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Is it spelt Marrakech or Marrakesh? I’m going with Marrakesh as I have a slight lisp so it’s easier to pronounce.
Marrakesh is a mesmerising capital that effortlessly blends the ancient with the new. This snake charming metropolis offers visitors a vibrant variety of sights to see, sounds to hear, and flavours to eat, or is it taste? Anyway, Marrakesh is nestled at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains and is just a stones throw away from the best continent in the world, Europe. Yeah you heard me, Asia!
Unlike the structured landscapes, organised road markings and everything made of glass sky scrappers that the capital cities of Europe seem to all be opting for nowadays, Marrakesh has stayed true to form with warm terracotta architecture, dazzling hidden medinas, sensory-overloaded souks with culture awaiting you around every twist and turn.
10 things to see and do in Marrakesh
1. Sunrise Hot Air Balloon: Because Who Needs Sleep When You’ve Got Views?
I know some of you are going to cry and be like “That isn’t in Marrakesh”. Firstly, shut up and secondly, you get picked up from inside the four walls of Marrakesh and you can see the capital from the basket as you glide through the air so chill and just keep reading.
For an unforgettable and enchanting adventure, the sunrise hot air balloon ride is an experience like no other. YES it maybe on the expensive side but trust me as you gently rise above the beautiful Moroccan landscape you won’t be thinking about your overdraft. This serene journey offers a unique vantage point that captivates travellers from across the globe and Leicester! Floating high above, you’ll witness the timeless beauty and rich heritage of the region from an entirely new perspective.
I’ll be honest if you aren’t a morning person this may be a struggle for you as you ascend as the first light of dawn illuminates the horizon. However, if you think you can handle the early wake up call, then you won’t be disappointed by the breathtaking views unfolding before you, such as the sprawling cityscape of Marrakesh, the lush palm groves, and the rugged peaks of the Atlas Mountains just to name a few.
With that being said, the main highlight is watching the sun rise over the desert, casting a golden glow across the landscape and creating a truly magical and peaceful atmosphere.
If you want to use the same company as we did for the sunrise hot air balloon ride the link is here for you – Hot Air Ballon Ride
2. Jardin Majorelle - Where Nature Meets Yves Saint Laurent
Tucked away in the bustling heart of Marrakesh lies the Jardin Majorelle, an exquisite garden that offers a peaceful retreat from the city’s chaos. But here’s the catch: this lush oasis has an intriguing backstory that makes it more than just a pretty garden for your girlfriend to get a new profile picture in.
Back in the post Titanic 1920’s, French (BOO!) painter Jacques Majorelle stumbled upon a piece of land and decided to transform it into a botanical masterpiece. Majorelle, who had a serious thing for exotic plants and bold colours as you do, spent nearly forty years cultivating the garden, filling it with rare species from all over the world. His pièce de résistance was the distinctive cobalt blue, later named “Majorelle Blue,” that he used to paint the garden’s walls, fountains, and buildings.
After Majorelle’s death the garden fell into disrepair until the 1980s when fashion icons Yves Saint Laurent (Yes, that one) and Pierre Bergé (Me Neither) decided to restore it to its former glory. Thanks to the pairs efforts, the Jardin Majorelle now thrives, blending Art Deco influences with traditional Moroccan elements. Nowadays you can stroll through the garden’s winding paths, shaded by towering bamboo and swaying palms, and discover hidden treasures like the vibrant blue villa, which houses the Berber Museum. For just a modest entrance fee of 70 dirhams (about 5 pounds I think), you can immerse yourself in this botanical wonderland.
P.S. you need to prebook your ticket i.e. no walk ins and the queues can get unholy when you are standing in that blistering Moroccan sun.
Tickets for the Jardin Majorelle can be bought here – Jardin Majorelle entry tickets
3. Ben Youssef Madrasa - Where Studying Was Cooler Than School Ever Was
Ben Youssef Madrasa, a place where students in the 14th century hit the books like their lives depended on it (because they pretty much did). Built in the 14th century and expanded by the Saadian dynasty, the Ben Youssef Madrasa was a centre for Islamic learning. Picture Hogwarts, but instead of wand duels, there’s Arabic calligraphy.
