They say, only the avid traveler finds Morocco on the map. Hold on, hold on, before you raise your hands about that statement, let’s make it clearer. Morocco, a country in North Africa bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, admit it or not, is not as popular as destinations like New York City or Paris many travelers prefer. Yet, many frequent travelers appreciate the unparalleled beauty of Morocco, especially one of its cities, Marrakesh. There are lots of things to do in Marrakesh. 

Morocco is a country of uber fascinating diversity, greeting travelers with its people’s warm hospitality, and of course, who would ever forget? The country’s signature, delicious glass of mint tea. Travelers who visit this nation make it a point to explore Marrakesh, its fourth largest city and “Africa’s Capital of Culture.”

Jetsetters who have been here in Marrakesh would tell you that the place is about the picturesque sand dunes, crowded souks in a good way, and beautiful mosques. The city will just captivate you when you see it. If you want to try food you’ve never tasted before, get lost in the markets, or witness jaw-dropping sunsets on the Moroccan beaches, this destination is for you. There are plenty of things to do in Marrakesh, a city where everything is on the move. You’ve got no choice but to ride along.

Best Things To Do In Marrakesh: Fall In Love With The City

Get to know the best things to do in Marrakesh as you explore this beautiful city in Morocco.

1. Visit The Medina Of Marrakesh, Where The Heart Of The City Is

The heart of this Moroccan city lies at the Medina of Marrakesh, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the place’s historic city center. This is a popular destination many of those who’ve been here would recommend, so it’s the first on this things to do in Marrakesh guide. 

For centuries, this medina served as an economic and political hub whose influence came all the way from the Middle East. Royalties lived here, cultures developed here, and international trade happened here. As you wander through its 11-century labyrinth of alleyways, you’ll be immersed in Marrakesh’s history. 

Among the best times to see the medina is at night. While, yes, many of the popular food stalls and merchandise shops are in Jemaa El Fna, but if you want less crowd, the streets outside the medina’s main square must be explored. 

2. Go For An Evening Visit To Jemaa El Fna To Find Monkeys, Snake Charmers, And More

They say that if you want to really feel and understand what this Moroccan city is all about, a visit to Jemaa El Fna, the city’s main square, should be on your things to do in Marrakesh list.

Avid travelers would tell you that, here, you’ll see the best and the worst of the city. When you want to feel refreshed, you’ll find the freshest and the cheapest fruit juices here all day. Jemaa El Fna is also a place for some grilled meat, monkeys captured from the wild and performing before you, snake charmers, and women literally jumping on your hands to convince you to get inked with a henna tattoo.

There are also horse carriage tours being offered around if you want to sit back and relax as you explore Marrakesh’s best attractions. Jemaa El Fna wakes up with street performers, musicians, snake charmers, and irresistible food stores as the night falls. 

3. Drop By Musée Yves Saint Laurent – Yes, Dedicated To The French Fashion Designer

Believe it or not, there’s a museum in Marrakesh that is dedicated to Yves Saint Laurent, a famous French fashion designer. First of all, France is miles and miles away from Morocco, and the cultures of these two countries are very different. So, how come? 

Well, Yves Saint Laurent has fallen so in love with Morocco that the country has become an endless source of inspiration for his designs. The designer would visit this place twice a year to seek inspiration for his designs. So no wonder Morocco would thank Yves Saint Laurent with a museum dedicated to him and his works. 

Musée Yves Saint Laurent opened in 2017, and since then has showcased finely curated collections of haute couture designs that span four decades of creative work of the designer. The exhibits are housed inside a building designed to resemble woven fabric. See for yourself. 

Beyond its auditorium, research library, bookstore, and terrace café, the core of Musée Yves Saint Laurent is actually the Yves Saint Laurent Hall, a section that displays the designer’s sketches, haute couture fashions, and accessories. The hall’s backdrop is noticeably entirely black, following a key color in Yves Saint Laurent’s designs. The exhibit further comes alive with audiovisuals of YSL’s runway shows and recordings of him speaking. This is certainly one of the things to do in Marrakesh that would sweep you away from the city’s tradition and historic sights.

