Royal Palace of Marrakesh (Dar el Makhzen): Can You Visit It?

Updated on October 8, 2026

No: the royal palace of Marrakesh, the Dar el Makhzen, is not open to visitors. It is the residence of the King of Morocco when he stays in Marrakesh, and it takes up a large part of the east of the Kasbah, in the south of the medina. You can, however, walk around the outside to see its pink ramparts, its green-tiled roofs and the Mechouar esplanade, and visit historic palaces next door that are open to the public. The palace dates back to the Almohad era: the caliph Yaqub al-Mansur had the Kasbah built in the late 12th century, and the Saadian and then Alaouite dynasties reworked it.

Highlights

The palace roofs

Behind the rammed-earth ramparts and clipped hedges you only glimpse the pavilions with green-tiled roofs, the signature of royal buildings in Morocco. The surrounding walls hide the inside: no guided tour is offered, whatever the season.

The Mechouar

This large open esplanade in front of the palace is the ceremonial square where the rites of power were once held. You can see the gate and its red walls, with guards on duty. Where photos are tolerated, keep your distance from the guard posts and follow the officers' instructions.

Practical info

Tips

There is no ticket or tour to buy: beware of guides or websites claiming to arrange entry to the palace. Photographing the surroundings is generally tolerated, but do not go near the gates and do not insist if a guard asks you to move away. Next door, the open sites are worth a visit: the El Badi Palace (Saadian ruins), the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and Bab Agnaou gate. The Agdal Gardens, south of the palace, open only on certain days and close when the royal family is present.

How to get there

The palace is in the Kasbah, in the south of the medina, behind Bab Agnaou. From Jemaa el-Fna, take a petit taxi to Bab Agnaou or to Place des Ferblantiers, then walk along the ramparts to the Mechouar. Bab Berrima gate, on Place des Ferblantiers, is right by the palace wall.

Opening hours

Best: Morning or late afternoon

Palace closed to the public all year, no visit possible; the Mechouar esplanade and the ramparts can be seen from outside at any time, unless guards instruct otherwise on days when the king is in residence