Marrakech Gardens: The Best Gardens to Visit
For all its heat and noise, Marrakech is a city of gardens — a tradition that runs from the vast Almohad-era olive groves and royal orchards to the painter's studio garden that Yves Saint Laurent later saved.
10 experiences
Marrakech Gardens: what to know
For all its heat and noise, Marrakech is a city of gardens — a tradition that runs from the vast Almohad-era olive groves and royal orchards to the painter's studio garden that Yves Saint Laurent later saved. They offer shade, birdsong and a slower rhythm a few minutes from the souks. Here are the gardens worth your time, from cobalt-blue Majorelle to a hidden medina riad and a contemporary art garden out beyond the walls.
- 01
Jardin Majorelle
Garden
Created over decades by French painter Jacques Majorelle and later bought and restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge, this is Marrakech's most famous garden. Cacti, bamboo, palms and water channels surround a studio painted in the intense cobalt now known as Majorelle Blue. It is in Gueliz, a short taxi ride from the medina, and gets busy — early morning is calmest.
- 02
Berber Museum (at Jardin Majorelle)
Museum
Inside Majorelle's former studio, the Berber Museum displays jewellery, textiles, weapons and craft objects from across Morocco's Amazigh regions. It sits within the Jardin Majorelle grounds and makes a natural pairing with a visit to the garden.
- 03
Musee Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech
Museum
A short walk from the Jardin Majorelle, the mYSLm is a purpose-built museum devoted to the designer's work, with a permanent collection drawn from his Paris archives plus temporary exhibitions. Combined tickets with the garden are available, and the two together make an easy half-day in Gueliz.
- 04
Le Jardin Secret
Garden
A restored riad complex in the heart of the medina on Rue Mouassine, Le Jardin Secret pairs a formal Islamic-style garden with a more exotic planting, fed by an original khettara underground irrigation system. A tower can be climbed for rooftop views over the old city, and a cafe overlooks the courtyards.
- 05
Menara Gardens
Garden
These historic olive groves, laid out under the Almohad dynasty in the 12th century, are arranged around a large reflecting basin and a green-tiled pavilion, with the Atlas Mountains framed behind on clear days. The grounds are a popular spot with local families and are free to enter, west of the medina.
- 06
Agdal Gardens
Garden
South of the royal palace, the Agdal Gardens are a vast historic expanse of orchards and olive groves dating to the Almohad period, watered by old basins and channels. As part of the historic medina they are a UNESCO-listed site; access can be restricted when the royal household is in residence, so check before making a special trip.
- 07
ANIMA Garden (Andre Heller)
Garden
Designed by Austrian artist Andre Heller, ANIMA is a contemporary art garden roughly half an hour from the city on the road towards Ourika. Winding paths lead through bold planting and surreal sculptures and artworks, with Atlas views and a cafe. A shuttle runs from central Marrakech; it works well combined with a trip towards the Ourika Valley.
- 08
Cyber Parc (Arsat Moulay Abdeslam)
Park
This historic public park between Gueliz and the medina, near the Koutoubia, dates back centuries as a royal orchard and was restored as the Arsat Moulay Abdeslam. Shaded walkways, fountains and free entry make it a handy green shortcut and a quiet break right by the busy avenues.
- 09
Koutoubia Gardens
Garden
The formal gardens around the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque are open to all, with rose beds, orange trees and clipped hedges beneath the city's defining minaret. While the prayer hall is reserved for worshippers, the surrounding gardens are a calm, free place to sit, especially at golden hour.
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Riad Courtyard Gardens
Garden
Beyond the public gardens, the traditional riad — a house built around an interior courtyard garden — is the original Marrakech garden. Many riads centre on a small planted courtyard with citrus trees, a fountain and tilework, and several open their cafes or restaurants to non-guests, letting you experience this private garden tradition over a mint tea.
Marrakech Gardens: FAQ
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