Plan your trip
The Marrakech Bucket List: 20 Things to Do at Least Once
Some cities you tick off; Marrakech you dive into. Between the souks, the monuments, the food and the deserts and mountains on its doorstep, there's more here than a single trip can hold — so this bucket list gathers the experiences that repeat visitors and locals rate the highest, to help you build a trip around the ones that speak to you.
- Read
- 12 min
- Topic
- Plan your trip
- Updated
- 21 July 2026
At a glance
- Do the essentials — the souks, Jemaa el-Fnaa, the palaces and a rooftop sunset — then go deeper.
- Leave the city at least once: a day trip or a desert night is often the trip highlight.
- Balance sightseeing with slow pleasures — a hammam, mint tea, a long lunch.
- Book the big-ticket experiences (desert, balloon, cooking class) ahead in high season.
The medina essentials
Start with the classics that make Marrakech, Marrakech. These are all inside or beside the old city and easily strung together over a couple of days.
- Get gloriously lost in the souks, then learn to read them on a guided walk.
- Watch Jemaa el-Fnaa transform into a food theatre after dark.
- Tour the Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs and El Badi ruins.
- See the Koutoubia minaret and the Ben Youssef Madrasa.
- Catch sunset from a rooftop with the call to prayer rolling across the medina.
- Unwind in a hammam — public and cheap, or a plush spa version.
Gardens, food and craft
Beyond the headline sights, the experiences people remember most are often the sensory ones — colour, flavour and making things by hand.
- Visit the cobalt-blue Jardin Majorelle and the YSL story.
- Eat your way through a street-food tour or roll up your sleeves in a cooking class.
- Shop the souks with intent — a rug, lantern or leather bag haggled for fairly.
- Meet the makers at a pottery or artisan workshop.
- Sip mint tea in a hidden riad courtyard.
Escape the city
The single piece of advice returning visitors give most is to get out of Marrakech at least once. The region is extraordinary, and the contrast makes the city itself feel even richer.
- Spend a night under the stars in the Sahara or Agafay desert.
- Take a day trip to the Atlas Mountains, Ourika Valley or Ouzoud Waterfalls.
- Escape to the Atlantic at Essaouira for sea air and seafood.
- Float over the plains at dawn in a hot-air balloon.
- Ride camels or quads at sunset in Agafay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number one thing to do in Marrakech?
Experiencing Jemaa el-Fnaa and the surrounding souks — the beating heart of the city — is the essential, unmissable experience, best on a first evening as the square comes alive. From there, branch out to the palaces, gardens, food and the deserts beyond.
How many days do you need to do the Marrakech bucket list?
Three to four days covers the city essentials comfortably; five to seven lets you add a desert night, a day trip or the coast. Pick the experiences that matter most to you rather than trying to cram everything in.
What's the best out-of-city experience from Marrakech?
A night in the desert tops most lists — the Sahara for real dunes (2–3 days) or Agafay for a close, easy taste. Day trips to the Atlas, Ourika and Essaouira are also frequent trip highlights. Book ahead in high season.