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The top 10 unusual places to visit in Marrakesh

Get off the beaten track in Marrakesh with 10 original places to visit

Enjoy an unforgettable and authentic trip to Marrakesh with our top 10 unusual places to visit. Lose yourself in the narrow alleyways of the medina, open the doors to lavish palaces, visit their secret gardens and explore the desert as you travel on a camel!

Street art jardin rouge

1. The Jardin Rouge: street art and olive groves

Home to contemporary art, the Jardin Rouge is an artists’ residence for the very best street artists. Once inside the traditional earth walls, take a stroll through the olive grove where you might see a metal gorilla or a graffiti-covered camel, left there by former resident artists. You might even see graffiti artists at work in one of the many workshops or in the exhibition hall.
Jardin Rouge - KM 20 - Route de Fès - Marrakesh
Entrée dar moulay ali koutoubia

2. Dar Moulay Ali: a cup of tea in the gardens of Maison de la France

Maison de la France has seen its fair share of beautiful people as Prince Moulay Ali's palace and the consul’s residence! Close to the Koutoubia Mosque, this beautiful house is now open to the public. Enjoy the contemporary art exhibitions before sipping a cup of tea in the shade of the palm trees in its magnificent garden.
Dar Moulay Ali, Maison de la France - rue Ibn Khaldoun - Marrakesh
Jardin secret marrakech

3. Marrakesh’s most beautiful secret garden

A mysterious, centuries-old Arab-Andalusian palace is reborn in the heart of the medina. Get away from it all in its exotic garden, gather your thoughts in the Islamic garden and enjoy an incredible view of the medina and the Atlas Mountains from the top of its tower. This secret garden is just waiting for you!
Le Jardin Secret - 121 rue Mouassine - Marrakesh

4. Maison Tiskiwin: immersion in Moroccan culture

Visit Maison Tiskiwin and experience the Trans-Saharan trade route for yourself. Travel from Marrakech to Timbuktu via the Atlas Mountains and discover some of the treasures which Moroccan craftmanship has to offer. Tapestries, clothing, furniture, musical instruments, jewellery: this museum has a wide array of fascinating objects, presented in a whirlwind of shapes and colours. 
Maison Tiskiwin (or the Bert Flint Museum) - 8 rue de la Bahia - Marrakesh
Terrasse du cafe clock marrakech

5. An evening of tales and stories at Café Clock

Spend an evening in Café Clock, listening to the strange and fascinating stories told by its storytellers in Moroccan Arabic and English. Whatever the language, this cool, friendly café has an incredibly spirited atmosphere. Concerts, jam sessions and evenings featuring Gnawa music make Café Clock a truly unique place.
Café Clock - 224 Derb Chtouka - Marrakesh

6. Agafay: the desert just a few miles from Marrakesh

Just an hour away by car lies the Agafay desert, a vast rocky plateau in shades of white and ochre. Try a half-day camel ride or opt for an overnight stay in a Berber tent to really soak up the atmosphere. You can also visit the “enchanted oasis” and admire the unique sight of the desert’s starry night sky. It’s the perfect way to recharge your batteries before you continue exploring our top 10 unusual places to visit in Marrakesh!
Agafay desert, 20 miles to the south of Marrakesh.

7. A dinner with the sultans: Palais Soleiman

El Ayadi, a powerful tribal leader at the beginning of the 20th century, had this sumptuous Arab-Andalusian palace built so that he could welcome the crème de la crème of Marrakesh society. Now it’s your turn to join the jet-set. Dressed in your finery, enjoy the fusion of Moroccan tradition and international cooking in an incredible setting. And who knows, perhaps you’ll hear the intriguing, gentle sound of classical music from some of its luxurious rooms...
Palais Soleiman - 8 boulevard du 11 Janvier - Marrakesh

8. Marrakesh’s public baths

Forget about the city’s stylish, delicately fragranced spas and experience the authentic and invigorating world of Moroccan public baths. Take a bar of black soap and let yourself be guided by ancient traditions: your body is rubbed vigorously with a horsehair glove to get rid of dead skin cells. A quick rinse off and there you are: totally relaxed and utterly refreshed.

9. The Mellah neighbourhood: an authentic souk

You can’t avoid the delicious smells of the medina’s old Jewish neighbourhood! Head for the spices, where colours and scents abound, appealing to all your senses. Next, pick up some jewellery: you’ll find plenty of gold, amber necklaces and Berber treasures. It’s easy to imagine what this was place was like when bandits roamed the country: the Mellah souk was one of the world's hubs for stolen jewellery!
Mellah neighbourhood - Marrakesh

10. Moroccan cooking with Souk Cuisine

The adventure begins in the markets in Place Jemaa el Fna: choose the ingredients you’ll cook, guided by Gemma, your friendly host. Then it's time to put your apron on and get your hands dirty! You’ll leave with traditional local recipes — perfect for sharing with your friends when you head home.
Souk Cuisine - Derb Tahtah 5 - Zniquat Rhaba - Marrakesh
And why not finish your trip to the Ochre City with a visit to one of Marrakesh’s must-see attractions?
Villa dans le jardin majorelle

The Majorelle garden

This colourful estate by the medina was the home of the legendary couple of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. The intense green colour of the garden contrasts with the deep blue of the art deco buildings and Marrakesh’s ubiquitous shade of red: it’s a treat for the eyes and a paradise for photographers!
Majorelle garden - rue Yves Saint-Laurent - Marrakech

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