Best Places to Stay, Eat & Visit in Marrakech: Travel Guide

If your style of vacation involves epic sightseeing in a city steeped in rich cultural history that also happens to have all the modern amenities a woman could ask for, perhaps a visit to Marrakech should be on your radar. You probably already have an image of it as a place of unimaginable luxury, camel rides through the desert, and colorful caftans, but there’s also much more in terms of things to do and places to see in Marrakech. Want to eat lamb tagine in a discreet plant-filled patio after shopping the souks? Fancy visiting some ancient tombs or relaxing in a hammam? What about checking out a magical garden previously maintained by designer Yves Saint Laurent (and visiting the newly opened, adjoining museum)? Learn more about all of the above, plus some incredibly stylish places to stay and more in our Marrakech travel guide below. Even if it’s just a quick 36 hours in Marrakech, these are the must-see places to visit, things to eat, and places to stay. And to help you further daydream about your own trip to Marrakech, we’ve included a few Moroccan-inspired pieces that’ll ensure you look flawless while you’re there.

Tucked away amid the heart of Marrakech’s old town, Dar Kawa offers the perfect combination of traditional Moroccan and modern aesthetics. The riad (or guesthouse), which was originally built in the early 17th century for religious practices, was acquired by contemporary designer Valérie Barkowski, and she’s responsible for the serene yet comfortable vibe that makes this such a unique place to stay in the area.

For over-the-top luxury and the epitome of Marrakech style, there’s likely no better place to lay your head than Royal Mansour. This grand palace was built by the area’s top architects and craftsmen with a goal of creating the ultimate ode to the country’s authentic and traditional sensibility. With a Michelin star chef behind the hotel’s eateries (there are a few), a beautifully landscaped garden with date palms and olive trees, and an in-house spa with pampering treatments to beautify, detoxify, and decompress (plus much more), this is the ultimate Moroccan getaway and earns a well-deserved top spot on any Marrakech travel guide.

Whether you’ve got a week or just 3 days in Marrakech, pay a visit to Majorelle Gardens, a stunning property that was originally the creation of French painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s and then lovingly brought back to life by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge decades later. From the iconic “Majorelle” blue facade of the Berber Museum (which was once the artist’s studio) to the menagerie of cacti, palm trees, and more botanical beauties, there’s so much to take in here. Stroll next door for the museum.

For more historical places to see in Marrakech, head to the Saadian Tombs, which date back to the late 16th century. Here you’ll view the beautiful marble sepulchres where members of the Saadian Dynasty are buried, including those of some memorable Moroccan figures.

No Marrakech guide is complete without mentioning the food, Grab lunch in a secret garden at Le Jardin. With a menu by famed local chef Kamal Laftimi and decor via designer Anne Favier, this cafe in the medina is an ideal place to take a break from shopping the souks and nibble on classically Moroccan fare with a modern twist, like slow roasted lamb with cous cous or whole grilled sardines.

At Topolina, pick up loafers, tunic dresses, dusters and more (including menswear) in the rich patterns and hues that are indicative of the Marrakech style. Designer Isabelle Topolina’s reputation for creating exquisite pieces has lead to the opening of several different outposts, three of which you can find when you visit Marrakech.

No trip to Marrakech or travel guide could be complete without a visit to the souks. Shop Moroccan leather slippers, Berber carpets, exotic spices, kaftans, and more in this outdoor market that’s a maze of streets lined with various vendors.

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