Morocco is a crossroads of Berber, Arab, and Andalusian cultures where Roman ruins meet tiled madrasas and desert sunsets. Over centuries, dynasties shaped cities like Marrakech and Fes into living museums—lantern-lit souks, palaces with cedar ceilings, and courtyards perfumed by orange blossom.

In this 7-day itinerary, you’ll dive into Marrakech’s pulse, savor a cooking class and a traditional hammam, then ride over to Fes for maze-like alleys and artisan workshops. Two day trips—Atlas Mountains from Marrakech and Volubilis/Meknes from Fes—add nature and history without rushing.

Expect tagines, mint tea, and rooftop sunsets. Carry some cash, dress modestly in medinas, and confirm hours around Ramadan. For flights, search deals on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Marrakech

Marrakech is color and cadence: the call to prayer, brass knockers, orange carts, and storytellers at Jemaa el-Fna. Behind the bustle, tranquil riads reveal zellij tile art, and the Atlas foothills glow at sunset.

• Don’t miss: Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Ben Youssef Madrasa, Le Jardin Secret, Majorelle Garden & YSL Museum, Dar el Bacha Museum/Bacha Coffee.
• Food & drink: Rooftop gems like Nomad and L’Mida; time-honored feasts at Al Fassia and Dar Yacout; fresh-squeezed orange juice in the square.
• Fun fact: The dye-sellers’ souk once colored textiles with madder root and indigo; you can still see pigments piled like spices.

Where to stay (Medina for atmosphere; Gueliz/Hivernage for space): Compare riads and apartments on VRBO Marrakech or browse hotels and riads on Hotels.com Marrakech.

How to arrive: Fly into Marrakech (RAK). Search fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Taxi to the medina is ~100–150 MAD; the L19 airport bus to Jemaa el-Fna is ~30 MAD.

Day 1: Arrival, rooftops, and Jemaa el-Fna at twilight

Afternoon: Check in and decompress with a mint tea in your riad courtyard. For a first wander, head to Koutoubia’s gardens to orient yourself and catch the minaret’s golden hue.

Evening: Climb to Cafe des Épices or L’Mida for a rooftop sunset and light bites (try zaalouk and chicken brochettes). Then descend to Jemaa el-Fna as the square transforms—musicians, henna artists, and food stalls billowing with smoke.

Dinner: Sit-down options nearby: Nomad (modern Moroccan—spiced lamb shoulder, roasted cauliflower) or Naranj (Levantine-Moroccan—sumac chicken wraps, za’atar salads). Reserve for terrace views.

Day 2: Palaces, medina lanes, and a hammam

Morning: Start at Bahia Palace (intricate stucco and cedar ceilings), then the Saadian Tombs (rediscovered in 1917). Coffee break at Bacha Coffee within Dar el Bacha—single-origin brews poured tableside with pastries.

Afternoon: Explore Ben Youssef Madrasa and Le Jardin Secret (Islamic garden engineering on display). Lunch at Le Jardin (oasis courtyard; try kefta tagine and avocado juice).

Evening: Ease jet lag at a traditional hammam: Les Bains de Marrakech or Hammam de la Rose (steam, black soap scrub, argan oil massage; ~450–800 MAD). Dinner at Al Fassia Gueliz (women-run; slow-braised lamb shoulder with prunes is a signature).

Day 3: Gardens, museums, and a hands-on cooking class

Morning: Visit the Majorelle Garden and the adjacent Yves Saint Laurent Museum; arrive at opening to avoid queues. Espresso and tart at the onsite cafe, or head to Plus61 in Gueliz for a light brunch (seasonal Mediterranean plates).

Afternoon: Join La Maison Arabe’s cooking workshop (market visit, make pastilla or tagine; includes lunch). If you prefer art, browse Gueliz galleries and concept stores.

Evening: Live music and mezze at Comptoir Darna (belly-dance show later). For something quieter, book Dar Yacout for a multi-course feast in lantern-lit salons—set menus with salads, couscous, and desserts.

Day 4: Atlas Mountains & Imlil (day trip)

Head into the High Atlas for cool air, walnut groves, and Berber villages. Depart around 8:30 a.m. for Imlil (1.5–2 hours). Meet a local guide for a 2–3 hour hike to waterfalls and terraced fields, then enjoy a home-cooked lunch on a rooftop (vegetarian tagines are common). Stop at an argan oil cooperative en route back, arriving in Marrakech by early evening.

