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Morocco’s story is carved into Atlas ridgelines and told in calligraphed tiles. In Marrakech, dynasties built palaces from sunlit courtyards; in Tangier, writers watched two seas meet at the Strait of Gibraltar. Across a week you’ll sample both: lantern-lit souks, saffron-scented tagines, sea-breeze terraces, and blue-on-white kasbah lanes.

Expect megawatt sights—Jemaa el-Fna, Jardin Majorelle, the Kasbah of Tangier—balanced with gentle rituals: mint tea, a traditional hammam, and golden-hour rooftops. Food is a highlight: smoky mechoui lamb, flaky msemen, and seafood pulled from Atlantic breakers that morning.

Practical notes: Morocco is largely cash-friendly (dirhams are handy for markets and taxis). Trains are comfortable and modern; flights connect major cities quickly. Dress modestly in medinas; ask before photographing vendors. Book major tickets and popular restaurants in advance during peak seasons (spring, fall, holidays).

Marrakech

Marrakech is color—ochre walls, cobalt gardens, pyramids of cumin. Founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids, it became a caravan hub where desert gold met Mediterranean silk. Today the medina hums with artisans, while new districts offer galleries, gardens, and calm.

• Don’t miss: Jemaa el-Fna’s evening theater, Bahia Palace’s zellige, Saadian Tombs’ carved cedar, and the Koutoubia’s graceful minaret.
• Modern hits: Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum; Dar el Bacha Museum of Confluences with excellent Bacha Coffee.
• Food to chase: Slow-braised tanjia, charcoal-grilled brochettes, almond-filled pastilla, and just-pressed orange juice in the square.

How to arrive: Fly into Marrakech Menara (RAK). Compare fares and times on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. A taxi into the medina takes ~20–25 minutes (80–120 MAD); many riads can arrange pickup.

Stay (riads and hotels we love):

• Royal Mansour Marrakech — a legendary stay built by Moroccan artisans (five-star service, serene gardens).
• Es Saadi Marrakech Resort - Hotel — pool-forward resort near Hivernage nightlife, great for spa days.
• Riad Dar Attajmil — intimate, warm hospitality, steps from the medina’s heart.
• Riad Les Jardins Mandaline — classic riad charm with plunge pool and rooftop nooks.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com Marrakech or VRBO Marrakech.

Day 1: Arrival and the Square That Never Sleeps

Afternoon: Arrive, check into your riad, and decompress with mint tea on the roof. Orient yourself with a gentle loop past the Koutoubia and the palm-dotted Parc Lalla Hasna.

Evening: Slide into the living theater of Jemaa el-Fna: snake charmers wind down as food stalls heat up. Start at Pâtisserie des Princes for an almond gazelle horn pastry, then dine at Nomad (modern Moroccan; try the spiced cauliflower and saffron chicken) or Al Fassia Gueliz (women-run icon; order the slow-cooked lamb shoulder). Cap with a cinnamon-spiked nous-nous at Café des Épices overlooking spice pyramids.

Day 2: Palaces, Tombs, and Souk Craft

Morning: Visit Bahia Palace (early to beat crowds), then the Saadian Tombs for 16th-century marble and muqarnas. Coffee break at Bacha Coffee (velvety V60s, orange blossom chantilly) within Dar el Bacha Museum—peek into salons of Andalusi stucco.

Afternoon: Plunge into the souks: Souk Semmarine for leather and lanterns; Souk des Teinturiers to watch wool-dye vats. Lunch at Le Jardin (lush courtyard; herb-packed kefta, lemony salads). Track down a hand-loomed cactus-silk scarf in Souk Chouari; bargain with a smile and patience.

Evening: Sunset on your riad terrace. Dinner at Atay Café (rooftop, vegetarian-friendly couscous royale) or La Maison Arabe’s patio for refined classics; their harira with dates is a comfort bowl. Nightcap in Hivernage or an early bed before tomorrow’s adventure.

Day 3: Day Trip—Aït Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate (UNESCO ksar and film sets)

Today is a full-day excursion over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass into the High Atlas (expect 12–13 hours). You’ll cross Berber villages, argan groves, and switchbacks to reach the fortified ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, a caravan stop on the old Sahara–Marrakech route and backdrop for countless films.

Recommended tour: Ouarzazate ‘Hollywood of Morocco’ Private Full-Day Tour with Ait Ben Haddou — private guide, time to wander the alleys, and a stop at film studios in Ouarzazate.

Alternate option: Visit to the Ksar of Aït Ben Haddou — a focused Aït Ben Haddou experience if you want more time inside the ksar itself.

Day 4: Gardens, Design, and Hammam

Morning: Go early to Jardin Majorelle—cobalt, palms, and geometric ponds envisioned by painter Jacques Majorelle and restored by Yves Saint Laurent. Continue into the Yves Saint Laurent Museum for couture silhouettes and Berber textile inspirations. Brunch at Café Majorelle or grab pistachio cornes de gazelle at Pâtisserie Amandine.