This madrasa’s architecture is so intricate with more patterns than your nan’s quilt collection. You’ve got geometric tiles that make your eyes cross, marble that looks fancier than the royals, and calligraphy so beautiful it’ll make you reconsider your countries education system. Basically, you know those people who write “TO DO” lists in perfect bullet journal style? Ben Youssef Madrasa is their Mecca.
Ben Youssef Madrasa closed its doors as a school in 1960, and now it’s a museum. Visitors can wander through, marvel at the architecture, and realise that even centuries ago, people could create mind-blowingly detailed art while you struggle to match dove grey to any of your furniture.
In short, the madrasa is a testament to human creativity and focus. Two things Gen Z don’t have.
Tickets for the Madrasa here – Ben Youssef Madrasa
4. Palais El Badi - Once a Palace, Now a Really Fancy Ruin
If you’re into ruins with a splash of faded grandeur, let me introduce you to Palais El Badi, a palace that was once so extravagant it basically coined the phrase “Go big or go home”. Imagine the most over-the-top luxury home you’ve ever seen, then add more gold, bigger fountains, and a courtyard where peacocks casually strolled. I know peacocks aren’t that luxurious but be honest with yourself how many people do you know that own one.
Built in the late 1500s by Sultan Ahmed Al-Mansour, the name “El Badi” literally means “The Incomparable,” which is the kind of confidence we should all strive for. The Sultan funded it using ransom money (yes, really) and sugar taxes. Because apparently, if you want to fund a luxury project, sugar addiction is where the cash is at— take that crypto!
El Badi was so lavish with gold from Sudan and marble from Italy. Fast forward to today, and the palace is more ruined than your life. The walls are still there, and they’re still impressive, but you’ll have to use your imagination to picture where the gold leaf once sparkled. The vast courtyard, once filled with lush gardens and reflecting pools, now looks like it’s holding out for a really fancy pool party that never quite got planned.
So, is the Palais El Badi a shadow of its former self? Sure. But it’s also a reminder that even in ruins, this place has more grandeur than your house. Visiting it is like strolling through the remains of a once-glamorous party and wondering, “What happened here?”—except instead of a rager gone wrong, it’s centuries of history, culture, and the occasional stork chilling in the background.
Tickets can be purchased here – Palais El Badi
5. Palais Bahia - Where Every Room Is Fancier Than Your Whole House
If you ever wanted to visit a place where royalty once lived in rooms the size of your overpriced London studio apartment, then Palais Bahia in the place for you. Built in the late 19th century, this palace is the Moroccan version of “Look, Ma, I made it!”—except instead of sports cars and giant pools, it’s all about mosaics, courtyards, and ceilings so fancy they’ll make you rethink your life choices.
Palais Bahia was built by a grand vizier named Si Moussa for his many wives, concubines, and a very extensive family. You know, because the 1800s were “The More The Merrier” era of real estate. The name “Bahia” means “brilliance,” and this place was meant to shine brighter than everyone else’s digs. Think of it as that one neighbor who always has the best Christmas display, except here the lights are hand-painted ceilings, zellige tiles, and lush gardens.
The palace is sprawling—so sprawling that you’ll lose your sense of direction within minutes. Picture yourself wandering through courtyards filled with orange trees, which then lead to even more courtyards and orange trees. By the end, you’re either in awe or just looking for the exit.
The rooms are all different levels of “fancy.” There’s the harem, where the ladies of the palace lived, which is so well decorated Laurence Llwelyn-Bowen is changing careers. Meanwhile, the ceilings are a masterclass in “Why settle for white paint when you can cover every inch with intricate wood carvings?” Palais Bahia is like they hired someone who’s part gardener, part Michelangelo.
If nothing else, Palais Bahia is a reminder that “extra” isn’t a new concept. It’s been around for centuries, and honestly, no one did it better than the Moroccans.
Tickets for Palais Bahia can be found here – Palais Bahia Tickets
6. Le Jardin Secret - Marrakesh’s Best Kept Oasis (That everyone knows about)
You’re sweating buckets, dodging motorbikes and getting hustled by guys trying to sell you “authentic” Gucci sunglasses in the Medina. It’s chaos, right? Well, hidden amongst all that madness is Le Jardin Secret—a literal oasis where you can take a break from, well, everything.
