Marrakech for the weekend – what to see?

Marrakech is not a city for one day. And it’s not just a matter of “passing” the sights, because the most interesting ones can be seen in a few hours. However, by getting to know the city in a haphazard way, one can easily become discouraged, and impressions after Marrakech can be very negative. So we encourage you to anchor here for a few days and see the city from different perspectives.

When we planned this trip, we wanted to have two very active days, and set aside two days for relaxation, alternatively, one of them to go to the desert. While there, however, the more places we discovered in Marrakech itself, the more unsatisfied we became. Places we had not originally planned to visit suddenly found their way into our schedule and filled every spare moment.

Below you will also find a video and map with all the points described below.

First impressions of Marrakech

What is Marrakech like? What memories are left after this trip? Very positive! Although we read some articles before the trip that were not very favorable, and we know that not everyone returns delighted from this city, we have very good memories of this trip, and Marrakech itself delighted us.

Thanks to the fact that in Marrakech alone we were 4 full days we had the opportunity to look at many places that people dropping in for 1 day have no chance to reach.

Marrakech is a city of intense colors, smells, sounds. Here it’s bustling, crowded, cramped, and you can feel like you’re in one big, untamed bazaar. Especially when it comes to the Medina, the historic part of the city. The part that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is not difficult to get lost here in the maze of narrow streets, nor is it difficult to be frightened by a scooter or donkey-drawn cart jumping out of an alley. It is not difficult to be pulled over by one of the “helpful” Moroccans or to be drawn into negotiations that must end with the purchase of something you do not need at all. Yes, the vendors here are intensely intrusive and can spoil even a peaceful stroll through the souks.

Sound scary? A bit like that, which is why we also flew to Morocco with some concerns. Negotiators of us are lousy, we don’t like someone pushing something into our hands, helping us find a path we are not looking for at all, etc. And yet, we managed to get out of it all unscathed ;) What’s more, the first thing we don’t recall at all are the difficulties or fears, but mostly the beautiful sites, palaces, gardens, museums, hospitality and…. delicious orange juice. This whole environment for us was a local vibe, not a problem or trouble. Maybe it’s because, as we wrote earlier, we were with children, and Moroccans even love children, or because we listened to a lot of advice and tips on how to get around locally and how to shop ;) But that’s not what this post is about….

So what did we see in Marrakech that we returned so delighted? Although some places disappointed us, there were definitely more of these delights. Read below, and if you make it to the very end, there you will find a map with all the places we mentioned.

So what is worth seeing in Marrakech?

Souks, bitches, or bazaars

It’s best not to push yourself here at the very beginning of your Marrakech adventure. Why? Because in the souk you can lose yourself for a whole day, or the solicitations can suck all the energy and desire to explore the city out of you.

These streets or squares with stands, stalls, stores, are full of…. everything! But what we liked here is that you will find many locally made products. Somewhere behind the wall is leather processing and dyeing, next door someone is carving wood, someone else is braiding handbags and baskets. Many stalls specialize in specific products, and so, for example, you will find a store with only leather handbags, only leather shoes, only cosmetics.

Of course, you will also find products from China here, but such places are advised to avoid with a wide flank.

Moving through such a bazaar is a no-holds-barred ride. At first until you want to look everywhere, smell, touch, but NOTE, the vendors are just waiting to catch your eye and invite you in from the inside. After that, it’s hard to leave ;) Although we must admit here that a lot depends on the souk. From the riad (our accommodation) we had a fixed route to the center of Marrakech, which our host showed us, and it was probably the most peaceful souk we’ve been to. No one was pushy, you could just watch, chat. On the second day, they already recognized us and waved to us from afar. It really was very nice and atmospheric.

The rule of thumb is: the closer you get to the famous Jami al-Fan Square, however, the worse and more insistent it gets.

It is a no-holds-barred ride also when it comes to finding the right road. We walked with the Maps.me app (great offline maps, we also recommend other mobile travel apps that we don’t go without), which got us everywhere, without it we would have circled endlessly. The signs are there, but each different, invisible, hard to find.

