Marhaba
Welcome to Marrakech. Here's our short but personal guide which includes where to eat, which hammam to visit, day trip ideas, and so much more.
Your entire itinerary in one place
Sights worth your morning
Jardin Majorelle & YSL Museum
The cobalt-blue garden that Yves Saint Laurent saved from demolition, plus the museum next door dedicated to his life's work. Book the timed ticket online a few days ahead.
Rue Yves Saint Laurent · ~2 hours
Bahia Palace
This 19th-century palace was built for a grand vizier, with endless courtyards, painted cedar ceilings, and tilework that'll take your breath away.
Avenue Imam El Ghazali · ~1 hour
Le Jardin Secret
A walled Islamic garden hidden inside the medina, with a quiet rooftop café and a tower that gives you the medina's best free view.
Rue Mouassine · ~45 minutes
Ben Youssef Madrasa
For a quiet activity first thing in the morning, check out this 14th-century Quranic school featuring endlessly patterned cells around a vast courtyard.
Kaat Bennahid · ~45 minutes
Saadian Tombs
This 16th-century royal necropolis features exquisite marble, tilework, and carved cedarwood. The tombs are smaller than you might expect, so go to admire their craftsmanship, not their size.
Rue de la Kasbah · ~30 minutes
Jemaa el-Fnaa & the souks
An unmissable part of Marrakech, this square is deserving of multiple visits. Go at noon for the fresh juices and street entertainers, and then again at dusk when the food stalls light up. From the square, you can wander over to the DaDa art space, or into the famously labyrinthine Souk Semmarine. Prepare to barter, buy, and get lost.
Medina · Pace yourself
Where we're sending you to dinner
Nomad
Smart, modern, on a rooftop two minutes from the spice market. The lemon chicken pastilla is a perfect first dinner in Marrakech.
Le Jardin
Originally a 16th-century riad, this restaurant is an oasis with its lush gardens and green interiors. Stop by for lunch, and don't be surprised if you see a tortoise or two wandering around.
Dar Yacout
Bring an appetite and prepare to indulge in a multi-course Moroccan feast in this palatial riad. Reserve well in advance.
Plus61
Switch things up and opt for this Australian-Moroccan cuisine in the creative neighbourhood of Gueliz. Think wood fire oven, sharing plates, and a great wine list.
L'mida
A rooftop cocktail spot with a Berber-inspired menu and a view straight into the spice square. Enjoy sundown before dinner.
Bacha Coffee · Dar el Bacha
A 1910 palace turned coffee house. 200 single-origin coffees, a courtyard of orange trees, and the city's best mid-morning pause.
Limoni
Dine beneath a canopy of lemon trees in what might be our favourite restaurant in Marrakech. The classic Moroccan menu is delicious, and the pasta will surprise and delight even the Italians among us. Book in advance.
Jemaa el-Fnaa stalls
For dinner one night, do the food stalls in the square. Stall 14 for grilled fish, stall 32 for harira soup. Trust the queue.
El Fenn rooftop
It's hard to beat a glass of something cold while overlooking the rooftops and the medina at dusk, the call to prayer sounding in the background.
An afternoon at the bath
Zinaya Hammam Turc & Spa
To escape the hustle and bustle, look no further than this elegant locale outside the city offering everything you could desire from your hammam experience, and then some. The team that owns this place is stellar.
Hammam de la Rose
Book a couple days ahead for your classic steam, scrub, and argan-oil massage. This place is as welcoming as it is luxe.
La Mamounia Spa
All marble and vibrant flowers, the spa at this historic hotel does not disappoint. Come for the hammam, stay for tea in the gardens afterwards, and enjoy the feeling of being transported into an entirely new world for the afternoon.
If you have an extra day
Ourika Valley
Venture into the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains to find Berber villages and walnut groves, and hike to the Setti Fatma waterfalls. Book a driver for the day.
Essaouira
This charming and breezy port town on the Atlantic has fortified ramparts and windswept beaches, along with the best grilled fish you'll eat... ever. Best to spend the night.
Agafay Desert
You'll know this rocky desert from the welcome lunch, and you may even want to spend more time there. Emeraude Camp is a luxury destination where you can book a tent for the night.
Aït Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate
Take the Tizi n'Tichka mountain overpass to the famous mud-brick ksar that has been the site of countless Hollywood productions. This will be an exciting but long excursion, so go with a guide and take off from Marrakech early.
Ouzoud Falls
These impressive, multi-tiered cascades are the tallest in the country, beloved for their resident Barbary Macaque monkeys and rainbows. Hire a local guide to bring your hike to the next level.
Balloon Tour
See the Red City from above as you take an early-morning hot air balloon ride, departing from the desert. We haven't done this ourselves but can direct you to reputable tour companies.
For an even more detailed list of recommendations and information, feel free to get in touch.