Marrakech Travel Guide: 3 Days in Marrakech

This Marrakech travel guide covers all the key things to see and do in this wonderful year-round destination. Marrakech, in the heart of Morocco, is the ideal place to visit if you’re looking for an enticing and eclectic destination. The city is packed with cultural attractions, interesting food and has a truly invigorating atmosphere. If you’re looking for an enticing and eclectic city, jam packed with cultural attractions, excellent food and a vibrant atmosphere, Marrakech is a brilliant city to visit. Easily accessed by several UK airports, Marrakech is a very popular winter sun location.

Marrakech is a brilliant to explore, either as a standalone city break, on a longer Morocco adventure, or as a winter sun holiday. It even makes for a brilliant destination for a girls trip!

My best friend and I recently spent three days in Marrakech at the half way point of our two week adventure in Morocco. We started in Rabat, took the train to Fes for a few nights, before heading onto Chefchaouen where we went hiking in the Rif Mountains. After this, and before arriving in Marrakech, we explored the Sahara Desert in a 4×4.

Marrakech Travel Guide — Visiting the Medersa

By this point, we didn’t know what to expect with Marrakech. None of the cities had matched our preconceptions of Morocco so far. Some of the preconceived expectations included hassle from men and shop owners, the feeling we might be pick-pocketed, finding ourselves in dodgy alleyways in the medina or darting around crazy traffic on the roads.

But Marrakech was all these things. The city was exactly as everyone described it. Hot and dusty, with lots of hassling. There were snake charmers in the main square, Jemaa el Fna. Oh, and tourists everywhere.

However, we loved it. Maybe because it did match our expectations of Morocco? I don’t know. Maybe because there was greater appreciation in finding an extra sweet shop owner, or navigating the medina alleys without getting lost for the first time. It could have even been the greater satisfaction in finding solitude in such a busy city.

Whatever it was, I’m not sure. Out of everywhere in Morocco we visited, Marrakech is the main place I could return to.

Two or three days in Marrakech is a great amount of time to explore this city, which is an absolute must-visit on any Morocco itinerary.

If you have plans to visit the Atlas Mountains or anywhere else outside of Marrakech, you’d definitely need to add days on but otherwise, three days to explore Marrakech is ideal. So here’s my Marrakech Travel Guide:

Contents hide

1 Marrakech Travel Guide: Best Things to See and Do

1.1 Spend the morning at the Jardin Marjorelle

1.2 Visit the Medersa Ben Youssef

1.3 Explore the Medina

1.4 Drop by Jemaa el-Fna Square

1.5 Visit La Mamounia

1.6 Stop by the Places des Epices

1.7 Enjoy a hammam or pool time

2 Where to Stay in Marrakech

3 Day trips from Marrakech

4 Marrakech Travel Guide

Marrakech Travel Guide: Best Things to See and Do

Spend the morning at the Jardin Marjorelle

Beat the crowds and head to Le Jardin Marjorelle early. This exquisite garden is like nowhere else, and together with the Musée Yves Saint Laurent, it’s the perfect respite from the medina. Read my guide to visiting the Jardin Majorelle here, including information on the best photo spots.

These gardens are also known as the Majorelle Garden or the Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) garden.

Visit the Medersa Ben Youssef

Another example of incredible architecture in Marrakech, Medersa Ben Youssef is an Islamic place of education founded in the 14th Century. As with many of Morocco’s mosques and medersas, it has been beautifully maintained and cannot be missed on any trip to Marrakech. You can easily spend an hour or two exploring the building, with its upper and lower terraces and central fountain.

Explore the Medina

Marrakech’s medina is a beast. You are absolutely certain to get completely lost, but that’s half the fun. The medina is huge but after a few days, you’ll have the route back to your hotel nailed (maybe..).

Top tip: Download your route on Google Maps before you leave, and you’ll be able to use the app without Wifi as you walk around!

Hours can be spent wandering the tiny laneways of the medina. Take the time to speak to the shop owners, hear their stories, purchase their beautiful wares, such as jewellery, lamps, clothing, spices and sweet treats.

Drop by Jemaa el-Fna Square

This square is the beating heart of Marrakech. But to be honest, the Jemaa el-Fna Square was certainly not my favourite area of Marrakech.