Can you find them in the photos below? :)

The ubiquitous scooters, bicycles and carriages do not help either…. the most important rule is: always keep to the right ;)

Marrakech Museum

We had this museum right under our noses, about 5 minutes from our riad, and we only got here at the end of the trip. And it’s a shame, because having already seen many other sites in Marrakech, it wasn’t that impressive. If we had looked here at the beginning it certainly would have been different.

Here, once again, we saw beautiful interiors, and quite a few exhibitions (including costumes, materials, ceramics). It is a perfect example of Moorish architecture, with courtyards, ornamentation, and fountains. The geometric shapes laid with Moroccan tiles (zellige, zellidj) are delightful, not only in the courtyard, but also in the part where the kitchens were located.

The centerpiece of the museum is a sizable courtyard. Once open, it is now covered with a fountain in the middle and a giant chandelier hanging above it.

The museum has been here since 1997, before that it was a palace (built in the late 19th century) and then housed a school.

An entrance ticket costs 70 dirham (about 30 zlotys).

Mosque and madrasa of Ali ibn Yusuf

This is the place we must mention, although we did not enter here. And we didn’t go in for a simple reason: this facility is currently under renovation and is therefore completely closed to the public (only believers can enter the mosque).

A madrassa is a theological school where the Quran is taught, and Ali ibn Yusuf’s madrassa is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Islamic art in Morocco. We regret all the more that we could not see the richly decorated courtyards and rooms in person.

It is located right next to the Marrakech Museum mentioned above so it is worth combining a visit to both places.

Jami al-Fana Square (Jemaa el-Fna)

Jemaa el-Fna Square is the place to come to in order to get away from it quickly ;) Seriously, don’t plan to spend too much time here. At least for us, it was too crowded, too loud, too intense. Everything is made for tourists. You have to pay for everything regardless of whether you asked for something or not. The high point was when we were watching a tour of elderly people passing through the square, and at one point the trainer threw a chained monkey over the shoulder of a woman, who was terribly frightened and started screaming. What’s more, he demanded she pay for it!

Unfortunately, the sight of trained animals in this place is standard :(

We spent more time here watching from the terrace of one restaurant as the square blossomed at sunset. Food stalls are starting to serve dishes, more and more performances are appearing, as well as peddlers and swindlers.

It’s amazing how within moments, potlucks open up serving a multitude of dishes starting with traditional tazhin and ending with snail soup or sheep brains. Each of these booths has a number so that you know and remember where to look or come back. We won’t recommend any, because we didn’t eat anything here ;-)

The only thing we recommend is to buy a delicious orange juice and run away ;) Juices are very cheap, and you can pick and choose from a variety of fruits. We, as a rule, took one orange and one multifruit – they were not only delicious but also very nutritious.

Koutoubia Mosque

The Koutoubia Mosque, also known as the Mosque of the Booksellers, along with its 70-meter minaret, are perhaps the most distinctive landmark in Marrakech (well, except perhaps Jemaa el-Fna Square). It was built in the 12th century, and was named after the traders who sold manuscripts under the mosque.

The mosque is not accessible to non-Muslims, so it remains to admire the structure from the outside. It is worth noting the ruins of the old mosque here – it was not built correctly and pointed towards Mecca, so a new mosque was ordered to be built right next door.

Walking from Jami al-Fana Square, behind the mosque you will find a garden with palm and citrus trees, a fountain and benches, where you can experience some peace and quiet from the hustle and bustle that is omnipresent in the Medina.

Bahia Palace

This beautiful and impressive palace, both in size and detail, should definitely be on your list of places to see in Marrakech. Yes, it is one of the most visited places by tourists and at times it is very crowded, but just wait a while and the courtyards, cloisters and rooms become empty after the next wave of visitors.

Bahia Palace is divided into several parts, and going between them is almost like entering other worlds. Initially a Small Riad, then a Small Courtyard full of greenery with wooden ornaments, and then a more austere marble courtyard devoid of vegetation with arcades and intense yellow and blue decorations (the Grand Courtyard). All in mosaics, of course.

At the Bahia Palace, the courtyards with plants (again, citrus trees), geometric mosaic patterns, and wooden decorations (especially note the ceilings!) are stunning. And it is for these elements that it is worth a look here, as it is in vain to look inside for exhibits or displays.

