Jemaa el-Fna Square and the Koutoubia
2 hEveryone
Marrakesh's central square, a UNESCO intangible heritage site: juices by day, storytelling circles in the afternoon and food stalls at dusk.
AccessDirect flight from Spain
Best timeMar · Apr · Oct · Nov
Minimum time2 days
PassportValid for more than 6 months
CurrencyDirham, a lot of cash
Overall difficultyEasy, but tiring
Excursions to the Atlas: check the Foreign Ministry's advice first The Foreign Ministry advises against travelling to the provinces of Al Haouz and Taroudant, affected by the 2023 earthquake (advice updated on 9 July 2026). Al Haouz begins on the outskirts of Marrakesh and includes Imlil and Toubkal, so before booking an excursion to the Atlas check on its website where it passes through and whether the advice is still in force.
Mosques cannot be visited. The Koutoubia and the other mosques of Marrakesh are reserved for Muslims. The madrasas and palaces can be visited. At any religious site, shoulders and knees covered.
What to do
What to do in Marrakech
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Medina Souks
2 h 30Without hurry and with cash
A maze of souks north of Jemaa el-Fna, each with its own trade: textiles, copper, babouches, leather, wood and blacksmiths.
Ben Youssef Madrasa
45 minEveryone
Marrakesh's old Quranic school, reopened in 2022: a marble courtyard, stucco and cedar; 50 DH at the ticket office, from 9:00 to 19:00.
Plan the trip
Marrakech, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Marrakech
In spring and in October and November: days of 22 to 28 °C and mild nights. In July and August it often exceeds 38 °C and the medina becomes hard at midday. In winter the days are good, but nights in a riad without heating are cold.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Marrakech your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
The best way to see Marrakesh
The medina is toured on foot and a car only gets in the way. You arrive by plane, take bus 19 or an agreed taxi and do not need wheels again until you leave the city.
70–120 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepA riad inside the medina…
- Getting aroundOn foot through the medina…
- Where to eatJemaa el-Fna stalls at night
- ServicesBus 19 from the airport…
Where to sleep
- A riad inside the medina, near a gate with taxis
- El Fenn or Riad Yasmine, a walk from the souks
Getting around
- On foot through the medina; petit taxi to Majorelle and Gueliz
- ONCF train to Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier and Fez
- Supratours and CTM to Essaouira and Ouarzazate
Where to eat
- Jemaa el-Fna stalls at night
- Terraces on Rahba Kedima at midday
Services
- Bus 19 from the airport to the square
- The riad keeps your luggage on the last day
Palaces with gardens, a step from the square
Marrakesh has some of the most celebrated hotels in Africa. What you pay for is silence, garden and shade five minutes from the noise.
400–1.500 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepLa Mamounia, with its gardens…
- Getting aroundHotel transfer from the airport
- Where to eatLe Marocain, at La Mamounia
- ServicesHammam and spa at the…
Where to sleep
- La Mamounia, with its gardens next to the wall
- Royal Mansour, a private riad for each room
- El Fenn, if you prefer a design riad
Getting around
- Hotel transfer from the airport
- A private driver for the Atlas, Agafay or the south
- An official guide for the medina, half a day
Where to eat
- Le Marocain, at La Mamounia
- Al Fassia, in Gueliz, classic Moroccan cooking
Services
- Hammam and spa at the hotel itself
- Private excursions to Agafay at sunset
Hostel in a riad and dinner in the square
Marrakesh is cheap if you eat where the locals eat and get around on foot. What is expensive are the monument entrances, which add up quickly.
30–45 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepEquity Point Marrakech, a big…
- Getting aroundOn foot through the medina…
- Where to eatChez Lamine's mechoui by weight
- FreeJemaa el-Fna and the souks
Where to sleep
- Equity Point Marrakech, a big hostel with a pool
- Hostel Laksour, small, between the square and the Koutoubia
Getting around
- On foot through the medina; bus 19 from the airport
- Supratours or CTM to Essaouira and the south
- Train to the north, cheaper in second class
Where to eat
- Chez Lamine's mechoui by weight
- Stalls in the square, asking the price first
Free
- Jemaa el-Fna and the souks
- The gardens of the Koutoubia and the Menara
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Marrakech for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Gardens, shade and a pool at the riad
With under-sixes Marrakesh works in short doses: a visit in the morning, a nap at the riad and the square as evening falls. The medina, at that age, tires and overwhelms quickly.
