2 days in Marrakech: a practical itinerary without the rush
Only have two days in Marrakech? This practical itinerary covers the medina, gardens, food and major sights without turning your trip into an exhausting race across the city.
Marrakech in 2 days
A two-day Marrakech plan for first-time visitors who want the magic, not the meltdown
Marrakech can be exhilarating, beautiful and occasionally a little full-on, especially on a short first visit. This two-day itinerary keeps the highlights, trims the chaos where possible, and includes a few useful lessons I wish I’d known earlier.
What’s ahead:
Early morning of day 1: through the souks to the square
After a hearty breakfast on the roof terrace at Le Jardin des Sens et Spa, we set out for our first walk through the souks. I loved them straight away. Think gorgeous smells, colours everywhere, people sitting outside their stalls, children running around. Coloured cloths were stretched across the streets to shield them from the sun, and I felt like I’d wandered onto the set of Aladdin. Or maybe a James Bond movie, given all the young men on mopeds racing through the narrow streets with true contempt for death.
Next stop: Djemaa El Fnaa, the big (no, the huge) square in the middle of the medina. We’d been there briefly the evening before and it had been full of people and food stalls. Now the food stalls were empty and the people nowhere to be seen. Makes sense, given that it was Ramadan. Lots of cats though. A definite plus: Djemaa El Fnaa was now refreshingly free of snake charmers and photo-op monkeys. This left us to enjoy the spectacle without having to sidestep a cobra or accidentally acquire a monkey. Instead, it was just us, the cats, and a vast, sun-baked square enjoying a rare moment of calm.
Late morning of day one: Madrasa Ben Youssef and a not-so-secret garden
Now the Madrasa Ben Youssef was one of the things I really wanted to see – and it did not disappoint. It was pure “Wait – wow!” One minute we were dodging spice carts and scooters in the medina, the next we stepped into the magic of this 14th-century former Islamic college. Everything was ridiculously beautiful. And it would have been peaceful too if there hadn’t been large numbers of tourists marvelling at the same carved cedar wood, gorgeous tiling and stucco inscriptions. I wandered, I stared straight up for way too long, I took far too many photos of the same doorway. It’s the kind of place that makes you forget what you were rushing to next.
Rush off we did though, because there was so much more to see! Our next stop was Le Jardin Secret, which translates to “The Secret Garden”. Secret it was not, given the line of people waiting to get in. But once inside, there was more than enough room for everyone to admire the plants and trees, the fountains and the tiled paths. And to enjoy a mint tea and a pastry on the roof top terrace, while enjoying the view. We lingered as long as we could, but with so much more Marrakech waiting, we finally tore ourselves away and rushed off to the next adventure.
Early afternoon of day one: Musée de Confluence and a lovely lunch.
Our next stop wasn’t on all the usual “things to do” lists—it was a tip from our riad host, the Musée de Confluence. To be honest, I couldn’t tell you exactly what was on display (or what exactly was confluencing), but I can tell you it’s beautiful. More stunning tiles, peaceful courtyards, intricate carvings, plants, and pillars – just without the crowds we’d seen at Madrasa Ben Youssef. We spent a quiet hour wandering, mostly with me taking photos. Marrakech is a photographer’s dream, and this was easily one of the highlights.
After all that walking, taking photographs and exclaiming how gorgeous it all was, it was time for lunch. And where else to have lunch in Marrakech but on a rooftop? We claimed a table above the medina, ordered tajines and warm bread, and took our time with very sweet mint tea, watching the city buzz below and congratulating ourselves on an excellent lunch choice.
Late afternoon of day one: a palace, a near-scam and too much walking
Now this is where we may have misjudged things step-count wise. Instead of heading back to the riad or lingering on that rooftop a little longer, we decided there was still more to see before earning our swim and massage. So off we went toward the Bahia Palace, where we nearly fell for one of the oldest tourist tricks in the book: the “that place is closed, but I know something better” routine.
It goes like this: a friendly stranger asks where you’re going, and if you (somewhat naively, I admit) tell them, they immediately inform you it’s closed. But lucky you, because they can take you somewhere even better. We’ve heard this story in Cape Town and Bangkok, and now Marrakech wanted its turn. My only real mistake was saying where we were going, which led straight to the inevitable “oh, that’s closed” and an enthusiastic invitation to follow him – most likely to a carpet shop or a “traditional” silversmith.
Luckily, I’d already checked that the palace was very much open. We smiled, politely declined, and carried on. So consider this a friendly heads-up: the scam is everywhere, and it’s surprisingly easy to (almost) fall for. Read about other common travel scams and how to avoid them here.
