Gardens & Oases
Jardin Majorelle & the YSL Story
Electric cobalt blue, exotic cacti and the garden Yves Saint Laurent saved.
- Opening hours
- Daily, roughly 8:00–18:00 (shorter in winter/Ramadan)
- Entry
- From about 160 MAD / 15 EUR (garden); YSL Museum 100 MAD extra
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours (more with the museums)
- Best time
- First thing at opening to beat the queues and crowds
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Overview
The Jardin Majorelle is Marrakech's most photographed garden — a compact, intensely colourful paradise of bamboo, cacti and lily ponds built around a villa painted in a cobalt blue so vivid the artist trademarked it. Created by French painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s and rescued decades later by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, it fuses botany, art and fashion history into one unforgettable hour.
Jacques Majorelle spent forty years shaping the garden as a living work of art, collecting exotic plants from around the world and setting them against walls, pots and pergolas washed in his signature 'bleu Majorelle', a shade inspired by Berber tilework and the North African sky. After his death it fell into decline, until Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé bought and restored it in 1980, making the villa their Marrakech home and saving it from developers.
It's small and can feel busy, but the density of colour and planting is extraordinary: towering bamboo groves, forests of cacti and succulents, cool lily ponds, and the electric-blue architecture threaded through it all, with pops of acid yellow and terracotta. Within the garden, the villa houses the Berber Museum, a beautifully presented collection of Amazigh jewellery, textiles, weapons and costume that's well worth the time.
Right next door — a separate ticket — stands the Musée Yves Saint Laurent, a striking modern building devoted to the couturier's work and his love of Morocco, which inspired so many of his collections. A memorial to YSL stands in the garden itself. Book timed tickets ahead in high season and arrive at opening: by mid-morning the queues and the crowds around the blue villa are considerable.
Highlights
- The world-famous 'Majorelle blue' villa, pergolas and planters
- Exotic bamboo, cactus and palm collections around lily ponds
- The Berber Museum of Amazigh craft, jewellery and costume
- The neighbouring Yves Saint Laurent Museum (separate ticket)
What to see
The blue villa & pergolas
The cobalt-blue architecture that defines the garden — the classic Majorelle photograph.
The cactus & bamboo collections
Majorelle's exotic planting — soaring bamboo, forests of cacti and succulents, lily ponds.
The Berber Museum
Inside the villa: a jewel-box collection of Amazigh jewellery, textiles and craft (included).
The YSL Museum
Next door, a separate museum of Yves Saint Laurent's fashion and his Moroccan inspiration.
Getting there
- In Gueliz, the new town, about a 10-minute taxi from Jemaa el-Fnaa
- Roughly a 30-minute walk from the medina, or a short petit-taxi ride
- The garden and YSL Museum are next door to each other on Rue Yves Saint Laurent
Insider tips
- Book timed tickets online in advance — queues are long in high season
- Arrive right at opening for the blue villa without the crowds
- The garden and YSL Museum need separate tickets; combined options exist
- The Berber Museum inside is included and often overlooked — don't miss it
- Go on a bright day; the blue and green are at their most electric in sun
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Jardin Majorelle cost?
The garden costs around 160 MAD (about 15 EUR) for adults, with the Berber Museum inside usually included. The neighbouring Yves Saint Laurent Museum is a separate ticket of roughly 100 MAD, and combined tickets are sometimes available. Prices change, so check the official site when you book.
Do I need to book Jardin Majorelle tickets in advance?
In high season, strongly yes — the garden limits numbers and on-the-day queues can be very long. Booking a timed ticket online lets you skip much of the wait. Whenever you go, arriving right at opening gives you the best chance of photographing the famous blue villa without crowds.
Is the Jardin Majorelle worth it?
For garden, design and fashion lovers, yes — the colour, planting and the Yves Saint Laurent story make it special, and the Berber Museum is a bonus. It is small and can be crowded, so manage expectations and go early. Pairing it with the YSL Museum next door makes a richer half-day.
What is the difference between the Majorelle Garden and the YSL Museum?
The Jardin Majorelle is the historic garden and blue villa (with the Berber Museum inside), created by painter Jacques Majorelle and later owned by Yves Saint Laurent. The Musée Yves Saint Laurent next door is a separate modern museum about the couturier's fashion work and his ties to Marrakech. Each has its own ticket.