Marrakech—also spelled Marrakesh and nicknamed the “Red City”—has lured travelers for a millennium with its rose-hued ramparts, Andalusian-Moorish palaces, and a medina that hums from sunrise to starlight. Founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids, it became a crossroads for caravans and craftsmanship, and you can still see that heritage in the blacksmith sparks, cedar carving, and dyers’ vats of saffron and indigo.

Beyond the maze, Marrakech offers calm: palm-shaded riads, ornate gardens like Jardin Majorelle, and hammams that steam away the day’s dust. Food is an art form here—slow-cooked tanjia unique to the city, Friday couscous, smoky mechoui lamb, and mint tea poured theatrically from high brass pots. Rooftops turn gold at dusk, the call to prayer drifts across the rooftops, and Jemaa el-Fnaa becomes a theater of snake charmers, storytellers, and sizzling grills.

Practical notes: The Moroccan dirham (MAD) is a closed currency—withdraw from ATMs and carry small bills for taxis and tips. Dress modestly in medina lanes and ask before photographing people. Non‑Muslims can’t enter mosque prayer halls; enjoy exterior courtyards and minarets. Prebook top sights and experiences in peak months (spring/fall), and expect shorter daytime hours during Ramadan.

Marrakech

Why go: Marrakech fuses history and design: the 12th‑century Koutoubia Minaret, zellij-tiled palaces, Yves Saint Laurent’s revived garden, and a modern dining scene perched on sun-warmed rooftops.

• Top sights: Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, El Badi Palace ruins, Ben Youssef Madrasa, Maison de la Photographie, Le Jardin Secret, Jardin Majorelle + YSL Museum, Dar el Bacha Museum.
• Signature experiences: a traditional hammam, a tagine or tanjia cooking class, sunset in the Agafay Desert, and day trips to Essaouira’s sea-breeze ramparts or Atlas Mountain villages.
• Where to stay: Choose a medina riad for atmosphere and a rooftop breakfast, or base in Gueliz/Hivernage for wider rooms and easy taxis.

Book your stay: Browse riads, villas, and apartments on VRBO Marrakech or compare hotels and riads on Hotels.com Marrakech. Look for plunge pools, roof terraces, and included breakfasts.

Getting there: Fly into Marrakech Menara (RAK). From outside Europe, compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From European hubs, also check Omio Flights. Airport taxis to the medina are typically 80–120 MAD; many riads arrange pick‑ups (often USD 15–25) that bring you to the nearest medina gate and porter your bags.

Day 1: Arrival, First Rooftop Sunset, Jemaa el‑Fnaa

Afternoon: Arrive and settle into your riad. Sip welcome mint tea on the patio, then orient yourself with an easy loop to Jemaa el‑Fnaa. Pause at the 12th‑century Koutoubia’s gardens for your first photo of the iconic minaret.

Evening: For a gentle first taste, take a rooftop table at L’Mida (modern Moroccan—think chermoula sea bass and saffron lemon tart) or Nomad (spiced cauliflower, lamb shoulder, and excellent views). Wander Jemaa el‑Fnaa afterwards for orange juice stands, musicians, and storytelling circles. Cap the night with mint tea at Café de France for a classic square‑view perch.

Day 2: Palaces, Tombs, and the Mellah + Hammam Reset

Morning: Breakfast of msemen (flaky pancakes) and amlou at your riad, then head early to Bahia Palace (intricate cedar ceilings, marble courtyards; allow 60–90 minutes). Continue to the Saadian Tombs (rediscovered in 1917; look for the Hall of Twelve Columns). Expect 70–100 MAD per site; card or cash varies—bring small bills.

Afternoon: Explore the old Jewish Quarter (Mellah): spice stalls in Place des Ferblantiers and the Lazama Synagogue exterior. Lunch at Naranj for Levantine‑Moroccan mezze, pomegranate juices, and lamb shawarma wraps, or La Familia for garden salads and gnocchi with preserved lemon.

Evening: Unwind with a traditional hammam and argan oil massage. Good options: Heritage Spa (tailored scrubs) or Hammam de la Rose (calm rooms, friendly therapists). Dine nearby at Le Tanjia with views of the old ramparts—try Marrakech’s signature tanjia, slow-cooked beef or lamb traditionally baked in the coals of a communal furnace.

Day 3: Souk Safari, Ben Youssef, and Street Food Night

Morning: Coffee at Bacha Coffee (in Dar el Bacha’s palace courtyard; single-origin brews and cardamom pastries). Visit Ben Youssef Madrasa, a masterpiece of zellij and stucco, then the nearby Maison de la Photographie (20th‑century Morocco on film; rooftop for a quiet drink).

Afternoon: Dive the souks: Souk Semmarine (leather, babouches), Souk el Attarine (brass and spices), Souk des Teinturiers (vividly dyed yarns), and Souk Haddadine (blacksmiths at work). Pause for a light lunch at Atay Café (rooftop, couscous and vegetarian tagines) or Le Jardin (green oasis, kefta brochettes). Haggle with a smile; start at ~30–40% of the first quote and meet in the middle.

