Things to do in  Marrakech

With its bold blue color scheme, towering palms, and gigantic cacti, set around pools of water lilies and gardens filled with exotic plants, the Majorelle Garden (Jardin Majorelle) is one of the most idyllic spots in Marrakech. Owned by designer Yves Saint Laurent, it’s also one of the city’s most visited attractions.

An outdoor market by day and packed to bursting with diners, shoppers, storytellers, and singers by night, Jemaa el-Fna (also written Djemaa el-Fna or Jemaa el-Fnaa) is the epicenter of Marrakech life, where locals and tourists come night after night to see the clash of colors, sounds, smells, and sights that make up this memorable location.

The name of the Bahia Palace (Palais Bahia) nods to its greatness: "Bahia” translates as “Brilliance.” Part of Marrakech’s UNESCO-listed medina and located on the northern edge of the Mellah (the Jewish quarter), the palace was the 19th-century residence of Si Ahmed ben Musa (or Ba Ahmed), the Grand Vizier of Marrakech.

The largest and most famous of Marrakech’s many mosques, Koutoubia Mosque (Mosquée Koutoubia) is also the city’s most prominent navigational landmark. Just a short stroll from Djemaa el Fna square, the mosque’s soaring minaret stands proud at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed medina.

The historic heart of Marrakech and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Marrakech Medina (Medina of Marrakesh) is the first port of call for most visitors to the city. Known for its famous Jemaa el-Fna square, a dizzying maze of souks, and a magnificent array of mosques and palaces, this is Marrakech’s most atmospheric district.

Towering 13,751 feet (4,191 meters) above sea level, Mount Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains is the highest peak in all of northern Africa. The trail up the mountain to the summit is more of a long, very steep stroll than a technical climb (no ropes or special equipment are needed), takes two to three days, and is accessible all year round.

The N9 road from Marrakech to Ouarzazate crosses the central High Atlas at the Tizi n’Tichka pass (Col du Tichka. Both that airy mountain crossing and the winding stretch of road around it are regulars on lists of the world’s best road trips. At 7,415 feet (2,260 meters above sea level, the high mountain views are spectacular.

The UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou (Ksar of Ait Benhaddou) is one of Morocco’s most impressive historic landmarks and a popular film location for Hollywood movies. Sculpted from traditional mud bricks and fortified by walls of dark red pisé, this kasbah lies on the old trans-Saharan trade route, at the border of the High Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert.

The majestic Oukaimeden valley, set inside Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, is a popular day trip from Marrakech. A lush gorge carving its way through a tableau of jagged peaks, the valley is dotted with traditional Berber villages and prehistoric rock art sites, plus it offers year-round outdoor adventures—including wintertime skiing.

A lush expanse of terraced fields, forested hillsides, and cascading waterfalls in the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains, the Ourika Valley ((Vallée de l’Ourika) is a natural oasis just an hour from the city of Marrakech.

Constructed by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur during the 16th century, the Saadian Tombs (Tombeaux Saadiens) are home to more than 200 crypts belonging to members of the Saadian dynasty. The magnificent mausoleums are renowned for their lavish design, featuring stunning zellige tiles, exquisite woodwork, and gold and marble embellishments.

Fringing northwest Marrakech, the Palmeraie (Palm Grove is the city’s favorite recreational area and most upscale vacation and residential enclave. A refuge from the bustling Medina and Jemaa el-Fna, the oasis comprises 54 square miles (140 square kilometers edged with prestigious hotels and villas.

For over 500 years, Ben Youssef Madrasa in Marrakech’s buzzing medina has served as a temple to education—and while students no longer memorize the Quran or study Islamic law here, visitors can enjoy the school’s special ambiance and magnificent Andalusian design details.

Located by the village of Tanaghmeilt in the High Atlas Mountains, the Ouzoud Waterfalls (Cascades d’Ouzoud) are Morocco’s highest falls. They are a magnificent sight, tumbling 361 feet (110 meters) through a dramatic red-rock gorge of El Abid River.

ANIMA Garden, a fantasy landscape of exotic plants and quirky installations framed by the Atlas Mountains, is the brainchild of Austrian multimedia artist André Heller. Besides over 250 different plant species, works by the likes of Keith Haring and Pablo Picasso deck the 5-acre (2-hectare) grounds. There’s also a museum and a café.