Top 10 things to do in Marrakesh

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1. Jardin Majorelle

These magnificent botanical gardens are among the top 10 things to do in Marrakech. They were created in 1920’s by a French artist Jacques Majorelle, who travelled the world and brought a variety of beautiful plants from his trips. After his death the garden was abandoned, but the famous fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent found this place in 1980 and started a reconstruction. Today the Majorelle garden is open for visitors and provides a cool break from the busy streets of the city.

2. Djemma El-Fna Square

Djemma El-Fna is one of the main symbols of modern Marrakech. Once it was the place where criminals were publicly executed, but now this square is a chaotic, fun, oriental centre of the Medina neighbourhood. At day time there are thousands of green umbrellas, providing shade to street performers, snake charmers, henna tattoo artists, musician, fortune tellers and vendors. There is an abundance of souvenirs, herbs, luxurious textiles and street food. Djemma El-Fna is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which at night turns into an open-air food square, veiled with smoke from barbecues of roasted meat, small tables set up right outside, or terraces of restaurants overlooking the square of the “Red City”.

3. El Badii Palace

These remains of this historical palace are one of the most important landmarks in Marrakech. The majestic Palace was built in the 16th century and the construction took more than 2 decades. Originally it consisted of luxurious 360 rooms, decorated with Italian marble and gold from Sudan.

4. Koutoubia Mosque

Koutoubia mosque is the tallest one in Marrakech, rising 77m. over the city. It was built in the 12th century and its beautiful minaret embellishes the skyline. It is the oldest of the three biggest Almohad minarets in the world. The mosque serves spiritual purposes and does not allow non-Muslim visitors, but it is a landmark that must be seen and its surrounding gardens are a great place to walk around in.

5. El Bahia Palace

The Bahia Palace is one of the top 10 things to visit in Marrakech, as it is a characteristic landmark of a luxurious lifestyle in the 19th century. It was originally the home of 24 wives of Sidi Moussa’s harem. Currently, 150 rooms located on the lower floor are open to visitors. The interiors are lavishly decorated, there is a beautiful garden and the architectural beauty of this heritage is unsurpassed.

6. Dar Si Said Museum

Dar Si Said Museum is located in a beautiful palace and exhibits the quintessence of all Moroccan art, including clothing, jewelry, weapons, history, furniture, as well as famous traditional carpets, that visitors from all over the world come to purchase in Morocco.

7. Ben Youssef

Marrakech has a lot of interesting and beautiful landmarks, but Medersa Ben Youssef School is considered to be iconic of Arab architecture. This is the largest Koranic school in North Africa and has been the most prestigious educational institution in Morocco for more than 400 years. It looks like a palace, with a large patio and a pool, elaborate interior decorations of Arabic inscriptions and drawings covering the walls. Over 900 students have studied here over the years of its existence, and it has long been turned into a historical monument, open to the general public.

8. Saadian Tombs

Saadi tombs were discovered only recently by a French pilot, and even though the exact date of when the first tomb appeared here is unknown, it is estimated that they date back to the 15th century. It was the burial site of the Saadi dynasty and has more than 200 magnificent tombstones decorated with cedar rood, multi-coloured tiles and ornaments. In 16th century this place was surrounded by tall walls, all entrances and exits were sealed and no one knew about its existence until it was seen in aerial pictures taken by the French.

9. Sand dunes and Sahara desert

While visiting Marrakech, there is a great opportunity to visit the Sahara desert, located nearby. There is a variety of tours that visitors can choose from, including walking tours, riding a camel in the desert, quad biking and jeep safari. Tourists can see sand dunes, sleep under the stars and see how the local tribes live.

10. Traditional Hammam

After hours of exploring the city, there is only one way to relax and rejuvenate – traditional hammam. Visiting a Hammam is among the top 10 things to do in Marrakech and is definitely worth it. Here the steam is cooler than that in a sauna, and a lot of attention is paid to scrubs and massage. There are separate facilities for men and women, and there are professional staff members who can wash, soap and scrub you. Some of the most known Hammams in the city are the Dar Karma, Les Deux and at the Les Jardins de la Medina.