Free, but not always: the rules of the game
In Marrakech, free access does not mean nobody will ask you for money. On Jemaa el-Fna square, the musicians, storytellers, snake charmers and henna artists live on coins from onlookers: if you photograph or film a performer, payment is expected. In the souks, an improvised "guide" who accompanies you without being asked will demand a tip at the end. The rule is simple: politely decline any unsolicited help from the start, and keep a few 5 or 10 dirham coins for the performers you choose to listen to. Our guide to scams to avoid in Marrakech describes the most frequent scenarios.
In the medina
Jemaa el-Fna square
Jemaa el-Fna square is the free show par excellence. Its intangible heritage of storytellers, musicians and street performers was recognised by UNESCO in 2001, and the square is part of the medina listed as a World Heritage Site since 1985. Its atmosphere changes through the day: calm and commercial in the morning, noisy from late afternoon, when the circles of musicians and the grill stalls set up. To watch it from above, the terraces of the cafés around it generally require buying a drink.
The Koutoubia and its gardens
The interior of the Koutoubia Mosque is reserved for Muslims, but everything else can be visited freely: the 12th-century Almohad minaret, about 77 metres tall, the remains of the first mosque on the north side and the gardens of roses and orange trees around it, with their pools and shaded benches. The gardens are especially pleasant early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when the minaret takes on a golden hue.
The souks
Strolling through the souks of Marrakech costs nothing, as long as you resist temptation. From Rue Semmarine to the dyers' souk, via the coppersmiths' souk and the Place des Épices (Rahba Kedima), each lane corresponds to a trade. Watching the craftsmen at work is free; accepting tea in a shop morally commits you to hearing the seller's offer, with no obligation to buy. The tanneries are a particular problem: you will be taken there "for free", then asked for a sum for the visit or for a purchase in the shop. Agree the price before going in, or stay away.
The ramparts and gates
The rammed-earth ramparts encircling the medina, built in the 12th century under the Almoravids, run for some twenty kilometres and are pierced by many gates. Walking along part of the walls, from Bab Doukkala to Bab el-Khemis for example, or passing under Bab Agnaou, the monumental gate of the Kasbah, costs nothing. The late-afternoon light brings out the ochre colour of the earth walls.
The Mellah
The former Jewish quarter, in the south-east of the medina near the Bahia Palace, can be explored freely: narrow lanes, houses with balconies, the Place des Ferblantiers and the covered spice market. Some memorial sites, such as the synagogues and the Jewish cemetery, may charge an entry fee or ask for a donation.
Free public gardens
The Cyber Parc Arsat Moulay Abdeslam
Between the Koutoubia and Bab Nkob, along Avenue Mohammed V, the Cyber Parc Arsat Moulay Abdeslam is a former princely garden of about 8 hectares, redesigned in the early 2000s with internet terminals and Wi-Fi access. Admission is free. Shaded paths, palm trees, orange trees and benches make it a good refuge in the hot hours, ten minutes' walk from Jemaa el-Fna.
The Menara Gardens
The Menara Gardens, laid out in the 12th century by the Almohads, are arranged around a large reservoir pool lined with olive groves, with the pavilion and the peaks of the Atlas as a backdrop on clear days. Access to the olive groves and around the pool is free; only a visit inside the pavilion is paid. The gardens are about 3 km west of the medina: allow 40 minutes on foot from the Koutoubia or a short ride in a metered petit taxi.
The Agdal Gardens
South of the Kasbah, the Agdal Gardens form an immense historic orchard of several hundred hectares, with pools and olive groves, listed as a World Heritage Site along with the medina. They belong to the royal palace: they are open to the public only on certain days, most often Friday and Sunday, and remain closed when the royal family is staying in Marrakech. Admission is free when they are open. Ask your accommodation the day before making the trip.
More ideas that cost nothing
- The domes and fountains of the medina: the Mouassine fountain and the exterior of the Almoravid Koubba can be seen from the street.
- Sunset over the Koutoubia: even without a terrace, the view of the minaret at sunset is free from the gardens around it.
- Guéliz on foot: the architecture of the new town, the art galleries (often free to enter) and the central market can be discovered without a ticket.
Summary table
| Place | Area | Access | What may be paid | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jemaa el-Fna square | Central medina | Free, day and night | Photos of performers, terraces | Sunset |
| Koutoubia and gardens | Western medina | Free (mosque reserved for Muslims) | Nothing | Early morning |
| Souks | Northern medina | Free | Improvised guides, tanneries | Morning |
| Ramparts and gates | Around the medina | Free | Nothing | Late afternoon |
| Mellah | South-eastern medina | Free | Synagogues, cemetery | Morning |
| Cyber Parc | Avenue Mohammed V | Free | Nothing | Hot hours |
| Menara Gardens | West of the city | Free | Inside the pavilion | Morning |
| Agdal Gardens | South of the Kasbah | Free, on certain days | Nothing | Friday or Sunday |
Conditions observed in October 2026; the Agdal's opening days remain subject to the royal palace's calendar.
Further reading
To fit these visits into a single day, follow our itinerary what to do in Marrakech in one day. The guide to money and tipping in Marrakech helps you plan the small change you will need, and our article on the Marrakech travel budget gives an overview of expenses.