Entrance costs Dh 70 per adult (about $30).

Dar Si Said Museum

This was the first museum in Marrakech we visited. And we narrowly missed being quickly evacuated from it. The initial display of carpets is not thrilling, but don’t be discouraged, because the further you go the better it gets.

However, if you have the desire and more time, it is worth stopping by the carpets, because they are indeed an important part of Moroccan culture, and by the way you can learn something interesting (for example, that Moroccan carpets differ between regions, among other things, patterns ;-)).

We, however, sped through this part to reach a quiet courtyard with a fountain in the middle, and then to the first floor, where there are definitely more interesting interiors.

With its impressive chambers, monumental doors and ornate cedar wood ceilings, and only a single visitor, the Dar Si Said Museum is a very good start to exploring Marrakech.

The Dar Si Said Museum is the oldest museum in Marrakech and is larger than the aforementioned Marrakech Museum. In numerous chambers you can admire not only carpets, but also textiles, jewelry, ceramics, instruments or weapons.

Price: Dh 30 per adult (about 12 zlotys).

Jewish quarter

The Jewish quarter (melach, mellah) was built in the mid-16th century to protect the Jewish community. And despite the fact that most Jewish families moved out of the area in the 1960s, Jewish objects still remain. Currently, several hundred Jews live here.

Melach is another example of how diverse Marrakech is. It is definitely quieter here, and even frighteningly quiet. At times, when we entered the side alleys, there wasn’t even a living soul on the horizon. Of course, it was enough that stray souls appeared, so that immediately from the gates the heads of small boys wanting to “help” us. Because it is here like nowhere else that we have been repeatedly tried to trick us into believing that some passage or road is closed, so that they can take us down a circuitous route and demand a solid payment for it. Fortunately, thanks to the navigation, we were perfectly oriented and did not need advice.

In the Jewish part of Marrakech, it is worth going to the… cemetery. A place that is not an obvious choice if you drop by Marrakech for a while. It is important to know that this is the largest Jewish cemetery in Morocco.

The cemetery is a large, austere area full of small, bright tombstones and a few tombs. It is in vain to find candles or flowers here, according to tradition only stones are placed. There is a specific division into sectors, including children’s, men’s and women’s.

The next site worth a look is the Lazam synagogue. Another place where, once you cross the threshold, you enter a completely different world. The dominant color here is white and blue, it is quiet, peaceful, with single tourists scrolling in the courtyard. It is a place where you can learn about Jewish history, see various antique and historical items related to Judaism.

There is a fee to enter the synagogue – Dh10 (about 4 zlotys).

Sadith necropolis

Staying on the peri-Cemetery theme, it’s time to mention a more popular place among Marrakech visitors, the Sadith Necropolis, which are located next to the equally popular Kasbah Mosque (its origins date back to the 12th century!).

There are beautifully decorated tombs here, in which the most important members of the Sadite dynasty are buried. The necropolis includes mausoleums and a garden where other members of the royal family were buried.

The tombs date back to the 16th century, but were only discovered in 1917 during an airplane flight over the city. How is this possible? Sultan Ahmad I al-Mansur did not begrudge money for the tomb, as can be seen by visiting the main mausoleum with 12 columns. It was of no use, however, because decades after his death, Sultan Maulai Isma’il ordered them walled up and the world forgot about them. They were only discovered in the early 20th century during the aforementioned flight of French planes.

There is a fee to enter and it costs Dh70 (about $30) and in our opinion the price is quite exorbitant. The area is not very large, and about an hour is enough to explore.

Baba of Marrakech or the gates of the city ;)

Bab is a gate, and there are a total of 19 of them in Marrakech (although there is no consensus on this number, according to some sources there are 22). Before the trip, one person recommended that we absolutely see the beautiful, monumental Bab Agnaou gate – and it’s a good thing she recommended it, because roaming around Medina we wouldn’t have gotten to it ourselves.

It’s definitely not a ‘must see’, but this gate is not far from the Sadith Necropolis, so while you’re in the area, we encourage you to cross the walls of the old city and look at the gate from the outside (as the inside is not impressive). The ornate stone gate, built in the 12th century, is the most impressive of all the city’s gates.

