Roavina

Country guide

Morocco

A photograph of Morocco
Photograph · Petar Milošević · CC BY-SA 4.0

Morocco is 446,550 km2 with two coastlines, Mediterranean along the north and Atlantic down the west, and the 2024 census counted 36,828,330 people. Rabat is the capital and Casablanca the largest city, but neither is usually what a visitor books. The trip is normally built around the former capitals, Fes and Marrakesh, whose walled old towns are the point of coming and are covered on foot because nothing wider fits down them. Tangier faces Spain across the strait and is the shortest way in from Europe. The Atlas range separates all of it from the desert south.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Arabic and Amazigh; French is widely used
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+212
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
19 police in cities · 177 gendarmerie · 15 fire/ambulance
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and E · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Marrakesh Medina Marrakesh Medina
    02 45 min

    Marrakesh Medina

    Medina Marrakech مدينة مراكش

    The Medina of Marrakech is the walled historic centre of the city. Visit Marrakech describes it as the old city and a World Heritage Site, enclosed by about 19 kilometres of ramparts built in 1122.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  2. Bahia Palace Bahia Palace
    03 45 min

    Bahia Palace

    Palais Bahia قصر الباهية

    The Bahia Palace is a late nineteenth-century palace and museum in Marrakesh, built in two principal phases across an eight-hectare site.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  3. Majorelle Garden Majorelle Garden
    04 1 hour

    Majorelle Garden

    Jardin Majorelle حديقة ماجوريل

    Jardin Majorelle is a 9,000-square-metre botanical and artist's garden in Marrakech created by the French painter Jacques Majorelle.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Marrakesh
  4. Koutoubia Mosque Koutoubia Mosque
    05 30 min

    Koutoubia Mosque

    Mosquée de la Koutoubia جامع الكتبية

    The Koutoubia Mosque, known locally as Mosquée Koutoubia, stands as Marrakesh's most prominent landmark. Its Almohad minaret dominates the city skyline and serves as the key architectural reference point for Marrakesh.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Marrakesh
  5. Ben Youssef Madrasa Ben Youssef Madrasa
    06 45 min

    Ben Youssef Madrasa

    Medersa Ben Youssef

    The Ben Youssef Madrasa is a former Islamic college in the historic medina of Marrakesh.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  6. Saadian Tombs Saadian Tombs
    07 1 hr 30 min

    Saadian Tombs

    Tombeaux Saadiens ضريح السعديين

    The Saadian Tombs constitute a royal necropolis in Marrakesh, Morocco, associated with the Saadian dynasty that ruled from 1549 to 1659. The complex contains the mausoleums of Saadian sultan Ahmad al-Mansur and members of his family.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  7. El Badi Palace El Badi Palace
    08 45 min

    El Badi Palace

    Palais El Badi قصر البديع

    El Badi Palace is a ruined palace complex in Marrakesh, Morocco, commissioned by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur of the Saadian dynasty in the late sixteenth century.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  8. Le Jardin Secret Le Jardin Secret
    09 1 hour

    Le Jardin Secret

    Le Jardin Secret is a restored historic riad garden situated within the medina of Marrakesh. It exemplifies traditional Islamic garden design principles, incorporating geometric layouts, water features, and vegetation arranged according to classical patterns.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Marrakesh
  9. Musée Yves Saint Laurent Musée Yves Saint Laurent
    10 1 hr 30 min

    Musée Yves Saint Laurent

    The Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech is a museum dedicated to the work of French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  10. Dar el Bacha Dar el Bacha
    11 1 hr 30 min

    Dar el Bacha

    Musée Dar El Bacha دار الباشا

    Dar El Bacha’s Museum of Confluences occupies a historic palace in the heart of Marrakesh’s medina. Morocco’s National Foundation of Museums presents the building itself as an example of palatial architecture organised around decorated courtyards and gardens.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  11. Maison de la Photographie Maison de la Photographie
    12 1 hour

    Maison de la Photographie

    Maison de la Photographie de Marrakech is a museum in Marrakesh's medina dedicated to historic Moroccan photography. It preserves and displays visual archives documenting Morocco from the late nineteenth century through the mid-twentieth century.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Marrakesh
  12. Marrakech Museum Marrakech Museum
    13 1 hr 30 min

    Marrakech Museum

    Musée de Marrakech متحف مراكش

    The Marrakech Museum occupies the restored Dar Menebhi palace near the Ben Youssef area. This 19th-century aristocratic residence exemplifies traditional Moroccan palace architecture with its courtyard layout, decorative plasterwork, carved cedar ceilings, and zellige tilework.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  13. Musée Dar Si Saïd متحف دار السي سعيد Musée Dar Si Saïd متحف دار السي سعيد
    14 1 hr 30 min