- What works bestMajorelle Garden: flat paths, fish…
- Where to sleepA riad with a pool…
- Where to eatMild tagines, couscous and bread…
- Keep in mindA pushchair is no use…
What works best
- Majorelle Garden: flat paths, fish and shade
- Le Jardin Secret: water, orange trees and benches in the middle of the medina
- Agafay: a short camel ride with an adult alongside and the sunset
Where to sleep
- A riad with a pool or basin, even if it is cold in winter
- A hotel in Gueliz or Hivernage if you need a taxi at the door
Where to eat
- Mild tagines, couscous and bread almost everywhere
- Orange juice from the square's stalls, freshly squeezed
Keep in mind
- A pushchair is no use in the medina: narrow streets, steps and motorbikes; bring a baby carrier
- From June to September midday exceeds 35 °C: nothing in the sun between 12 and 17
- There is no official minimum age for the camel; many operators put small children in front of an adult: ask before booking
What to do with young children
A city enjoyed at two speeds
With children of different ages, alternate: medina and palaces in the morning, garden or pool at midday and the square at night, when it changes completely.
- What works bestJemaa el-Fna at sunset, with…
- Where to sleepA riad with a family…
- Where to eatCafé des Épices, with a…
- Keep in mindPetit taxis carry three passengers…
What works best
- Jemaa el-Fna at sunset, with dinner at a stall
- The Bahia Palace and El Badi, with large courtyards and storks
- The Ourika valley, river and waterfalls an hour and a half away
Where to sleep
- A riad with a family room near a gate with taxis
- A hotel with a pool in Gueliz if you travel in summer
Where to eat
- Café des Épices, with a terrace and simple dishes
- The numbered stalls in the square: choose one with lots of locals
Keep in mind
- Petit taxis carry three passengers at most; with five, two taxis or a grand taxi
- In the Ourika the waterfall trail has rocks: closed shoes
- Fake guides address the parents: a "no, thank you" and keep going
What to do as a family
Haggling, getting lost and seeing the desert from afar
To a teenager Marrakesh gives something they don't have at home: the souk as a haggling game, the square at night and the feeling of being very far away two hours by plane.
- What works bestThe souks, with a budget…
- Where to sleepA riad with a rooftop…
- Where to eatChez Lamine's mechoui, by weight…
- Keep in mindPalaces get boring if you…
What works best
- The souks, with a budget in dirhams and permission to haggle
- Agafay, camel and sunset facing the Atlas
- The terraces of El Badi, with the whole medina below
Where to sleep
- A riad with a rooftop, where they can spend the afternoon
- Equity Point, if they already travel with some independence
Where to eat
- Chez Lamine's mechoui, by weight and with your hands
- The square at night, trying stall after stall
Keep in mind
- Palaces get boring if you string them together: one a day is enough
- In the square, beware of charges for photos of musicians and animals
- The phone loses signal in the medina: agree a fixed meeting point
What to do with teenagers
Where to stay
Where to stay without a carin styleif you're backpacking
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
La Mamounia
Why we like it: The city's great historic hotel, up against the wall. You walk out to the Koutoubia and come back to a garden of olive and orange trees.
Royal Mansour Marrakech
Why we like it: Every room is a three-storey riad with its own rooftop. For when the trip is the celebration.
El Fenn
Why we like it: A large riad full of colour and art, five minutes from the square and with a gate that taxis can reach.
Riad Yasmine
Why we like it: A small riad with a green pool in the courtyard. Quiet, away from the noise of the square and a walk from everything.
Equity Point Marrakech
Why we like it: A big hostel inside a riad, near the square. It is hard to find the first time: let them know if you arrive at night.
Hostel
Hostel Laksour
Why we like it: Small and central, in the Laksour district, between the square and the Koutoubia.
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Medina | First visit, everything on foot, riads | €€ |
| Kasbah and Mellah | Near the palaces, quieter | €€ |
| Gueliz and Hivernage | Taxi to enter the medina, hotels with pool and parking | €€€ |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Marrakech
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Café des Épices
What to order: a spiced coffee or a salad on the rooftop.
Terrace over the spice square · a good option for breakfast · no booking
Nomad
What to order: Agadir squid with cumin or the crunchy cauliflower and fennel salad, on the rooftop.
