You might be thinking to yourself, is one day in Marrakech really enough?
Well if you’re not a lover of manic cities, and prefer to see the sights and move on, then yes! Actually, we are kind of like that with cities, and with Marrakech city, you can really see most of the best spots in one day.
If you’re short on time, then this one day Marrakech Itinerary will work well for you too!
So let’s delve right into it.
When we visited Marrakech for one day, we created an easy sort of sightseeing loop that took around 1-2 hours of walking, but honestly didn’t feel long and we had an awesome time.
If you’ve only one one day in Marrakech, then I suggest you stick to this loop, and if you’ve got some extra time, I’ll add in a few extra spots that you could include.
This one day Marrakech itinerary is assuming you’ll be starting your day near or at the Jama El Fana Square which is probably the most famous square in Marrakech city centre.
The Koutoubia Mosque is a feature of the Marrakech skyline.
It’s iconic, beautiful and a really nice place to visit.
You cannot enter unless you are Muslim and praying, but can wander outside and relax in the beautiful gardens that surround it.
The gardens are actually a wonderful tranquil oasis and is a very “red city”.
There are fountains, benches to read a book and people constantly selling mint tea (otherwise known as Moroccan whisky! :P) in case you get thirsty.
A perfect start on your Marrakech itinerary.
The next stop on your one day itinerary in Marrakech is the unique Saadian Tombs.
Now if you’ve been to Egypt and seen some of the tombs there (as Bradley has), then this not be as impressive.
However, if you read the story and history on the tombs, then it’s actually quite interesting.
It’s a relatively small complex and it doesn't take too long to get around (unless you’re going to queue for certain photos). I would say 20-25 minutes is enough time there.
Entrance fee: 80 Dirham each
This is my favourite spot in all of Marrakech and a must see on your Marrakech itinerary.
The Badii Palace ruins have a really cool history, and I’m not going to go into it here, because you can read all about it when you visit.
When you enter you will first head “underground” to where the servants operated and it’s been turned into a “photography” based museum.
Afterwards you’ll head upstairs and admire the amazing palace grounds, including one of the biggest remains of a swimming pool ever.
The area has lots of beautiful orange trees and if you head to the roof top you’ll get amazing views over Marrakech city.
This is such a beautiful place and worth spending around 40 minutes exploring!
Entrance price: 80 Dirhams per person
One of the reasons that Marrakech is widely considered one of Africa's most beautiful cities, is because of the wonderfully ornate palaces, city walls, and stunning mosaic art work.
Well, Bahia Palace is perhaps the perfect place to showcases all of these elements. Every room is different in it's own way and it's somewhat of a maze once you get going!
We did visit around 3 o'clock and it was very busy, which I feel ruined the experience a little..I can’t imagine what it’s like in peak season!
But it’s a great place to admire some Moroccan beauty and is worth a visit with only one day in Marrakech. But if you can, I would recommend getting there much earlier than we did to try and beat some of the crowds.
Entrance price: 80 Dirhams per person.
The streets of Marrakech are very busy, and can sometimes be a little smelly (due to the countless butchers around the place), so if you don’t like crowds, then the best way to experience this wonderful city is from above.
Thankfully there are MANY amazing rooftop restaurants that will provide an awesome atmosphere to admire Marrakech from above.
I found a place called “Nomad” on Instagram, and went on Tripadvisor and turned out it was a pretty good spot.
It’s actually a little pricey compared to other spots in Marrakech, but the food and service is of a very high standard and we enjoyed the vegetarian options.
PLUS THEY DO REAL COFFEE. That’s in capitals because no offence people of Morocco, your coffee is terrible, but since mint tea is the specialty, it doesn’t really surprise me.
Anyway, if you want a real espresso coffee hit, then Nomad is a great place.
It’s also really cute that they provide you with hats to protect your head from the intense sun!
We didn’t visit for sunset, but I imagine this is a really good spot to catch it.
It’s a beautiful view with the markets below you and the Atlas mountains behind you as the backdrop!
This stop for lunch should mark the halfway point on your Marrakech itinerary!
But you can spare at least an hour for lunch.
Okay, now it’s time to brace yourself. I know you will have heard the “horror stories” of visiting the markets in Marrakech.
Well I might be the first one, but I actually thought it was absolutely fine.
People weren’t pushy with us, haggling is always fun, and we had a normal market experience.
Maybe we got lucky, or maybe we are used to it, especially with some of the chaotic markets we have visited in Southeast Asia!
So, if you’ve been to markets in Asia, then Marrakech will feel like a library (okay not that quiet..but I’m making a point :P), but if you’ve never been, then you may find it all a bit daunting.
Top travel tips & tricks for surviving the markets in Marrakech:
Anyway, the souk markets are a great place to pick up delicious spice in all flavors, colours and textures.
It’s a dream and actually a really cool place to get pictures. I would perhaps buy some spices, then ask if you can take a picture, they’ll say yes since you’ve purchased something.
For more help navigating and plannign a route, check out this guide on visiting the souk markets in Marrakech.
The Medina is intertwined with the souk markets and the locals love it when you get lost, because when you ask them for help, they’ll make you even more lost and charge you money to get out….mwahahaha…
Anyway, the problem is google maps signal struggles here because of the walls and crowds of the medina, but it does work, just be patient.
I suggest you ignore all offers of help (we had people tell us to go directions and we knew from google they were sending us on a dead end)...
That being said, we did have one or 2 people who actually did show us the right direction!
Not all people are looking to scam you..
Anyway, the Medina is huge, and great fun if you’re looking for presents.
You will find everything you could possibly need here..it’s a maze of wonders!
They do amazing rugs and pillows, which I wish I had room in my case to have brought back...I may return in the future just to buy stuff to decorate my home with..
Your final stop on your Marrakech itinerary will be the Jama El Fana Square.
This is the most famous square in Marrakech and it’s always buzzing and busy. There are some nice ice cream spots and it’s super cheap, so I suggest you grab yourself a refreshing ice cream (and eat it quickly in the heat!) then have a wander.
There are street performers whom some are interesting to watch. But just some words of guidance..
You will have ladies ask you if you want a henna tattoo, I simply said no, had a little joke, then was left alone the rest of the time..so there ya go!
Do NOT engage in the stupid idiots who have snakes and monkeys with chains around their necks.
You will see the little monkeys trying to take the chains off their neck as they are clearly in distress. Some tourists pay to take pictures with them...I can’t even begin to explain the horror with that...just avoid it.
Extra stops: If you’ve got more time, you can also visit the Secret Garden (which is within this loop!), or the Jardin Majorelle which is attached onto the YSL Museum. These too stops are not “within” the loop and if you want to visit, I suggest you jump in a taxi to get you there or back if you don’t fancy walking far in the heat.
Read Also: Our Trip Planning Guide
Marrakech is actually a pretty great year-round destination. However, the most popular time to visit Marrakech is around the months of May, June because the weather is VERY warm, but not the mad temperatures of the summer months.
However, Bradley and I visited in January and it was a brilliant time.
Temperatures hit around 27 degrees and the weather was just perfect for us.
The crowds are lower (although it’s still pretty busy, so I dread the high season).
Plus everything is cheaper in the winter season, including flights and accommodation, so I definitely recommend Marrakech if you’re looking for a spot of winter sunshine.
Yes. I had no issues with safety in Marrakech and I didn’t see anything that concerned me safety wise.
If you are a solo female traveller, you may experience some wolf whistles (I did have this), but most mean actually tend to leave you alone if they see a ring on your finger...so wear a ring!
But all in all Marrakech felt pretty safe to me. If you are a solo traveller and prefer the chance to meet other travellers, or even be with a group then why not take a city tour of Marrakech on a tour group.
This is one of my favourite tours here.
Marrakech is actually very budget friendly.
You’ll find there are options to suit all types of traveler. If you’re on a strict budget, then you can eat street food for very low costs, entrance sights are pretty much 80 per sight, and you can walk to all the sights so no need to spend on public transport.
If you’ve got a mid-range budget, then hopping on the “hop on, hop off” bus might be a good way to get around that’s quicker and will give you more time.
And you’ll find plenty of restaurants that are reasonably priced.
And if you really want to go fine dining, then you’ll have a lot of options, and you can even hire a private guide or driver for the day!
It will be the same price for everyone at the markets, it all depends on how well you can haggle for the best deal! Haggling gets easier the more you do it, when I first started I hated it with a passion (some days I still can’t be bothered), but if you do it with fun and banter, then you’ll enjoy it.
So there you go! I hope you’ve enjoyed this post on one day in Marrakech. All these sites are very achievable, since it’s exactly what we did! If you have any comments or questions, then just leave them below and I’ll get back to you…
PS, if you need a hotel in Marrakech, check booking.com for the best prices and choices..
Happy travels!
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