UltimateCity Guide Marrakech
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The Menara pavilion reflected in its great basin The Kasbah of Taourirt in Ouarzazate in evening light A chicken tagine with preserved lemon and olives A riad courtyard seen from above through palm fronds The snow-covered High Atlas above a walled farmstead

The city guide to Marrakech, Morocco

Best of Marrakech · This week

Article of the weekMarrakech fun factsFun facts about Marrakech, each with its source: founded by the Almoravids in 1070–72, the Koutoubia’s 77-metre minaret, Jemaa el-Fna on UNESCO’s…Read the article In depthMarrakech on filmMarrakech and Morocco on film: Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Gladiator (2000), Babel (2006) and Inception (2010), the film studios of…Read the article In depthMarrakech at the table: tagines, terraces and the night marketLe Marocain at La Mamounia, Al Fassia’s kitchen of women, the roof terraces of Nomad, L’mida and Le Foundouk, the brasserie of Gueliz and the smoke…Read the article In depthWhere Marrakech sleeps: palaces, riads and the gardens beyond the wallsLa Mamounia and the Royal Mansour inside the walls, riads such as El Fenn and La Maison Arabe in the lanes of the medina, and the garden resorts of…Read the article Coming upChristmas in MarrakechChristmas and New Year in Marrakech: winter sun in the gardens, snow on the High Atlas, the exhibitions at MACAAL (until 8 January 2027) and Dar el…Plan your Christmas

Launch edition · Autumn 2026

The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakSister guideULTIMATE Rail JourneysThe story of the train, the great journeys and where to book themA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resortThe Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratSister guideULTIMATE PropertyRiads, villas, the notary and the rules for foreign buyers

Marrakech, from the square to the snows

Marrakech was founded in 1070–72 by the Almoravids, UNESCO records, and its medina has been on the World Heritage List since 1985: the Koutoubia, the Kasbah, the ramparts and gates, the Badi Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Saadian Tombs and Jemaa el-Fna, whose storytellers, musicians and food stalls UNESCO also counts among the intangible heritage of humanity. Here are the palace hotels and the riads, the tables from Le Marocain to the roof terraces of the medina, the gardens and museums, the souks, the hammams, and journeys to the High Atlas, the Ourika valley, the Agafay desert, Essaouira, Aït Benhaddou and Ouzoud. Every listing is checked against the venue’s own website or an official source, and anything we can’t confirm is left out.

The red city: reading Marrakech’s great sights

In depth

The red city

Marrakech·In depth

The Koutoubia’s minaret, the open-air theatre of Jemaa el-Fna, the Saadian Tombs and the courtyards of Ben Youssef: how to read the medina.

Read the story

Marrakech, neighbourhood by neighbourhood

Eight neighbourhoods, each with its own guide: the square and the souks, the courtyards of Mouassine, the Kasbah and the Mellah, Gueliz, Hivernage, Majorelle, the Palmeraie and the Atlas roads.

Jemaa el-Fna at dusk, the food stalls lit and the Koutoubia minaret on the skylineNeighbourhood guideJemaa el-Fna & the souksThe heart of the medinaThe galleries of the Ben Youssef Madrasa courtyardNeighbourhood guideMouassine & the north medinaCourtyards and museumsBab Agnaou, the carved gate of the Kasbah, in the city wallsNeighbourhood guideThe Kasbah & the MellahTombs, palaces and the old Jewish quarterThe platforms of Marrakech station under its patterned canopyNeighbourhood guideGuelizThe new townNeighbourhood guideHivernage & the MenaraResorts and the great basin

Inside or outside the walls

For a first visit, sleep inside the walls and walk; keep a garden resort for the last nights.

  1. Neighbourhood guideMajorelleThe blue garden
  2. Neighbourhood guideThe PalmeraieAmong the palms
  3. Neighbourhood guideAgdal & the Atlas roadsResorts, golf and the mountains

History & heritage

Founded by the Almoravids in 1070–72, the city of the Koutoubia and the Kasbah, the Saadian Tombs and El Badi, the riads and Jemaa el-Fna, and the city of today.

History & heritageMarrakech: from the Almoravids to the red cityThe Almoravids, the Almohads, the Saadians and the red city

Before you go

Entry rules, the closed dirham, Ramadan, the emergency numbers 150 and 190, getting around and the itineraries that work for a first visit.