Le Jardin Secret is one of those places that makes you feel like you’ve been let in on some sort of secret (hence the name, obviously). Built way back when, (around the 16th century for those wondering), this place got a serious facelift in recent years, and now it’s all serene vibes, perfect for anyone who needs to pretend they’re cultured for an hour or so. There are two gardens: one that’s all about symmetry and showing off, and another that’s exotic and full of random plants.
What’s cool here is that as you wander around trying to look like Alan Titchmarsh, you’ll hear water trickling from fancy fountains and a silence you forgot existed. It’s all very zen, until you remember that outside these walls, there are 10,000 people trying to sell you a lamp.
Now, if all that walking and “enjoying nature” stuff gets too much, there’s a rooftop café. Yes, a rooftop! So you can sit there, sip some mint tea, whilst looking out over the gardens and the Medina skyline.
Tickets for Le Jardin Secret can be found here – Le Jardin Secret
7. Jemaa el-Fnaa - Chaos, Culture, and All the Fresh OJ You Can Handle
Jemaa el-Fnaa, aka the place where all your senses go into overdrive. Imagine Times Square, but swap the neon signs for snake charmers, henna artists, and about a thousand people selling orange juice. I’m not exaggerating, if you have a vitamin C deficiency this is the place to be. This is the beating heart of Marrakesh, where you’re guaranteed to experience something weird, something wonderful, or maybe even both at the exact same time.
By day, it’s a sprawling square with markets filled with everything from mysterious spices you’ll never use, to snakes that never stop dancing. Night-time is when Jemaa el-Fnaa really comes alive. I’m talking full-blown street performances, drums banging, smoke rising from food stalls, and the sound of a snake charmer’s flutes echoing through the air. By the way, don’t worry if you don’t like snakes—there are also monkeys on leashes. Yep, monkeys. Nothing says cultural experience like paying to have a primate sit on your shoulder for a photo that you will definitely be judged for.
Basically, Jemaa el-Fnaa is chaotic, loud, and full of life. If you like a bit of madness with your cultural experience (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t?), this is the place for you. Just remember to pack some hand sanitizer—you’ll thank me later.
8. Souks - Where You Haggle, Get Lost, and Somehow End Up with a Lamp
Ah, the souks of Marrakesh. You thought you were ready, didn’t you? You had your game face on, wallet tucked away, mentally preparing to say “no thanks” about a hundred times. But within minutes of stepping into this maze of madness, it hits you: you’re not getting out without buying something you didn’t need. Oh, and you’re 100% going to get lost.
The souks are basically Marrakesh’s version of a never-ending department store, except instead of helpful store assistants, you’ve got shopkeepers calling you “my friend” and claiming their products are the best in Morocco. Spoiler alert: every shop claims to sell the best leather, the best spices, the best silver, and—wait for it—the best lamps.
Once you dive in, it’s a sensory overload. Brightly coloured textiles draped over every stall, the smell of saffron and cumin hanging in the air, and the constant hum of voices haggling over anything from slippers to teapots. And speaking of haggling, get ready—it’s an Olympic sport in the souks. If you’re not bargaining, you are not shopping! But beware: you’ll either leave feeling like you’ve conquered the art of negotiation or like you just paid 50 dirhams for a keychain you could’ve gotten for 10.
You’ll spend a good chunk of your time here. The key is to stay calm and keep walking—unless, of course, you spot something shiny that you definitely don’t need but now absolutely must have.
Pro tip: when you get lost, don’t panic. The souks are like a black hole that pulls you in, but eventually, you’ll find your way out—probably at a completely different exit than where you started, but that’s part of the adventure. Just embrace it. Or if you are from the 21st century, you can just download MAPSME.
9. Koutoubia - The Tallest Thing in Marrakesh That Isn’t Trying to Sell You Something
You’ve probably seen a thousand pictures of Marrakesh’s skyline, and guess what? Koutoubia is always there, towering over the city like it owns the place—and, honestly, it kind of does. This is Marrakesh’s largest mosque, and while you can’t actually go inside unless you’re a practicing Muslim, just standing outside is enough to give you all the “I’m in Marrakesh” vibes you need.
