Things to Do in Marrakech in 2027: A Practical Guide

Start with Jemaa el-Fna, the main square, which changes through the day: juice stalls and henna painters in the morning, musicians and storytellers in the afternoon, and rows of food stalls after dark. UNESCO lists its street culture as intangible heritage, and the best way to see it is from a café terrace on the edge of the square around sunset, then down among the stalls.

North of the square the souks begin. Each lane once belonged to one trade, and many still do: leather and slippers, lanterns and metalwork, spices, carpets, wood. Go in the morning when it is quieter, carry small notes, and bargain politely; a smile and a walk away are part of the process. Offline maps help, but getting a little lost is normal and the main lanes lead back to the square.

Climb to a rooftop at least once. Many riads and cafés have terraces with views over the medina roofs to the Koutoubia minaret and, in winter and spring, the snow on the High Atlas.

The Bahia Palace, built in the 19th century for the grand viziers of the time, is the place to see Moroccan craft at full scale: painted cedar ceilings, zellige tilework and courtyards planted with orange trees. The Ben Youssef Medersa, a former Quranic school reopened after a long restoration, has one of the finest carved courtyards in the country.

The Saadian Tombs and the ruins of El Badi Palace both belong to the 16th-century Saadian dynasty and sit a short walk apart in the kasbah district. Arrive at the tombs early, as the main chamber is small and the queue builds by late morning. El Badi is open ground under high walls, with storks nesting on top; restoration work after the 2023 earthquake may close some parts.

For museums, Dar Si Said holds the national collection of weaving and carpets, Le Jardin Secret is a restored riad garden in the heart of the medina, and the Maison de la Photographie shows early photographs of Morocco with a rooftop café on top. Mosques in Marrakech, including the Koutoubia, are closed to non-Muslims, but the minaret and its gardens are open to all from outside.

Jardin Majorelle, created by the painter Jacques Majorelle and later owned by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, is the most visited garden in the city. Buy tickets in advance on the official website; the garden is busy all day, so the first slot of the morning is the calmest. The Yves Saint Laurent Museum next door is closed on Wednesdays, the garden is not.

The Menara gardens, an olive grove around a large basin and pavilion, are best late in the afternoon when the light falls on the Atlas behind. The Cyber Park, between the medina and Gueliz, is a free and shaded place to sit between visits.

Majorelle is in Gueliz, about half an hour's walk from Jemaa el-Fna. Many visitors pair it with the medina sights in one day with a driver, which saves the walk in the heat and the negotiation with taxis.

Eat the dishes Marrakech is known for: tanjia, beef or lamb slow-cooked in a clay jar in the embers of a hammam furnace; tagines of every kind; harira soup; msemen pancakes at breakfast; and the grilled meats and snail soup at the stalls of Jemaa el-Fna. Mint tea comes with everything.

A cooking class is one of the most popular things to do in Marrakech, and a good one starts with a market visit to buy spices and vegetables before you cook a tagine and bread. Some classes run in the medina, others on farms outside the city; we drive guests to and from those.

A hammam is the other ritual worth trying. A public neighbourhood hammam is cheap, local and basic: bring your own soap, a scrub glove and a towel. Spa hammams in riads and hotels cost more and add a massage. Either way, the black soap and scrub leave your skin smoother than any shower.

A hot-air balloon flight at sunrise is the most memorable early start in Marrakech. Pickups are before dawn, flights go up over the countryside outside the city with views to the Atlas, and operators finish with breakfast. Flights depend on the wind, so book it early in your stay to leave room for a second try.

The Agafay desert, 28 km from the medina, about 45 min by road, is a stony desert of bare hills rather than sand dunes. Camps there serve dinner under the stars, often with camel or quad rides before sunset. A private car takes you out and brings you back after dinner, so you are not tied to a group shuttle's schedule; the Agafay transfer costs 700 MAD per car in Standard.

Lalla Takerkoust lake, on the same road, is good for a quiet lunch on the shore with the mountains behind.

The Ourika Valley is the classic half-day or full-day escape: the road follows a river into the High Atlas, and at Setti Fatma a path climbs to a series of small waterfalls. Our Ourika day trip costs from 900 MAD per car, with the driver for the day.

Imlil, at the foot of Toubkal, is the base for walks through Berber villages and walnut groves; the Imlil and Toubkal day trip costs from 1,000 MAD per car. The Ouzoud waterfalls, among the highest in Morocco, are a longer day, about 3 h 10 each way, from 1,100 MAD per car.

For the Atlantic, Essaouira is 2 h 45 away by road: a walled port town with a working harbour, ramparts and fresh fish grilled at the quay; the Essaouira day trip costs from 1,850 MAD per car. Aït Benhaddou, the fortified village over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, is a long but spectacular day, from 1,400 MAD per car.

Inside the medina you walk: most lanes are too narrow for cars. Petit taxis cover the rest of the city; agree the fare or ask for the meter before you set off. For a day of several stops, such as Majorelle in the morning and the palaces in the afternoon, a car with a driver who waits between stops is simpler: half a day costs 900 MAD and a full day 1,600 MAD.

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons. Summer afternoons are very hot, so plan sights for the morning and the late afternoon, and keep the middle of the day for a riad pool or a long lunch. In winter the days are mild and sunny but nights are cold, especially in the desert.

Three days is enough for the main sights plus one day trip. Rides between the airport and the city, and around Marrakech itself, are quoted on request; send your plan and the office replies with a price before you travel.