What to do in Marrakech? A complete guide to the best activities and museums - Museums in Marrakech.
- contact254044
- Jan 8
- 7 min read
Marrakech continues to fascinate travelers with its unique blend of history, art, and culture. The Red City, nestled between the Atlas Mountains and the desert, offers unforgettable experiences: sumptuous palaces, lush gardens, a vibrant medina, and captivating museums. If you're wondering what to do in Marrakech or which museums to visit , this comprehensive guide will help you plan your trip. (Museums in Marrakech , Marrakech museums , visiting Marrakech , Marrakech attractions , etc.)
1. The Carpet Cultural House – the must-see museum
The museum
Our first stop is the Maison Culturelle du Tapis (Tapes Cultural House ), a private museum housed in a 17th-century riad in the heart of the medina. Its mission is to preserve and share the art of weaving and the heritage of carpet weaving (museemarrakech.com ). The space comprises six rooms showcasing rare carpets from different regions of Morocco, a screening room that shows artisans at work, a gift shop, and a panoramic terrace offering breathtaking views. The museum highlights the history and expertise of the women weavers, where each carpet tells a story of patience and identity. Museum in Marrakech
Opening hours and prices
Information | Details |
Schedules | Open every day from 10am to 6:30pm, except Monday museemarrakech.com . |
Full price | |
Reduced price | 50 DH for Moroccan citizens (museemarrakech.com ); 40 DH for children under 12 (50% discount) (museemarrakech.com ) |
Address | 16‑18 Derb Deffa Ourabaa, Medina, Marrakech museemarrakech.com |
Weaving workshop - Museum in Marrakech
In addition to the exhibition, the museum offers a weaving workshop Interactive. Held daily, the workshop lasts approximately two hours and accommodates up to 10 participants. For 450 DH, you will learn traditional techniques from Berber artisans and leave with a mini-rug you have woven yourself. The workshop price includes museum admission, making it an ideal activity for families and those seeking an authentic experience. Museum in Marrakech
Why put it at the top of your list? Because the Maison Culturelle du Tapis (Carpet Cultural House) isn't just a museum: it's an immersion into the history of Moroccan weavers and a tribute to ancestral craftsmanship. By sharing this unique place on your blog and targeting keywords like "carpet museum Marrakech" or "weaving workshop Marrakech ," you'll improve your SEO and encourage your readers to discover it.
2. Majorelle Garden and Berber Museum - Museum in Marrakech
Created by the painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s, the Majorelle Garden is a haven of peace with bamboo-shaded paths and azure pools (jardinmajorelle.com ). In 1980, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé bought and restored the garden to save it from destruction. jardinmajorelle.com . Today, it houses a Berber museum and a botanical garden rich in exotic plants. Museum in Marrakech
Opening hours and prices
Information | Details |
Schedules | Open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., last entry at 5:30 p.m. jardinmajorelle.com . |
General price | 170 DH for international visitors jardinmajorelle.com . |
Reduced rates | 75 DH for Moroccan citizens and residents, 40 DH for Moroccan students, 95 DH for international students jardinmajorelle.com . Children under 10 years old are free jardinmajorelle.com . |
Why visit? The contrast between the Majorelle blue buildings, the giant cacti, and the Berber collections makes it a must-see. The Majorelle Garden , the Marrakech Botanical Garden , and the Berber Museum will attract a readership passionate about art and botany.
3. Yves Saint Laurent Museum Marrakech - Museum in Marrakech
Inaugurated in 2017, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum Marrakech houses more than 5,000 haute couture pieces, 15,000 accessories and numerous sketches from the collection of the Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent Foundation. Its modern architecture recalls the textile motifs dear to the couturier.
Opening hours and prices
Information | Details |
Schedules | Open every day except Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entry at 5:30 p.m.) museeyslmarrakech.com . The permanent gallery will be closed from January 5 to 30, 2026 for a change of exhibition museeyslmarrakech.com . |
Indicative price | In the absence of official prices on the site, several tourist guides mention a price of around 100 MAD for adults and 50 MAD for students; entry is free for children under 12 and a combined pass with the Majorelle Garden is offered for around 150 MAD stayhere.ma . |
Why visit? In addition to permanent and temporary exhibitions, the museum has a library, an auditorium, and a café. Its proximity to the Majorelle Garden makes it easy to combine visits to both. Museum in Marrakech
4. Ben Youssef Madrasa - Museum in Marrakech
The Ben Youssef Madrasa is one of the largest Quranic schools in North Africa. Founded in the 14th century and expanded by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansour in the 16th century, it impresses with its marble courtyard, zellige tiles, and carved wooden ceilings (medersabenyoussef.com ). The site is now a listed historical monument and open to the public.
Opening hours and prices
Information | Details |
Hours outside of Ramadan | Open every day from 9am to 5pm medersabenyoussef.com . |
Ramadan Opening Hours | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. medersabenyoussef.com . |
Foreign tariff | 50 MAD for adults, 10 MAD for children aged 7 to 13 years medersabenyoussef.com . |
Moroccan/resident rate | 20 MAD for adults, 10 MAD for children medersabenyoussef.com . |
Why visit? For its architecture, its history and its mosaics.
