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    Marrakech
    yeowatzup / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

    Morocco

    Marrakech

    City

    Marrakech, nestled at the foot of the High Atlas, will be Morocco’s top destination in 2025, expecting over ten million passengers.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Morocco
    7. Marrakech & The High Atlas
    9. Marrakech
    Marrakech, nestled at the foot of the High Atlas, will be Morocco’s top destination in 2025, expecting over ten million passengers. Founded by the Almoravids around 1070, its approximately nine-kilometre-long red clay walls still enclose the Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985. Its heart is Jemaa el-Fna Square, surrounded by souks, palaces, and gardens.

    Sights in Marrakech

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Koutoubia Mosque
    Mosque

    1Koutoubia Mosque

    The main mosque of Marrakech originated under the Almohads in the second half of the 12th century; its roughly 77-meter-high minaret is visible from afar. Non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque, but the surrounding garden is freely accessible.
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    Jemaa el-Fna
    Market

    2Jemaa el-Fna

    The large square on the edge of the Medina has been a symbol of the city since the 14th century. By day, juice vendors and merchants stand here; from late afternoon, food stalls, storytellers, and musicians take over. In 2001, UNESCO declared the square a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
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    Medersa Ben Youssef
    Historic Landmark

    3Medersa Ben Youssef

    The former madrasa was completed in 1564/65 under the Saadian Sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib. Cedar wood carvings, stucco, and zellige tiles surround the inner courtyard with a water basin, while the small rooms of the former students are located on the upper floors. After a restoration, it reopened in 2022.
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    Jardin Majorelle
    Garden

    4Jardin Majorelle

    Painter Jacques Majorelle started the garden in 1923; Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé later bought it. Cacti, bamboo, and the vibrant Majorelle blue define the scene; the Berber Museum is in the garden. Tickets are only available online; open daily from 8 AM.
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    Saadian Tombs

    5Saadian Tombs

    The Saadian Dynasty Tombs were built from 1557 and expanded under Ahmad al-Mansur until 1603. Long forgotten, they were rediscovered and restored in 1917. The Hall of Twelve Pillars is considered the most magnificent room.
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    Bahia Palace

    6Bahia Palace

    Grand Vizier Si Musa began the palace in the 1860s; his son Ba Ahmed expanded it 1894-1900. Spanning almost two hectares, some 150 rooms cluster around courtyards and gardens; the Great Court measures 50 by 30 meters. Damaged by the 2023 earthquake, the palace reopened in October 2023.
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    City walks in Marrakech

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    From the Koutoubia through the Souks to the Medersa Ben Youssef

    Around four kilometers and two to two-and-a-half hours through the Medina: from Koutoubia Minaret, via Jemaa el-Fna and Spice Square, to the Saadian and Almoravid buildings in the north of the Old City.

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    Stops (7)

    Restaurants in Marrakech

    1

    Dar Yacout

    Traditional restaurant in the Medina, serving a Moroccan feast menu with multiple courses for a fixed price.
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    2

    Nomad Marrakech

    Restaurant with rooftop terrace overlooking Medina alleys. Cuisine blends Moroccan and Mediterranean influences.
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    3

    Sahbi Sahbi

    A team of female chefs prepares modern Moroccan cuisine here, reinterpreting traditional recipes.
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    Food & Drink

    Tanjia

    The city's specialty: meat with preserved lemon and spices, slow-cooked for hours in a clay pot in the embers of the hammam ovens.

    Food Stalls at Jemaa el-Fna

    From late afternoon, food stalls set up their stalls in the square, serving Moroccan dishes at simple tables.

    Mint tea

    Green tea with fresh mint and plenty of sugar, the drink for almost every occasion.

    Culture & History

    Capital of Two DynastiesMarrakech was the capital of the Almoravids, who here in the 11th century ruled an empire reaching as far as Andalusia. In the 12th century, the Almohads built the Koutoubia Mosque, whose minaret still defines the city's skyline. In the 16th century, the Saadians once again made the city their residence; the Medersa Ben Youssef dates from this time.Jemaa el-FnaSince the 14th century, the square has been considered a symbol of the city. Storytellers, healers, musicians, and food stalls made it so unique that UNESCO recognized it in 2001 as one of the first Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This initiative was sparked by the Spanish writer Juan Goytisolo, who lived in Marrakech.After the EarthquakeThe earthquake of September 8, 2023, damaged parts of the city wall, several mosques, and historic buildings. The Koutoubia has been open again since March 2024, while restoration work is still ongoing at other monuments like the Bahia and Badi Palaces.

    Nightlife

    1

    The Churchill (La Mamounia)

    The bar at Hotel La Mamounia is decorated in Art déco style and with Moorish elements. A dress code applies.
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    2

    Comptoir Darna

    Restaurant, dinner show, and club all in one: Belly dancers and Gnaoua musicians perform during dinner, followed by DJs later.
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    3

    Café Arabe

    Restaurant with a rooftop terrace in the Medina, popular for a sunset cocktail with views over the rooftops.
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    Exploring locally

    From the Airport to the CityMarrakech-Menara Airport is located just a few kilometers southwest of the Medina. Bus 19 goes to Jemaa el-Fna; tickets cost around 30 Dirham and are paid in cash on the bus. Taxis are faster, but agree on the price before departure.In the Medina and BeyondExplore the Medina on foot. Mopeds also drive through narrow alleys, so keep to the side.For journeys to the new city Guéliz or the Jardin Majorelle, take a Petit Taxi. Insist on the meter or negotiate the price beforehand.From the train station, trains go to Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, and Fès; long-distance buses from CTM and Supratours travel south and to Essaouira.

    Accommodations in Marrakech

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      • 2Jemaa el-Fna4 days
      • 3Medersa Ben Youssef5 days
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    Nearby

    Marrakech & The High Atlas

    Marrakech & The High Atlas

    Marrakesh is often the gateway to Morocco: The Medina has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985. South of the city, the High Atlas rises to 4,167m at Toubkal, with valleys like Ourika Valley and mountain villages like Imlil.
    Ourika Valley

    Ourika Valley

    The Ourika Valley stretches south of Marrakech into the High Atlas, alongside its namesake river. At the end of the road lies the village of Setti Fatma, above which seven waterfalls cascade over the rocks.
    Imlil & Toubkal

    Imlil & Toubkal

    Imlil is located at around 1,800 metres in the High Atlas, approximately 65 kilometres south of Marrakech, and serves as the starting point for climbing Toubkal. At 4,167 metres, it is the highest mountain in North Africa and the centrepiece of the Toubkal National Park, founded in 1942. Around the village, hiking trails lead to Berber villages and to the Sidi Chamharouch shrine, which non-Muslims are not permitted to enter.
    Aït-Ben-Haddou

    Aït-Ben-Haddou

    The Ksar Aït-Ben-Haddou is a fortified mud-brick settlement in the Ounila Valley on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. Since 1987, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site. The backdrop of mud-brick kasbahs on the hillside above the river served for films like Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.
    Ouzoud Waterfalls

    Ouzoud Waterfalls

    The Ouzoud Waterfalls in Azilal Province cascade 110 meters in three tiers into the Oued el-Abid gorge. They are about 150 kilometers northeast of Marrakech. Barbary macaques live in the trees around the falls.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI