Sightseeing in Marrakesh
There are many difference options for sightseeing in Marrakesh including souvenir shopping in the souks, visiting the royal palaces and the tanneries to see how the leather goods are produced. For further deatils read below what is on offer. We can arrange full and half day tours according to your interests with an offical Marrakesh city guide.
De Jemma el Fna
De Jemma el Fna means 'assembly of the dead' and is where the heads of executed criminals were displayed on sticks. Nowadays the square is full of snake charmers, healers, clairvoyants, musicians, dentists and water carriers. Each entertainer has a different story to tell or different produce to sell. The square comes alive during the evening when the food stalls open with many different cuisines to sample.
Souks
There are many souqs surrounding De Jemma el Fna selling a wide range of Moroccan crafts and goods from bags, shoes, lanterns, teapots to replica clothing and sunglasses. The souqs often seem like a maze and sometimes seem claustrophobic when all of the sellers are enticing you into their shops. We suggest that you hire an official city guide to help you to bargain and find the souqs that interest you the most.
Jewish Quarter
The Jewish Quarter or Mellah in Marrakech, was built in the sixteenth century. The buildings in this area were built in a very different style and are well worth a wander past.
Saadian Tombs
This mausoleum was built in the late sixteenth century for the Saadian sultans and their families. There are 2 mausoleums inside the high walled enclosure; the first is more impressive and housed the tomb of the Sultan el-Mansour; the second has 3 chambers one of which houses the headless body of Mohammed Esh Sheikh who was killed by the Turks.
Jardin Menara
Situated close to the Medina, the Jardin Menara is a large olive grove with a pretty rectangular pool and pavilion as the centre attraction.
Jardin Majorelle
This is a small and intimate garden designed in the twenties by French artist Louis Majorelle and is now owned by designer Yves Saint-Laurent. The gardens house many exotic plants and beautiful ornamental pools with fish and turtles. There is also a collection of Islamic art and cafe here.
Koutoubia Mosque
The Koutoubia Mosque was built in the twelth century by the Almohads and displays many basic themes in classic Moroccan architecture. Towering at 220ft the Koutoubia provides a landmark visible for miles. The interior of the mosque is not open to non-Muslims but you can walk through its landscaped gardens.
Almoravid Koubba
Almoravid Koubba translates as 'dome-shaped tomb of the Holy Man' and was discovered during excavations in 1952. This building is one of the oldest examples of underpinning classical Moroccan architecture, displaying square battlements called merlons.
Tanneries
Visit the tanneries in Marrakech to discover the process of hand making shoes and bags. You will also see how the skins are stretched, softened and dyed in huge vats.
Badi Palace
Badi Palace also dates back to the reign of Sultan el-Mansour in the sixteenth century. The palace is known as 'the Incomparable Palace' as it combines great wealth and craftmanship. Unfortunately the palace was destroyed during 1696 by Moulay Ismail, although through the ruins it is still easy to imagine the vastness of the original building.
Old walls & gates of the Medina
The Medina is enclosed behing an Almoravid defensive wall, made of 200 towers and 20 gates. We recommend visiting the south west gate Bab Robb, the north west gate Bab Doukkala and the eastern gate Bab Debbagh to get a sense of the scale of the Medina.
Bahia Palace
The word 'Bahia' means brilliant and this palace was built at the end of the nineteenth century by a very powerful Muslim leader called Bou Ahmed. Unfortunately after his death, His family was was driven out of the palace and was ransacked. It is still possible to see the traditional Moroccan-Muslim tile patterns and carvings throughout the building.