5. Bahia Palace - Museum in Marrakech
Built at the end of the 19th century for Grand Vizier Si Moussa and his son Ba Ahmed, the Bahia Palace covers eight hectares of gardens, salons, and sumptuously decorated riads. It is famous for its painted cedar ceilings, zellige tile floors, and Andalusian gardens.
Opening hours and prices
Information | Details |
Hours outside of Ramadan | Open daily from 9am to 5pm; last entry at 4:30 pm palaisbahia.com . |
Ramadan Opening Hours | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. palacebahia.com . |
Indicative price | The 2025 guides indicate a price of 70 MAD for adults, 50 MAD for young people aged 12 to 17, 30 MAD for children aged 6 to 11, and free for children under 6 (generationvoyage.fr ). Another source specifies 100 MAD for foreign visitors and 30 MAD for residents (palaisbahia.com ). |
Why visit? To discover 19th century Moroccan architecture and stroll through its lush gardens.
6. El Badi Palace - Museum in Marrakech
The El Badi Palace was built in 1578 by the Saadian sultan Ahmad al-Mansur after the Battle of the Three Kings to celebrate his victory. badipalace.com . Originally covered in gold, marble, and onyx, today only magnificent ruins remain, surrounding a vast basin where storks nest. Museum in Marrakech
Opening hours and prices
Information | Details |
Hours outside of Ramadan | Open every day from 9am to 5pm (last entry 4:30pm) badipalace.com . |
Ramadan Opening Hours | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. badipalace.com . |
Foreign tariff | 100 MAD for adults and 30 MAD for children aged 7 to 13 years badipalace.com . |
Moroccan/resident rate | 30 MAD for adults and 10 MAD for children badipalace.com . |
Why visit? To appreciate the grandeur of the ruins, climb onto the ramparts and admire a panoramic view of the medina.
7. Dar El Bacha – Museum of Confluences
This early 20th-century palace, formerly the residence of Pasha Thami El Glaoui, has been restored and transformed into the Museum of Confluences . It displays Islamic art, Berber carpets, manuscripts, and artifacts from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas . Museum in Marrakech
Opening hours and prices
Information | Details |
Schedules | |
National tariff | |
Foreign tariff | |
Youth rate | |
Free days |
Why visit? To admire the palace's diverse collections and Hispano-Moorish architecture. The keywords Dar El Bacha , Museum of Confluences , and Marrakech Palace will help attract curious readers.
8. Saadian Tombs
The Saadian Tombs house the tombs of the Saadian dynasty (16th-17th centuries). Discovered in 1917, they are famous for the Hall of Twelve Marble Columns and the sculpted ceilings. The tombs are located in the Kasbah, near the Kasbah Mosque.
Opening hours and prices
Information | Details |
Hours outside of Ramadan | Open every day from 9am to 5pm saadiantombs.com . |
Ramadan Opening Hours | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. saadiantombs.com . |
Foreign tariff | 100 MAD for adults and 30 MAD for children aged 7 to 13 years saadiantombs.com . |
Moroccan/resident rate | 30 MAD for adults and 10 MAD for children saadiantombs.com . |
Tip: The site is small and fills up quickly. Arrive early in the morning or late in the day to avoid queues.
9. Menara Gardens
Built in the 12th century under the Almohad dynasty, the Menara Gardens are a vast olive grove with an irrigation basin and a historic pavilion. This peaceful spot, west of the medina, is ideal for strolling and admiring the views of the Atlas Mountains.
Opening hours and prices
Information | Details |
Schedules | Open every day from 9am to 5pm alksar.com . |
Prices | Free entry to the garden; visit to the pavilion: 20 DH alksar.com . |
Why visit? To stroll around its large pool lined with olive trees and admire the sunset over the mountains.
10. Jemaa el-Fna Square
Listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage site, Jemaa el-Fna Square is the vibrant heart of Marrakech. Since the 11th century, it has hosted storytellers, acrobats, snake charmers, traditional healers, henna tattoo artists, Berber musicians, and Gnawa musicians. The square serves as an open-air theatre where locals and visitors mingle. (ich.unesco.org )
Opening hours and prices
The square is a public space that is always open. Enjoy it at different times of day: in the morning for its orange juice vendors and musicians, in the afternoon for its snake charmers and storytellers, and in the evening for its street food stalls and impromptu concerts. Admission is free.
Why visit? To experience the soul of Marrakech and discover a range of Moroccan traditions. Museum in Marrakech
11. Koutoubia Mosque
A symbol of Marrakech, the Koutoubia Mosque was built in the 12th century and is renowned for its 69-meter minaret, visible for miles. Its name means "mosque of the booksellers"; it once housed a manuscript market. Non-Muslim visitors cannot enter the mosque, but it is possible to admire the architecture from the surrounding gardens .
Opening hours and prices
The mosque is a place of worship. It is open to Muslim worshippers for prayer; the outer grounds and gardens are accessible to all free of charge. Please be respectful of prayer times and dress appropriately.
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