Things to Do, See & Experience in Marrakesh in Two Days
After 10 days of traveling in Morocco, I can definitely say that Marrakech is my least favorite city. Within an hour of arriving, a man on a motorbike nearly clipped my bag off my shoulder. By day two, three separate people had tried to “guide” us toward a shop we had no intention of entering. By day three, I had had enough and was ready to leave.
And if you’re reading this, know that you’re not alone. I have heard many stories, especially about Marrakech, because it has earned its reputation. The medina is truly unlike anywhere else. Jemaa el-Fnaa at night is one of those rare travel experiences that genuinely lives up to the photos. Bahia Palace will make your jaw drop. The souks, as frustrating as they are, are spectacular to see.
So here’s what I’ll give you: an honest list of things to do in Marrakech, what to skip, what will disappoint you, and what’s worth every dirham. Two to three days are enough. Go with realistic expectations, keep your bag in front of you, and you’ll be fine.
These are the top picks I’d tell a friend to prioritize. Detailed write-ups follow in the sections below.
- Jemaa el-Fnaa — the main square, chaotic by day, electric by night
- Bahia Palace — one of the most beautiful buildings in Morocco
- Ben Youssef Madrasa — extraordinary tilework, go early
- Saadian Tombs — compact but historically fascinating
- Jardin Majorelle — iconic blue garden, book tickets in advance
- El Badi Palace ruins — great for a wander, resident storks included
- Souk Haddadine — copper and lantern souk, skip the main tourist drag
- Dar Si Said Museum — underrated and very cheap
- Koutoubia Mosque — exterior only for non-Muslims, the city’s great landmark
- Mellah (Jewish Quarter) — quieter, more atmospheric, almost always skipped
- Hot air balloon at sunrise — the most memorable thing you can do near the city
Historical Places and Landmarks
Bahia Palace
Built in the late 19th century for the grand vizier Ba Ahmed, Bahia Palace is one of those places that earns its hype. The name means “brilliance” in Arabic, and the interior — a maze of painted cedarwood ceilings, zellige-tiled courtyards, and shaded gardens — absolutely earns it. Allow 45 minutes to an hour. Go in the morning before the tour groups arrive.
Tickets: 70 MAD (~€6.50)
© Wikipedia
Saadian Tombs
Discovered only in 1917 behind a sealed wall — the Saadian rulers had the entrance bricked up after their dynasty fell — these 16th-century royal tombs are compact, beautiful, and genuinely interesting. There are three chambers and a garden; the whole site takes about 30 minutes to visit. It gets crowded by midday, so aim for early morning.
Tickets: 70 MAD (~€6.50)
© Wikipedia
Ben Youssef Madrasa
This former Islamic school dates to the 14th century and was once the largest in North Africa. The zellige tilework, carved stucco, and cedar woodwork across three storeys are among the finest examples of Moroccan craftsmanship you’ll find anywhere. It’s breathtaking in the early morning light when the courtyard is quiet. Come first thing — the difference between 8 am and 11 am is significant.
Tickets: 70 MAD (~€6.50)
© Wikipedia
El Badi Palace
What’s left of the 16th-century Saadian palace is a sprawling ruin — thick pink walls, sunken gardens, stork nests at the top of every column. It’s not polished or curated. That’s the point. Walking around the ramparts gives you a real sense of scale, and the storks are oddly charming. Good value for the ticket price.
Tickets: 70 MAD (~€6.50)
© Wikipedia
Best Museums in Marrakech
Dar Si Said Museum
Consistently underrated and consistently empty. Dar Si Said houses a collection of traditional Moroccan arts and crafts — carved woodwork, weapons, ceramics, jewellery, textiles — spread across a beautifully restored 19th-century riad. At 10 MAD (~€0.90), it’s absurdly cheap and you’ll likely have entire rooms to yourself.
Tickets: 10 MAD (~€0.90)
© Wikipedia
Marrakech Museum (Dar Menebhi Palace)
Set inside a restored 19th-century palace, the Marrakech Museum hosts rotating exhibitions of Moroccan art alongside a permanent collection of traditional objects. The building itself is the main attraction — the central courtyard and hammam are beautiful. Worth an hour if you’re nearby.
Tickets: 50 MAD (~€4.60)
Yves Saint Laurent Museum — Skip It
I went in expecting something comparable to the Galerie Dior in Paris. What I got was a very small, very controlled space with approximately 15 dresses, a short film, a few photographs, and a bookshop. My visit lasted 15 minutes — and that included reading every label.
Photography is not allowed. Movement is strictly supervised. The number of security staff relative to the size of the space made the whole experience feel rushed and uncomfortable rather than celebratory.
At 140 MAD (~€14), it is not worth it unless you have very low expectations. If you’re a serious fashion fan, you will be disappointed. Go to the Jardin Majorelle instead — YSL’s actual beloved Marrakech legacy — and skip the museum.
The Souks: How to Navigate Without Losing Your Mind
The souks are spectacular and exhausting in roughly equal measure. The system is organized by trade — metalworkers in one alley, dyers in another, leatherworkers in another — and getting deliberately lost in them is genuinely one of the great Marrakech experiences. The problem is you’ll also get “helpfully” directed into shops you have no interest in visiting.
⚠️ The most common scam: a man offers to show you the way somewhere — the tanneries, a particular souk, the square. Once inside a shop, you’re under heavy pressure to buy. Never follow someone who approaches you unsolicited. If you want a guide, book one through your riad or a certified agency.
⚠️ Pickpockets on motorbikes are common near the medina. Keep your phone in a front pocket or a crossbody bag worn at the front. Don’t walk with your phone out.