    Musée Dar Si Saïd متحف دار السي سعيد

    Dar Si Said is Marrakesh’s National Museum of Weaving and Carpets, operated by Morocco’s National Foundation of Museums. The museum occupies a historic palace and focuses on textile traditions rather than presenting a general collection of every Moroccan craft.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  14. Almoravid Koubba Almoravid Koubba
    15 45 min

    Almoravid Koubba

    Almoravid Koubba القبة المرابطية

    The Almoravid Qubba, known locally as Qoubba Ba'adiyn, is a small domed structure in Marrakesh, Morocco. It is one of the few surviving monuments from the Almoravid dynasty, which ruled Morocco in the 11th and 12th centuries.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  15. Jardins de la Ménara Jardins de la Ménara
    16 1 hour

    Jardins de la Ménara

    The Menara Gardens constitute a historic olive grove and garden complex situated to the west of Marrakesh's medina. Established during the Almohad period in the twelfth century, the site represents one of Morocco's oldest surviving garden landscapes.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Marrakesh
  16. Agdal Gardens Agdal Gardens
    17 1 hour

    Agdal Gardens

    Jardin de l'Agdal

    The Agdal Gardens, known locally as Jardins de l'Agdal, constitute a vast historic orchard and water landscape situated south of the medina of Marrakesh.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Marrakesh
  17. Bab Agnaou Bab Agnaou
    18 45 min

    Bab Agnaou

    Bab Agnaou is a historic fortified gate in Marrakesh, Morocco, forming part of the medina's defensive walls. Constructed in the 12th century during the Almohad period, it served as a principal entrance to the royal kasbah district.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  18. Slat Al Azama Synagogue Slat Al Azama Synagogue
    19 1 hr 30 min

    Slat Al Azama Synagogue

    Synagogue Laazama

    Lazama Synagogue, known locally as Synagogue Laazama, stands as a historic place of worship within the Mellah, the traditional Jewish quarter of Marrakesh. The Mellah itself forms part of the city's broader visitor core, situated near the medina's central districts.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  19. Tiskiwin Museum Tiskiwin Museum
    20 1 hr 30 min

    Tiskiwin Museum

    Musée Tiskiwin

    Maison Tiskiwin is a museum in Marrakesh dedicated to Moroccan and Saharan arts and crafts. It occupies a traditional riad-style house in the medina, presenting ethnographic collections assembled by Dutch anthropologist Bert Flint.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  20. Cyber Parc Arsat Moulay Abdeslam Cyber Parc Arsat Moulay Abdeslam
    22 1 hour

    Cyber Parc Arsat Moulay Abdeslam

    Cyber Parc Arsat Moulay Abdeslam is a restored historic garden located in central Marrakesh, positioned between the medina and the Hivernage district.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Marrakesh
  21. Palmeraie Palmeraie
    23 45 min

    Palmeraie

    Palmeraie de Marrakech is a historic palm grove situated on the northeastern edge of Marrakesh, Morocco. It forms part of a protected cultural landscape recognized by UNESCO, standing in marked contrast to the dense urban fabric of the medina.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  22. ANIMA Jardin ANIMA Jardin
    24 1 hour

    ANIMA Jardin

    Anima Garden is a botanical garden and cultural space located outside Marrakesh, created by Austrian artist André Heller. The garden combines extensive plantings with integrated artworks and sculptures by international artists.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Marrakesh
  23. Mouassine Museum Mouassine Museum
    25 1 hr 30 min

    Mouassine Museum

    Musée de la Musique

    The Mouassine Music Museum, known locally as Musée de la Musique Mouassine, is a cultural institution located in Marrakesh's historic Mouassine district. It occupies a traditional Moroccan house, or riad, reflecting the architectural heritage of the medina.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  24. Dar Cherifa Dar Cherifa
    26 1 hour

    Dar Cherifa

    Dar Cherifa is a restored sixteenth-century riad in Marrakesh’s medina, now used as a cultural and literary venue. Its traditional Moroccan domestic form is organised around an interior courtyard, making the building itself the main attraction.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Marrakesh
  25. Dar Bellarj Dar Bellarj
    27 1 hr 30 min

    Dar Bellarj

    Dar Bellarj دار بلارج

    Dar Bellarj is a restored historic building near Ben Youssef in Marrakesh’s medina. Its earlier role caring for injured storks gives it an unusual story, while its present character connects heritage architecture with craft activity and cultural programming.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  26. Marrakech Museum of Perfume Marrakech Museum of Perfume
    28 1 hr 30 min

