Things to Do in Marrakech: A Guide for First-Timers

Marrakech grabs all of your senses at once, and we mean that in the best way possible. We visited in early summer, and between the souks, a sunrise we’ll never forget and more mint tea than we can count, it completely won us over.

This guide to the best things to do in Marrakech only covers what we actually did: no filler, no rewritten press releases, just the things we’d genuinely tell you to do. And because it’s us, the food has a whole post of its own.

1. Wander the Souks of the Medina

The souks are the medina’s maze of covered alleyways just north of Jemaa el-Fnaa, packed with lanterns, leather, spices, rugs, ceramics and a fair few motorbikes weaving through it all.

A few things to know before you go: haggling is expected, and almost nothing has a fixed price. Sellers will open with a crazy high price hoping you don’t haggle, so make sure you do! And if you’re not enjoying it, walking away is a perfectly good move that often gets you the best price anyway.

Download an offline map, but don’t over-rely on it, as GPS gets confused under the covered alleys. Honestly, the best approach is to accept you’re lost and enjoy it. You always eventually pop out somewhere you recognise.

We ended up buying a vase, coffee mugs, egg cups and a belt. All worth the price, and if we’d had more luggage we would have got even more.

2. Get Lost in Jemaa el-Fnaa

Jemaa el-Fnaa is Marrakech’s main square and the beating heart of the medina, and no trip is complete without it. By day it’s orange juice stalls, henna artists and snake charmers. By night it transforms into a huge open-air food market, all smoke, drums and organised chaos.

It’s intense the first time you walk through, there’s no getting around that, but give it a chance and it becomes the thing you remember most. Go once during the day to get your bearings, then come back at sunset when the square really comes alive. A rooftop café around the edge is the perfect spot to watch it all unfold with a mint tea in hand.

A couple of tips: anyone who hands you a monkey, drapes a snake round your neck or starts a henna design will expect payment. They will even expect payment if you just try to take a photo of the monkeys, so I would just watch from a distanst and keep the camera away.

3. Marvel at the Ben Youssef Madrasa

Tucked away at the northern end of the souks, the Ben Youssef Madrasa was once the largest Islamic college in Morocco, housing hundreds of students in the tiny dorm rooms wrapped around its courtyard. Most of what you see today dates from the 16th century, and it reopened in 2022 after several years of restoration.

The central courtyard is the showstopper: carved cedar, intricate stucco and geometric zellige tilework covering almost every surface. It’s easily one of the most photogenic spots in the city, which is exactly why we’d go early, as the tour groups start arriving mid-morning and the courtyard is small enough that they change the feel of the place.

Make sure you head upstairs too. The little student rooms with their windows over the courtyard are just as interesting as the main event, and the whole visit pairs perfectly with a wander through the souks next door.

4. Take a Breather at Le Jardin Secret

Once you’re ready for a bit of quiet time after exploring the souks, head to this peaceful garden hidden in the middle of the medina, where you can also grab a nice bite to eat.

Le Jardin Secret dates back to the 19th century, but from 1934 it sat neglected until restoration work began in 2012, creating what you see today.

Explore the gardens and their many plant species, admire the beautiful Islamic architecture, then take a rest in the café.

There’s no need to book days ahead like Jardin Majorelle, but we’d still book online to skip the queue at the door.

5. Coffee at Bacha Coffee, Dar el Bacha

Bacha Coffee is one of the best places to grab a coffee in Marrakech. We covered it in our Marrakech food guide, so if you want more info or recommendations, check it out!

Bacha Coffee sits inside the Dar el Bacha museum, so you do have to pay a small entrance fee of 10 dirham to get in. That only covers the café though, so if you want to explore the rest of the museum it’s another 70 dirham each.

They have over 200 different coffees to choose from. It was the largest coffee menu we’ve ever seen, and it was genuinely hard to pick just one.

6. Jardin Majorelle & the YSL Museum

If you’re into fashion or botanical gardens, this is a must-do. Jardin Majorelle packs over 300 plant species into a single hectare, and the whole place is built around that famous cobalt blue, which somehow looks even better in person than it does on Instagram.

The garden was designed by French painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s and later bought and restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, which is why the YSL Museum sits right next door.

Book online a few days beforehand. This is the one thing we’d stress, as tickets sell out on the day, so turning up and hoping isn’t a plan. We visited in early summer and slots were going fast, so if you’re travelling in peak season, book even further ahead.

7. Take a Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride

The hot air balloon was the highlight of our trip. Floating over 1,000ft in the air watching the sunrise was just incredible. And if you’re thinking this isn’t for you because you’re afraid of heights, there’s honestly no need to worry. We felt incredibly safe the whole time, and the pilot happily answered every question we had.

We booked our ride on GetYourGuide, and included in the price were transfers to and from our hotel, a coffee and pastry before the ride, and a lovely Berber breakfast afterwards, so you definitely get your money’s worth.

One last tip: make sure you book the sunrise ride, so you’re one of the first balloons in the air and get to watch all the others take off.

8. Camel Riding & Quad Biking in the Agafay Desert

If you want a taste of desert adventure without the long trek south to the Sahara, the Agafay Desert is around a 45-minute drive from Marrakech, and it’s where we went camel riding and quad biking.

Being honest (it’s what we’re here for): Agafay isn’t rolling golden sand dunes. It’s a rocky, moon-like landscape, but with the Atlas Mountains lining the horizon it’s still a properly dramatic backdrop, and you can pack camels, quads and dinner into half a day.

The quad biking is dusty, fast and great fun. Take sunglasses and don’t wear anything you’re precious about. The camel ride is the slower, more photogenic half of the trip. Most tours include hotel transfers, and if you can, book an afternoon slot so you’re out there for sunset.

9. Stay in a Riad (Trust Us on This One)

Where you stay in Marrakech genuinely changes the trip, and staying in a riad was one of the best decisions we made. A riad is a traditional Moroccan house built around a central courtyard, and stepping out of the chaos of the alleyways into that calm, tiled space never stopped feeling special.

You’ll typically get mint tea on arrival, breakfast in the courtyard or up on the roof terrace, and hosts who’ll happily mark up a map with their favourite spots. It’s a world away from a big chain hotel, and often cheaper too.

One tip: riads are famously hard to find (most sit behind an unmarked door down a narrow alley), so message ahead with your arrival time and ask them to send someone to meet you. Being hopelessly lost with your suitcase is a Marrakech rite of passage, but it’s one you’re allowed to skip.

Marrakech FAQs

How many days do you need in Marrakech?

Three full days covers the main sights at a comfortable pace. Add an extra day if you want a desert trip or a hot air balloon ride without rushing.

When is the best time to visit Marrakech?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) have the best weather. We went in early summer and it was hot. Very doable, but plan gardens and sightseeing for the mornings and save the afternoons for somewhere shady.

Is Marrakech safe for tourists?

We felt safe the whole time. The main thing you’ll deal with is hassle rather than danger: unofficial “guides” offering directions and sellers being persistent. A polite but firm no works wonders, and agree taxi fares before you get in.

What should you wear in Marrakech?

Morocco is a Muslim country and the medina is on the conservative side, so loose clothing that covers shoulders and knees will make wandering more comfortable, and it doubles as sun protection.

Before You Go

However you fill your days, you’re going to work up an appetite, so don’t leave without reading our Where to Eat in Marrakech guide. The food deserved a post of its own, so we gave it one.

Luke & Katie