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Things to see in Marrakech

Attractions

Jemaa el-Fna

Sat within the UNESCO-listed medina, Jemaa el-Fna is widely considered as Marrakech's beating heart. Commercial activities and varying forms of entertainment have taken place on this vast, triangular square since the city's foundation in the 11th century. It is most fun to visit in the evening when food vendors set up stalls to sell a wide variety of dishes, while entertainers turn the square into a giant theatre.

Address: , Rue El Ksour, Marrakech,
Telephone:
Opening times:

Daily 24 hours.

Website:
Admission Fees:

No

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: Yes

Jardin Majorelle

French artist Jacques Majorelle spent 40 years turning an ordinary plot into an exotic garden with plants from around the world, including giant cacti and delicate bamboo. The compound also features a Moorish house and a Cubist-style villa. The garden was later saved and lovingly restored by the celebrated fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé when they bought it in 1980. Today, it offers a little haven of tranquillity to visitors.

Address: , Rue Yves St Laurent, Marrakech,
Telephone: +212 5242 98686
Opening times:

Wed-Sun 0900-1800

Website: http://www.jardinmajorelle.com
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Marrakech souks

Marrakech's sprawling souks are buzzing with colours and energy, selling a myriad of goods. Many souks are located on the north side of Jemaa el-Fna. Around this area, you will find souk Semmarine (for fabrics and souvenirs), souk Larzal (wool or clothing, depending on the time of day), souk Zrabi (for carpets), souk Cherratin (for leatherware), souk Smata (for Moroccan slippers), and souk Haddadine (for lanterns and metalworks), among other souks.

Address: , Souk Semmarine, Marrakech,
Telephone:
Opening times:

Daily approximately 0900-1930.

Website:
Admission Fees:

No

Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No

Musée Yves Saint Laurent

A stone's throw away from the Jarden Majorelle, this excellent museum charts many great moments of the legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, including an extensive collection of haute couture garments. There is a book shop and a café within the compound.

Address: , Rue Yves St Laurent, Marrakech,
Telephone: +212 5242 98686
Opening times:

Wed-Sun 0900-1800

Website: https://www.museeyslmarrakech.com/en
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Saadian Tombs

One of the most visited sites in Marrakech, and a must for history buffs, the Saadian Tombs were re-discovered in 1917 after being walled up and forgotten for centuries. The principal structures of the tombs date from the 16th century. An enclosed garden is overlooked by two separate mausoleums, with over 100 mosaic-decorated graves scattered inside lavishly decorated chambers.

Address: , Rue de la Kasbah, Marrakech,
Telephone:
Opening times: Website:
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

El Badii Palace

You'll need your imagination to get the most from El Badii Palace. Translated as the 'incomparable', the complex was once Marrakech's grandest structure. Today, all that remains is its atmospheric ruins. A walk around the site's sunken gardens is still rewarding, with a chance to see the restored 12th-century marquetry minbar (pulpit), housed in the tiny on-site museum.

Address: , Rue de Berrima, Marrakech,
Telephone:
Opening times:

Daily 0900-1700

Website:
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Bahia Palace

The 19th-century Bahia Palace grants visitors an intimate glance into the lives of royalty. The former residence of the Grand Vizier's wives and concubines is lavishly covered in marble and marvellous mosaics, arguably the most beautiful part of the palace.

Address: , Rue de la Bahia, Marrakech,
Telephone:
Opening times:

Daily 0900-1645.

Website:
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Anima (André Heller Garden)

Backdropped by the Atlas Mountains, the highly imaginative Anima is the brainchild of Austrian artist André Heller. The garden bursts with full-grown trees and fragrant shrubs, along with gorgeous sculptures by Pablo Picasso, Keith Haring and other artists. Located 36km (22mi) south of Marrakech in Ourika, Anima runs a free shuttle to and from Marrakech – shuttle reservation must be made in advance.