Open every day from 12:00 to 23:00 · book if you want the rooftop at sunset
Al Fassia Gueliz
What to order: pigeon pastilla, tagine or couscous, after the Moroccan starters they serve at the beginning.
Run by women since 1987 · book · closed Tuesdays
Le Marocain, at La Mamounia
What to order: the traditional Moroccan cooking of chef Rachid Agouray, for a special night.
One of the hotel's four restaurants · book
Takeaway and markets
Chez Lamine Hadj Mustapha, Medina, Souk Ablouh
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Marrakech
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Go out early and rest at midday
The palaces open in the morning and at nine there are few people. From two to five, riad and pool, especially from May to September.
- 2Ask the taxi price before getting in
Petit taxis have meters, but many do not switch them on. Ask for it or agree the price before setting off.
- 3Go to the square twice
In the morning there are juices and little life. From sunset it fills with food stalls, musicians and storytellers.
- 4Carry small notes
They will ask you for change everywhere. The 20 and 50 dirham notes solve almost everything.
- 5Beware of Fridays and Ramadan
On Friday at midday, prayer time, some souk businesses close. In Ramadan, expected from 8 February to 9 March 2027, many medina restaurants open only at night.
Local tip
Book the riad inside the medina, but near a gate that taxis can reach, such as Bab Laksour or Bab Doukkala. Arriving at night with suitcases through alleys is the worst of the first day.
We'd skip it
Photos with chained monkeys and snake charmers in the square. They will charge you for each photo, sometimes without asking, and the animals do not have a good time.
How do you get there from Spain?
The most practical way is by plane: there are direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and other cities, with Ryanair, Vueling and Royal Air Maroc, of about two hours. Marrakesh-Menara airport is about 6 km from the medina; bus 19 drops you at Jemaa el-Fna for about 30 dirhams.
If you prefer the ferry, the Tarifa to Tangier Ville ferry takes around an hour and the Algeciras to Tangier Med one an hour and a half. From Tangier, the Al Boraq high-speed train reaches Casablanca in a little over two hours and there you connect with the conventional train to Marrakesh. Count on a whole day of travel.
You need a passport: the national ID card is not valid. The Foreign Ministry asks that it be valid for more than six months on entry. No visa is needed for tourist stays of up to 90 days (checked in November 2026).
What is the medina like?
A walled labyrinth where cars cannot enter but motorbikes can, and very fast. You get around on foot. The main streets have names; the side streets do not, and your phone often loses its way. Have your riad marked on an offline map.
You will be offered help non-stop: "the square is that way", "that's closed today", "I'll walk with you". These are the fake guides. They are not dangerous, but they end up asking for money or taking you to a shop. A calm "no, thank you" and carrying on walking is enough. If you want a guide, make sure they are official and accredited, and hire them through the riad.
Money, haggling and tips
The currency is the dirham (MAD) and it cannot be obtained outside Morocco: withdraw from cash machines in the city or change euros on arrival. Hotels and restaurants of a certain standard accept cards; the souks, taxis, stalls and many entrances, cash only. In the souks you always haggle, without hurry and with good humour. If you are not interested in something, don't ask the price. Tipping is customary: about 10% in restaurants and coins of 10 or 20 dirhams for small services.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a passport to go to Marrakesh?
Yes. The national ID card does not allow entry to Morocco. The passport must be valid for more than six months on arrival. No visa is needed for tourism of up to 90 days.
How many days do you need?
Three nights for the medina, the palaces and Majorelle without rushing. Five if you want a day trip to the Atlas or the Agafay desert.
Can you pay by card?
In hotels, good restaurants and shops in Gueliz, yes. In the souk, taxis, the square's stalls and many entrances, cash only.
Is it safe?
It is a very touristy city with a lot of police. What bothers people are fake guides, charges for photos and the odd bag-snatch in the square at night. Carry your phone and wallet inside your clothes.
Can non-Muslims enter the Koutoubia?
No. The Koutoubia, like almost all the mosques in Morocco, is reserved for Muslims. You see it from outside and from its gardens.
How should I dress?
Light clothing that covers shoulders and knees is the most comfortable and least conspicuous in the medina. In hotels and by the pool, as anywhere.
How long does it take to the Merzouga desert?
It is about 550 km and between 9 and 10 hours by car over the Tizi n'Tichka pass. It is not a day trip: it is three days minimum.