Day 1: the northern medina, from the souks to Ben Youssef
The first day is done on foot. The alleys are poorly signposted: download an offline map and remember that Jemaa el-Fna square is to the south and the Ben Youssef madrasa to the north.
9am-10am: Jemaa el-Fna while it is quiet
Start with Jemaa el-Fna square in the morning, while it is still calm: orange juice sellers, the first stalls, water carriers. Access is free. The Koutoubia minaret, five minutes' walk away, can be seen from everywhere; its gardens are free, and the mosque is not open to non-Muslims.
10am-12pm: the souks and the Spice Square
Enter the souks from the north side of the square and let the trades guide you: babouches, leather, lanterns, carpets. Halfway along, the Spice Square (Rahba Kedima) is lined with spice, basket and herbalist stalls; several terrace cafés overlook it, a good spot for a break. Bargain without hurrying, and ignore people who offer to "show you the way".
12pm-1.30pm: lunch in the medina
The terraces around the Spice Square serve tagines and Moroccan salads. To know what to order, see our guide what to eat in Marrakech.
1.30pm-3pm: the Ben Youssef madrasa
Ten minutes to the north, the Ben Youssef madrasa, a 16th-century Koranic school, takes about an hour: a courtyard with a pool, zellige tilework, carved cedar and plaster, and students' cells upstairs. It is open daily from 9am to 7pm; admission is 50 DH (10 DH for under-12s), at the ticket office.
3pm-4.30pm: the Maison de la Photographie
Three minutes' walk away, the Maison de la Photographie displays early photographs of Morocco, from the late 19th century to the middle of the 20th. Admission is 80 DH, free for under-15s. Go up to its roof terrace, one of the finest views over the medina rooftops and the Atlas.
From 6pm: Jemaa el-Fna in the evening
Return to the square at sunset, when the grill stalls, musicians and storytellers set up. Ask the price before sitting down at a stall and check the bill.
Day 2: the southern palaces and an evening at La Mamounia
The three great monuments of the southern medina open from 9am to 5pm and each costs 100 DH per foreign adult (50 DH for ages 7-13). Tickets are sold at the ticket office or on the Ministry of Culture's online ticketing site.
9am-10.30am: the Bahia Palace
Arrive at opening time at the Bahia Palace, ahead of the groups: courtyards paved with marble and zellige, an inner garden planted with tall trees, and salons with painted cedar ceilings. Allow an hour to an hour and a half.
10.45am-12pm: the Mellah and El Badi Palace
Walk through the Mellah, the former Jewish quarter, then reach El Badi Palace via the Place des Ferblantiers. All that remains of the Saadian palace are huge walls, pools and terraces where storks nest.
12pm-1pm: the Saadian Tombs
Ten minutes' walk away, next to the Kasbah mosque, the Saadian Tombs hold the burials of the dynasty. There is often a queue in front of the Hall of Twelve Columns: allow 30 to 45 minutes in all. Then have lunch in the Kasbah district.
3pm-5pm: a break at the riad or a hammam
The afternoon is the hottest time of day: head back to the riad, or treat yourself to a hammam, either a neighbourhood bathhouse or a spa. Our guide to hammams in Marrakech explains how it works and what it costs.
From 6pm: tea, a drink or dinner at La Mamounia
Ten minutes' walk from the Koutoubia, La Mamounia opens its lounges and gardens to non-guests who book a table at one of its bars or restaurants. The Majorelle bar opens from 10am, the Churchill bar at 5pm; the restaurant Le Marocain serves dinner from 7pm. Book ahead and dress smartly: no flip-flops, and no shorts after 6pm. Prices are those of a palace hotel.
Day 3: the gardens, from Majorelle to the Secret Garden
8am-10.30am: the Majorelle Garden
Take a petit taxi to the Majorelle Garden, in Gueliz, at opening time, 8am. The ticket costs 170 DH and is sold only online, on the official ticketing site, for a set time slot: book the day before at the latest. The combined ticket with the Yves Saint Laurent Museum and the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts costs 330 DH; the Yves Saint Laurent Museum is closed on Wednesdays.