The atmospheric square is home to snake charmers, working donkeys, scammers, musicians, artists – and anyone who can make a quick buck from a tourist. Enjoy it, but stay vigilant and be wary!

dinner in Marrakech — Wandering the main square in Marrakech

Visit La Mamounia

For the ultimate opulent experience, visiting La Mamounia as a day visitor is one of the best things to do in Morocco. I’ve written a full guide on how to visit the spectacular La Mamounia hotel and spa as a day visitor here. If it’s in your budget, then go one better and stay – it is without a doubt one of the best luxury hotels in Marrakech, and even Morocco.

For an ultra-luxury Moroccan experience, La Mamounia is one of a kind. Even with just three days in Marrakech, we recommend staying or visiting here.

the outdoor swimming pool at La Mamounia

Stop by the Places des Epices

Places des Epices is another lively and atmosphere square tucked into the medina, although it is a lot calmer and more pleasant than Jemaa el Fna. This area is perfect to pick up spices and other local crafts, it’s also home to the hedonistic hotspot that is NOMAD. This is one of the best restaurants in Marrakech – I’ve written a full guide on where to eat in Marrakech here.

Enjoy a hammam or pool time

Spending two or three days in a city like Marrakech can be surprisingly tiring. The frenetic pace and noise of the city can wear down even the hardiest of travellers.

Many of the traditional types of accommodation in Marrakech are in the form of riads – something I’d highly recommend staying in for an authentic experience. Many riads in Marrakech have pools, either on the ground level or on the rooftop. Spending time cooling off and relaxing here is a not a bad idea in a city like Marrakech.

Another of the best things to do in Marrakech is to experience a traditional hammam. With designated women and men’s sides, a hammam is a social activity and you will definitely have interesting local women stare at you. Aside from this, you take a good scrub down and have a bath in the public bathing areas – it’s a highly relaxing experience.

3 days in Marrakech — Enjoying the rooftop pool at my riad

Where to Stay in Marrakech

Marrakech has a huge wealth of accommodation across the city. From traditional riads to modern hotels, you will definitely find something to match your budget. Here’s my pick of the best budget, mid-range and luxury roads and hotels in Marrakech to choose from.

Budget riads:

Riad Dar Attika (from around £64 per night)
Riad Palais Calipau (from around £85 per night)
Riad Mur Akush (from around £85 per night)
Riad Le J (from around £94 per night)
Riad & Spa Bahia Salam (from around £90 per night)
Riad Dar Teranga (from around £90 per night)
Riad Tizwa (from around £100 for two nights – the minimum stay length)
Dar Attajmil (from £171 for a two night stay – the minimum stay length)

Mid-range riads:

Riad Cologne (from around £100 per night)
Marrakech Riads, Angsana Heritage Collection (from £139 per night)
Sofitel Marrakech Palais (from around £267 per night)
Tigmiza Boutique Hotel & Spa (from around £281 per night)
Riad Star (from around £314 for two nights – the minimum stay length)
Riad le Clos des Arts (from around £560 for three nights – the minimum stay length)

Luxury riads:

Palais Ronsard Relais & Chateaux (from around £379 per night)
Selman Marrakech (From around £529 per night)
The Oberoi Marrakech (from around £883 per night)
Four Seasons Marrakech (from around £1,162 per night)
Mandarin Oriental Marrakech (from around £1,424 per night)
Royal Mansour (from around £1,454 per night)

We stayed between two beautiful riads, both located right by each other at the edge of the medina. The first, Riad Attika was small but perfect for a 2 night stay, then for our final night we upgraded to the swish Angsana Riads where we stayed in an amazing Heritage Suite Room. I would highly recommend the Angsana property – it was perfect!

We also ate in some brilliant places across the city, but I’ve put a guide together of our absolute favourite cafes in Marrakech here.

best cafes in Marrakech — Atay Cafe’s gorgeous roof terrace

Day trips from Marrakech

If you visit Marrakech for more than three days, or if it’s your second visit, then I would highly recommend doing a day trip from Marrakech. You could go hiking in the Atlas Mountains, quad biking in the desert, camel riding or swimming in waterfalls. I’ve popped a few excellent day trip suggestions below:

Atlas Mountains Day Trip with Camel Ride (from £12 per person)
Half Day Desert Quad Biking (from £26 per person)
Full Day Desert and Mountain Tour (from £11 per person)
Ouzoud Waterfalls Day Trip (from £12 per person)