Before you goMarrakech essentialsEntry, the dirham and RamadanThe latticed façade of Marrakech Menara AirportGetting aroundGetting aroundOn foot, by taxi, train and coachThe Koutoubia minaret rising above the palms of its gardens on a clear morningItineraryMarrakech in three daysThe square, the Kasbah and MajorelleA village of the Imlil valley beneath the snowy AtlasItineraryA day in the High AtlasImlil and ToubkalThe outdoor pool of La Mamounia among the palmsLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addresses

In the medina

Use only official guides with a badge, and agree every taxi fare before you set off.

  1. ItineraryThe Gold weekendLa Mamounia and its spa
  2. ItineraryThe Platinum weekendThe Royal Mansour and the Agafay

Our advice

Majorelle at opening time

Book the Jardin Majorelle on its own website, the only one whose tickets admit you, and go at 8am, before the crowds. Jardin Majorelle

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Beyond Marrakech

The High Atlas and Imlil, the Ourika valley, the stone desert of the Agafay, Essaouira on the Atlantic, Aït Benhaddou over the mountains and the Ouzoud falls.

The earthen ksar of Aït Benhaddou above the riverbedBeyond MarrakechThe High AtlasImlil and ToubkalThe Ourika river winding through its valleyBeyond MarrakechThe Ourika valleyGardens and the riverA nomad tent on the stony plain of the Agafay, the Atlas beyondBeyond MarrakechThe Agafay desertStone hills and starsBlue fishing boats beneath the sea bastion of EssaouiraBeyond MarrakechEssaouiraThe Atlantic portBeyond MarrakechAït Benhaddou & OuarzazateThe earthen ksar
  1. Beyond MarrakechThe Ouzoud fallsWaterfalls

Our advice

Take a day in the mountains

Hire a licensed driver for the High Atlas, walk from Imlil with a local guide, and carry a warm layer whatever the weather in the city. The High Atlas

In depth: the stories of the red city

The red city’s great sights, the table from Le Marocain to the night market, the arts from Majorelle to the film festival, the palaces and riads, getting around and what a foreign buyer should know: the stories behind Marrakech.

Winter sun and Atlas snowChristmas in MarrakechWhite peaks over the palms, and a palace for the holidaysWhite storks nesting along the walls of El Badi PalaceIn depth: nature & wildlifeWild MarrakechStorks, macaques and the AtlasThe back storyMarrakech at the tableTagines, terraces and the night market

At the table

Eat at the square once, early in the evening; book the roof terraces for sunset.

  1. The back storyFrom Majorelle blue to the festivalMarrakech’s arts
  2. The back storyWhere Marrakech sleepsPalaces, riads and gardens

North Africa, the Middle East and Iberia with the ULTIMATE guides

Marrakech joins Cairo, Dubai and Riyadh among the ULTIMATE guides of the Middle East and North Africa, with Andalusia and Lisbon across the strait.

The pyramids of Giza across the desertULTIMATE CairoCairoThe Pyramids and the NileBurj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hourULTIMATE DubaiDubaiThe Creek and the towersThe Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightULTIMATE AndalusiaAndalusiaSeville’s Giralda, the Koutoubia’s sister
  1. ULTIMATE LisbonLisbonThe Atlantic capital

The ULTIMATE City Guides around the world

See all Middle East & North Africa

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

The pyramids of Giza across the desertEgyptULTIMATE CairoThe Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, the minarets of Islamic Cairo, feluccas on the Nile and journeys to Luxor and Aswan.Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hourUnited Arab EmiratesULTIMATE DubaiBurj Khalifa and the Fountain, abras on the Creek, resorts on the Palm, every MICHELIN star of 2026 and day trips to Abu Dhabi and Hatta.The Riyadh skyline at dusk, with the Kingdom Centre and Al FaisaliahSaudi ArabiaULTIMATE RiyadhMud-brick At-Turaif on the wadi, the Masmak and the souqs, the towers of KAFD, Saudi kitchens with a Bib Gourmand and the Edge of the World.Canal houses and bridges in Amsterdamthe NetherlandsULTIMATE AmsterdamThe canal ring, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, canal-house hotels, twenty MICHELIN-starred tables, brown cafés, and day trips to Haarlem and Keukenhof.The Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightSpainULTIMATE AndalusiaSeville, Granada and the Alhambra, Córdoba, Málaga, Cádiz and Jerez, Ronda and the white villages, Doñana and Cabo de Gata.The floodlit Acropolis and Parthenon at dusk, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.

