Best 6 Marrakech Activities

What to do: the best city tour in Marrakech

Known as the Red City, Marrakech is the most famous city in Morocco and for good reasons! As Africa’s first capital of culture, the city abounds with museums, great restaurants, and impressive and detailed architecture, which provides the ideal setting for unrestrained and adventurous exploration. Here is my Green Wanderlust take on the best marrakech activities while in this beautiful city, hope you enjoy!

1) Marrakech activities // Take a hot air balloon in Marrakech

Whether you have never been in a hot air balloon, or whether you are a seasoned rider, a hot air balloon ride over the Moroccan countryside is an absolute must-do! This experience was my first hot air balloon ride ever, and I absolutely loved it. The sunrise was peaceful and quiet, and from the sky, I could see all the way to the Atlas Mountains and the desert. The flight lasted about thirty minutes and after that, a delicious breakfast was served by the fire. The hot air balloon ride in Marrakech also included our hotel pick-up and drop-off.

Check out our booking HERE

Green Wanderlust Advice—take an extra couple minutes of research to make sure the company with which you chose to fly also supports the development and local economy of the villages over which they fly.

2) Marrakech activities // Jardin Majorelle

Looking for a peaceful green escape? The Jardin Majorelle is a delightful two and a half acre botanical landscape garden created by the French Orientalist artist, Jacques Majorelle. Famous for its signature blue buildings and extensive plant collection, the property was purchased by Yves Saint Laurent in the 1980s and is now open to the public. The gardens also host more than fifteen North African endemic bird specie, it has many fountains and a notable collection of cacti. Buy the tickets online and you will be able to cut the lines!

marrakech activities: Also a beautiful place for photos

marrakech activities: In the Jardin Majorelle

4) Marrakech activities // El Badi Palace

Another one of the must-see and do Marrakech activities is going to the Badi Palace. Built in the 16th century by a prominent sultan, the name of this famous palace can roughly be translated to the incomparable palace. Having been stripped of all its golden artifacts by the sultan’s successor, Badi is more of a magnificent ruin than a palace but it remains one of the most famous sights in Marrakech. I would allow for an hour or two to visit and enjoy the grounds which include some lovely views of the city and an extensive collection of colorful tiles.

5) Marrakech activities // Jemaa el-Fna Square

Each day, by mid-morning, the square wakes up and begins buzzing with life. From market stalls to typical Moroccan food displays, the square becomes a dazzling carnival of life and trade. One of the best ways to enjoy the chaos of the Jemaa el-Fna Square while not engaging directly in the madness is from one of its surrounding rooftop cafes, sipping on mint tea. My personal favorite is Café de France.

marrakech activities: View from one of the rooftop cafe surrounding the plaza

Green Wanderlust Advice—there is a dark side to Marrakech, and especially to the Jemaa el-Fna Square. You might notice monkeys kept in cages or on leashes, snake charmers and other non-ethical animal enslavement practices. So if you are offered to have your photo taken with a vulture or a monkey on your shoulder, be sure to refuse kindly and walk away. The less we engage in these practices, the less common they will become! Check out this article if you would like to know more about ethical wildlife tourism.

3) Marrakech activities // Souk Semmarine

As an integral part of any Marrakech city tour, you need walkthrough Souk Semmarine, it simply is the heartbeat of Marrakech. Located just north of the city’s main square, Jemaa el-Fna, this souk promises a sensory overload. The combination of sounds, smells, and sights will leave you feeling mesmerized. The largest souk district in the whole of Morocco, these trading grounds have been in use for a thousand years already, and to the exception of the packaging and production, the items displayed are very similar to that being sold and used hundreds of years ago.

Green Wanderlust Advice—regarding shopping, if you are intending on making purchases while traveling in Morocco, I do recommend you to do the bulk of it while in Fès. The overall ambiance and prices are far better than in Marrakech. However, if you do decide to shop in Marrakech, make sure you haggle and stand your ground! I know it can be intimidating and somewhat exhausting if haggling is not in your habits, but it is an integral part of the Moroccan shopping culture.

Marrakech activities: The busy streets of the colorful souk

6) Marrakech activities // Maison de la Photography

Last but not least, another one of the great Marrakech activities is visiting la Maison de la Photography. The story goes that when Patrick Menac’h and Hamid Mergani both realized they were both collecting vintage Moroccan photographs, they decided to join their collections and open a museum. Together they joined over four thousand photographs dating from 1870 to 1950. After your visit, you can head up to the rooftop terrace for a coffee or a pot of mint tea.

If you’d like to find more inspiration for your Morocco trip, check out my full Morocco 10 days itinerary HERE.