At a glance
- Book a hammam, a cooking class and a guided medina walk for your first two days.
- Eat at the Jemaa el-Fna food stalls at night, ideally with a guide.
- Shop the souks in the morning, when sellers are relaxed and lanes are quiet.
- For a day out, head to the Atlas valleys or the Agafay desert.
- Dawn balloon flights run in the cooler months.
The best things to do in Marrakech are not all monuments. Once you have seen the palaces and madrasas, covered in our guide to the best places to visit in Marrakech, the city is at its best when you take part: in a steam room, in a kitchen, at a food stall after dark. Here are ten experiences we arrange for our guests.
In the medina
1. A guided walk at eight in the morning
Before the shops open, the medina is quiet and you can see the architecture properly. A licensed guide explains what you are looking at and gets you through the lanes without detours.
2. A traditional hammam
Steam, black soap, a vigorous scrub and a rinse: the hammam is a weekly ritual for many Moroccans. Choose a private hammam in a riad or spa for a first visit.
3. Shopping the souks without stress
Go in the morning, decide roughly what you want to spend before you start, and treat bargaining as a conversation rather than a contest. Walking away politely is always fine.
Food and drink
4. A cooking class
Shop for vegetables and spices with a cook in the morning, then make a tagine and Moroccan salads in a riad kitchen and eat them in the courtyard. Our guide to Moroccan food explains what to look for.
5. The Jemaa el-Fna food stalls at night
From dusk, dozens of stalls fill the square with grills and steam. Go with a guide who knows which ones are best, or choose a busy stall where food turns over quickly.
6. Sunset on a rooftop
Mint tea on a rooftop terrace as the call to prayer moves across the city is one of the great Marrakech moments.
Good to know
Most riads and rooftop cafes in the medina serve no alcohol. If you want a glass of wine with dinner, ask us for restaurants that serve it.
Want these experiences arranged for you?
We book hammams, cooking classes, food walks and guides, and fit them around the rest of your trip.
Slow afternoons
7. A garden escape
Le Jardin Secret, a restored riad garden in the heart of the medina, is a calm place to spend an hour. Outside the walls, the Majorelle Garden needs a timed ticket booked online.
8. A coffee ritual
Look out for coffee brewed in pots set in hot sand, a slow tradition you will still find in the souks.
Day trips from Marrakech
9. A hot-air balloon at dawn
Balloons rise over the palm groves and villages north of the city at first light, with the Atlas behind them. Flights run mainly from fall to spring.
10. The Atlas valleys or the Agafay desert
Spend a day walking between Berber villages in the High Atlas, or drive 45 minutes to the Agafay desert for a camel ride and dinner at a camp. See our guide to Agafay desert camps.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Marrakech at night?
Eat at the Jemaa el-Fna food stalls, watch the square from a rooftop, or have dinner in a riad. A guide makes the night market easier the first time.
Is a hammam worth it in Marrakech?
Yes. A private hammam in a riad or spa is the best introduction, with steam, black soap and a full scrub.
How do I bargain in the Marrakech souks?
Decide what you would pay before you start, keep it friendly, and do not be afraid to walk away. Fixed-price shops are an option if you prefer not to bargain.
What day trips can you do from Marrakech?
The High Atlas valleys and Imlil, the Agafay desert, Essaouira on the coast, and Ait Ben Haddou if you are happy with a long day.
When do hot-air balloon flights run in Marrakech?
Mainly from fall to spring, when early mornings are calm and cool. Pickups are usually around dawn.
Is Marrakech good for families?
Yes. Children love the caleche rides, the cooking classes, the gardens and a camel ride in the Agafay desert.
Do I need a guide in Marrakech?
For your first walk through the medina, yes. After that, many guests explore on their own.
