Things to do · Marrakech
Beyond the medina's palaces and souks, Marrakech is a launchpad for adventure: hot-air balloons drift over the plains at dawn, quads tear across the Palmeraie, and the High Atlas and Agafay Desert sit within easy reach. From relaxing hammams to mountain hikes and design-world museums, here are the activities worth your time.
12 experiences
Steam, a black-soap scrub with a kessa glove and a rinse make up the traditional Moroccan hammam, often followed by an argan-oil massage. Marrakech offers everything from local neighbourhood baths to luxurious riad and hotel spas.
Lift off before sunrise to float over the palm groves, Berber villages and plains north of the city, with the Atlas Mountains catching the first light. Flights usually last around an hour and finish with a Berber breakfast.
Ride quad bikes or off-road buggies through the palm groves, dry riverbeds and rocky tracks of the Palmeraie on the city's northern edge. Half-day outings often pair the drive with a tea stop in a Berber village.
A gentle introduction to dromedary riding among the palms just outside the city, typically a one-to-two-hour loop with a tea break. An easy, family-friendly taste of desert travel without leaving Marrakech.
Roughly 40 minutes from Marrakech, the rocky, lunar-like Agafay Desert hosts camel and quad rides, sunset dinners and stargazing camps. It is the closest desert escape to the city, with the Atlas as a backdrop.
Drive to Imlil, gateway to Mount Toubkal, for guided day hikes through Berber villages, walnut groves and valleys. Routes range from gentle village walks to demanding ascents, all within a couple of hours of the city.
A lush green valley in the foothills of the Atlas, about an hour away, known for its riverside cafes, Setti Fatma waterfalls, Berber markets and argan cooperatives. A popular, easy day escape from the city heat.
Tour Marrakech from the seat of a restored vintage motorcycle sidecar, weaving between the medina ramparts, the Palmeraie and modern Gueliz with a driver-guide. A fun, photogenic way to cover ground the calèches and taxis miss.
The green-painted horse-drawn calèches are a Marrakech institution, departing from Jemaa el-Fna and Place de Foucauld for a circuit around the medina walls, the Menara and the Palmeraie at a relaxed pace.
The cobalt-blue garden created by Jacques Majorelle and restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé is filled with cacti and bamboo. The on-site Berber Museum displays jewellery, textiles and crafts from across Morocco.
Explore the murals of the MB6 Street Art project and the galleries, design shops and cafes of the modern Gueliz and Sidi Ghanem districts. A contemporary counterpoint to the medina for art and design lovers.
Opened in 2017 beside Jardin Majorelle, this striking terracotta-brick museum houses a rotating selection from the designer's archive of garments, sketches and accessories, alongside a bookshop, cafe and exhibition hall.
Hot-air balloon flights at dawn, quad biking in the Palmeraie, and trips to the Agafay Desert and the High Atlas around Imlil are the standout options. Most can be done as a half-day or full-day outing from the city.
The Agafay Desert is about 30 kilometres from Marrakech, roughly a 40-minute drive. Its rocky, stone terrain is not classic Sahara sand dunes, but it offers camel rides, quad tours, dinners and stargazing camps within easy reach of the city.
Yes. A hammam is a centuries-old Moroccan ritual of steam, exfoliation and rinsing, often followed by an argan-oil massage. Options range from inexpensive local baths to luxury spa versions in riads and hotels, making it easy to match any budget.
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