Marrakech with Kids 2027: Family Things to Do

Summer afternoons in Marrakech are very hot, often above 35°C from June to September, and there is little shade in the souks or at Jemaa el-Fna. Spring and autumn are the easiest seasons with children. Winter days are mild and sunny, but nights are cold and riads can be chilly, so pack warm layers.

The rhythm that works for most families is sightseeing from breakfast until late morning, a long break at the pool through the hottest hours, and going out again from late afternoon. Children used to early bedtimes may find the evening the best part of the day, when the squares and gardens fill with local families.

Carry water, sun hats and sunscreen everywhere. Bottled water is sold in every corner shop, and pharmacies, marked with a green cross, are easy to find in every district.

The medina lanes are narrow, uneven and shared with motorbikes, handcarts and donkeys. A stroller is hard work there and blocks the way at busy times, so most parents use a baby carrier inside the walls. Older children are safest holding a hand in the souks, where scooters pass close.

Outside the walls a stroller is fine: Gueliz, Hivernage and Agdal have pavements, and the Jardin Majorelle and the Menara gardens have wide paths.

Riads often have steep stairs and open roof terraces, and some have a plunge pool in the courtyard with no fence. If you travel with toddlers, ask the riad about stairs, terrace railings and the pool before you book.

The Jardin Majorelle, with its blue villa, bamboo and cactus garden, is the best-known garden in the city and an easy first outing. Go at opening time, before the queues and the heat. The Menara gardens, an olive grove around a large water basin with the Atlas behind it, are a quieter place to run around.

Jemaa el-Fna is at its best for children in the early evening, when the food stalls set up, musicians play and the square fills with families. Snake charmers and monkey handlers expect money for photos, and the monkeys are a welfare concern, so keep children back from them.

A horse-drawn calèche ride around the medina walls gives children a view of the city without walking. Agree the route and the price with the driver before you climb in.

In the souks, children enjoy the dyers' lane, the metalworkers and the spice stalls. A short visit with breaks works better than a long shopping walk.

Oasiria is a water park on the Amizmiz road, on the south-west edge of the city, with slides, pools and lawns. Opening days and hours vary through the year, so check them with the park before you plan the day. Guides report a free park shuttle from the city; confirm it with the park too.

A private car to Oasiria and back, with child seats if you ask for them, is quoted on request: send your dates and the office replies with the price per car.

Many hotels sell pool day passes to non-guests, which helps if your riad has only a plunge pool. Ask the hotel ahead, since some limit the number of passes or the age of children at adult pools.

The Palmeraie, the palm grove on the north-east edge of the city, is where most camel and quad rides near Marrakech start. Camel rides are short, slow loops through the palms and suit most ages. Quad bikes are faster and louder.

Each operator sets its own minimum age and rules for children on quads and camels, so ask the operator when you book rather than assuming. Many operators include pickup in town; if yours does not, a ride there and back is quoted on request.

Lalla Takerkoust is a lake 36 km from Marrakech, about 40 min by road. Local operators run kayaks, pedal boats and quads, and lakeside restaurants serve lunch, which makes it an easy half day or day with children. Book the activities on the spot or ahead.

The Agafay desert is 28 km away, about 45 min: stony hills rather than sand dunes, with camel rides, a camp dinner and the sunset. Our Agafay afternoon trip costs 1,200 MAD per car and brings you back the same night, which suits children who sleep better in their own beds.

The Ouzoud waterfalls are 160 km away, about 3 h 10 each way, so it is a long day in the car. At the falls there are steep paths with steps, boat rides at the foot of the falls and wild Barbary macaques. It suits children who travel well; our day trip with a driver costs 1,100 MAD per car.

Child seats are free on request. Tell us how many children are travelling and their ages when you book, and the office confirms the seats in writing.

Choose the vehicle by the number of people and bags. A sedan takes up to 3 guests with 3 large suitcases and a van 7 guests with 7, so a family of five or more with luggage needs a van. Airport rides into Marrakech are quoted on request, per vehicle.

Riads have a small number of rooms, and family rooms are rarer than in hotels. Some riads rent out the whole house, which works well for two families travelling together. Larger hotels in Hivernage, Agdal and the Palmeraie are more likely to have family rooms, connecting rooms and children's pools.