Explore Marrakech

A Guide to Marrakech
Exotic and beautiful, with a deep connection to its traditional way of life, Marrakech is nonetheless cosmopolitan in many ways—and getting more so every day. New cuisines are cropping up throughout the Red City, and night life is always lively. But visitors will also find glorious religious and cultural landmarks that tie the city to its past and timeless entertainment such as snake charmers in the public squares. At its most basic, Marrakech can be divided into the sights found inside the walls of the Medina (old city) and outside the Medina, with each area of the city brimming with fabulous things to see, taste, and do. The nearby Atlas Mountains, too, are a constant source of glorious vistas, encouraging exploration for adventurous visitors.

Historic & Religious Landmarks
Naturally, Marrakech has many structures that celebrate its strong Muslim traditions, but none are more important to the city than the Koutoubia Mosque, lying just west of the Jemaa el-Fna. One of the first things you see as you approach Marrakech is the mosque’s soaring minaret, and the building itself is the basis from which the French designers created the roads in Ville Nouvelle. Its roots trace back to the 12th century, when the Koutoubia Mosque and another adjacent mosque were constructed during the Almahad dynasty.

Built by the Saadian dynasty in the 1500s, the Ben Youssef Madrasa is a former boarding school for Islamic scholars learning the Koran and religious law, as well as the sciences. The structure is a breathtaking work of art, teeming with craftsmanship from a bygone era. The best preserved section of the madrasa is prayer hall at the end of the courtyard, where a wood dome covers the traditional five-sided prayer niche. The courtyard also contains a pool and dramatic columned arcades.

Delving into the city’s Jewish history, The Mellah—the old Jewish Quarter—rose during Saadian rule in the middle of the 16th century. A thriving community at the time with many glorious fountains, gardens, synagogues, and markets, today it’s been renamed Hay Essalam and has been replaced with Muslim residents. Only a couple hundred Jewish people remain in Marrakech, but you can visit the Alzama synagogue and the Talmud Torah school on the floor above it. This area’s greatest draw, however, is that it’s separate from the “tourist” areas and allows visitors to get a real feel for how Marrakchi residents truly live.

Marrakech also has many stunning secular monuments. Among the most intriguing are the Saadian Tombs on rue de la Kasbah. Built in the 1500s, this compound containing the tombs of Saadian dynasty royals was only discovered in 1917. After the Saadian dynasty fell from power, the Sultan Moulay Ismail destroyed nearly everything built during the previous period, but he didn’t have the nerve to desecrate the tombs. Instead, the necropolis was walled over. Today visitors can view the two main mausoleums and the imposing, ornately detailed Hall of the Twelve Columns. The two mausoleums contain 66 tombs—including that of Mohammed ech Sheikh, founder of the Saadian dynasty—and the more than 100 other tombs scattered throughout the grounds. One other tiny remnant of the Saadian dynasty is Dar el-Badi in the Kasbah area. Once known as the “incomparable palace” for the unabashed luxury found in the 360-room complex, it was built after a victory over the Portuguese. The Alaouite dynasty destroyed all but a section of the grand esplanade, which is surrounded by ponds.

Shrob ou shouf, a fountain near the Ben Youssef Madrasa, was constructed during the reign of Saadian sultan Ahmad al-Mansur in the late 1600s. The design includes a green-tiled roof that encloses a honeycomb-like wooden crown. This historic gem was recognized by UNESCO as a cultural heritage site in the 1980s.

Cultural Experiences
The main square in Marrakech is Jemaa el-Fna, located in the old city. This is a must-see destination for many reasons, including the fact that it’s both a snapshot of everyday life in the city, as well as a ploy for tourist dollars. Constantly crowded, the square provides all-day entertainment—from dancers to musicians to Arabic storytellers to snake charmers who love to take photos with visitors. There’s also a huge variety of shopping and cafes where you can escape the noise. This cultural symbol of Marrakech has been protected as part of the country’s artistic heritage for 85 years.