Afternoon: Treat yourself to a traditional hammam and scrub at Les Bains de Marrakech or your riad’s spa—expect eucalyptus steam and argan oil finishes. Shop for ceramics at Chabi Chic or carpets at a reputable co-op (ask your riad for vetted sellers).

Evening: Golden-hour rooftop at Dar Dar Rooftop (panoramas, citrus mocktails). Dinner at Mechoui Alley near the square for fall-apart lamb and cumin salt, or book Plus61 in Gueliz for Levantine-Moroccan fusion. Early night—tomorrow, north to the sea.

Tangier

Tangier feels cinematic: whitewashed houses stacked over a sparkling bay, minarets echoing across cliffside cafés. The city has hosted Phoenicians, sultans, and a century of artists—Paul Bowles, Tennessee Williams, and Matisse all found a muse here.

• Top sights: The Kasbah Museum (in Dar el-Makhzen), the American Legation, Cap Spartel lighthouse, and the wave-carved Caves of Hercules.
• Vibe: Mediterranean-meets-Atlantic breezes, galleries, and timeless cafés like Hafa—best with a pot of mint tea at sunset.

Getting there from Marrakech (Day 5 morning): ONCF train via Casablanca takes ~5.5–6 hours (1st class ~299–349 MAD; early departure recommended). Prefer to fly? Check fares (1h15m) on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com; prices often range $45–120 depending on season.

Stay (old-town charm or sea views):

• Kasbah riads and medina boutique hotels place you steps from the museum quarter and viewpoints.
• Beachfront hotels along the corniche are great for families and runners (wide promenade).
• Browse options: Hotels.com Tangier or VRBO Tangier.

Day 5: Travel North, Kasbah Wander, and Live Music

Morning: Depart Marrakech on the earliest train or a morning flight. On arrival, drop bags and stretch your legs along the renovated corniche.

Afternoon: Explore the Kasbah: start at Bab Haha gate, climb to the viewpoint over the strait, then visit the Kasbah Museum for Phoenician artifacts and sultan-era rooms. Coffee with a view at Salon Bleu (above Dar el-Bacha square of Tangier’s kasbah).

Evening: Dinner at El Morocco Club (elegant, piano bar downstairs; book ahead for their monkfish or lamb tagine). For a more rustic, beloved spot, try Le Saveur du Poisson—a fixed-menu seafood feast chalked on the board. Nightcap at the historic Hotel El Minzah bar or a quiet tea at your riad.

Day 6: Cap Spartel, Caves, and Café Hafa Sunset

Morning: Hire a petit taxi to Cap Spartel, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean; walk the lighthouse bluff and pine-scented paths. Continue to the Caves of Hercules—the Africa-shaped opening is iconic. If seas are calm, stroll Achakar Beach.

Afternoon: Lunch seaside: L’Océan (grilled sardines, sea bream, and salads). Return to the medina for the American Legation Museum—the only U.S. National Historic Landmark outside the States—featuring mid-century Tangier art and diplomatic history.

Evening: Sunset tea at Café Hafa, where terraced tables tumble toward the water—a poet’s perch since 1921. Dinner back in town at Rif Kebdani (comforting pastillas, couscous with vegetables) or Le Mirage outside town if you want a splurge-with-a-view evening.

Day 7: Markets, Brunch, and Departure

Morning: Start at Grand Socco (Place du 9 Avril) and duck into Petit Socco for old cafés and a last wander. Snack through the Marché Central: olives, dates, ras el hanout spice blends, and just-baked msemen with honey. Coffee and croissants at Pâtisserie Majestic.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping for ceramics or brass at the kasbah’s artisan cooperatives. Depart from Tangier Ibn Battuta Airport (TNG) or continue by Al Boraq high-speed train south. Check flight options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Eating & Drinking Highlights (save this list)

• Breakfast/coffee: Bacha Coffee (Marrakech), Pâtisserie Amandine (Marrakech), Salon Bleu (Tangier), Pâtisserie Majestic (Tangier).
• Lunch: Le Jardin (Marrakech), Mechoui Alley (Marrakech), L’Océan (Tangier), Rif Kebdani (Tangier).
• Dinner: Nomad (Marrakech), Al Fassia Gueliz (Marrakech), El Morocco Club (Tangier), Le Saveur du Poisson (Tangier).
• Sunset spots: Café des Épices (Marrakech), Dar Dar Rooftop (Marrakech), Café Hafa (Tangier).

Getting Around Between Cities

• Train: Marrakech → Tangier via Casablanca: ~5.5–6 hours; 1st class for reserved seating (~299–349 MAD). Leave around 7:00–8:00 to arrive mid-day.
• Flight: Marrakech → Tangier: ~1h15 nonstop or ~3–4h with a connection; check fares and schedules on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Why this route works: Four nights in Marrakech let you balance medina immersion with a UNESCO day trip; two nights in Tangier deliver coastal breezes and kasbah culture without rushing your departure. It’s a classic Morocco pairing in just one week.

Summary: From Marrakech’s palaces and souks to Tangier’s sea-blown terraces, this 7-day Morocco itinerary layers history, art, food, and landscapes in satisfying arcs. You’ll depart with saffron on your tongue, mint on your breath, and a camera full of light.