Dinner: Casual plates at Atay Cafe (panoramas over the medina) or street-side grills off Rue Riad Zitoun for merguez and harira.

Fes

Fes is Morocco’s spiritual and scholarly heart, home to the world’s oldest university, Al-Qarawiyyin. Its car-free Fes el-Bali medina is a living workshop of woodcarvers, coppersmiths, and dyers.

• Don’t miss: Bou Inania and Al Attarine madrasas, Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque/Library (exteriors and courtyards where permitted), Chouara Tanneries, Nejjarine Museum, Jnan Sbil Gardens.
• Food & drink: Camel burger at Cafe Clock, seasonal salads at The Ruined Garden, refined Moroccan at Dar Roumana, and sunset drinks at Mezzanine.
• Fun fact: Fes’s blue ceramics are fired in ground-level kilns fed by olive pits—visit a pottery cooperative to see the process end-to-end.

Where to stay: For atmosphere, choose Fes el-Bali (near Bab Boujloud for easy taxis). Compare stays on VRBO Fes or Hotels.com Fes.

Getting from Marrakech to Fes: Easiest is a 1-hour flight (often $60–150 one way). Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. The ONCF train takes ~6.5–7.5 hours (about 220–250 MAD) if you prefer a scenic ride.

Day 5: Travel to Fes, first tastes of the medina

Morning: Depart Marrakech after breakfast. If flying, you’ll land by late morning; if taking the early train, arrive mid-afternoon. Drop bags and sip mint tea in your riad.

Afternoon: Enter via Bab Boujloud (Blue Gate) for an orientation loop to Bou Inania Madrasa and the water clock. Coffee and pastries at Cafe Clock (check the rooftop for storytelling or oud music evenings).

Evening: Dinner at The Ruined Garden (garden setting; confit duck b’stilla, beet-and-orange salad) or Darori Resto (seasonal Moroccan menu; intimate). Nightcap at Mezzanine overlooking Jnan Sbil.

Day 6: Fes medina deep-dive

Morning: Visit the Chouara Tanneries early; sprigs of mint help with the aroma. Continue to Al Attarine Madrasa (cedar, stucco, and tile masterwork) and peek at the courtyards of Al-Qarawiyyin from permitted viewpoints.

Afternoon: Explore the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts, then break for lunch back at Cafe Clock (camel burger or veggie briouats). Visit a pottery cooperative (such as those on the road to Sidi Hrazem) to see hand-thrown bowls and cobalt glazing.

Evening: Stroll Jnan Sbil Gardens at golden hour. Dinner at Dar Roumana (book ahead; refined set menus in a restored riad) or Fez Cafe at Jardin des Biehn (romantic courtyard, seasonal produce).

Day 6 Alternative (popular day trip): Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

If you prefer a historical excursion, take a full-day trip (8–9 hours). Tour the UNESCO-listed Volubilis Roman ruins (Capitoline Temple and mosaic floors), pause for panoramic views and a pastry stop in Moulay Idriss, then continue to Meknes for Bab Mansour and Heri es-Souani granaries. Expect a private driver to cost roughly 1,200–1,600 MAD for the car; shared tours are less.

Day 7: Last sips and departure

Morning: Final stroll for spices, argan oil, or ceramics near Talaa Kebira. Coffee at Made in M or a fresh juice stand, and a quick bite—msmen (layered flatbread) with honey is perfect.

Afternoon: Pack and transfer to Fes–Saïs Airport (FEZ) for your flight. Search options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If time remains, a quick almond milkshake and chebakia (sesame-honey pastry) make a sweet farewell.

Practical tips: Carry small coins for tips and taxis. Ask before photographing people. Friday prayers may shift opening hours. Dress modestly in religious spaces, and book set-menu dinners and hammams a day in advance during peak seasons.

In one week, you’ve sampled Marrakech’s energy, breathed the Atlas air, traced Fes’s scholarly roots, and walked Roman avenues in Volubilis. This Morocco itinerary balances headline sights and quiet courtyards so you leave with both memories and appetite for a return.