Before you go: what to book
A short weekend leaves no slack. Three things should be settled before departure:
- Jardin Majorelle: tickets are sold only online, on the garden's official ticketing site, with a time slot and a QR code. There is no sale at the gate. Book several days ahead, especially for a Saturday or Sunday.
- Accommodation: a riad in the medina lets you do everything on foot on the first day. Our guide where to stay in Marrakech compares the neighbourhoods.
- Airport transfer: Marrakech-Menara airport is about twenty minutes from the centre. Options and prices are covered in Marrakech airport: getting to the city centre. If your riad is down a lane, ask it to have someone wait for you at the nearest drop-off point.
Bring cash in dirhams: most medina monuments and the Jemaa el-Fna stalls do not take cards.
Day 1 morning: Jemaa el-Fna, the Koutoubia and the souks
Start at Jemaa el-Fna square around 9am, while it is still quiet, then walk the short distance to the Koutoubia Mosque and its gardens. The 12th-century minaret is visible from all over the medina and serves as a landmark for the rest of your stay; the inside of the mosque is reserved for Muslims.
Then head back to the north side of the square to enter the souks of Marrakech. The lanes are organised by trade: babouches, leather, metal, wood, fabrics and spices. Pick a landmark rather than a precise route: by walking north, you always end up near the Ben Youssef Madrasa. For shopping, do a first round without buying anything, to compare prices.
Day 1 afternoon: Ben Youssef, a break at the riad and Jemaa el-Fna at night
The Ben Youssef Madrasa, a 16th-century Quranic school, is the most visited monument in the northern medina. Its courtyard and pool are surrounded by zellige, carved stucco and cedar wood; upstairs you can see the small rooms of former students. Admission is 50 MAD for a foreign adult, in cash. Allow an hour.
In mid-afternoon, go back to the riad: heat and crowds make the lanes tiring between 2pm and 5pm, especially from April to October.
Return to Jemaa el-Fna around 6pm. First go up to the terrace of one of the cafés lining the square to watch the sunset over the Koutoubia, then come down when the food stalls are set up. Each stall displays its dishes and prices; ask for the total before ordering and politely refuse anything that arrives on the table unrequested. Storytellers, musicians and drummers fill the square until late in the evening.
Day 2 morning: the palaces of the southern medina
The second day starts early, at 9am, when the Ministry of Culture monuments open. Choose two of the three sites to suit your interests:
- Bahia Palace: a series of decorated 19th-century courtyards, gardens and reception rooms. It is the busiest of the three; going at opening time avoids the groups.
- The Saadian Tombs: the necropolis of the Saadian dynasty, in the Kasbah. The queue grows from late morning.
- El Badi Palace: the ruins of a 16th-century palace, with their storks, their terraces and the minbar of the Koutoubia.
Each of these sites is open daily from 9am to 5pm, for 100 MAD per foreign adult. The Ministry of Culture's online ticket office sells tickets at the same price, with a time slot. Then have lunch on a terrace on Place des Ferblantiers, between El Badi and the Bahia.
Day 2 afternoon: Jardin Majorelle and Gueliz
Take a petit taxi to the Jardin Majorelle in time for your slot. Insist on the meter or agree on the fare before getting in. The garden is open daily from 8am to 6:30pm, with last entry at 6pm. Depending on the ticket you choose, it also gives access to the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts inside the villa, and to the nearby Yves Saint Laurent museum, which closes on Wednesdays. Allow an hour for the garden alone, two hours with the museums.
Finish on foot in Gueliz, the new town built during the protectorate era: Avenue Mohammed V, art galleries, designer shops and restaurants. It is a good choice for dinner on the second evening, in an atmosphere very different from the medina.
The programme in a table
| Time | Day 1 | Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 9am-12pm | Jemaa el-Fna, Koutoubia, souks | Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs or El Badi Palace |
| 12pm-2pm | Lunch in the northern medina | Lunch on Place des Ferblantiers |
| 2pm-5pm | Ben Youssef Madrasa, break at the riad | Jardin Majorelle, museums |
| Evening | Sunset and dinner at Jemaa el-Fna | Gueliz, then hammam |
| Visit | Hours | Foreign adult price |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Youssef Madrasa | Daily, daytime | 50 MAD |
| Bahia Palace | Daily, 9am-5pm | 100 MAD |
| Saadian Tombs | Daily, 9am-5pm | 100 MAD |
| El Badi Palace | Daily, 9am-5pm | 100 MAD |
| Jardin Majorelle | Daily, 8am-6:30pm | Online tickets only, price shown on the official ticketing site |
Prices observed in October 2026. Hours change during Ramadan.
Riads and hammams: practical tips
A riad is a traditional house built around a patio. Most sit at the end of lanes cars cannot enter: note the exact address, keep the riad's phone number and ask for someone to meet you on the first evening. Many serve breakfast on the roof terrace and can book a dinner, a transfer or a hammam.
The hammam is the traditional steam bath. There are two options:
- The neighbourhood public hammam: separate hours for men and women, black soap and exfoliating glove (kessa) to buy on site or bring along. It is the most authentic and cheapest experience.
- A riad or spa hammam: more comfortable, with scrub, massage and tea, by reservation. Prices vary widely between establishments; ask for the details of the treatment before booking.
A hammam at the end of the second day, after two days of walking, is the simplest way to round off the trip.
Adapting the programme
- Late arrival on Friday: do only Jemaa el-Fna on the first evening, and start the souks on Saturday morning.
- With children: keep the Jardin Majorelle and the square in the evening, and limit yourself to one palace in the morning.
- Only one day in town: follow our itinerary what to do in Marrakech in one day.
- One more day: add a trip to the Atlas or Essaouira with Marrakech in 3 days.
Further reading
To extend this weekend, Marrakech in 3 days adds a trip outside the city. To choose your accommodation, see where to stay in Marrakech, and for your arrival, our guide Marrakech airport: getting to the city centre.
