Marrakech an excellent long weekend destination. Lots to see and easy to get to. What to do in Marrakech, here is my best three day itinerary for a holiday in Marrakech.
Mr CW and I were the guests of Jet2Holidays during our weekend in Marrakech.
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What to do in Marrakech
Marrakech is my kind of city. To begin with the entire centre is a UNESCO heritage site. Everywhere you look there are enticing doorways. Colourful souks selling tempting things. See all the main sights and take time to sit in cafes to soak up the atmosphere. Just under four hours flying time will transport you from the winter gloom to colourful markets and blue skies. Add to that that the time difference is only one hour. Buy tickets at the places you visit. The exception to this rule is Jardin Majorelle.
Marrakech or Marrakesh?
Both is the answer. Pick one and go with it. I have chosen Marrakech.
Day One Marrakech Itinerary: Palaces and Tombs
We arrived in Marrakech in mid afternoon. After mint tea with Moroccan pastries at our Riad hotel we headed out. Our Riad was within the Kasbah walls and the Bahia Palace just steps away.
Bahia Palace
My friend Wendy once returned from Morocco with her bag filled with tiles for her bathroom. After stepping foot in the Bahia Palace I understood why. Everywhere you look there are beautiful tiles, arranged in fabulous patterns. If it isn’t tiled then carved marble or wood will adorn a surface. You walk through a succession of rooms and spaces, each one more magnificent than the last. I confess that I feared that we had peaked too soon and that everything else would be a bit limp comparison. Wrong!
A bit of history. Grand Vizier Is Moussa begin building the Bahia Palace in the 1860s and his son completed the work. Bahia, means Beautiful, they certainly got what they paid for.
Top Tip: Either come early or late to avoid the crowds. Tour groups can suddenly fill a space. If that happens to you. Skip forward a room and head back when they have moved on.
- Opening hours: 9am – 5pm
- Admission: 70 DH
Badi Palace
Sultan Ahmed Al Monsur of the Saadian dynasty built the Badi Palace in 1578 to celebrate victory over the Portuguese. He lavished a small fortune on the Palace which became the hub of Marrakech life. Unfortunately the glory was short lived. At the beginning of the 17th century the Saadian dynasty were over thrown by Sultan Moulay Ismail. He stripped the palace of its marble and precious stones, leaving the impressive walls and pools that we see today. All overseen by storks nesting on the highest turrets.
- Opening hours: Daily 9am – 5pm
- Admission: 100 DH
Saadian Tombs
Mr CW and I struggled to find the Saadian Tombs. Make sure you don’t make the same mistake as us. To get to the tombs turn left immediately outside the Kasbah gate. Keep the the wall on your left and the Kasbah Mosque (aka Moulay El Yazid Mosque) on your right. Walk straight on and you will get to the tombs. This is the only way in. To begin with we wondered why we had bothered. Then we got to see inside the tombs. They are spectacular, worth dying for. A tiled heaven. Best visited late in the day for the best light.
- Opening hours Daily 9am – 5pm
- Admission: 100 DH
Day Two Exploring the Marrakech Souks
Meandering with purpose was how we spent our second day in Marrakech. We knew that we wanted to see the Madarsa, Secret Garden and the Koutoubia Mosque. Devised a route that took in all three. The route took us through the souks. We got lost, many times and ended up in the Jemaa el Fna Square more times than I can count. Getting lost was all part of the charm of the Medina.
Ben Youssef Madarsa
Try to get to the Ben Youssef Madarsa as soon as it opens. We got there at about 9.30am and it was already quite busy. By the time we had explored the upstairs rooms the courtyard was rammed. People flock here for good reason. Intricate carving and beautiful tiles fill almost every space in this former theological college.
- Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 5pm
- Admission: 50 DH
Almoravid Koubba
As you leave the Ben Youssef Medersa keep an eye out for Almoravid Koubba opposite the mosque. When the Almohads took over Marrakech from the Almoravid’s in the 12th century they destroyed most of the city but left this elegant cube. A shrine that makes you wander what wonders were destroyed. We didn’t go in, just gazed from outside.
Wander around the Souks
Take time to meander around the maze of souks. We got throughly lost, in a good way. At some point you will emerge at a recognisable point. We saw baths being made from sheet metal, piles of spices, twinkling lamps, glowing ceramics, tempting scarves, handbags and shoes. Be prepared to haggle.
Cool down in the Secret Garden
Right in the heart of the network of souks is the Secret Garden. Two plant filled courtyards. As you step inside the gardens to noise and bustle of the souks falls away. There are many seats in shady spots to sit and take it all in. Over looking the gardens on a terrace is a cafe, the perfect place for a mint tea and cake.
