I have just spent another 4 days in Marrakech, a city I had already visited a few years ago. When I arrived there, I first had a few hours of grey weather, but fortunately the Moroccan winter sun soon came out. What a pleasure it was to see again the pink of the city, the blue of Jardin Majorelle, the ochre of the desert and the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains shining in the light.
When I travelled: for this stay in Marrakech, I was there in January and had good weather. The previous time, I had come at the beginning of spring and it was also a very good season for finding sunshine and pleasant temperatures, without the intense heat of summer.
I visited Marrakech with friends and colleagues, so without children, but I fully intend to go back with Ticoeur and Titpuce in the future!
Marrakech and the surrounding area: my 4-day itinerary
4 days, 4 nights
Over 4 days, we spent 3 days in Marrakech and one day on an excursion to the Agafay Desert.
Day 1: arrival in Marrakech at the end of the morning. Visit to the medina and its souks, visit to the Ben Youssef Madrasa, walk in the palm grove – night in Marrakech.
Day 2: more time in the souks, then visit to Bahia Palace and El Badi Palace – night in Marrakech.
Day 3: day trip at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, towards the Agafay Desert (last time, I went to Essaouira for the day. I will tell you about both options) – night in Marrakech.
Day 4: visit to the tanners’ quarter, Jardin Majorelle and a sunset walk around the Menara basin – night in Marrakech.
Departure: early morning departure.
The must-see sights in Marrakech
The medina, the souks and Jemaa el-Fna square
In the souks, there is so much to take in: local colours, flavours and crafts everywhere. There are also less picturesque stalls selling counterfeit clothes or shoes! On my previous visit, my only downside had been how pushy the shopkeepers were in the souk (given that we were two women, that probably did not help). This time, everyone was very pleasant and I was able to bargain for my babouches in a friendly atmosphere, without feeling harassed.
Almost everywhere, we came across orange sellers: oranges are so good in Morocco! There are also many stalls selling absolutely delicious orange juice. Behind this seller, you can see the pink wall surrounding the medina.
There is a very beautiful fountain at the Ensemble Artisanal, where you will find a concentration of shops.
The elegant minaret of the Koutoubia stands proudly in the medina. The decoration is different on each facade. The inside cannot be visited.
The tanners in Marrakech
We had trouble finding the tanners’ quarter in the far north of the medina, and we had to dodge quite a few unpleasant people asking us for money to take us there on foot. But in the end, by focusing on the map in our guidebook and thanks to a few friendly passers-by, we got there!
In the evening, the heart of the action in the medina is the famous Jemaa el-Fna square, which offers an incredible change of scene! We really enjoyed watching the crowds gradually arrive at sunset. Once night fell, we walked around the food stalls to choose a few Moroccan snacks to eat there: fish, merguez, piles of snails and orange juice… there is plenty of choice! Then the crowd became too oppressive for us and we went back to the hotel.
Jardin Majorelle
I wanted to see Jardin Majorelle again, as I had such a wonderful memory of it from my first trip to Marrakech. This garden brings a touch of blue to an ochre and pink Moroccan landscape. This blue is the famous “Majorelle blue”, named after its creator, the French painter Jacques Majorelle (1886-1962). His entirely blue villa is a must-see in Marrakech, and the exotic plants in the garden create a wonderfully different setting, while the fountains and pools add a romantic note. After Majorelle’s death, the house and garden were abandoned, until Yves Saint Laurent bought them and restored all their charm, turning the property into his second home and a retreat between collections.
On a weekday in January, there were not many people, but be careful: during school holidays, it is better to book your tickets on the Jardin Majorelle website and expect large crowds.
Bahia Palace
This palace was one of my favourite visits and is the best-preserved palace in Marrakech. It was the former residence of the vizier Ba Ahmed. The architecture and decorations are full of charm: Italian marble, delicate mosaics and the splendour of the colourful ceiling in the council room.
El Badi Palace
We really liked the calm of these orange-walled ruins, where only storks live. We visited this palace just before closing time. There were few people. It was very pleasant.
Ben Youssef Madrasa
We visited this former Quranic school with its refined Arab-Andalusian architecture and decorations.
We also visited the Saadian Tombs, but they were quite small. I would not necessarily recommend them.
The Menara
At sunset, we loved the calm around the Menara basin. We went there on foot: it is 2 km from the centre, and we came back by taxi.
For next time:
2026 edit: here are two places that were not yet open at the time of my stay in Marrakech and that I would like to discover next time…
- Le Jardin Secret: a former 16th-century garden that has been restored and opened to the public.
- Dar El Bacha, which houses the Museum of Confluences and its collection of art and craftwork in a magnificent Moroccan palace.
Marrakech: my good addresses
Accommodation in Marrakech
This time, I stayed at Club Med La Palmeraie, very pleasant, with very local-style architecture and large spaces crossed by pools, fountains and palm trees. In short, I liked the indoor and outdoor common areas, as well as the excellent buffet. My room was fine, nothing more. This accommodation is located outside the city, in the Palmeraie, so we took taxis in the morning and evening to get around.
The previous time, I stayed in the medina, which I recommend if you want to do everything on foot. There are also many charming riads, such as Riad El Borj, which is beautiful and very well located. However, if you stay in the medina, I still recommend going for a walk in the palm grove.
A gourmet address
Here is an excellent pastry shop recommended by my Moroccan colleagues: Al Jawda in the Gueliz district, the new town. Apart from going to this pastry shop, I did not visit this modern part of Marrakech.
Excursions from Marrakech
The Agafay Desert with views of the Atlas Mountains
With my colleagues, we went on a 4×4 outing in the Agafay Desert, under bright sunshine, facing the Atlas Mountains. The landscapes were sublime, with views of the snow-covered High Atlas range in January. The Agafay Desert is a “reg”, meaning a rocky desert, not a desert of dunes.
What a contrast to travel through wide sandy spaces while seeing snow on the peaks! It is a little like experiencing summer and winter at the same time! Our excursion was organised by the hotel, but you can find several Agafay Desert outings on GetYourGuide: camel, quad, buggy or 4×4 trips with lunch or dinner included.
After the 4×4 outing, we enjoyed a delicious traditionally cooked tagine, all in the desert setting. A lovely experience!
Essaouira
The previous time, during my first trip to Marrakech with my best friend, we went by bus for the day to visit Essaouira, and we really liked the gentle way of life in this seaside town.
I should warn you, though, that it is tiring as a day trip because the bus journey takes 3 to 4 hours. So we got up very early and returned at sunset. Fortunately, Essaouira is quite a small town. We were not frustrated to spend only a few hours there, but the bus hours did feel long.
So if I go back with the family, I will choose to stay one night there.
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You can also reread my article about our family trip to Fes when Ticoeur was a baby. Morocco really is a very welcoming and easy destination for a trip with a child. Over there, children are treated like little kings, spoiled and always welcome!
And you? Do you love Morocco?
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