Marrakesh with Soukayna: the city in one day

Marrakesh is busy, hot and chaotic. That is why the first time you see the city, you want to do it with someone who knows it. Soukayna drives you around herself and walks with you through the medina. She knows where it is quiet and where the food is good, and also where you are better off not walking alone. In one day you see the main sights of Marrakesh, at a pace that keeps it from turning into a checklist.

What the day looks like

We start around nine at your riad and go to the palaces first. The Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs are at their best and least crowded in the morning. Then we drive to the north of the medina for the Ben Youssef Madrasa and its courtyard. From there we walk toward the souks, through alleys where few tourists come and past the workshops of blacksmiths and woodworkers.

For lunch Soukayna picks a place based on what you like. You eat well there and you are not handed a set tourist menu. After that you have time in the souks. If you want to buy something, she helps with the bargaining, or she simply tells you what a fair price is. If you would rather get out of the crowds, we drive to Jardin Majorelle for a quieter hour.

We end at Jemaa el-Fna as the sun goes down. The food stalls open and the storytellers and musicians come onto the square. From a terrace you can see everything, or you walk between the stalls with her.

Who it's for

For anyone who is in Marrakesh for the first time and wants to understand the city without getting lost in it. If you are traveling alone, you have someone with you all day who knows the local manners and who just keeps you walking when a vendor gets pushy. Our tips on safety for women are useful to read beforehand.

Good to know

You will walk at least five to seven kilometers on this day, often over uneven streets. Sturdy shoes matter more than pretty ones. In summer it is very hot between noon and four; we then take a longer lunch break and go to the square later. As for clothing, covered shoulders and knees are enough. There are more tips on our page about what to wear in Morocco.

You pay entrance fees yourself on the spot, usually in cash in dirham. So bring some cash. The order of the day can change with opening hours and the weather.

This day combines well with a desert evening in Agafay later in the week. Mention it when you set a date through the contact page and we will plan both.