Marrakech in 3 Days: An Itinerary for Marrakech
Marrakech, also known as Morocco’s red city, is the fourth biggest city of the country and one of the top cities to visit in Morocco. No matter if you are going there for a city trip or as a part of a Morocco road trip – the vibrant old town of Marrakech (Medina) will enchant you, that’s for sure. Enjoy the unique flair of the famous Djemaa el Fna square and watch the snake charmers’, acrobats’ and drummers’ show. Drink delicious mint tea inside the oriental Medina and explore Marrakech`s Old Town which is fully packed with history and culture. Don`t mind getting lost, there is a surprise around each corner. 3 Days in Marrakech is the perfect amount of time to explore all the best sights and places of this magical destination.
In this itinerary for Marrakesh you are going to read more about the most amazing things to see and the best sights that shouldn`t be missed. On top, we are going to provide you with some useful tips and hotel recommendations for your next city trip to Marrakech. Follow the itinerary to get the most out of your stay!
So let`s explore Marrakech! Here is our itinerary for 3 days in Marrakech.
Day 1 in Marrakech
The Medina – Old town Marrakech
The ancient walled old town named Medina is a narrow labyrinthine of alleys and oriental souks. Beneath each corner there is something interesting to see – so don`t mind getting lost. The medina is really mysterious, a bit noisy, with lots of hustle and bustle and so wonderful colorful and exotic. Full with history and culture, strolling around in is like stepping back in time and also many of the top sights of Marrakech are located inside the Medina. Getting lost inside the medina is the best start to explore the city.
El Badi Palace
Our first stop was the El-Badi Palast, an ancient ruined palace built at the end of the sixteenth century. We walked through the vast courtyard with its huge pools and the sunken gardens, where orange trees were blooming. Our Tip: When you climb up the ruined ramparts of the palace, you will get the most wonderful view of the medina on the one side and on the other side of the palace with the Atlas Mountain in the background.
Place des Ferblantiers
On your Way to El-Badi Palace and Bahia Palace you are likely to cross this place. There are some great shops selling traditional Moroccan hand crafts, souvenirs and aromatic spices. There is not too much hassle and we were amazed by all the beautiful Moroccan lamps!
Bahia Palace
Not getting enough of exploring Marrakesh best sights, we went to the famous Bahia-Palace. The palace means „The Beautiful“ – and it’s truly an architectural beauty! For sure you will love the stunning mosaics and fascinating history about the palace of a former Grand Vizier. The Bahia Palace should not be missed – it’s a main attraction of Marrakesh.
Djemaa el Fna & the Snake Charmers
Visiting the Djemaa el Fna was quite an adventure! At daytime it’s the home of the Snake Charmers, Water Sellers, Story Tellers, and Henna Makers – at night the food stalls open and you will smell the delicious Moroccan cuisine.
It’s best to watch the goings-on at the sunset from one of the terrace cafes while enjoying a mint tea.
An amazing viewpoint you will find at the Le Grand Balcon Cafe Glacier!
Day 2 in Marrakech
Jardin Majorelle – Majorelle Garden
The next day we left the medina to visit the Jardin Majorelle, but even though we arrived earlier, there were lots of people who were waiting to see the gardens. No wonder, it’s the most visited site in Morocco.
The Garden is just beautiful, a little oasis in the middle of the chaotic city. 300 different exotic plants, pretty fountains, cobalt blue colored bridges and buildings- this lovely place offers some fantastic photo motifs! Visiting the Majorelle Garden was our highlight of all the 3 days in Marrakesh!
Souks of Marrakech
The souks of Marrakesh are also located inside of the medina. We wandered around for a while just watching the ongoing spectacle, even if you are not up to buying something, it’s a great experience: The mixture of the smell of spices with the fume of the motorbikes, the butcher selling his meat next to the pottery stall, the shouts of the shop holders – donkey wagons on the buzzling tiny streets.
Our Tip: Try to bargain and never take the first price. You can bargain up to 1/3 of the first price!
Koutoubia Mosque
Nearby the Souks and just next to Djemaa el Fna, you will find the Koutoubia Mosque- Marrakesh largest Mosque. This eye-catching building, the minaret is built about 70 meters from the ground, is surrounded by a beautiful huge garden area. The mosque is closed for Non-Muslims, but can be visited with guided tours.
Day 3 in Marrakech
Medersa Ben Youssef & Dar Bellarj
The last day of our stay in Marrakech, we got up early again to make the most of the day. First, we visited the Medersa Ben Youssef, a historic Islamic school. This magnificent building with its stuccowork and wood carving is a must see in Marrakesh. Take your time to explore this masterpiece! We stayed there quite a long time to enjoy the incredible architecture and the stuccowork. Our tip for photographers: for good shots, it’s better to come early in the morning.