Hammams, also known as Turkish baths, are integral to life in Marrakech and the rest of Morocco. The numerous public baths are both a religious exercise (cleansing before prayers) and practical (for residents without running water in their own homes). The more upscale hammams, however, are all about relaxation and pampering. Les Secrets de Marrakech in Guéliz incorporates a hammam and day spa, and Hammam Ziani in the Medina offers a similar spa and hammam combination. Most elite hotels and resorts also have onsite hammams for guests only, where you can indulge in relative privacy.

Gardens are a popular destination for picnicking and unwinding among plants and flowers that seem to hold the population captive. Merara Gardens is the most popular of these venues, though the site is more an olive grove than field of flowers. One of the highlights is the lovely tiled minzah (pavilion) that shades a pool. Jardin Agdal on the western edge of the Medina has grown to more than 400 hectacres since its 12th century founding. The walled gardens boast loads of olive trees, fruit trees, glittering pools, minzahs, and shaded areas to enjoy a bite to eat. The small botanical garden known as Jardin Majorelle most resembles what Westerners think of as a garden, perhaps because it was founded by Frenchman (and artist) Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s. Here you’ll find bright colours and strongly perfumed plants including cacti, bamboo, and bougainvillea. Interestingly, the ashes of fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent were scattered here upon his death in 2008.

Amazing Museums
Inside the 19th-century Dar Mnebbi palace—built for an ambassador and defense minister—lies the Musee de Marrakech. This completely restored building exhibits contemporary art and traditional arts and crafts and further treats your eyes to a gorgeous interior courtyard with a fountain and chandelier. Good news for collectors: if you spot a contemporary piece you like, you may be able to purchase it.

The Museum of Moroccan Arts is located in the small Dar Si Said palace built by a vizier (minister) under the final pre-colonial sultan of Morocco. This beautiful structure features lush courtyards on the outside, while the inside contains exhibits of amber and silver jewelry, carpets from the High Atlas mountains, historic décor items like oil lamps and blue pottery from Safi, crafts such as leatherwork, and weapons including Berber daggers.

In addition to housing beautiful plants and exotic birds, Jardin Majorelle also contains the Islamic Art Museum of Marrakech. The garden was founded by French artist Jacques Majorelle, whose paintings of the Atlas Mountains, among other subjects, can be found inside the museum. It also boasts personal artifacts and exclusive African textiles from the garden’s former owner, legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent.

Marrakech Night Life
Morocco is a largely Islamic country, but alcohol flows pretty freely for those interested in wine with a meal or an after-dinner cocktail. It’s important to observe local etiquette dictating that alcohol consumption shouldn’t be within view of a mosque—not a problem if you stick to sipping a beverage inside a bar or restaurant. Among the high-brow lounges is Le Churchill inside the Hôtel La Mamounia, a glamorous destination where you absolutely must dress for the occasion or risk the prospect of being turned away. The rooftop bar at the Hôtel le Marrakech in Guéliz is another swanky lounge with mostly French-speaking patrons.

For a more laid back experience, Chesterfield Pub in the Hotel Nassil evokes the feeling of a traditional English tavern (complete with pints of the good stuff). Café-Bar de l’Escale is a low-key venue that allows drinks to be taken street-side, while Gali Galou is happy hour heaven.

Night clubs are an extravagance many locals can’t afford, so patronizing these discotheques will put you in similarly refined company—though behavior inside these clubs can tend toward the outrageous at times. On the weekend, Pacha Marrakech on Boulevard Mohammed VI attracts thousands of patrons, including a who’s who of celebrities and high society, while internationally known DJs spin the tunes. Hotel es-Saadi’s Theatro is one of the city’s top discotheques and is famous for its White Saturdays, where club-goers dress in head-to-toe white.

Entertainment comes in many forms in Marrakech, and most of them can be found in Jemaa el-Fna, where every evening includes a concert. Another live music venue is Montecristo, where different areas of the club offer styles as diverse as salsa and African tribal. If classical music is more your speed, the Institit Français on the outskirts of Guéliz is your best bet for traditional European and Spanish music.