Things to Do in Marrakech
Top 10, unique ideas and local tips from our team Updated October 2026
There are more things to do in Marrakech than most visitors expect. Inside the red walls of the medina you find souks, palaces, madrasas and the famous Jemaa el-Fna square. Outside them, the stony Agafay desert is about 45 minutes away and the High Atlas villages about an hour. That makes the city the easiest base in Morocco for both culture and outdoor adventure.
Our team lives and works here, and we organise these activities every week. Below are our top 10, four less-known ideas, tips for families, the best months and the questions guests ask us most. Start slowly: the medina is busy and loud, and a guide on your first morning makes everything easier.
The best things to do in Marrakech are an evening on Jemaa el-Fna square, a guided walk through the souks to the Ben Youssef madrasa, the Bahia Palace and the Majorelle Garden, a sunrise hot air balloon flight, quad and camel rides in the Agafay desert, a cooking class and a hammam. Add a day in the Atlas villages if you stay three days or more.
Top 10 things to do in Marrakech
Click any idea to see the details.
A guided walk through the souksSpices, leather, lanterns and carpets in a maze of covered lanes north of the square.Details +
A hot air balloon flight at sunriseFloat above the plains and Berber villages as the sun rises over the Atlas.Details +
Quad and camel rides in the Agafay desertStony hills, dry valleys and Atlas views, about 45 minutes from the city.Details +
A cooking class with a Moroccan familyShop for spices, then cook and share a tagine for lunch.Details +
A hammam afternoonA traditional steam bath, black soap and scrub – a Moroccan ritual.Details +
A day trip to the Atlas and the Ourika valleyBerber villages, terraces and mint tea, about an hour from Marrakech.Details +
Unique things to do in Marrakech
Ideas most visitors miss.
Marrakech with kids
There are lots of things to do in Marrakech with kids. Children love a camel ride in the Agafay desert or the palm grove, a quad ride with a guide (age and size limits apply), the cactus paths of the Majorelle Garden and the snake charmers and juice stalls of Jemaa el-Fna. A cooking class keeps little hands busy, and a mule ride in the Atlas is a favourite. Plan one big activity a day and rest in the riad at midday.
Best time to visit Marrakech
Spring (March to May) and autumn (late September to November) are the best months for most things to do in Marrakech, with warm days and cool nights. Winter is sunny but cold after dark. July and August are very hot in the afternoon, so plan early starts, the pool and trips to the Atlas.
- JanGood
- FebGood
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunPossible
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepGood
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGood
Getting there & how long to stay
Marrakech Menara airport is a short drive from the medina, with flights from many European cities. Plan at least three days: one for the medina, one for the balloon or the Agafay desert, and one for the Atlas – five days if you want a cooking class, a hammam and time to relax.
Local tips for Marrakech
- Book a guide for your first medina walk – after that you will find your way much more easily.
- Carry small notes and coins for tips, juice stalls and taxis.
- Dress lightly but cover shoulders and knees in the medina, out of respect.
- Agree on the taxi price before you get in, or ask your riad to call one.
- In summer, visit palaces and gardens early and save the afternoon for a rest.
Trips that include Marrakech
Activities in and around Marrakech
Moroccan experiencesCultural explorationMorocco Cultural Tours with Local GuidesAir adventuresHot air balloon rideHot Air Balloon Marrakech: Sunrise Rides Over the AtlasLand adventuresQuad & buggy ridesQuad Biking Marrakech: Palm Grove, Agafay & Sahara DunesMoroccan experiencesMoroccan cooking classCooking Class in Marrakech: Cook Real Moroccan FoodMoroccan experiencesWellness and relaxationMorocco Wellness Retreat: Slow Down, Breathe, RestoreLand adventuresHiking & trekking adventuresHiking Morocco: Atlas Treks, Gorges & Sahara WalksThings to Do in Marrakech: your questions
What are the best things to do in Marrakech?
The best things to do in Marrakech are an evening on Jemaa el-Fna, a guided walk through the souks, the Ben Youssef madrasa, the Bahia Palace and the Majorelle Garden. Outside the city, try a sunrise balloon flight, quad and camel rides in the Agafay desert and a day in the Atlas.
What are the best things to do in Marrakech at night?
Watch the food stalls and musicians on Jemaa el-Fna, join a street-food walk, or have dinner on a rooftop terrace. For something quieter, drive to the Agafay desert for dinner and stars around a camp fire.
What are things to do in Marrakech with kids?
Camel and quad rides in the Agafay desert, the Majorelle Garden, a cooking class, a balloon flight for older children and a mule ride in the Atlas are family favourites. Keep the medina visits short and plan a rest at midday.
What are things to do in Marrakech for couples?
A sunrise balloon flight, a hammam and massage, dinner on a rooftop above the medina and a night under the stars in the Agafay desert. Stay in a riad for a quiet courtyard in the middle of the old city.
What to do in Marrakech in 3 days?
Spend day one in the medina with a guide, day two on a balloon flight and an afternoon in the Agafay desert, and day three in the Atlas villages. Our 4- and 5-day Marrakech itineraries add a cooking class and a hammam.
What to do in Marrakech when it’s too hot?
Start very early, rest in the riad or a hammam in the afternoon and go out again at sunset. A day in the Atlas or the Ourika valley is cooler than the city, and balloon flights take place in the fresh early morning.
Can tourists go inside the Koutoubia Mosque?
No – as in most mosques in Morocco, only Muslims may enter. Everyone can admire the 12th-century minaret and walk in the gardens around it, which are beautiful at sunset.
Can you visit the Sahara on a day trip from Marrakech?
Not the dunes of Merzouga – they are too far, about two days’ drive across the Atlas. For a taste of the desert in one day, the stony Agafay desert is about 45 minutes away; for the real Sahara, plan a trip of three to four days.
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