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15 best things to do in Marrakech (local guide)

By Editorial team · Thursday, 15 October 2026 · 2 min read
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Marrakech packs more into a few square kilometres than most cities do in a whole country. Here is what we recommend, from the medina to the desert on its doorstep.

In the medina

  1. Walk the souks with a guide. The lanes north of Jemaa el-Fna are easy to get lost in. A first visit with a licensed guide shows you the spice, leather and metalwork souks and the old caravan inns. Book a medina walking tour.
  2. Jemaa el-Fna at sunset. Watch the square fill with food stalls, musicians and storytellers from a rooftop café.
  3. Ben Youssef Madrasa for its carved cedar and zellige tiles.
  4. Take a hammam. A traditional steam, black soap and scrub is the best way to recover after a day of walking. See hammam experiences.
  5. Learn to cook a tagine in a riad kitchen after shopping at the market. Cooking class.

Just outside the city

  1. Dinner in the Agafay desert. Forty minutes away, the stone desert of Agafay has camps with quads, camel rides and dinner shows. Our most booked experience is the Agafay combo.
  2. Hot air balloon at sunrise over the palm groves. Balloon flights.
  3. Buggy or quad in the Palmeraie. Buggy tours.

Day trips

  1. Atlas Mountains and the Ourika valley – waterfalls, Berber villages and tea with a family. Atlas day trip.
  2. Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. Essaouira day trip.
  3. Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate, the kasbahs you have seen in films.
  4. The Sahara at Merzouga – needs at least 3 days. 3-day desert tour.

Practical tips

  • Getting around: taxis are cheap, but agree the price first. A private airport transfer avoids haggling on arrival.
  • Best time: March–May and October–November. Summer afternoons go above 40 °C.
  • Money: the dirham (MAD) is a closed currency; ATMs are everywhere in the city.

See all things to do in Marrakech.

15 best things to do in Marrakech (local guide) | Rihla