3 Days in Marrakech, Morocco

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Day 2 in Marrakech

In the new town is Jardin Majorelle – a gorgeous garden once owned by Yves San Lauren. It’s a complete contrast to the Medina and very peaceful. I recommend heading here first thing in the morning and spending an hour or so wandering the gardens. It opens at 8:30am (except for during Ramadan when it opens later).

Enjoy lunch near Jardin Majorelle (there is a cafe inside the gardens or a few nice restaurants nearby).  Then take a taxi back to the Medina to Ben Youssef Madrasa. This beautiful building was once an Islamic college. It is named after the Almoravid sultan Ali ibn Yusuf.

The Photography Museum is close to Ben Youssef and displays some great photographs of Marrakech 100 years ago, as well as some old footage. It also has a lovely roof terrace with great views of the Medina rooftops.

Day 3 in Marrakech

If you’re a food fan, you can take a cooking course in Marrakech. Most classes, like this one, involve a trip to the souk to buy ingredients, followed by a lesson on how to make traditional Moroccan dishes like tagine at the host’s house. This was a highlight of the trip for me and a good excuse to buy a tagine pot to take home from the souk!

Save some time during your trip to relax by the pool. Many riads have their own swimming pools, but if not, you can often pay a fee to visit one of the other hotels. I had a day at the Mandarin Oriental, which was lovely and spent quite a bit of time enjoying the little pools at my riad too – especially after a long day wandering the Medina!

More Than 3 Days In Marrakech?

If you have time, there are plenty of great day trips from Marrakech. The Atlas Mountains are about an hour and a half drive and are a popular day trip destination, often combined with a visit to the Agafay Desert.

You can also take a day trip to Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate. Numerous high-profile movies were shot here, including Gladiator, Kingdom Of Heaven and The Mummy

If you have one week in Morocco, then I also recommend adding Essaouira and Fes to your itinerary.

Where to Stay in Marrakech

Most travellers head to the Medina – Marrakech’s iconic walled town in the centre of the city. This Unesco World Heritage site is a maze of winding streets and souks (markets) centred around the famous Djemaa el Fnaa – the main square.

Within the Medina, there are numerous riad hotels. Riads are traditional Moroccan houses with a courtyard in the centre. I would definitely recommend staying in a riad to get a more Moroccan experience. Many are locally owned and run and they are a peaceful escape from the bustling Medina.

I stayed at Riad Kheirredine, which was fantastic. It’s a gorgeous place with lovely staff, who offer to walk you to and from the riad so you don’t get lost in the Medina! Read more about Riad Khierredine here.

If you are spending more than 3 days in Marrakech and fancy something a little bigger for a bit of relaxation time, there are some excellent resorts on the outskirts of the city, such as The Mandarin Oriental, which is incredibly beautiful, with landscaped gardens, lakes and an amazing pool.

Find accommodation in Marrakech

Where to Eat in Marrakech

Djemaa El Fnaa is the central square in Marrakech and is full of stalls selling local food at very reasonable prices. They will all try and get you to eat at their stall, claiming it’s the best, but I think the quality is pretty similar at all of them. It’s a very fun and friendly atmosphere and the food was pretty good – a great selection of couscous, salads, and tagines.

Another nice spot, in particular for lunch is the Marrakech Henna Art Café. This is just off the main square and serves some great Moroccan-style dishes, with lots of veggie and healthy options. They also have very talented henna artists, so you can get a tattoo after your meal!

If you want something a bit more upmarket, then the restaurant at Dar Las Cigognes is excellent. They offer a delicious menu of Moroccan and Mediterranean dishes and often have visiting chefs. The food was delicious and it is a beautiful setting in a riad next to the Royal Palace.

How to Get There/Getting Around

There is plenty to see and do in Marrakech, and it’s easy to walk around the Medina. If you can’t take the heat for too long there are lots of cheap taxis. North West of the Medina is the new town, which is around a half an hour walk, or 10 minutes in a taxi. The airport is located southwest of the Medina and there are daily flights from London with BA, Ryanair and Easyjet. From here you can take local buses for 30 Dirhams into the Medina, or alternatively, most hotels offer a transfer service. There is also a taxi rank outside the airport, but it’s worth negotiating your fare before you get in.

What to Pack for a Trip to Marrakech

Morocco is a Muslim country, so make sure you pack long sleeves and long skirts for wandering the public areas (many people don’t, but it’s more respectful to the locals if you do and they will appreciate it). I bought a couple of maxi skirts and blouses, which were perfect for the trip. And there are plenty of harem pants to buy in the Souks too.

I enjoyed my long weekend in Marrakech, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. Visiting during Ramadan meant that a few places were closed but it was also good in other ways as the souks were quieter than usual and more relaxed. The trip has inspired me to see more of Morocco and I’ve added Essaouira, Chefchouen and Fes to the bucket list!

Travelling to Marrakech? Check out our hotel review of Riad Kheirredine.