15 MUST DO THINGS IN MARRAKECH.
Phil Ronsenthal said this of Marrakech – “it’s a bit like school, you’re not going to get it on the first day.” This is absolutely true – don’t beat yourself up if you find it totally overwhelming and you flee back to your riad by 11:00 on your first morning. To call Marrakech chaotic, would be a bit of an understatement – bonkers might be more accurate.
To this, I would add – that most tourists visit Marrakech for a couple of days – 3 or 4 perhaps. It’s a big city and not one that you can “conquer” in this time. Between the hours spent dodging motorbikes in the medina and the fact that the city operates on “Morocco time” – meaning, everything takes a little while. You will not have time to do everything you want.
For this reason, based on our experience, we’ve come up with this list of non-negotiables. It’s like a menu of things to do in Marrakech – pick one from each section! But, under no circumstances, try to do them all.
Added to that, Marrakech isn’t the cheapest city in the world – the average attraction will cost you 100 MAD (€10), you could easily spend hundreds if you tried to see everything.
All locations can be found on the map below.
1/ A fancy coffee shop
If you’re a coffee lover and have spent any time on Instagram looking at Marrakech, you’ve probably heard of Bacha Coffee, an old-fashioned coffee shop that has become an internet sensation. What Instagram doesn’t tell you is that it’s inside the Dar El Bacha Museum, so you’ll need to pay entry, around 60 MAD or €6.
There is usually a queue, so arrive early if you want a chance at a table. I don’t doubt the museum is beautiful and the coffee is fantastic, but it does require both time and money, so think carefully before adding it to your “must-do” list.
Marrakech is full of other wonderful coffee spots and Moroccans drink a lot of coffee, so you are guaranteed a good cup wherever you go.
Some of our favourites, leaning slightly bougie, were:
- Hyuna House Café – Korean-style coffee with a roof terrace and quiet corners to escape the medina chaos.
- Café Abaq – Tucked away in a quieter part of the medina, perfect for a slow morning.
- Simple Specialty Coffee – A reliable fallback near Bacha if the queues are too long.
- Coffee Shop Staylia – Great variety and a calm space to catch your breath
2/ A rooftop drink
There is nothing like hearing the call to prayer ripple across the medina as the sun dips behind the Atlas Mountains.
For pure views, we loved Café des Épices. It has a direct line of sight to the Atlas Mountains and a great vantage point over the spice square below.
Other favourites include Dada, which is modern and Instagram-ready, Kabana, which serves cocktails with a view, and Bazaar Café, which attracts fewer Instagrammers and offers happy hour and wine by the bottle for around €15. Mandala Society has a well-sized roof terrace, though it does not serve alcohol.
Truth be told, you cannot go far wrong with a rooftop in Marrakech. Just avoid any with hawkers who seem overly eager to bring you in. That usually means the atmosphere is dead.
3/ Stay in a riad
A riad is a traditional Moroccan home, usually built over several floors with a central courtyard. What makes them unique is that all the windows face inward rather than outside. There’s a romantic reason for this – it maintains privacy for women – but it does take a little getting used to.
Staying in a riad is really quite romantic and, in our view, an important part of visiting Marrakech. After hours in the noisy medina, stepping into a quiet courtyard with tiles, fountains, or a small pool feels like entering another world.
We stayed in the Mouassine area of Marrakech, which felt safe and a little fancy, but closer enough to the main activity.
Here are a few suggestions:
BUDGET: Dar El Kharaz (beautiful, but avoid the ground floor room).
MID-RANGE: Riad Janate BAHIA & Spa
LUXURY: Riad no37
You can find a detailed guide on where to stay in Marrakech here.
4/ Drink tea
Mint tea is a must, but there’s more to explore. For something fancy, Café 1112 offers a beautiful interior and quiet space, with a unique menu. Prices are slightly higher, but worth it if you enjoy the ritual. For a more bustling experience, grab tea on the main square, sit back, and watch the medina go by.
Herbal blends like sage, verbena, or thyme are everywhere.
5/ One splash out meal
Pick one evening to indulge. We went to Mama Mia in Gueliz for fantastic Italian – a surprisingly good choice in Marrakech.
In the medina, Le Tobsil and Dar Yacout are classic Moroccan options with candlelit courtyards, multi-course menus, and live music. Maison Arabe is another elegant choice if you want a quieter, riad-style atmosphere.
For a rooftop dinner, Café Arabe serves excellent tagines and cocktails with sunset views over the medina. Nomad is modern, design-focused,and always recommended in guide books. Le Jardin offers a mix of Moroccan and international dishes in a beautiful courtyard and rooftop, ideal for photos or a relaxed evening.