We warmly welcome you our “things to do in Marrakesh” guide. We have more guides about Morocco from our website. Feel free to read them. 

4. Partake In A Panorama Of Morocco’s Indigenous Inhabitants At Jardin Majorelle

Just how Yves Saint Laurent is deeply connected to Morocco is unfathomable. In fact, just next door to Musée Yves Saint is Jardin Majorelle, which is a landmark bought by the designer and his partner Pierre Bergé in 1980 to preserve the vision of its original owner, Jacques Majorelle, a French landscape painter, and let people see its grandeur. 

But, the garden actually has stood since 1924, and has a psychedelic desert mirage consisting of 300 plant species from five continents. But the main highlight of this place is its electric-blue art deco studio, where you can find the Musée Berbère, a museum that takes visitors to a rich panorama of Morocco’s indigenous inhabitants through a showcase of some 600 artifacts. 

5. Explore The Grandeur Of Bahia Palace, Once A Residence Of The Moroccan Royals

Within walking distance from popular landmarks in Marrakesh like Jemaa El Fna and the Badi Palace is the beautiful Bahia Palace. This 19th-century palace highlights the lavish lifestyle of the country’s elite. 

Before it was open to the public, Bahia Palace became the residence of several Moroccan royals. This building may have been ransacked during the early 1900s, but that did not stop the royal family from occasionally finding solace here.

There are many things to do in Marrakesh while you’re here. You can check out the areas open to the general public, featuring rounded entryways that take you to colorful mosaics and ornate latticework, not to mention shady walkways that lead to vast, sunny courtyards and gardens. 

6. Soak Into Some Retail Therapy And Get Lost In Marrakesh’s Souks 

Marrakesh’s souks are open-air markets tucked into a labyrinth of pathways. Think of the markets featured in Disney’s live-action film, “Aladdin,” but in the style of Morocco. If you are looking for things to do in Marrakesh where you’ll go shopping, these are the places to be. Don’t worry because getting lost into all the traffic is normal. 

But actually, you won’t really get lost as the souks are organized according to their products. There the Souk Haddadine for metalwork, Souk Cherratine for leather goods, Souk des Babouche for footwear – the country’s colorful slippers, in particular – Souk des Teinturiers for wool dyes and curtains, and the La Criée Berbère for the mesmerizing Berber carpets. 

Planning to visit and enjoy the things to do in Marrakesh this October? Check out this guide to the best October vacations. Marrakesh is one of them!

7. Discover The Hidden Gems Of The Medina

Can’t get enough of those souks? There are more shopping tours that await you during your stay here in Marrakesh, such as this where you’ll get to discover the Medina’s hidden gems while supporting the city’s artisans and their communities. 

The tour includes a visit to the stunning Rug Gallery, a stylish boutique featuring Moroccan clothing made from locally produced textiles. You’ll also get to know a local herbalist, and visit the Souvenirs Ali Baba cave where you’ll find rare items crafted by local artisans. 

Private tours are available if you want it tailored to your specific needs and requests. 

8. Cruise The Moroccan Sahara Desert On A Quad Bike

If you’re looking for exhilarating things to do in Marrakesh, take this tour. Here, you’ll cruise the Moroccan Sahara Desert on a quad bike for not an hour, not two, but for four hours, you guys. 

In the morning, the guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the starting point of the excursion at Lilla Takerkoust Lake. Then, you’ll also get a chance to meet a Berber family, have an authentic Berber lunch, and learn about Berber culture. 

9. Tour Badi Palace, Once A Playground For The Saadian Royalty In The 1500s

From how it is today, it is hard to imagine that Badi Palace was once a playground for the Saadian royalty during the 16th century. These people were part of the Saadi Sultanate that ruled present-day Morocco and parts of West Africa from the 1500s to the 1600s.

Today, all that remains of this palace are picturesque sandstone ruins, forming the skeleton of a previously opulent home. But, that does not mean that the grandeur of Badi is lost. You can still stroll past its sunken gardens and empty reflecting pools, walk underneath the chandeliers and Venetian sconces in the prayer hall, and admire the hundreds of thousands aluminum tiles adorning the palace’s roof. Don’t forget to take a look at the various objects from Koutoubia Mosque’s pulpit displayed in the palace. This is definitely one of the things to do in Marrakesh that you dare not miss. 

