided down some tracks, take a half-time break of mint tea and then head off again!

Or, you can take a longer trip out to the Merzouga desert on a 3-Day Desert Safari. This tour takes you to some of the top things to see in Morocco including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou, the Hollywood of Morocco, Ouarzazate, the Todgha Gorges, and then the sand dunes. It includes all breakfasts and dinners and accommodation for the duration of the trip too.

If three days is too long, then there’s a desert day trip from Marrakech option too where you’ll head towards the Atlas mountains, enjoy a guided hike, and a camel ride and get plenty of great photo opportunities along the way with scenic views.

I’ve put together a post of the best camel trekking tours in Morocco here

14. Take a night-time street food tour

Discover the sights, scents and flavours of Marrakech on this guided street food tour.

I don’t know about you but I love trying new cuisines when I go travelling. It’s one of the reasons I love travelling so much! And trust me, this is one of those Marrakech things to do you don’t want to miss.

If you’re from a western country then the food in Marrakech is likely to be very different to what you’re used to.

On the street food tour in Marrakech, you’ll be guided around the souks, markets and back streets of the city trying sweet and savoury foods as well as mint tea!

15. Go on a hot air balloon ride in Marrakech!

While taking a hot air balloon ride is still on my bucket list, I can’t imagine there are that many more spectacular places to do so than in Marrakech.

This hot air balloon flight experience near Marrakech takes you from your hotel to the countryside surrounding the city. There you’ll be taken above the buildings to ride above the Palm Grove of Marrakech.

After your 1-hour long flight, your experience will be finished off with mint tea and home-baked bread from a local Berber household! This is one of the most special things to do in Marakesh.

Last Updated on May 23, 2023 by Hannah