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Key takeaways:
Explore Jemaa el-Fna, El Koutoubia Mosque, and the Kasbah for a glimpse into Marrakech’s rich past.
Visit Guéliz, Jardin Majorelle, and Musée Yves Saint Laurent for contemporary culture.
Discover Menara Garden, Ouzoud Falls, and Oukaïmeden for tranquility and adventure.
Table of Contents
Historical attractions of Marrakech
As the winter blues slowly fade to allow you to bloom anew, it’s time we take a flight of fancy to one of the cardinal cities orchestrating the rhythm of the land of sunset—Marrakech.
Every day, the city gracefully twirls and strikes a perfect balance between tradition and modernity. And as a visitor there is a little something for everybody.

Explore the magic of the Medinah
The Medinah, or the old city, is perhaps what surfaces in most of our minds when we think of Marrakech. One step inside the Medinah will make you feel like you have stepped inside a rose-colored film. There is no dearth of activities to participate in either.
Jemaa el-Fna Square
Rendezvous with time as you stroll through the many souks—take in the handicraft art, jewelry, dried fruits and spices, and buy souvenirs for your loved ones back home.
Immerse yourself like a petal in the cultural potpourri of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage—Jemaa el-Fna Square by visiting the famous square at dusk. Have your future read from a fortune teller, move to the beat of live music, or get a henna tattoo and let the kiss of the color linger even when you are back home.
Souk Semmarine
If you cannot experience the souk at Jemaa el-Fna Square, make your way to one of the biggest souks in Marrakech just next door. Souk Semmarine houses virtually everything you can imagine finding at a souk, from spices, carpets, textiles, brass lanterns, handmade leather slippers, ceramics, and shawls to perfumes and antique knickknacks.
Souk Semmarine merges with two other souks, creating a big open-air market for locals and tourists alike. It also houses various small stalls selling local cuisines that are sure to replenish you in between all the retail therapy.
El Koutoubia Mosque
Soothe your senses as you take in the grandeur of 12th-century artistry and Islamic architecture with a visit to El Koutoubia Mosque.
Embrace the serenity of the cold mosaic as you explore the intrinsic 19th-century Moroccan architecture at the Bahia Palace. End the day with a soothing dip in the nearby hammam of Le Bain Bleu.
The Marrakech Museum
Let the elegance of the Dar Menebhi Palace imbue itself in your memory lane as you walk through the old palace to visit the nucleus of Morocco’s cultural heritage—the Marrakech Museum.
Witness the artwork of the bygone days reflected in the zellij tilework, central chandelier, geometric and arabesque motifs on the brass ornaments as the air of coolness within the palace keeps you grounded in the present.
Tour the Saadian vestiges at The Kasbah
The Kasbah is a large walled district in southern Medina or the old town housing the royal palace or Dar al-Makhzen, several souks, and the last traces of the once great Saadian dynasty.
Bab Agnaou
When an almost millennia-old gate stands outside a citadel to welcome its guests, one cannot help but take a bow before pausing to capture that moment in time on a reel. Such is the magnificence of the Bab Agnaou guarding the Kasbah of Marrakesh.
EL Badi Palace
EL Badi Palace provides a great insight into all that awaits life beyond the glitter and the sunshine. It is easy to picture the life that used to light up the once ornate walls as you walk around the 16th-century palace.
When you make it to the terrace, the most stunning vista of the Atlas Mountains awaits you.
Kasbah Mosque
Once the prayer hall of the caliph and royal district, the Kasbah Mosque or the Moulay al-Yazid Mosque will now give you glimpses of its beautiful architecture anytime you visit. However, the golden hour may add a rose gold layer to the minaret and arches.
Urban heritage of Marrakech
Beyond the Medina, the rest of the city awaits. Marrakech has continued to flourish beyond its golden period in the Common Era, and the Guéliz district and L’hivernage are fantastic examples of that.
Immerse yourself in the modern Guéliz
Two stone’s throw distance away from Koutoubia Mosque emerges La Ville Nouvelle or the new town of Guéliz, tasseled with cafés, shops, gardens, and art-deco villas.
Once were home to great artists and now a muse to contemporary artists, Guéliz reflects the shiny new wave of urbanism that still bears a touch of the authentic Moroccan soul.
Jardin Majorelle
The walls of all our homes would have great tales to tell if they could talk, but oh, if the Majorelle Blue walls of Villa Oasis could talk—it would be a best-selling novel. Be part of the 101st anniversary of Jardin Majorelle and let the rich lapis lazuli and the myriad hues of the garden and mosaics inspire you as you take your time to explore the art-deco villa and the garden that have been muses to Jacques Majorelle and Yves Saint Laurent.
Please note that guests are required to book passes sold on the official Jardin Majorelle website to gain access.
Musée Yves Saint Laurent
From the garden gate of Jardin Majorelle, step into the Musée Yves Saint Laurent to witness the artworks created by Monsieur Yves Saint Laurent, which were inspired by Moroccan culture, architecture, and Villa Oasis—expressed through fashion.
Royal Theater
Make your way to the Royal Theater or Théâtre Royal de Marrakech in the evening to feel you are an audience member during some royal show of the bygone days. And if you are lucky, you may even witness live opera, ballet, and theatrical performances during your visit.
Luxuriate in fabulous Hivernage
The heart of the Marrakech film festival and the port of chic, luxurious hotels, the Hivernage district is considered an affluent place.
Promenade of Avenue Mohammed VI
Treat your senses with a walk on the Promenade of Avenue Mohammed VI. Sit by the fountain and let the cool air soothe you between window shopping and sampling the various flavors from the many cafes and restaurants lining the avenue.
Menara Garden
Once a royal retreat in the 12th century, now open to the public—the Menara Garden offers solace from the usual Marrakech flurry. The greens and blues, and if visited before sunset, the kaleidoscope of all the colors, reflect the serenity the garden has provided to its people for centuries.
Follow the footsteps of so many before you as you take your time to saunter through the corners of the garden, indulging in all the colors, the olive groves and the pool.
Escape the city for a little while
Float through Lac Lalla Takerkoust
Venture out on a side quest out of the city to Lac Lalla Takeroust. Jetski at the foot of the Atlas mountains or enjoy the quietitude with a picnic by the lake or take a dip in the lake surrounded by the mountains.
Bewitched by Ouzoud Falls
A three-hour drive from Marrakech can take you to the town of Tanaghmeilt where you can climb upwards to the heart of the Atlas Mountains to be in the presence of the Ouzoud Falls or Cascades d’Ouzoud.
Let the thunderous roar of the waterfalls calm you, and let the fresh olives and figs from the nearby rural oasis enliven your inner child. If the clouds agree, you might even be visited by a rainbow during your visit.
Admire the ecocultural beauty of the Oukaïmeden
Frolick in a snowy wonderland and admire rock art from the Bronze Age with a visit to the highest ski resort in Africa—the Oukaïmeden, less than two hours drive from Marrakech.
Enjoy the halcyon of the moment as you are ski-lifted up the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains, and then indulge in the best playtime of your adult life—ski and, if you are there in winter, you can also sled or ride a camel in the snow.
For a slower pace, you can simply hike and enjoy a cheesy tajine while being serenaded by the High Atlas Mountains dressed like a bride. If you ever had to ride a donkey on your bucket list, you can tick that off on your way to Lake Oukaimeden.
Or simply hike down to the lake nestled between the mountains for some tranquil moments around the crystal lake shimmering in the colors surrounding it.