6/ Street food tour or cooking class
Marrakech is a city to eat your way through. On a Marrakech Food Tour, you’ll try seven or eight dishes in a couple of hours. For hands-on fun, a small cooking class lets you learn to make tagine or pastilla.
7/ A wellness activity
Hammams are traditional, but I still personally find the concept a bit odd and haven’t been able to take the plunge! If that’s not your vibe, consider a massage or yoga session instead.
- Les Bains de Marrakech – Luxurious massage and spa treatments.
- Heritage Spa – Traditional rituals, relaxed atmosphere.
- Yoga classes – at Dar Anis Yoga Studio or BLISS Riad Marrakesh both run regular classes.
8/ Shopping and bartering
Even if shopping isn’t your thing, the souks are unavoidable. They are part of the Marrakech experience, whether you want it or not.
Souk Semmarine is the main area near the square, full of leather goods, lanterns, and textiles. Souk Chouari is the spot for woodwork and traditional crafts, while Rahba Kedima is the famous spice square. But let’s be honest, once you’re wandering the medina, it’s hard to tell one souk from another. They all blur together in a colourful, chaotic maze.
The rule we learnt: the closer you are to Jemaa el-Fnaa, the more expensive and generic the items tend to be. If haggling makes you break out in a cold sweat, don’t worry. Some of the more modern shops around Mouassine are a nicer alternative. You can explore concept stores like Different and Wafl along Rue Amsafah and the connecting streets, where prices are fixed and the browsing is much less stressful.
9/ A small museum or two
Marrakech has a handful of smaller, quirkier museums that are off the main tourist trail. Maison de la Photographie might feel a bit niche for some, but can be worth it, as with the same ticket, you can also visit the Museum of Mouassine Music, which makes it a solid couple-of-hours outing if you want something different.
If you like arts, crafts, clothing, and jewellery, Monde des Arts de la Parure is a hidden gem full of colourful pieces and interesting displays.
For somewhere truly quiet and contemplative, the Marrakech Jewish Cemetery offers a calm, sombre escape from the chaos of the medina. It’s small but powerful, and the kind of place that makes you slow down and reflect.
10/ One palace
Pick one, or you’ll end up exhausted. Bahia Palace is the obvious choice, grand and tiled. El Badi Palace is dramatic in its ruined state, with a courtyard you can almost get lost in. Many people choose to visit the Saadian Tombs, we skipped on this occasion having visited similar attractions in other cities.
Tip: if you do visit Bahia Palace, I’d recommend visiting as soon as it opens. There are many walking tours that take in the palace and it gets quite crowded at around 10:30 onwards.
11/ Visit Gueliz
A good city break requires a bit of ventilation. Take a break from the medina and see the modern side of Marrakech.
In stark contrast to the medina, Gueliz has wide streets, cafés, galleries and lovely concept stores. You won’t catch anyone wearing a pashmina from the souks here.
We loved Palmetto Coffee to start the day and Mama Mia for lunch, but there are lots of options – Petanque Social Club has a wonderful garden.
Tip: if visiting the Jardin Majorelle in the morning, Gueliz is a great area for the afternoon.
12/ One garden
Jardin Majorelle is famous for good reason – vibrant blues, cacti, calm pathways. But it does get busy (booking in advance recommended). Le Jardin Secret is quieter but smaller, tucked away in the medina.
13/ One traditional Moroccan restaurant
Pick a spot for classic cuisine like tagine and cous cous – there is no shortage in Marrakech. Or, if you want to go super authentic, try some of the stands on Jemaa el-Fnaa – like the magic bread sandwiches (with potato and egg) or a Moroccan pancake. Soupe harrira de Madame Fadma is a bit of a Marrakech legend too – one lady has been serving soup for decades.
14/ Visit a patisserie
At some point in Marrakech, you’ll need a sugar hit. The city is full of patisseries offering sticky, almond-heavy pastries, delicate Moroccan-style macarons, and layered cakes. In Morocco, we indulged in sweet treats big time (I think to make up for the lack of wine!)
15/ If you have time – have an adventure
Marrakech is a great base for bigger experiences. Sunrise hot air balloon over the Atlas Mountains would be magical. A day trip to Ourika Valley for waterfalls and mountain villages is scenic. Tours in Morocco are generally great value for money, a perfect excuse to try something new.
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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Reading material for your trip
Here are a few great books for your Morocco adventures:
CLASSIC TRAVEL GUIDE:Lonely Planet – Morocco
ESCAPASIM: Night Train to Marrakech by
Dinah Jefferies
SET IN MOROCCO: Secret Son by Laila Lalami
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