If you are planning your next trip to Morocco and more specifically Marrakech, be sure to read this post to find the best activities for your Marrakech itinerary.
Marrakech is a busy city showcasing Moroccan history and culture. The highest point of the city is the Moorish minaret of 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque. This is visible for miles from any high point in the city. As you walk through the busy streets of the old town, you’ll find many ‘rooftop’ restaurants serving traditional Moroccan food and tea. We visited the place during the month of Ramadan. Hence, a number of places were busier in the evening. Nonetheless, there were plenty of tourists roaming about all day!
Our trip to Marrakech was six days and included spending time in the city, a day trip to the Atlas Mountains and staying in Agafay Desert.
Jardin Majorelle and Yves Saint Laurent Museum
Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé bought the gardens in 1980. They restored the site including Villa Oasis which sits in the heart of the gardens. This would be our top tourist spot when you are visiting Marrakech. While a visit to the gardens is always trending on Instagram, I would also recommend visiting the Yves Saint Laurent Museum to learn more about his legacy.
You can buy tickets only for the gardens or along with entry to the two museums (Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts and Yvest Sainty Laurent Museum) directly from their website. Tickets for entry into all three sites are 315 MAD per person (~£25/$31). If you want to visit only Jardine Majorelle, the ticket is 155 MAD per person (~£12/$16) as of April 2024.
Pro Tip: You should book tickets in advance and arrive on time to enter Jardine Majorelle. You should enter the garden first to scan your ticket in your time slot and then visit the museums afterward.
Hot Air Balloon
A 4.30 am wake-up for a hot air balloon ride was worth it. Witnessing the sunrise with the backdrop of the Atlas mountains was a stunning sight. The hot air balloon take-off site is about 45 minutes outside of Marrakech. Tours pick you up from your hotel between 5-6 am depending on the time of the year.
After landing, they also serve a traditional Berber breakfast with Moroccan pancakes and breads. This was my first time on a hot air balloon and I did not expect it to be so big! Overall, it was a memorable experience from jumping into the basket, a serene view from the top to a smooth landing!
Prices start from £80/$100 and can vary by tour operator.
Madrasa Ben Youssef
Ben Youssef Madrasa is an Islamic madrasa (college) in Marrakesh founded in the 14th century. The madrasa is named after the adjacent Ben Youssef Mosque. It has stunning and impressive architecture and is one of the best we’ve seen in Marrakech.
Tickets to visit the madrasa cost 50 MAD (~£4/$5) as of April 2024 and can be purchased at the entrance. Be sure to walk around and admire the incredible intricacies of the architecture that they’ve built.
Dar el Bacha Palace and Bacha Coffee
Dar el Bacha is a palace located in the old medina of Marrakesh. It currently houses the Museum of Confluences and the famous coffee shop Bacha Coffee. You have two options for tickets: Visit Bacha coffee shop with an entrance fee of 10 MAD (~£1/$1.5) or visit the museum for 50 MAD (~£4/$5). The museum has some art exhibits and if you do love art, I would recommend getting the 50 MAD ticket.
Bacha coffee itself is worth visiting if you are a coffee lover. They offer a wide array of specialty coffees and breakfast options. Additionally, Dar el Bacha palace architecture is stunning and you should spend some time walking around. Built in the 18th century, Dar el Bacha is a classic example of a riad, consisting of a garden surrounded by six rooms on all four sides.
Pro Tip: To visit Bacha Coffee, you should aim to get there at least 40-45 minutes early before its opening at 10 am. If you get there any later, you’ll queue for over 2 hours as the cafe has very limited seating.
Explore the Medina
The Moroccan Medina is an old part of the city that is packed with vendors and stalls in small streets. Whilst tiny, there is still room for bike rides to find their way amidst the busy and narrow paths! You can buy everything from traditional Moroccan souvenirs, clothes, bags to the more popular Moroccan carpets and traditional home decor items!
Pro Tip: Remember that when you want to buy something, be ready to bargain your price! If you don’t get the price you want, go to the shop a few streets down and they would be selling the same thing!
Day trip to the Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains extend about 2,500km across north-western Africa, spanning Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, separating the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastline from the Sahara Desert. The Moroccan part is known as the High Atlas Mountains. On our private day trip, we drove off-road visiting villages and towns in the Imlil Valley and admiring the vast expanse of the mountains. We also had lunch at a traditional Berber house overlooking the highest mountain peak, Toubkal, which rises about 4,167m high. I learned the secret to making the perfect couscous, Moroccan tea, and traditional Moroccan breads!
If you are in Marrakech for a long trip, a day trip to the Atlas mountains is a must to get away from the busy Medina!
Bahia Palace
The Bahia Palace is a mid 19th-century palace, consisting of rooms decorated with stuccos, paintings and mosaics palace and a set of gardens located in Marrakech. The name of the Bahia Palace means in Arabic “brilliance”. The palace intended to capture the essence of the Islamic and Moroccan style.
If you are looking to know more about the culture and history of the city, this should be one on your list. I would recommend going with a tour guide to know the details instead of wandering about on your own! Entry ticket costs 70 MAD per person (~£5.5/$7) as of April 2024.
Planning your next trip to Marrakech?
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