4 Days in Marrakech: First-Timer Itinerary
Four days is the sweet spot for covering the whole city without rushing: two sightseeing days, one for the quieter gardens and a hammam, one to actually shop instead of just browse. Shorter trip? Try 2 or 3 days . More time? Go to 5 , 6 , or 7 days .
Book these before you go
- Riad: compare rooms on Booking.com
- Jardin Majorelle timed ticket: book direct on the official site
- A hammam session: browse options on GetYourGuide
- A medina cooking class: search current dates on Viator
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Medina arrival, Jemaa el-Fnaa by day and night, souks |
| Day 2 | Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Medersa, Saadian Tombs, Mellah |
| Day 3 | Jardin Majorelle, Koutoubia exterior, Gueliz |
| Day 4 | Le Jardin Secret, Menara Gardens, hammam, real shopping |
Day 1: Medina Arrival and Jemaa el-Fnaa
- Land, settle at your riad, agree the petit taxi fare at the counter before you get in, roughly 100-150 MAD to the medina.
- Hit Jemaa el-Fnaa in the late morning while the square is still assembling, fresh orange juice stalls and vendors setting up.
- Spend the afternoon wandering the souks , ducking into whichever stall catches your eye. Lunch somewhere small and unmarked, that’s usually where the good food is.
- Dinner at the numbered food stalls, tagine or grilled skewers, 20-50 MAD a plate, agree the price before ordering.
Day 2: Bahia Palace and the Mellah
- Bahia Palace, about 100 MAD, take your time with the tilework, genuinely one of the best-value sights in the city.
- Ben Youssef Medersa, 50 MAD, daily 9am-7pm, and the Saadian Tombs, 100 MAD, 9am-5pm, back to back before either builds a queue.
- Walk into the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, a fraction of the tourist volume you just left behind.
- Dinner at a riad restaurant serving traditional Moroccan cuisine rounds out the day nicely.
Day 3: Jardin Majorelle and Gueliz
- Book the first morning slot at Jardin Majorelle, 230 MAD garden and Berber Museum, 330 MAD combined with the YSL Museum, it’s a real crowd problem if you skip the pre-booking.
- Walk to Koutoubia Mosque for the exterior and its garden, the interior stays closed to non-Muslims across the country.
- Afternoon and evening in Gueliz, wide boulevards, contemporary galleries, and dinner somewhere with real variety after two days of tagine.
Day 4: Secret Gardens, Menara and a Hammam
- Le Jardin Secret in the morning, 100 MAD (80 MAD under-25), all-day access, the calmest hour you’ll spend in the old city.
- Menara Gardens in the early afternoon, free to walk, small fee for the pavilion interior, olive groves against the Atlas Mountains.
- Book a hammam for later, Hammam de la Rose is a solid choice, steam room and scrub for roughly 250-400 MAD. A neighborhood hammam runs 15-30 MAD for entry and a bucket if you’d rather skip the polish and bring your own soap.
- Spend what’s left of the day shopping properly rather than browsing: Souk Semmarine for leather, counter every opening price at roughly a third of the ask and don’t be afraid to walk away mid-negotiation.
Book your final morning loosely. A slower last day beats cramming in one more sight you’ll barely remember.