Marrakech

The Red City — vibrant medinas, Jemaa el-Fnaa square, luxury riads.

Marrakech is Morocco's red-walled southern capital and the starting point for most Sahara journeys. Behind the ramparts, the UNESCO-listed medina packs Jemaa el-Fnaa square, the Koutoubia minaret, the Bahia Palace and maze-like souks; outside the walls, the Majorelle Garden's cobalt blue and the Menara's reflecting pool give the city room to breathe. Give it two full days — one for the medina on foot, one for palaces, gardens and a hammam — because day trips into the High Atlas (Ourika, Imlil) start here as well. Practically, Marrakech is where Morocco Grand Adventure desert tours depart: the Tizi n'Tichka crossing toward Aït Ben Haddou and Merzouga begins at your riad door.

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Marrakech in Pictures

Local life in the Marrakech medina — residents, cats, and a market vendor in narrow alleys
Authentic scenes of daily life in the winding alleys of the Marrakech medina.
Local man riding a motorbike through a stone archway in the old Marrakech medina
A local rider passes beneath a historic stone archway in the Marrakech medina.
Crowds and food stalls filling Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech at night, the Koutoubia minaret beyond
Jemaa el-Fna at night — food stalls, music and crowds.
The green-tiled Menara pavilion reflected in its basin with the Atlas behind, Marrakech
The Menara pavilion and its reflecting pool, with the Atlas beyond.

Marrakech through our lens

Crowds and food stalls filling Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech at night, the Koutoubia minaret beyond
Jemaa el-Fna at night — food stalls, music and crowds.
The green-tiled Menara pavilion reflected in its basin with the Atlas behind, Marrakech
The Menara pavilion and its reflecting pool, with the Atlas beyond.
Intricately carved muqarnas cedar ceiling of a Moroccan palace
A muqarnas cedar ceiling — zellij and carved plaster around it.
Riad breakfast table with msemen flatbread, hand-painted ceramic tagine servers and coffee
A riad breakfast — msemen and painted ceramic tagine servers.
Waiter in a green djellaba and red tarbouche presenting a full spread of Moroccan dishes on a round riad table
Fine Moroccan dining — a full spread served in a riad.
Guests sharing a glass of mint tea across a richly laid riad dining table
Sharing mint tea — the ritual of Moroccan hospitality.
Woman holding a gift box of assorted Moroccan pastries — almond, coconut and sesame sweets
A gift box of Moroccan pastries — almond, coconut and honey.
Baskets of olives and preserved lemons on a Moroccan market stall
Olives and preserved lemons — staples of the Moroccan larder.
Vegetable tagine steaming in its conical clay pot
A vegetable tagine, cooked slowly in its conical pot.
Moroccan mezze spread with dips, couscous and tagine dishes on a wooden table
A mezze spread with couscous and tagine.
Tagine and cooked salads served in small clay bowls on a Moroccan table
Cooked salads and tagine served in clay bowls.

Taste of Marrakech

Spice and herb stall lit by warm lamps in a Moroccan market at night
A spice and herb stall under the lamps of a night market.

Things to do in Morocco

Private tours from Marrakech

15 tours