10.30am-12pm: the Yves Saint Laurent Museum
A few metres from the garden, the museum presents the couturier's work in an ochre brick building. It is open from 10am to 6pm, except on Wednesdays. Allow an hour.
12pm-2.30pm: lunch and a stroll in Gueliz
Walk down towards Avenue Mohammed V and the Gueliz central market: cafés, galleries and restaurants here are calmer than in the medina.
3pm-5pm: the Secret Garden
Take a taxi back to the medina for Le Jardin Secret, on Rue Mouassine, a 19th-century riad restored with two gardens, one Islamic, the other exotic. Admission is 100 DH, plus 40 DH to climb the tower, which looks out over the medina. It closes at 6pm from October to February and at 6.30pm from March to September. For more ideas, see our guide to the gardens of Marrakech.
In the evening: a rooftop terrace
End the day with dinner on a medina terrace, facing the floodlit Koutoubia.
Day 4: the Ourika valley
The Ourika valley is the easiest day trip from Marrakech: 1.5 hours by road to the village of Setti Fatma, at the foot of the High Atlas. Group tours with pick-up at your riad usually cost 200 to 400 DH per person; shared grands taxis, at 30 to 50 DH a seat, leave once they are full.
Morning: the Setti Fatma waterfalls
From the village, a path climbs to a series of waterfalls. The climb, steep in places, calls for good shoes; local guides offer to go with you, so agree the price before setting off. Have lunch at one of the restaurants along the riverbank.
Afternoon: a garden on the way back
On the Ourika road, two gardens round off the day. The Anima Garden, created by the artist André Heller, costs 140 DH and is open from 9am to 6pm. The Nectarome bio-aromatic garden, in Tnine Ourika, presents the region's aromatic and medicinal plants; it closes at 5pm from October to May. If you prefer the desert, replace this day with a late afternoon in the Agafay desert, about 45 minutes from the city.
Summary of the four days
| Day | Area | Main stops | Paid admissions (adult) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern medina | Jemaa el-Fna, souks, Spice Square, Ben Youssef madrasa, Maison de la Photographie | 130 DH |
| 2 | Southern medina | Bahia, Mellah, El Badi, Saadian Tombs, La Mamounia in the evening | 300 DH, plus drinks |
| 3 | Gueliz and medina | Majorelle Garden, Yves Saint Laurent Museum, Gueliz, Secret Garden | 430 DH (330 DH combined ticket, 100 DH Secret Garden) |
| 4 | High Atlas | Ourika valley, Setti Fatma, Anima or Nectarome garden | Transport from 30 to 400 DH, plus the garden you choose |
Prices checked in October 2026.
Budget and bookings
For admissions over the three days in the city, allow 860 DH per adult (about €78), not counting the hammam or drinks at La Mamounia. Three things should be booked ahead: the Majorelle Garden (online only, with a time slot), your table at La Mamounia and the day-4 trip, the day before through your riad or an agency. Petits taxis link the medina and Gueliz in about ten minutes: ask for the meter or agree the fare before getting in. Our guide Marrakech travel budget covers the other costs.
Adapting the itinerary
If your day 3 falls on a Wednesday, swap days 2 and 3 so you don't find the Yves Saint Laurent Museum closed. In summer, move all visits to early morning and keep the afternoon for the riad; the cooler Ourika valley then makes a good escape. In winter, bring a jacket for the evenings and the High Atlas. During Ramadan, some monuments have shorter hours and many medina restaurants close during the day.
Further reading
With three more days, our itinerary one week in Marrakech adds Aït-Ben-Haddou, Essaouira and the High Atlas. To choose the best time to go, read our guide to the best time to visit Marrakech, and to pick your area, our guide where to stay in Marrakech.