Menara Gardens
After some refreshing orange juice, we went to see the Menara Gardens. It’s a lovely place to see. We rounded the big pool and watched the locals enjoying their day. Some children jumped into the water, some guys played guitar and families were having picnicks. It was really relaxing and different from the hectic city life in the old town of Marrakesh. Entrance to the gardens is free but it’s located a bit outside so you have to go by taxi.
New Town
Actually, the new city of Marrakech is really cool and modern and a contrast to the old city. It’s very new and modern with plenty of shops like H&M, Zara, Starbuck and McDonalds there. Our Tip: Get some delicious ice-cream from the famous 16 Cafe – it’s known to serve the best desserts in town!
What to eat/drink in Marrakech
We loved to eat Moroccan food, the tajines are delicious. Tajine is a traditional meal, named after the special pot in which it is cooked. Try the kefta tajine (meatballs in an egg and tomato sauce) and the lemon tajine (chicken, olives and citrus fruits). And what to drink: Mint tea! Green tea, blended with fresh mint and plenty of sugar. And freshly squeezed orange juice – it’s best in Morocco!
Where to stay in Marrakech
Riad Dar Fangui was actually a good choice for starting our Morocco trip. It’s located in the center, with a nice rooftop terrace, charming rooms and a budget price. After checking in, our host served us some delicious traditional mint tea – we immediately felt welcome. The terrace had a fantastic view to the roofs and the nearby Moulay El yazid Mosque, so we stayed there for a while just to relax.
NOTE: Fresh mint tea is the welcome drink in Morocco –and it’s a part of the Moroccan hospitality.
The Riad Irene is a real oasis in this chaotic city – it was so calm and peaceful. Actually it is our favorite hotel in Marrakesh. Incredibly, there’s a big banana tree growing from just inside this place! The rooms are just beautiful with lot of details and the rooftop terrace was really cozy. Pascal and Irene, the hosts, were just amazing, providing useful information and insider tips of Marrakesh to their guests. Every morning we were spoiled with a fantastic breakfast – with freshly squeezed orange juice, yoghurt, cake and delicious milk coffee.
PlacesOfJuma – Insider Tips Marrakesh
- Where to stay in Marrakesh: Choose one of the typical Moroccan style riads – there is a wide range of different types in all price classes.
- Negotiate prices: Try to bargain – never take the first price. You can bargain up to 1/3 of the first price! You should bargain in souks and with the taxi prices
- Avoid Ramadan: most restaurants and lots of shops will be closed at daytime.
- Best travel time Morocco: Spring and autumn are the most popular times to visit. The weather is the most pleasant at this time.
- Best views of Marrekesh: Visit one of the rooftop cafes at the Djemaa el Fna!
- Photography: Marrakech is a great place for photography – but at the Djemaa el Fna you have to pay for taking pics with the snake charmers or other artists.
- European food: If you fancy eating some European food you should visit the New City of Marrakesh. There you can find pizza, ice-cream, burger and lots of different stores.
- Shopping in Marrakesh: There are huge souks inside of the Medina, where you can buy spices and morocccan souvenir. The big shopping malls are located in the New City.
- Parking Marrakech: There are no parking possibilities inside the Medina, so we picked up our rental car the next day and started with our Morocco round trip. (Read more > Morocco roadtrip)
- ATP-Tournament Grand Prix Hassan II takes place each year in March – for more information you can visit the ATP-Homepage.
Read more about Morocco:
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2 Weeks in Morocco: A perfect Road Trip Itinerary
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15 Best Things to do in Morocco – Ultimate Travel Guide
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Best Things to do in Essaouira | Morocco
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Dades Gorge and the winding road in Morocco
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Best things to do in Fez
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Ait-Ben-Haddou: Guide for Morocco’s famous Ksar
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Sahara Desert Morocco: Camel trekking, Tours and Camping
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Tinghir Oasis and the spectacular Todra Gorge
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. Meaning that if you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
1 Comment
Hi Juma, I highly appreciate your post about Marrakech, I have been travelling quite a few times in Morocco years ago, so most places are familiar but you have a really sympathetic way of describing stuff, great photos and of course I learned a thing or two as well. Can’t wait to get back and look forward to photograph my first wedding in Morocco. Maybe I should add that I’m a destination wedding photographer. 🙂 I’ll follow your blog and Instagram from now on, many thanks for your beautiful and helpful work!
Many greetings from Berlin
Mike Bielski
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