Address: , Douar Sbiti, Ourika,
Telephone: +212 524 48 2022
Opening times:

0900-1800 (shorter hours during the month of Ramadan)

Website: https://www.anima-garden.com
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Musée Tiskiwin

This beautiful riad contains the private collection of folk crafts belonging to Dutch collector Bert Flint. This small and quirky museum leads visitors on a journey from Tuareg artefacts of the Sahara to the talismanic Berber adornments of the Atlas Mountains.

Address: , 8 Rue de la Bahia, Marrakech,
Telephone:
Opening times:

Daily 0900-1230 and 1430-1800

Website:
Admission Fees:

Yes

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Koutoubia Mosque

From any approach, the first sight of Marrakech is the minaret tower of the Koutoubia Mosque. The tower is the city's tallest building and acts as a handy reference point for lost travellers. Although the mosque is accessible only to Muslims, the surrounding gardens are a popular relaxation spot for both locals and tourists; an oasis of calm next to the chaotic Jemaa el-Fna.

Address: , Avenue Mohammed V, Marrakech,
Telephone:
Opening times:

Mosque and minaret closed to non-Muslims; gardens open sunrise-sunset.

Website:
Admission Fees:

No

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No

Menara Gardens

With its backdrop of the Atlas Mountains, it is no surprise that the Menara Gardens are one of the most photographed places in Morocco. The park boasts large olive groves, palm and fruit trees, all set around a magnificent reflecting pool.

Address: , Avenue de la Menara, Marrakech,
Telephone:
Opening times: Website:
Admission Fees:

No

Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: Yes

Tourist Offices

Conseil Régional du Tourisme de Marrakech

Address: , Rue Cadi Ayad, Guéliz, Marrakech,
Telephone: +212 5244 33407
Opening times:

Mon-Fri 0830-1630.

Website: http://visitmorocco.com

The city's principal tourist office is located in Guéliz. You can also download the VisitMarrakech App before you go.

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Featured Hotels

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Riad Dar Aby

Situated just outside the Medina, Riad Dar Aby houses a number of en-suite rooms circled around a bright, tiled courtyard. The daily breakfast of Moroccan pancakes with lashings of jam provides a homely touch, while free Wi-Fi access, optional specialised tours and friendly staff complete the package.

Riad Cherihane

Notable for its vibrant rooftop garden where tortoises laze in sun, the well-priced Riad Chrihane is situated near the northern edge of the Medina, roughly a 15-minute walk from Jemaa el Fna. Though it can be tough to track down, due to its location down a quiet side alley, complimentary Moroccan tea and biscuits greet wearisome guests.

Riad L'Etoile D'Orient

Restored in 2010, this tastefully appointed riad mixes the modern with the traditional, meaning guests can upload snaps of the refined Moroccan decor using the speedy free Wi-Fi service. Just minutes from Jemaa el Fna, rooms here include flatscreen TVs and gorgeous bathrooms. There's also a rooftop terrace to enjoy.

Riad Al Massarah

This riad is the definition of Marrakech cool, with its blend of traditional lofty architecture, handsome custom-made furnishings and ultramodern bathroom fittings by Philippe Starck. Proprietors Michael and Michel are blazing the trail for responsible tourism with clever use of natural light and solar energy, contributions to local charities, and standard-setting wages for staff.

Riyad El Cadi

This elegant guesthouse is a maze of historic riads set around five courtyards and faceted with private balconies, terraces, staircases and light wells. Each of the rooms has its own décor scheme (stay in the cupola-capped Ottoman suite with Turkish tile and latticework harem balcony). It also has a pool with Jacuzzi, subterranean hammam and well-stocked wine cellar.

La Maison Arabe Marrakech

Opened in the 1940s, La Maison Arabe was a popular dining place for the rich and famous (Winston Churchill was a patron). It closed in the 1980s but reopened in 1998 as a hotel with Italian blueblood and African antiques collector Frederic Ruspoli at the helm. His collection is now the centrepiece of the hotel's luxuriously restored suites and rooms.