Marrakech Travel Guide: Top Things to Do in the Red City

Marrakech is the gateway to Morocco for most travelers, and it lives up to the hype. The “Red City” — named for the ochre walls that glow at sunset — is a sensory overload of snake charmers and spice pyramids, hidden palaces and tranquil gardens, rooftop dinners and labyrinthine souks. It is also the launch point for nearly every Sahara desert tour. Here is how to make the most of it.

The Medina: Where Marrakech Lives

The old city is a walled maze of alleys too narrow for cars, and that is its charm. Get deliberately lost — then ask a local to point you back. The heart of the medina is Jemaa el-Fna, the great square that transforms every evening into an open-air theater of storytellers, musicians, henna artists, and food stalls. Watch it from a rooftop café at sunset with a glass of mint tea.

The Must-See Sights

• Bahia Palace: a masterpiece of carved cedar, zellige tilework, and shaded courtyards.
• Koutoubia Mosque: Marrakech’s landmark minaret, visible from across the city.
• Saadian Tombs: rediscovered royal tombs hidden behind a narrow passage for centuries.
• Ben Youssef Madrasa: a stunning former Quranic school of intricate geometric design.
• Majorelle Garden: the cobalt-blue garden once owned by Yves Saint Laurent.

The Souks

Marrakech’s souks are organized by craft — the dyers’ souk, the leather souk, the lantern souk, the spice square. Wander without a shopping list first, then return to buy. Quality varies enormously, so look for craftsmanship rather than the cheapest price. A good guide helps you find the real artisans behind the tourist stalls.

Where to Stay: The Riad

A riad is a traditional Moroccan house built around an interior courtyard, often with a plunge pool and a roof terrace. Staying in a riad inside the medina is the authentic Marrakech experience — a calm, beautiful refuge steps from the chaos of the souks. For pure luxury, palace hotels like Royal Mansour and La Mamounia set a global standard.

Where to Eat

Skip the obvious tourist stalls on Jemaa el-Fna for sit-down meals and seek out the city’s real kitchens. Try a traditional tangia (Marrakech’s slow-cooked meat specialty, cooked underground in the embers of the hammams), a refined modern-Moroccan tasting menu, and at least one rooftop dinner overlooking the medina. The fresh orange juice carts are the best bargain in the city.

Beyond the City: Day Trips

Marrakech makes an ideal base for day trips when you want a break from the medina. The Ourika Valley and Atlas Mountains are an hour away, the Ouzoud Waterfalls make a full-day escape, the Agafay Desert offers sunset camel rides at the city’s doorstep, and Essaouira’s Atlantic coast is a rewarding full-day excursion. Each is best done with a private driver.

Marrakech is not a city you visit — it is a city you experience. Give it at least two full days before heading to the desert.

How Long to Stay

Two full days in Marrakech is the minimum to see the highlights without rushing; three lets you add a day trip. Most of our travelers spend a day or two in Marrakech, head out on a Sahara desert tour, and return for a final night before flying home.