Badi Palace

Unlike all the other buildings we’ve seen so far in Marrakech, the Badi Palace is just a remnant, the ruins of a huge complex.

What surprised us a lot here is that these ruins can be freely explored ie. Without defined paths. In some places there are no safety barriers, there are deep holes, there are no stairs – it is easy to have an accident. At times there are footbridges, there are arrows and plans for the building, but we were surprised to find that in many places there is a selfie. Need we add that the facility is completely unsuitable for wheelchairs? ;)

Construction of the palace was completed at the end of the 16th century on behalf of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (yes, the one with the tombs ;) ) and shared a similar fate to the Sadith Necropolis we described above. After the fall of the Sadite dynasty, it was completely destroyed, and now we can only tread on the ruins of the palace.

The palace consisted of houses and buildings of various sizes and shapes, and the central part was a huge courtyard with 4 gardens and pools. It was the courtyard that impressed us the most and allowed us to imagine what this palace looked like in its heyday.

The most important exhibit in the palace is a sizable, tall wooden minbar. Looking like a tall throne, the minbar is a pulpit, a permanent fixture in the mosque. No photos can be taken inside the room where it is located.

Entrance to the palace costs Dh 70 per adult (about $30). Yes, again about £30 ;-)

La Mamounia

La Mamounia is an upscale hotel with a garden, which we initially did not plan to see at all. However, encouraged by the cab driver who brought us from the airport and talked about it with delight, we decided to take a look inside.

And the fact that to enter through the gates of the hotel is to enter another world. We leave the noise, the scooters, the perpetual honking behind us and, after passing baggage control, enter a world of luxury. It’s amazing how complete extremes can go together here. In the hotel you can smell wealth and glamour a mile away, and entering in sneakers we felt strongly out of place ;)

We went straight to the garden, which is large, but did not knock us down completely. We circled in the hope of hitting a gem just around the corner, but unfortunately we did not find one. We’ve seen many other, nicer ones. Simply put, this garden’s glory days are behind it. Arguably, it looked very different during the visits of Winston Churchill and Franklin D Roosevelt.

Unfortunately, there was a closed party in part of the hotel, so we were left to walk around the garden.

Entry is free.

Jardin Majorelle

Yet another perspective on Marrakech? Welcome to the Majorelle Garden, far from the center, but it is still possible to get here on foot (yes, we got here with a baby stroller, although we honestly have to admit that it was not easy :P).

Note, this is one of the few places in Marrakech where there were quite long queues to enter and in addition, it was the first time we saw separate checkouts for wheelchair users, families with children or pregnant women, which does not at all mean that the facility is adapted for people with disabilities (it is not!).

The local estate and gardens belonged to Yves Saint Laurent (the painter Jacques Majorelle was the first owner) and here his ashes were scattered. Next to the garden is a museum of the famous designer.

This garden is the perfect idea for a break from the intense Medina. It’s quiet, peaceful, dominated by greenery, which we missed so much for a few days. Although this tranquility is quite a relative term, as the inside is even swarming with tourists, especially from Asia.

Intense colors, ponds, interesting plant specimens from 5 continents (including bamboos, palms, cacti) encourage a slow walk and rest.

There is an additional fee for the Berber Museum, showing artifacts and tools related to the indigenous people of Morocco.

A normal ticket costs 80 dirhams (about 32 zlotys), children under 12 enter for free. Tickets can be purchased in advance online to avoid standing in line.

Marrakech – map of attractions:

And the promised map with all the attractions of Marrakech marked, which we recommend you to visit:

Video what to do in Marrakech

Check out our video from Marrakech showing all the points described above.

Our opinion about Marrakech

We hope we have encouraged you to plan more than one day in Marrakech. We, by staying longer, were able to get to know the city from different perspectives.

Nor were we discouraged by the noise in Jami al-Fana Square or the souk merchants. So you can easily manage them too ;) Instead, we had the opportunity to see many other more interesting places, which we will remember more from this trip. So it’s worth exploring Marrakech a little longer than those few hours :)

See also: Marrakech with a child, is it a good idea?

We also recommend you a whole gallery of photos from our stay in Marrakech:

Zobacz galerię wszystkich zdjęć z Marrakeszu >>>