Morocco has thrummed with crossroad energy since antiquity. Berber, Arab, Andalusian, and French influences meet in walled medinas, art-deco boulevards, and Atlantic ports where fishermen still mend their nets by hand. You’ll taste cumin and mint in equal measure and hear the call to prayer rise above bargaining cries in the souks.

This one-week itinerary centers on two destinations that fit together beautifully: Marrakech (markets, palaces, and street food theater) and Agadir (wide golden beaches and easy day adventures). With a budget focus, you’ll ride comfortable buses, base in value-for-money riads, and eat like a local—fresh, simple, and full of character.

Practical notes: The currency is the Moroccan dirham (MAD). Dress modestly in old towns; cards are increasingly accepted but cash is king in markets. Ramadan shifts each year—meals and opening times may adjust. For flights, compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com, and pick up a local SIM at the airport for easy maps and ride-hailing.

Marrakech

Marrakech is a color wheel come to life: terracotta walls, cobalt courtyards, saffron pyramids of spice. Inside the medina, centuries-old fondouks (caravanserais) now house artisans, while the modern quarter of Guéliz offers galleries and breezy cafés.

• Top sights: Jemaa el-Fna square (evening food stalls and performers), Koutoubia Mosque’s minaret, Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Ben Youssef Madrasa, Le Jardin Secret, and the Majorelle Garden with the Yves Saint Laurent Museum.
• Why it’s great on a budget: Walkable core, low-cost riads, street food feasts, and fixed-price buses to the coast and the Atlas foothills.

Where to stay (budget-friendly): Search a wide range of deals on Hotels.com (Marrakech) or apartment-style stays on VRBO (Marrakech). Two wallet-friendly riads with character: Riad Dar Thalge (intimate, great value near the Tanneries) and Riad Les Jardins Mandaline (small pool, rooftop breakfast).

Getting there: Fly into Marrakech Menara (RAK). Compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. From RAK, a taxi to the medina is ~15–20 minutes; ask your riad for a meetup point just inside the walls.

Day 1: Arrival and First Taste of the Medina

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Check in and decompress with mint tea on your riad’s terrace. Walk to Koutoubia’s gardens to get your bearings, then slip into Jemaa el-Fna for your first sensory rehearsal: storytellers, orange juice stands, and the distant drumbeat of Gnawa musicians.

Evening: Budget dinner at Restaurant Toubkal (tagines, brochettes, chermoula fish) right off the square. For a rooftop tea and cinnamon “sellou” dessert with views, try Café des Épices. If you want a traditional scrub without the price tag, Hammam Mouassine offers affordable public hammam hours.

Day 2: Palaces, Tombs, and the Blue Garden

Morning: Tour Bahia Palace (intricate zellige and carved cedar ceilings; ~70 MAD) and the Saadian Tombs (rose-blue tiling; ~70 MAD). Wander the Mellah (Jewish quarter) for spice shops and pickled lemon vendors.

Afternoon: Taxi to the Majorelle Garden (bold blue pavilions and exotic cacti; expect queues; ~150 MAD). The Yves Saint Laurent Museum next door chronicles fashion’s dialogue with Morocco (~150 MAD). Break for a cardamom coffee at Dar el Bacha’s Bacha Coffee—an opulent, historic villa-turned-museum café.

Evening: Feast along Mechoui Alley (slow-roast lamb pulled by hand with cumin and salt). For a sit-down, La Cantine des Gazelles serves filling set menus on a traveler-friendly budget. Nightcap mint tea at Atay Café’s rooftop over the lantern-lit medina.

Day 3: Day Trip to Essaouira (UNESCO Port City)

All day: Swap red walls for sea breeze on a full-day group trip to Essaouira—whitewashed lanes, Portuguese ramparts, and smoky fish grills by the port. Expect and enjoy a stop to see argan goats (seasonal) and an argan women’s cooperative.

Recommended tour: Essaouira day trip from Marrakech

Local tips: Grab an anchovy-and-tomato sardine “kefta” at the port grills, sip almond milk at Pâtisserie Driss, and stroll Skala de la Ville for cannon-lined ocean views. Back in Marrakech by evening, graze the Jemaa el-Fna food stalls—try harira soup and msemen stuffed pancakes.

Day 4: Craft Heritage, Quiet Courtyards, and Modern Guéliz

Morning: Explore Ben Youssef Madrasa (stunning courtyard geometry) and the nearby Maison de la Photographie for early 20th-century images of Morocco. Dive into the souks by theme: dyers’ market for technicolor yarn, Smata for babouche slippers, Haddadine for metalwork.

Afternoon: Pause in Le Jardin Secret—two serene gardens hidden behind walls. Bargain for a simple Berber rug; ask vendors about “kilim” vs “Beni Ourain” to learn before you buy.