See all 89 guides

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and residents talking about Marrakech, its riads, roof terraces, gardens, hammams and the road to the Atlas.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Jardin Majorelle

    This week's pick

    Jardin Majorelle

    Majorelle·Garden

    Book a morning slot on the garden’s own site, walk the blue villa’s paths before the crowds, then see the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts and the Musée Yves Saint Laurent next door on the same ticket.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    Camels resting among the palms of the PalmeraieItineraryA property viewing day: medina riads, Gueliz and the PalmeraieOne day

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Marrakech at the table: tagines, terraces and the night marketMarrakech · In depth
    2. 2Moroccan FoodMarrakech · In depth: food
    3. 3Le Marocain at La MamouniaMedina · Restaurant
    See all 15

    Cafés

    1. 1Café MajorelleMajorelle · Café
    2. 2Café le StudioMajorelle · Café
    3. 3La FamilleMedina · Café
    See all 6

    Bars

    1. 1Le Churchill at La MamouniaMedina · Bar
    2. 2Le Bar Majorelle at La MamouniaMedina · Bar
    3. 3Le Bar SelmanRoute d’Amizmiz · Bar
    See all 6

    Hotels

    1. 1Where Marrakech sleeps: palaces, riads and the gardens beyond the wallsMarrakech · In depth
    2. 2La MamouniaMedina · Palace hotel
    3. 3Royal Mansour MarrakechMedina · Palace hotel
    See all 26

    Sights

    1. 1The red city: reading Marrakech’s great sightsMarrakech · In depth
    2. 2Marrakech: from the Almoravids to the red cityMarrakech · In depth: history and heritage
    3. 3Jemaa el-FnaMedina · Square
    See all 12

    Arts & Culture

    1. 1From Majorelle blue to the festival: Marrakech’s artsMarrakech · In depth
    2. 2Musée Yves Saint Laurent MarrakechMajorelle · Museum
    3. 3Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber ArtsMajorelle · Museum
    See all 20

    Gardens

    1. 1Wild Marrakech: Storks, Bulbuls, Macaques and the Eagles of the AtlasMarrakech · In depth: nature & wildlife
    2. 2Jardin MajorelleMajorelle · Garden
    3. 3Le Jardin SecretMedina · Garden
    See all 8

    Walks

    1. 1Through the souks: Jemaa el-Fna to Ben YoussefMedina · Walk
    2. 2The Kasbah and the MellahKasbah · Walk
    3. 3Gueliz to MajorelleGueliz · Walk
    See all 5

    Shopping

    1. 1The souks of the medinaMedina · Market
    2. 233 Rue MajorelleMajorelle · Concept store
    3. 3LRNCESidi Ghanem · Studio and shop
    See all 6

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: call 150 or 190Morocco · Emergency numbers
    2. 2Staying safe in the medinaMedina · Advice
    3. 3CHU Mohammed VI MarrakechMarrakech · University hospital
    See all 9

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Marrakech: riads, villas and the notaryMarrakech · In depth
    2. 2Who can buy: registered, non-agricultural, urbanMorocco · Rules
    3. 3The title deed and the notaryMorocco · Rules
    See all 6

    Developments

    1. 1High-speed line Kénitra–MarrakechMorocco · Railway
    2. 2Marrakech Menara Airport: the terminal extensionMenara · Airport
    3. 3Royal Palm MarrakechRoute d’Amizmiz · Residential resort
    See all 5

    Cars & drivers

    1. 1Petits taxisMarrakech · Taxi
    2. 2Grands taxisMarrakech · Shared taxi
    3. 3Driving in MoroccoMorocco · Driving
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Getting around Marrakech: on foot, by taxi, train and coachMarrakech · In depth
    2. 2Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK)Menara · Airport
    3. 3Walking the medinaMedina · On foot
    See all 6