Built in the 12th century, the Koutoubia’s minaret is like the city’s North Star. Lose your way in the souks? Just look up and head towards the giant tower. It’s been saving lost tourists for centuries. The mosque is named after the Arabic word for booksellers, which makes sense because apparently there used to be loads of book markets nearby. Now, though, it’s just a great spot for snapping pics and pretending you know a lot about Islamic architecture.
What’s particularly cool about this place (besides the fact that it’s stood here since your great-great-great-grandparents were alive) is how it dominates the skyline without being flashy. There’s no neon lights or tacky signage—it’s just a big, beautiful piece of history that somehow remains chill, despite having millions of people pointing their cameras at it every day. It’s basically the “cool guy” of Marrakesh landmarks.
The gardens around it are worth a wander too, especially if you need a break from the chaos of the Medina. Here, you can sit on a bench, admire the Koutoubia’s majestic minaret, and question all your life choices while pigeons casually judge you from above.
So, while you might not be able to step inside, the Koutoubia is still an unmissable part of Marrakesh. It’s like the Eiffel Tower of the city, only with fewer overpriced keychains and no lines to climb it—because you can’t, sick of saying it.
10. La Trattoria - Because Sometimes You Need a Break from Tagine
Listen, I love Moroccan food as much as the next guy, but after your third tagine of the week, even the most die-hard foodie might be ready for a change. Enter La Trattoria—a little slice of Italy right in the middle of Marrakesh, because nothing says “authentic travel experience” like a plate of pasta in North Africa. And honestly? You won’t even feel bad about it.
First off, the place is fancy. I’m talking art deco vibes, lush greenery, and enough candles to make you think you’re in a David Brent music video. The restaurant is set in this gorgeous riad-style building with a pool in the middle, so yeah, you’re basically dining in one of Michael Phelps dreams.
The menu? It’s all about Italian classics, and by the time you’re halfway through your pizza, you’ll forget you’re in Marrakesh altogether. Sure, it might feel a bit wrong to eat Italian in Morocco, but sometimes a person just needs something that don’t involve couscous.
It’s not the cheapest meal you’ll have in Marrakesh, but hey, you’re paying for the vibe as much as the food. And let’s face it, after wandering through the Medina all day, you deserve to sit somewhere with cushioned chairs, mood lighting, and waiters who won’t try to sell you a rug mid-meal.
So, if you need a little break from all the tagine, couscous, and kebabs, head to La Trattoria.
Where I stayed in Marrakesh
During my travels, I had the absolute joy of staying at Riad Challa Hotel and Spa in Marrakesh, and honestly, it’s like stepping into a Moroccan fairytale—with Wi-Fi. Tucked away within the Souks, this Riad has just the right mix of “I’m on a fancy holiday” and “I’m in Aladdin”
Picture this: you walk into Riad Challa, and right in the center is a crystal clear pool dominating the centre of the hotel. It’s not a massive pool, but it’s got that “secret hideaway” vibe, perfect for a quick dip after you’ve been baking under the Moroccan sun. The best part? You can lazily float around while glancing up at the beautifully designed rooms that encircle the courtyard—like being in your own private villa, while still technically in the middle of Marrakesh’s chaos.
And then there’s the rooftop. It’s one of those spots where you’ll find yourself sipping mint tea (or something stronger) and looking out over the souks. From up there, it’s like you’re watching the Medina do its thing from a safe, breezy distance. The view is a mix of the bustling market life below and the distant Atlas Mountains—basically, all the beauty of Marrakesh.
For just €15, Riad Challa’s airport pick-up service is the best way to avoid getting lost in the Medina maze right off the bat. Trust me, the last thing you want after a long flight is to wander through the souks, trying to find your way with Google Maps giving you questionable directions. The driver picks you up straight from the airport and delivers you right to the riad’s doorstep, so you can skip the chaos and start your Marrakesh adventure without the stress. It’s money well spent.
If all this sounds like your kind of vibe, book yourself a stay via the link here – Riad Challa Hotel & Spa