    Marrakech Museum of Perfume

    Musée du Parfum

    The Marrakech Museum of Perfume, also called Musée du Parfum, is an intimate museum in a traditional riad inside Marrakesh’s medina. It focuses on Moroccan fragrance culture, including scent in daily life, ceremony, adornment, and regional traditions.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  27. Koutoubia Gardens Koutoubia Gardens
    29 1 hour

    Koutoubia Gardens

    Koutoubia Gardens, or Jardins de la Koutoubia, is open green space at the base of Marrakesh’s famous Koutoubia Mosque minaret. It creates a natural pause beside Jemaa el-Fnaa and links the old medina with newer districts.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Marrakesh
  28. Bab Doukkala Mosque Bab Doukkala Mosque
    30 30 min

    Bab Doukkala Mosque

    Bab Doukkala Mosque is a major sixteenth-century mosque located in the northwestern quarter of Marrakesh's medina. It stands as a significant religious and architectural landmark, giving its name to the surrounding Bab Doukkala neighbourhood and market quarter.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Marrakesh
  29. Bab el Khemis Bab el Khemis
    31 45 min

    Bab el Khemis

    Bab el Khemis is a historic gate in the northern ramparts of Marrakesh’s ancient medina. Its name recalls the Thursday market associated with the area.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  30. Bab Debbagh Bab Debbagh
    32 45 min

    Bab Debbagh

    Bab Debbagh is a historic gate on the eastern side of Marrakesh’s medina walls. It is associated with the traditional tannery district and shows how the defensive wall system also organized movement, trade, and craft quarters.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  31. Royal Theatre Royal Theatre
    33 1 hour

    Royal Theatre

    Théâtre Royal

    The Royal Theatre, or Théâtre Royal de Marrakech, is a modern performing-arts venue opposite Marrakesh railway station in the Gueliz district.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Marrakesh
  32. Ibn Yusuf Mosque Ibn Yusuf Mosque
    34 30 min

    Ibn Yusuf Mosque

    Ben Youssef Mosquée مسجد ابن يوسف

    Ben Youssef Mosque is a major Almoravid-era religious landmark in Marrakesh's medina. It stands beside the famous Ben Youssef Madrasa, forming an important historical and spiritual complex in the old city.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Marrakesh
  33. Place du 16 Novembre Place du 16 Novembre
    35 1 hour

    Place du 16 Novembre

    Place du 16 Novembre is a central civic square in Gueliz, Marrakesh's modern new town. It functions as a key urban landmark and gathering point where the planned colonial-era grid meets contemporary city life.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Marrakesh
  34. Bab Aylan Bab Aylan
    36 45 min

    Bab Aylan

    Bab Aylan is a historic gate on the eastern side of Marrakesh’s medina. It is part of the old walled city’s working urban fabric, connecting the outside streets with residential lanes, workshops, and local commerce.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  35. Musée de la Palmeraie
    37 1 hr 30 min

    Musée de la Palmeraie

    Musée de la Palmeraie is a garden museum in Marrakesh’s Palmeraie, the large palm grove northeast of the city centre.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  36. Oasiria Water Park
    38 1 hr 30 min

    Oasiria Water Park

    Oasiria Water Park is a recreational facility situated on the southern periphery of Marrakesh, Morocco. It functions as a family-oriented aquatic leisure destination designed to provide relief from the city's intense summer heat.

    • Must see
    • Family attraction
    • Marrakesh
  37. Marrakech Museum of Culinary Arts Marrakech Museum of Culinary Arts
    39 1 hr 30 min

    Marrakech Museum of Culinary Arts

    Musée de l'Art Culinaire Marocain

    Marrakech Museum of Culinary Arts, also known locally as Musée de l’Art Culinaire Marocain, is a specialized museum in Marrakesh’s historic medina.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  38. Miaara Jewish Cemetery Miaara Jewish Cemetery
    40 30 min

    Miaara Jewish Cemetery

    Cimetière Juif Miaara

    Miaara Jewish Cemetery is the principal Jewish burial ground of Marrakesh's historic Mellah. Its whitewashed tombs form a dense field of memory within the old Jewish quarter, where generations of Moroccan Jewish families were laid to rest.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Marrakesh
  39. Bab Ksiba Bab Ksiba
    41 45 min

    Bab Ksiba

    Bab Ksiba is a surviving gate of the Marrakesh medina, the historic walled old city that forms the core of visitor interest in this major Moroccan destination.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  40. Bab Ahmer Bab Ahmer
    42 45 min