Evening: Join a street food tour (your riad can book) to sample harira soup, sardine kefta sandwiches, snail broth, and honeyed chebakia. Prefer a sit‑down? Head to Mechoui Alley (mid‑evening) for fall‑apart lamb by the weight with cumin and salt—rustic, unforgettable.

Day 4: Jardin Majorelle, YSL Museum, and Modern Marrakech

Morning: Prebook early slots for Jardin Majorelle (cobalt blue villa, exotic botany) and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum (couture and sketches). Tickets sell out; mornings are cooler. Afterwards, stroll to Pâtisserie Amandine for gazelle horns and sablés with espresso.

Afternoon: Return to the medina for Le Jardin Secret (Islamic garden geometry) or the Dar el Bacha Museum (Confluences). Alternatively, explore Gueliz galleries and concept stores. Lunch at +61 (sunny plates: charred octopus, freekeh salads) or Limoni (tranquil courtyard, Italian-Moroccan menu).

Evening: For an atmospheric night, book Comptoir Darna (dinner with Andalusian-Gnawa musicians and dancers; order pigeon pastilla and a citrusy mocktail). Cocktail lovers can start or end at Baromètre (inventive mixology, speakeasy vibe) or Kabana (rooftop DJ scene, wood‑fired pizzas and mezze).

Day 5: Day Trip to Essaouira (Sea Breeze and Ramparts)

Set out early for a full‑day excursion (about 2.5–3 hours each way). En route, you’ll pass argan cooperatives (skip staged “goats in trees” stops). In Essaouira, walk the UNESCO‑listed medina and Skala ramparts, browse Thuya wood workshops, and lunch on grilled sea bream or sardines at the port stalls or a sit‑down like a harira-and-seafood spot inside the walls. Coffee at a café facing Moulay Hassan square, then a quick beach stroll before heading back. Group tours are affordable; private drivers offer flexibility. Expect 90–130 MAD each way by bus or roughly USD 100–140 total for a private car.

Day 6: Easy Morning + Agafay Desert Sunset Dinner

Morning: Keep it slow—pool time or a cooking class (many riads and La Maison Arabe run hands‑on workshops with tagine, zaalouk, and mint tea rituals). Brunch at Terrasse des Épices (berber omelet, fresh juices) or Café des Épices overlooking the spice square.

Afternoon: Depart for the Agafay Desert (rocky desert, 45–60 minutes from town). Choose a sunset package: gentle camel trek or quad biking over lunar hills. As the sky turns copper, sit down to a candlelit dinner at a desert camp—think harira, lamb tagine with prunes, oranges with cinnamon—and warm by the fire under bright stars.

Evening: Return to Marrakech. If you still have energy, a last tea on your riad rooftop is perfect—quiet, jasmine-scented air and the city’s soft nighttime hum.

Day 7: Last Souk Stroll and Departure

Morning: Pick up last souvenirs: saffron, ras el hanout, hand‑painted bowls, woven baskets (check quality: tight weave, neat edges). For gifts, visit a women’s cooperative stall if you’ve noted one earlier. Breakfast at Pâtisserie des Princes (try a pistachio millefeuille) or a final msemen at your riad.

Afternoon: Depart for the airport (allow 2–2.5 hours before international flights). Keep 100–150 MAD handy for the taxi and small tips for porters. Be sure liquids and spices are sealed for security; pack fragile ceramics in clothing.

Where to Eat and Drink (Save for Any Day)

• Traditional: Al Fassia (women‑run; slow‑braised lamb shoulder, briouates), Dar Yacout (fixed‑menu feast in a fairy‑lit riad), Le Foundouk (romantic rooftop, refined tagines).
• Modern & rooftops: L’Mida, Nomad, Le Jardin, La Cantine des Gazelles (budget-friendly, lively).
• Sweet stops & coffee: Bacha Coffee, Pâtisserie Amandine, Pâtisserie des Princes, Atay Café.
• Late night: Comptoir Darna, Baromètre, Kabana, Salama Sky-Bar (views of the Koutoubia and medina).

Logistics and Tips

• Money: Withdraw MAD at ATMs; many small vendors are cash‑only. Expect a small city tax (taxe de séjour) per person per night, paid at check‑out.
• Getting around: Petit taxis within town are metered in theory; agree a fare or insist on the meter before leaving. Many medina lanes are pedestrian—porters can help with luggage.
• Tickets & timing: Prebook Jardin Majorelle/YSL Museum. Most monuments run roughly 9:00–17:00; check current hours, especially during Ramadan and Fridays.
• Etiquette: Modest dress, ask before photos, and expect to haggle in markets. Avoid unofficial “guides”; licensed guides display badges.

Where to stay (by vibe): For medina romance, consider a small riad with 6–12 rooms and a plunge pool; in Hivernage/Gueliz, look for full‑service hotels with larger rooms and spas. Start here: VRBO Marrakech and Hotels.com Marrakech.

This week in Marrakech balances culture, cuisine, and adventure—from tiled palaces and design museums to coastal breezes and desert stars. You’ll leave with a full camera roll, a sharper spice palate, and a few extra inches of suitcase space filled with crafts and stories.