Hajaj's Top 10 Experiences in Marrakech

Marrakech is a city of vibrant contrasts. In a single day you can move from a quiet tiled courtyard to the noise and colour of the souk, from the ruins of a sixteenth-century palace to a cocktail in the New Town. It's a lot to take in, and that's part of its magic.

When people ask us about the best things to do in Marrakech, we hand the question to Hajaj. He's our co-founder on the ground in Morocco, and he knows the city the way only a local can. These are his ten favourites, the experiences he comes back to again and again, and the ones he most loves sharing with travellers.

1. Stay in a traditional riad

Riads are traditional Moroccan homes built around an open central courtyard, often with a fountain or garden at the heart of it. From the street, most look like nothing more than a plain door in a plain wall. Step inside, though, and the city's noise falls away.

Take time to really notice the architecture: the hand-cut zellige tilework, carved cedar, smooth tadelakt plaster walls, and the way the whole house is designed to keep things cool and private. Hajaj's advice is simple. Don't treat your riad as just a place to sleep. Have breakfast in the courtyard, sit with a mint tea in the afternoon, and let it be your calm base between busy days in the medina.

2. Explore the souk, and eat your way through it

The souks of Marrakech sprawl north of Jemaa el-Fnaa square in a maze of narrow lanes, each area loosely organized by craft. You'll find leatherworkers, metalsmiths, spice sellers, carpet dealers, and lantern makers, many working right in front of their stalls.

The best way to experience it is slowly, and hungry. Stop for fresh-squeezed orange juice, warm msemen (a flaky Moroccan flatbread), a bowl of harira soup, or whatever smells best as you pass. Getting a little lost is part of the experience. If you'd rather not, a local guide makes all the difference, both for finding your way and for knowing which stalls are worth your time.

3. Visit Bahia Palace and El Badi Palace

These two palaces sit close together in the southern part of the medina, and seeing them on the same day tells a story of two very different eras.

Bahia Palace was built in the late nineteenth century for the sultan's grand vizier, and it's all detail: painted cedar ceilings, intricate stucco, tiled courtyards, and gardens shaded by orange trees. El Badi Palace, built in the late sixteenth century by the Saadian sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, was once one of the most lavish palaces in the Islamic world. Today it's a vast, atmospheric ruin, with storks nesting along the walls and sweeping views from the ramparts. One shows you Moroccan craftsmanship up close. The other shows you its scale and ambition.

4. Experience a traditional hammam at Ziani

The hammam is a centuries-old part of Moroccan life, a weekly ritual of steam, scrubbing, and rest. Hammam Ziani, a short walk from Bahia Palace, is Hajaj's pick for a welcoming first experience.

Expect warm steam rooms, a full-body scrub with black soap and a kessa glove, and often a rhassoul clay treatment to finish. It's deeply relaxing and surprisingly restorative, especially after a few days of walking the medina. If you've never been to a hammam before, don't worry. The attendants guide you through every step.

5. Share lunch with a local family

Of everything on this list, this is the one travellers tend to remember longest. Sitting down to a home-cooked meal with a Moroccan family is a chance to see daily life from the inside, beyond the restaurants and the sights.

Lunch might be a slow-cooked tagine, fresh bread, seasonal salads, and of course, plenty of mint tea. But the food is only part of it. The conversation, the laughter, and the generosity of Moroccan hospitality are what make it special. It's also an experience that's very hard to arrange on your own, which is exactly why it matters to have someone on the ground who knows the community.

6. Wander through Majorelle Garden

Majorelle Garden was created by the French painter Jacques Majorelle, who spent decades building it from the 1920s onward. It was later restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, who saved it from development in 1980.

The garden is famous for its intense cobalt blue (now known as Majorelle blue) set against bamboo groves, cacti, palms, and lily ponds. It's a beautiful blend of art, nature, and architecture, and the on-site Berber Museum is well worth a visit too. Hajaj's tip: book your tickets online in advance and go early in the morning, before the crowds and the heat arrive.

7. Watch the sunset from a rooftop terrace

As the afternoon light softens, head up to a rooftop. Marrakech looks completely different from above: a sea of terracotta rooftops, the Koutoubia minaret rising above the medina, and on clear days the Atlas Mountains on the horizon.

This is the moment the city shifts. The call to prayer drifts across the rooftops, the lights come on in Jemaa el-Fnaa, and the evening energy starts to build below you. Order a mint tea or a fresh juice, settle in, and take it all in.

8. Have dinner in the Agafay Desert

Less than an hour from Marrakech, the Agafay Desert offers a completely different side of Morocco. It's a stony desert of rolling hills and open landscapes, with the Atlas Mountains in the distance.

Dinner here is about atmosphere as much as food. Think candlelight, a sky full of stars, and the kind of silence that's hard to find in the city. It's an unforgettable evening, and a wonderful option if you'd love a taste of the desert without travelling far from Marrakech.

9. Take a cooking class

If you fall in love with Moroccan food (and you will), a cooking class is the best way to bring it home with you. You'll learn the techniques and flavours behind classic dishes like tagine, along with how to use staples such as preserved lemons, saffron, cumin, and ras el hanout.

Many classes begin with a walk through the market to choose ingredients, which adds a lovely extra layer to the experience. And at the end, you sit down and eat what you've made. It's practical, social, and a lot of fun.

10. Spend time in the New Town

Marrakech isn't only the old medina. Just outside its walls, the New Town (Gueliz and Hivernage) shows you the city's modern side, with wide tree-lined boulevards, cafés, galleries, boutiques, and some of Marrakech's best restaurants and nightlife.

It's a refreshing change of pace after the intensity of the souks, and a good reminder that Marrakech is a living, evolving city, not a museum. Hajaj recommends saving an evening for it, especially if you enjoy a great dinner and a lively atmosphere.

The spirit of Marrakech

Together, these experiences capture what makes Marrakech so special: it's immersive, colourful, warm, and full of contrasts. From the calm of a riad courtyard to the energy of the souk and the quiet beauty of the desert, the city offers a memorable blend of tradition, hospitality, and discovery.

If Marrakech is on your list, take a look at our Desert Adventure, Imperial Cities & the Sahara, and Grand Moroccan Journey. Or get in touch and we'll help you plan a trip around the experiences that matter most to you.