Evening: Head to Guéliz for a modern palate: L’Mida (medina outpost) or Plus61 (Australian-Moroccan plates) if you want a splurge; otherwise Café Clock (Marrakech) offers cheap, hearty camel burgers and storytelling nights. Early pack for tomorrow’s coastal leg.

Agadir

Agadir is Morocco’s sun lounge: a sweeping bay, palm-lined promenade, and a gentle pace. Rebuilt after a 1960 earthquake, it has wider streets, bike lanes, and beach cafés—not a maze, but a breather.

• Top picks: Souk El Had (huge local market), Marina restaurants, Kasbah Oufella hilltop (sunset views; cable car available), and nearby surf village Taghazout.
• Why it’s great on a budget: Affordable hotels, seaside snacks, and inexpensive buses to sand dunes for sandboarding adventures.

Where to stay: Compare deals on Hotels.com (Agadir) and apartment stays on VRBO (Agadir). Choose the beachfront strip for sunrise walks or Taghazout for a surfer vibe and cafés perched right over the waves.

Day 5: Marrakech → Agadir, Promenade Strolls and Souk El Had

Morning: Travel day. Take a CTM or Supratours bus from Marrakech to Agadir (~3.5–4 hours, ~110–150 MAD). The ride is comfortable and scenic through argan country. Check in and drop your bags.

Afternoon: Walk the beachfront promenade from the Marina toward the Royal Tennis Club—gold sand, gentle Atlantic swells, and plenty of inexpensive juice bars. Dive into Souk El Had for olives, dates, and saffron; it’s organized by numbered gates so you won’t get lost.

Evening: Dinner by the marina at Pure Passion (crowd favorite for seafood—grilled catch of the day and seafood pastilla). For tighter budgets, hit Port de Pêche grill stalls: pick your fish, weigh, and grill—served with bread, lemon, and heat.

Day 6: Quad Biking and Sandboarding near Taghazout and Tamri

Morning: Kick up some dust along Tamraght’s beach and foothills on a guide-led quad bike route—beginner-friendly, with helmet and intro briefing.

Book it: Agadir or Taghazout : Quad Bike on the Beach and Mountains.

Afternoon: Swap wheels for dunes on a guided sandboarding session near Tamri. It’s a blast and very budget-friendly compared to far-off Sahara trips—ride the board, scramble up, repeat, then sip mint tea in a nearby village.

Book it: Sandboarding guided experience from Agadir

Evening: Bus or taxi up to Taghazout for sunset over Anchor Point, then grab a cheap, fresh seafood plate at Windy Bay or a veggie tajine at Café Mouja. Return to Agadir or overnight in Taghazout if you fancy the surf vibe.

Day 7: Views from Oufella, Brunch, and Departure

Morning: Ride the cable car to Kasbah Oufella for a sweeping view of the bay and the “God, King, Nation” hillside inscription. Snap your final panoramic shots.

Afternoon: Brunch at Café Tafarnout (great for flaky msemen, fresh juices, and omelets). Depart from Agadir–Al Massira (AGA); compare airfares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If flying back via Marrakech, the bus returns in ~4 hours; plan a buffer.

Evening: In transit.

Extra (Optional) Swap: Another Essaouira Hit from Agadir

If you loved Essaouira’s breezy lanes and want another go from your Agadir base (or skipped Day 3), there’s also a budget-friendly day trip from Agadir:

Essaouira day trip from Agadir and Taghazout with hotel pickup

Where to eat and drink (curated budget picks):

• Marrakech breakfast/coffee: Bacha Coffee (oasis for single-origin cups), Henna Café (light bites; supports community programs).
• Marrakech lunch: Snack Adam for grilled chicken and salads; Mechoui Alley for melt-in-your-mouth lamb; Cafe Clock for big plates and storytelling nights.
• Marrakech dinner: La Cantine des Gazelles (value set menus), L’Mida (modern Moroccan on a budget if you skip alcohol), Jemaa el-Fna stall 14 for classic fried fish.
• Agadir breakfast: Café Tafarnout (pastries, msemen, juices).
• Agadir lunch/dinner: Port de Pêche grill stalls (choose-your-fish), Pure Passion (great if you want one “treat” meal), Bab Agadir (simple tagines and couscous).

Getting around and costs at a glance: City taxis are inexpensive—confirm price before you hop in or insist on the meter. Bus Marrakech→Agadir: ~3.5–4 hours, ~110–150 MAD. Sight entries: Bahia ~70 MAD; Saadian ~70 MAD; Majorelle ~150 MAD; YSL Museum ~150 MAD. Street food dinners can be 35–80 MAD; sit-down tagines 60–120 MAD.

In a week you’ll weave from Marrakech’s spice-scented alleys to the Atlantic’s open horizon, with day adventures that keep costs in check and the experiences rich. Bookmark this guide, pack curiosity (and a light scarf), and let Morocco’s color and cadence lead the way.