The short answer
They suit different days. Jardin Majorelle is the famous cobalt-blue garden in Gueliz, with timed tickets, crowds and two museums next door. Le Jardin Secret is a quieter restored riad garden inside the medina, an easy pause during a souk morning. With time for one, choose Majorelle for the icon and Jardin Secret for calm.
In more detail
Majorelle needs planning. Tickets are timed and sold only on the official site, it is a taxi ride outside the medina, and the best slot is the first of the day. Allow 45 to 60 minutes for the garden, or two to three hours with the Berber museum and the Musée Yves Saint Laurent.
Le Jardin Secret needs almost none. It is about 10 minutes' walk north of Jemaa el-Fnaa in Mouassine, and you can walk in at midday when the souks are at their busiest. Allow about 45 minutes, and climb the tower if the sky is clear.
Many visitors do both on different days: Majorelle early on a Gueliz morning, and Le Jardin Secret in the middle of a medina day.
Good to know
- Book Majorelle ahead; Le Jardin Secret rarely needs it.
- Do Majorelle early and Jardin Secret at midday.
- Remember the YSL museum closes on Wednesdays.