Top 10 Things to Do in Marrakech
Medina to Majorelle — the ten Marrakech essentials, ranked by a local.
By Abdellah | Local Tour Expert | March 20, 2026
Marrakech — the "Red City" — is an intoxicating blend of colors, smells, and sounds. Whether you're getting lost in the labyrinthine souks or seeking peace in a riad courtyard, Marrakech engages all senses. Here are the top 10 absolute must-do experiences — straight from a local!
1. Get Lost in the Medina and Souks
You cannot visit Marrakech without diving into the deep, winding alleyways of the Medina. Shop for intricate lanterns, vibrant spices, leather goods, and hand-woven rugs. Tip: Always negotiate respectfully! The first price is almost never the final price. A local guide makes the difference between an overwhelming experience and a magical one.
2. Experience Jemaa el-Fna at Night
As the sun sets, this enormous square transforms into the ultimate street food theater. Storytellers, musicians, snake charmers, and rows of food stalls. Grab a bowl of harira soup or a glass of fresh orange juice for just 4 Dirhams.
Want a local guide to show you all of this?
Our Marrakech Discovery Tour covers the highlights with an expert local guide and hotel pickup included.
3. Relax in the Majorelle Garden
Created by French painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent, this botanical garden is famous for its striking cobalt blue structures and towering cacti. Get here at 8:30 AM to beat the crowds!
4. Marvel at Bahia Palace
The "Palace of the Brilliant" lives up to its name. Featuring 150 rooms filled with carved cedar wood ceilings, colorful zellij tiles, and grand courtyards — a masterpiece of 19th-century Moroccan architecture.
5. Watch the Sunset from a Rooftop Café
Head to Café des Épices or Nomad in the heart of the Medina. Sipping sweet Moroccan mint tea while watching the sun dip behind the Koutoubia Mosque is purely magical. These spots also serve excellent food.
6. Experience a Traditional Hammam
No visit is complete without the steam, black-soap scrub and massage of a hammam. Choose a private hotel hammam for comfort or a neighbourhood one for authenticity — bring swimwear, flip-flops and an open mind.
7. Stay in a Traditional Riad
Skip the hotel block: medina riads are courtyard houses with fountains, tilework and breakfast on the terrace. Staying inside the old city puts the souks on your doorstep and the rooftop above the noise.
8. Explore the Saadian Tombs
Sealed for centuries and rediscovered in 1917, this 16th-century royal necropolis — especially the Hall of Twelve Columns — is one of the finest decorated spaces in Morocco. Go early; it fills by midday.
9. Take a Cooking Class
Shop the market for vegetables and spices, then learn tajine, couscous or bastilla in a half-day class. You eat what you cook — usually the best lunch of the trip.
10. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise
Float over the Palmeraie as the sun hits the Atlas foothills, then land to a Amazigh breakfast. See our sunrise balloon flights for details.
Practical notes
- Start early; the medina is coolest and calmest before 10am.
- Haggle with a smile and be ready to walk away kindly.
- Carry small cash for souks, tips and taxis.
- Agree taxi fares before getting in — or ask your riad to call one.