El Badi Palace, Marrakech: ruins, rooftop terraces and the Koutoubia minbar

Updated on October 1, 2026

The El Badi Palace, "the incomparable", was built from 1578 by the Saadian sultan Ahmed el-Mansour, after his victory at the Battle of the Three Kings. In the early 18th century, the Alaouite sultan Moulay Ismail had it stripped so its materials could be reused. What remains is a vast courtyard, pools, sunken gardens and high rammed-earth walls where storks nest, next to Place des Ferblantiers. The site is open every day from 9am to 5pm; a ticket costs 100 MAD for a foreign adult. Allow about an hour.

Highlights

The view from the terraces

Stairs lead to the top of the walls, where you can take in the whole courtyard, the rooftops of the medina and, on clear days, the peaks of the Atlas. It is the best viewpoint for understanding the palace layout.

The courtyard and the great pool

The central courtyard measures about 135 by 110 metres. Its main pool, about 90 metres long, reflects the earthen walls when it is full. The four pavilions that once lined the courtyard have largely disappeared.

The sunken gardens

Four gardens planted with orange trees lie below ground level on either side of the pool. This layout, inherited from Andalusian gardens, put the treetops at the level of the walkways.

The Koutoubia minbar

This preaching pulpit of carved wood and marquetry was commissioned in Córdoba in 1137 for the Almoravid great mosque of Marrakech, then moved to the Koutoubia. It is displayed in a separate room at the far end of the courtyard: do not miss it.

Infos pratiques

Tips

A ticket costs 100 MAD for a foreign adult and 50 MAD for a foreign child aged 7 to 13; Moroccans and residents pay 30 MAD, or 10 MAD for a child (prices checked in October 2026). Entry is free for Moroccans on Fridays and on the first day of national and religious holidays. Tickets are also sold on the Ministry of Culture's online ticket office, at the same price. The site has very little shade: bring water and a hat from May to September.

How to get there

Entrance: via Place des Ferblantiers, in the south of the medina, near the Mellah On foot from Jemaa el-Fna square: about 15 minutes along Rue Riad Zitoun el-Jdid On foot from the Saadian Tombs: about 10 minutes Petit taxi: ask for Place des Ferblantiers