- Souk Semmarine — the main artery, mostly tourist goods. Fine for browsing, but prices are inflated
- Souk Haddadine — copper and metalwork, lanterns, real craftsmen at work. The best of the souks
- Place des Épices — small square with spice stalls; the café above has good views
- Souk des Teinturiers (Dyers’ Souk) — colourful but largely staged for tourists these days. Still worth seeing
Jemaa el-Fnaa
The main square of Marrakech changes completely between day and night. During the day: orange juice stalls, snake charmers, henna artists, and a general low-level chaos. At night, the food stalls take over, musicians set up, storytellers gather crowds, and the whole thing becomes genuinely extraordinary.
The square itself is free to walk through. Snake charmers and musicians will expect payment if you stop or photograph them. The orange juice stalls have a habit of overcharging tourists — agree the price before you drink (4 MAD is the right price; don’t pay more).
Best time: after 8 pm, when the food stalls are in full swing. Try eating at the stalls — point at what you want, and agree on the price first.
© Canva
Gardens and Outdoor Spaces
Jardin Majorelle
The most famous garden in Marrakech, and deservedly so. The vivid cobalt blue buildings designed by Jacques Majorelle, the towering cacti, the bamboo groves — it’s visually unlike anything else in the city. YSL bought it in 1980 and saved it from demolition. Book an early morning slot; the difference in crowd levels is significant.
The Berber Museum inside the garden is worth adding — an extra 30 MAD gets you a good collection of Amazigh jewellery, textiles, and objects with decent context.
Tickets: 150 MAD (~€14) | Berber Museum add-on: 30 MAD (~€3) | Book at jardinmajorelle.com
Free Green Space: Menara and Agdal Gardens
If you want outdoor space without the entrance fee, both the Menara Gardens (olive grove, reflective pool, popular at sunset) and the Agdal Gardens (large historic garden south of the medina) are free. Neither will blow your mind, but they’re a genuine relief from the medina’s intensity.
Things to Do in Marrakech at Night
Marrakech after dark is a different city. The temperature drops, the food stalls on Jemaa el-Fnaa come alive, and the medina takes on a completely different character.
- Jemaa el-Fnaa — the undisputed best thing to do at night. Eat at the stalls, watch the musicians, stay for at least an hour
- Rooftop dinner — several restaurants overlook the square from above. The food is usually fine; the views are great
- Hammam — the traditional evening hammam (steam bath + kessa scrub) is one of the best things you can do in Morocco. Book through your riad for a fair price
- Late souk browsing — some stalls stay open past 9 pm; the pressure selling eases off considerably after tourist hours
⚠️ Solo women: the square is louder and more crowded at night, and harassment is more frequent. Going with someone else makes the experience significantly easier.
Free Things to Do in Marrakech
- Walk the medina — no entrance fee, endlessly interesting
- Jemaa el-Fnaa — free to enter and walk through
- Koutoubia Mosque exterior — non-Muslims cannot enter, but the minaret and surrounding gardens are beautiful
- Mellah (Jewish Quarter) — free to explore; quiet, atmospheric, almost entirely skipped by tourists
- Agdal Gardens — free
- Cyber Parc Arsat Moulay Abdeslam — a public park inside the medina, genuinely used by locals
Unique Experiences and Tours
Hot Air Balloon Over the Atlas Mountains
The single most memorable thing you can do from Marrakech. Departures are at sunrise; you float over palm groves and the foothills of the Atlas Mountains for about an hour. The whole experience takes half a day. It’s not cheap — around €160–200 per person — but if you have one splurge in Marrakech, make it this.
Book through: GetYourGuide or local operators like Ciel d’Afrique
© GetYourGuide
Hammam
A traditional Moroccan hammam is not a spa. It’s a steam room, a vigorous exfoliation (kessa scrub), and a soap-down with black beldi soap. It costs very little if you use a local hammam rather than a riad spa. Ask at your accommodation for a recommendation. Expect to pay 60–100 MAD (~€6–9) at a neighbourhood hammam.
© Cinq Mondes USA
Cooking Class
Several riads and cooking schools offer half-day classes — typically a morning market visit followed by cooking a Moroccan lunch. Good ones fill up quickly. Book through GetYourGuide or directly with established schools like La Maison Arabe.
Best Time to Visit Marrakech
- January / February — cool, quiet, and affordable. Cold at night (5–10°C). The Atlas Mountains have snow — photogenic for day trips
- March–May — the sweet spot. Warm days (20–25°C), manageable crowds, flowers in the gardens
- June–August — genuinely brutal. 40°C+ is common. Not recommended
- September–October — heat eases, crowds thin out, comfortable conditions return
- November–December — quiet and cool. A spike in European tourists over Christmas, but still manageable
Things Not to Do in Marrakech
- Follow anyone who approaches you offering directions or to show you the souks
- Go to the Yves Saint Laurent Museum expecting anything like the Galerie Dior in Paris
- Pay more than 4 MAD for orange juice at Jemaa el-Fnaa — always agree the price first
- Stop to watch a street performer without being prepared to pay — they will ask
- Walk through the medina with your phone out in your hand
- Visit the tanneries in the afternoon (the smell is significant by then)
- Try to do Marrakech in one day — give it at least two nights
Conclusion: Is Marrakech worth visiting?
Yes, for two to three days. It has enough remarkable sights to justify the trip and is genuinely unlike anywhere else. It’s also exhausting and full of persistent hustlers. Go with realistic expectations, keep it short, and you’ll be glad you went.
