Marrakech Travel Guide

Marrakech, one of Morocco's four imperial cities, sits at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, its ochre mud-brick walls earning it the nickname 'the Red City.' As night falls, Jemaa el-Fna square fills with snake charmers, storytellers, and smoke rising from dozens of food stalls — the liveliest open-air theatre in Africa. Inside the medina's maze of lanes stands the 14th-century Ben Youssef Madrasa, whose zellij-tiled courtyard rewards patient exploration. Arrive at the square early morning for a quieter stroll, and when bargaining for leather or spices, expect to pay around a third of the asking price.

The Jardin Majorelle sits in Marrakech's Gueliz quarter, designed in 1924 by French painter Jacques Majorelle; the vivid cobalt 'Majorelle blue' still comes from paint mixed and flown in from France. Cacti tower over the paths, palm and bamboo shade a tiled fountain, and the blue villa now houses the Berber Museum. Yves Saint Laurent bought the garden in 1980 and restored it for decades; in 2017 his ashes and those of partner Pierre Bergé were interred beneath a Moorish-style memorial inside. Go right at opening to beat the heat and tour groups.

Jemaa el-Fnaa is the central square of Marrakech medina, known for street performers, food stalls and lively night market, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Koutoubia Mosque (12th century) is famed for its 69m-high minaret, the most iconic landmark of Marrakech. Non-Muslims cannot enter, but its gardens and surrounding square offer fine views of the Almohad architecture.

Stade de Marrakech is Morocco's second-largest stadium, seating ~45,000, known for Moroccan geometric decoration.

Jemaa el-Fna is the vibrant heart of Marrakech's medina and a UNESCO Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage. By day it hosts snake charmers and orange-juice stalls; at night it transforms into a sprawling open-air theatre of storytellers, musicians and food vendors.