Enjoying this “things to do in Marrakesh” guide? Marrakesh is a city in North Africa, part of a continent where there are a lot more things to explore. 

10. Educate Yourself With Morocco’s Islamic Heritage At Ali Ben Youssef Madrasa

Aside from its souks and sand dunes, Marrakesh are also dotted with mosques. However, much of the mosques in this city are closed to non-Muslims but they house some of the city’s most impressive Islamic artistry. 

If you want to bear witness to the splendor of Islamic design, we suggest that you head over to Ali Ben Youssef Madrasa, which is open to the public.  

Founded during the 1300s, the madrasa was once the largest Qurʾānic school in northern Africa. Designed with Moroccan and Andalusian architecture, the large central courtyard of this madrasa is breathtaking. There’s also a vast and shallow reflecting pool, cut into the intricately tiled floor and surrounded by ornate walls covered in zellij – mosaic tilework – and calligraphic friezes. 

11. Fly High Above The Moroccan Desert On A Hot Air Balloon

Have you seen postcards or photographs of hot air balloons flying over a beautiful desert? When you’re here to explore the things to do in Marrakesh, you can finally get the chance to be in that moment. 

Hot air ballooning is a thrilling and unforgettable adventure while you’re here in Marrakesh. You’ll fly high above the desert, seeing tribal Berberi villages, dunes, oasis, Atlas Mountains, and of course, the city itself and its surrounding wonders. If you’re confident and brave enough to take on this adventure, go for it. You’ll never regret it.

12. Head Over To Riad Yima Tea Room, Where You’ll See Collections From The ‘Andy Warhol of Marrakesh’ And Sip The Country’s Signature Mint Tea

Andy Warhol is a venerated American visual artist mostly known for his pop art. And here in Marrakesh, they’ve got a version of Warhol. You can find his works at the Riad Yima Tea Room. 

The Riad Yima Tea Room is the residence and personal gallery of Hassan Hajjaj, dubbed as the “Andy Warhol of Marrakesh.” The entire place is surrounded with his upcycled pop art, from furniture to photographs. 

Plus, it is also a tea room where you can treat yourself to a classic cup of mint tea, a beverage famous in Morocco. Overall, this bright and eccentric building is where the kitsch of the medina converges with modern Morocco. Certainly one of the things to do in Marrakesh that should also be on your itinerary.

Thank you for reading this “things to do in Marrakesh” piece. We have more coming your way. 

Don’t Forget To Hear These Travel Tips, So You Can Make The Most Of The Things To Do In Marrakesh

Marrakesh is a popular destination for travelers, yes, but it is not like places such as New York City, Paris, or Hong Kong where you can find a lot of guides and tips written about them. So, to avoid any mishaps during your trip around Marrakesh and for you to enjoy the things to do in Marrakesh in the smoothest way possible, we have compiled a list of tips you must follow throughout your tour around this Moroccan city. 

• Dress appropriately. Well, generally speaking, nothing bad will happen to you in this Islamic country if you dress up like you normally do. But, as a sign of respect, it’s best to cover your shoulders and knees. 
• Before taking photos or videos of the surroundings, be sure to ask first. A lot of those who do otherwise have been called out by law enforcers. 
• Be prepared to haggle. Not every time that the first price you hear is actually the price you have to pay. 
• Pack light during your trip here. A lot of streets in Morocco are designed not mainly for cars, but for walking. So you’ll find yourself frequently carrying your luggage by foot. 
• If you don’t speak Arabic or this language is kinda hard for you to learn, you can instead use French. A lot of people in Morocco also speak French. 

Loving Marrakesh

By this time, your eyes and your mouth must have been opened wide hearing all the grandeur of Marrakesh, Morocco. Indeed, Marrakesh offers so much beauty that it deserves a visit at least once in your lifetime. From its vibrant souks to its beautiful mosques, not to forget the picturesque sand dunes, the things to do in Marrakesh are endless. So, what are you waiting for? Put on those babouches or leather slippers now, and dive right in.