Attractions

Marrakesh offers a wide variety of attractions and things to do for visitors.   Here are our recommendations:

Historical monuments/Museums

Djemaa el Fna Square

This is undoubtedly the most famous attraction in all of Marrakesh. Here is where you will find snake charmers, performance artists and other characters day and night. Whether you want to eat, shop, get a henna tattoo or even have your fortune read, it is possible here. Use the square as your departure point for exploring the souks (traditional covered markets) where you may be interested in picking up traditional leather bags and slippers (babouches), or traditionally-styled Moroccan dresses (kaftans, djellebas, and ghandouras). High quality handmade decorations and carpets that would cost a fortune outside of Morocco can be found at a reasonable price with a bit of bargaining. The square is a must-see at sunset. Enjoy a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice at one of many stalls, and enjoy the captivating performances and characters in your midst.

Koutoubia Mosque

The Koutoubia’s intricate curved windows and beautiful gardens are definitely a sight to see – especially at sunset. Built under the reign of Yacoub el Mansour, who ruled between 1184-1199, the mosque’s minaret remains the tallest in Marrakesh at 77 m.

Jardin Majorelle

French artist Jaques Majorelle built the gardens in 1919, after falling in love with Marrakesh and deciding to build a home here. His house was built in Moroccan style but was furnished with modern amenities of the time. He also built a beautiful garden, filled with many tropical plants, including cacti, yuccas, lilies, lotus, and jasmine, and nets full of birds. In 1980, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé stumbled upon his home and purchased it after promising to open it as an attraction for people to enjoy the garden’s beauty. A highlight of any visit to the Majorelle Garden should be the Berber Museum on its grounds.

http://jardinmajorelle.com/ang/

The Museum of Marrakesh

This museum was originally built as a palace that has since been restored and renovated into a museum. Host to exhibitions on contemporary art and traditional Moroccan clothes and tools, you will also find a whole floor dedicated to copper weapons and all kinds of jewelry, including traditional Berber clothing and headdresses. Everything you see might seem a little too traditional for modern day use, but in many rural villages and small towns, people still use similar artifacts. If you are someone who likes history and enjoys learning about other countries’ cultures, you will truly enjoy your time here.

Palais Bahia

The Bahia palace was built to be the most magnificent palace of its era, and every inch is full of history. You can explore the rooms of the sultan’s concubines as well as the palace’s gardens. Preserved traditional Moroccan architecture, including carved plasterwork, intricate mosaic tile work and carved and painted wooden ceilings make this a historical gem.

http://www.palais-bahia.com/en/

Saadian Tombs

These tombs are not ordinary ones: their uniqueness lies in the art engraved on each tomb, and the tombs’ beauty is worthy of the royals who lie beneath them. Buried there are members of the family of the Saadi Dynasty who ruled over the country from 1549-1649. All three tombs are decorated in a traditional style with Moroccan carvings and architecture.

Medersa ben Youssef

Originally a Koranic school named after Sultan Ali ibn Yusuf, the medersa was built in the 14th century and housed up to 900 students. It is designed around a central courtyard, features traditional artisanal work, and showcases Muslim prayers and carvings engraved on the walls. As you walk from room to room you can feel the spirit of the youth that once lived there. It is a truly magical place.

http://www.medersa-ben-youssef.com/en/

Activities

Calèche (Horse Drawn Carriage) Rides

This may not be the most efficient mode of transportation if you need to get somewhere quickly, but it is certainly the most charming. For a negotiated price (100-150 Dh) you can arrange a guided tour through any neighborhood of the city.  One well-known route begins near the Djemaa el Fna square and ends up in the Gueliz neighborhood near the Carré Eden shopping mall.

Cinéma Colisée

Located on Avenue Zerktouni in the Gueliz neighborhood (one block from the intersection with Avenue Mohamed V), this one screen movie theater has daily/weekly screenings of imported feature films in English.

https://www.facebook.com/CinemaLeColisee/

Cinéma Megarama

Megarama – located on the outskirts of town near the Al Mazar shopping mall – is the largest and most modern movie theater in Marrakesh. It is open 7 days a weeks and shows Moroccan and imported feature films in French or Arabic.

http://marrakech.megarama.ma

Water Parks

November isn’t prime swimming season in Marrakesh, but it may feel tropical depending on whether it’s already feeling winter-like at home.

Waky

Offers wakeboarding and water skiing on an artificial lake.

http://wakymarrakech.com/en/#

Oasiria

Water park with slides and other attractions. A free shuttle is available from near Djemaa el Fna square and from the Post Office (across from McDonald’s) in the Gueliz neighborhood.

http://www.oasiria.com

Aqua Fun Marrakech

Water park with many slides and attractions that is located about 15-20 minutes outside of town on the Route de Ourika. http://www.belivehotels.com/hotel/EN/ficha_hotel/aqua_fun_marrakech/descripcion.jsp