- Opening Hours: Daily 9.30am – 6.30pm (7.30pm summer)
- Admission: 100 DH
Koutoubia Mosque
Non muslims can not enter the Koutoubia Mosque. Even from the outside it is an impressive building. Look up to the top of the minaret where you will see a glistening golden orb. It stays shiny because it is packed with mineral salts from the High Atlas that prevent the metal from oxidising. They are changed once a year during Ramadan to keep it glistening.
Jemaa el Fna Square
Jemaa el Fna has been at the heart of Marrakech since the 11th century. Stroll through in the morning and it is a peaceful place with market traders setting up their stall. As dusk falls it becomes a carnival. Musicans fill the air with sound. You can have your picture taken with a monkey or gawp at a snake charmer (neither of which are kind to the animals). The sky is lit with small lanterns that are constantly being thrown in the air. You can eat at one of the many stalls. We opted for a drink in one of the many terrace bars that line the square, that way you can see the spectacle but are removed from hassle.
Day Three in Marrakech: Gardens and cafés
We booked a taxi via our Riad hotel to take us the Jardin Majorelle bright and early. Once back in the Medina we drank coffee in one of the prettiest museum cafes I have ever seen. Then we meandered a bit more.
Jardin Majorelle
Yves Saint Laurent lived in Marrakech and the Jardin Marjorelle was his home. Another one to come early to. We arrived at 10am and walked in without queuing. When we left the queues were round the block. Buy your tickets online to be sure of entry and even then know that will queue at peak times. the Jardin Majorelle. I have seen many gardens over the years, the Jardin Majorelle is one of the very best. Architectural plants are shown off against brightly coloured walls.
You can visit the house, well sort of. Three rooms at the back of the house house the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts. The objects on show are beautiful but all the descriptions are in French or Arabic. You don’t get garden views as the rooms are dark to conserve the very beautiful textiles.
- Opening hours: 8.30am – 6pm
- Admission: 170 DH (garden only), 230 DH (Garden and Pierre Bergé museum)
Museé Yves Saint Laurent
Right next door to the Jardin Majorelle the Museé Yves Saint Laurent has the designers clothes, sketches and notebooks . We didn’t visit as the museum was in-between exhibitions. However it is right up there on my list when we return.
- Open: Daily 8.30am – 6pm
- Admission: 140 DH (330 DH a combined ticket with Jardin Majorelle)
Dar el Bacha Museum of the Confluences
Another tile filled palace. What you are really here for though is one of the prettiest museum cafés I have ever seen. As soon as you arrive at the museum, head for the café and reserve a table. Then explore the splendid rooms. Once in the café, coffee is what you’ve come to drink. Not frothy coffee but poured from glamorous metal pot. You can choose from 40 different varieties of coffee and a tempting array of cakes.
- Opening hours: Daily 10am – 6pm
- Entry: 30 DH
Meander around the Medina
You know that you have arrived at the centre of Marrakech because you pass by huge walls. Everything inside these walls is the Medina and UNESCO listed. Within the Medina is the Kasbah or royal quarter, indeed there is still a royal palace in the heart of the Kasbah. For me a large part of the allure of Marrakech was meandering around the souks, streets and alleyways of the Medina. Some places are noisy and crowded and yet a step away you are in peace and quiet.
Where to Eat in Marrakesh
On our first night we ate in the restaurant of our Riad. We found the restaurants around Tinsmiths Square to be quieter than those that lined the Jemaa el Fna Square. Sitting on one of the terraces of the Zeitoun cafe over looking the Jemaa el Fna Square let you take in all the full scene. Nomad serves a modern take on Moroccan food on a roof top overlooking the Medina.
Where to stay in Marrakech
When we started planning our trip to Marrakech the one thing I was clear on was that I want to stay in a Riad hotel. Riads are traditional houses built round shady courtyards. We chose Riad Dar Zaouia – Angsana Heritage Collection from the selection of Riads offered by Jet2holidays. Situated between the Bahia Palace and the Jemaâ el Fna Square we could walk everywhere.
When we came to plan our Marrakech weekend I feared that staying in a cute, central Riad hotel would be expensive. In fact there were lots of options for cheap holidays to Marrakech with Jet2CityBreaks. We could have stayed outside the city in an hotel with pool but preferred to be central.
Getting to Marrakech
Flights to Marrakech take just under four hours. We left at breakfast and arrived in time for lunch. Flights to Marrakech leave from many regional airports. We chose a Jet2 flight from Stansted, just a short hop round the M25 from Cultural Wednesday Towers.
We had been warned about long queues at Marrakech airport when we arrived. In fact we glided through with no delays. Maybe it was because we took friends advice and sat near the front of the plane and only took hand luggage. Or maybe the rumours are false.
Looking for more city breaks? Check out my weekend guides to Palma, Mechelen, Bruges and Leiden. Or how about a tour of Tunisian UNESCO sites to stay in North Africa