    Bab Ahmer

    Bab Hmar

    Bab Hmar is a historic city gate in Marrakesh, Morocco. The name translates to Red Gate, reflecting the distinctive ochre-colored architecture typical of the city.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  41. Eglise des Saints Martyrs Eglise des Saints Martyrs
    43 30 min

    Eglise des Saints Martyrs

    The Church of the Holy Martyrs, known locally as Eglise des Saints Martyrs, stands as a central twentieth-century church in Marrakesh's Gueliz district.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Marrakesh
  42. Arset El Bilk عرصة البيلك
    44 1 hour

    Arset El Bilk عرصة البيلك

    Arset El Bilk is a public garden beside Jemaa el-Fnaa in the historic core of Marrakesh. It gives pedestrians a small green pause between the square's performers, food stalls, traders, and the dense lanes of the medina.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Marrakesh
  43. Jardin de Bab el Khemis
    45 1 hour

    Jardin de Bab el Khemis

    Bab el Khemis Garden, also known locally as Jardin de Bab el Khemis, is a public green space beside Bab el Khemis gate on the northern side of Marrakesh’s ancient medina.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
    • Marrakesh
  44. Buraima Mosque Buraima Mosque
    46 30 min

    Buraima Mosque

    Mosquee Berrima مسجد بريمة

    The Berrima Mosque, known locally as Mosquee Berrima مسجد بريمة, stands as a historic mosque in the southern medina visitor area of Marrakesh. It represents traditional Moroccan Islamic architecture within the dense urban fabric of the old city.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Marrakesh
  45. Bab Laksour
    47 45 min

    Bab Laksour

    Bab Laksour is a historic gate in the rose-coloured ramparts of Marrakesh’s ancient medina. It is both a piece of defensive architecture and a working entrance into the old city.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  46. Bab el Aghdar
    48 45 min

    Bab el Aghdar

    Bab el Aghdar is a surviving gate within the historic city walls of Marrakesh, Morocco. As one of the fortified entrances to the ancient medina, it represents the defensive architecture that once protected this major imperial city.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  47. Koubba of Fatima Zohra Koubba of Fatima Zohra
    49 45 min

    Koubba of Fatima Zohra

    Lalla Zahra Bin Alkouch

    Lalla Zahra Bin Alkouch is a historic place in the central visitor area of Marrakesh.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Marrakesh
  48. Foundation Montresso - Jardim Rouge
    50 1 hr 30 min

    Foundation Montresso - Jardim Rouge

    Jardin Rouge is a contemporary art foundation and sculpture garden located within metropolitan Marrakesh. Known locally as Foundation Montresso - Jardim Rouge, this cultural institution operates as a creative space dedicated to modern artistic expression.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  49. CM Art Gallery CM Art Gallery
    51 1 hr 30 min

    CM Art Gallery

    CM Art Gallery is a contemporary art venue in Marrakesh, offering a change of pace from the city’s souks, palaces, and historic monuments.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  50. Galerie Sinya 28
    52 1 hr 30 min

    Galerie Sinya 28

    Galerie Sinya 28 is a city art gallery in Marrakesh, offering a focused cultural stop beyond the city’s famous souks and historic medina.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Marrakesh
  51. Cinéma Leila Alaoui
    53 2 hours

    Cinéma Leila Alaoui

    Cinema Leila Alaoui is a Marrakesh cultural venue named for Moroccan photographer and video artist Leila Alaoui, whose work is associated with documentary and visual storytelling.

    • Must see
    • Entertainment venue
    • Marrakesh

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Morocco be?

Eight to twelve days can join Marrakesh with one Atlantic, imperial-city or Atlas route. A desert extension needs dedicated road time and should replace, not simply be added to, another distant region.

What entry documents are needed for Morocco?

Morocco’s Accès Maroc service is the government channel for electronic visa and travel-authorisation checks. Eligibility is passport-specific; verify the required route through that portal before committing to transport.

What is the best way to travel around Morocco?

Casablanca and Marrakesh are the largest air gateways. ONCF trains serve the main northern and Atlantic cities, whereas mountain, desert and smaller-town journeys depend on coaches, cars or organised transfers.

When is a practical time to visit Morocco?

March to May and September to November avoid the strongest heat on many city and inland routes. Atlas conditions, Atlantic weather and desert temperature swings require separate checks for the planned circuit.

What money and payment basics apply in Morocco?

Moroccan dirhams (MAD) are the local currency. This record does not state nationwide card coverage or exchange costs; agree the amount and method before a taxi, market or remote accommodation transaction.

What practical safety details should I save for Morocco?

Morocco distinguishes 19 for city police, 177 for the gendarmerie and 15 for fire or ambulance. Power is 220 V through Type C and E sockets, while tap-water guidance is Not recorded.