We did eventually make it to the Bahia Palace and while it was open, it was partly under construction. Still beautiful, just not quite at its full, jaw-dropping potential. And if I’m being honest, there’s only so much tiling and intricate carving you can take in before your brain starts going, “Oh look… more tiling.” Blasé, I know, but it happens.
We wandered through a few rooms and courtyards, and it’s undeniably a stunning place. It just maybe one to spread out over your itinerary. Lesson learned: don’t stack all the carved-and-tiled wonders into a single day. Especially because from Bahia Palace it was almost an hour’s walk back to the riad, which added significantly to our step count.
Evening of day one, and mistakes to avoid.
Once back in the riad, we went for a swim in the lovely pool. We enjoyed a massage in the spa, had another delicious meal and finally stumbled back to our room to sleep like the proverbial logs – ready for day two! Not before striking half of the next day’s planned sights off our list though. We do learn from our mistakes occasionally.
Mistakes that we made so you can avoid them:
- We started a bit too late, so it was incredibly busy at Madrasa Ben Youssef. It’s still beautiful, but I think trying to get there first would have been worth it.
- We should have spent longer in Le Jardin Secret, just enjoying the scenery. We were there in March. In the Netherlands it was 5 degrees and raining, and just enjoying the lovely weather would have been enough!
- Same goes for lunch. We should have stayed a bit longer, ordered more bread, more tea and watched the crowds pass us by.
- I shouldn’t have told this nice man where we were going. What did I expect?
- In order to spare our feet, we should have taken a taxi to the Bahia Palace . Better still: just done it on a different day altogether. In that case, we probably would have enjoyed it more.
Morning of day two: Jardin Majorelle
After a hearty breakfast we ordered a taxi and made our way to the Jardin Majorelle. Jardin Majorelle is a small but striking garden full of bold blue buildings and lush plants. Paired with the Yves Saint Laurent Museum next door, it made for an easy, enjoyable wander and a nice change of pace from the medina. Heads up: you can’t just show up. You need to book tickets in advance. Also, if you’re not a fan of selfie sticks and Instagram influencers, you might want to skip this one. This place takes it easy on the tiling and carvings though, so there is that.
We wandered around for a good while, took plenty of photos (selfie-stick free, I’m happy to report), escaped the gift shop without buying anything, and wrapped it all up with a lovely lunch at the garden’s restaurant.
Afternoon of day two: gates and a beautiful hotel
Now I know “underwhelming” is not really a word, but after a walk of more than an hour to the Mechouar-Kasbah gate, underwhelming was exactly what it was. Advertised as one of the highlights, for me this just wasn’t worth the walk. My advice: only stop by if you’re already in the area, or feel free to skip it. It is pretty, just not “70 minutes of brisk walking” pretty.
Another brisk walk took us to La Mamounia hotel, where we had arranged for our driver to pick us up. We took a detour to the Royal Mansour first because I remembered it wrong. More steps. We did have time to take a quick look around We immediately felt wildly underdressed. You’re allowed in, but there’s a strict dress code. Think no shorts, no flip-flops, and a generally put-together look. Not how I look after a full day of walking. Even a short walk through the grounds felt like a peek behind the curtain of serious luxury, before we quietly slipped back out into the real world. Our driver was waiting for us and back we went, for a final walk through the souks, a last look at the El Koutoubia Mosque and a final well-deserved dip in the pool.
Some quick answers to frequently asked questions
Two days in Marrakech is enough to see the highlights, especially if it’s your first visit. You won’t see everything, but you can comfortably explore the medina, experience the souks, visit a few key sights, and still have time to sit, watch the world go by, and enjoy the atmosphere.
Yes, Marrakech can be very enjoyable for older travellers, especially if you take it at a relaxed pace. The medina involves walking on uneven cobbled streets and narrow alleys, so comfortable shoes are essential. Taking breaks in cafés or returning to your riad during the day makes a big difference. I recommend having a massage!
There is quite a bit of walking, particularly in the medina and souks. Distances aren’t huge, but the heat, crowds, and maze-like streets can be tiring. Taxis are inexpensive and useful for getting to places like Jardin Majorelle or back to your accommodation.
For a two-day stay, staying in or close to the medina is ideal. A riad within walking distance of Jemaa el-Fnaa saves time and lets you easily dip in and out of the action. If you prefer quieter evenings, look for one just outside the busiest areas. If you want to stay outside Marrakech itself, I can recommend Villa Dinari.
It can feel busy and intense at first, especially around Jemaa el-Fnaa. Slowing down, visiting early in the day, and taking café breaks helps make the experience far more enjoyable.
Want to know where we stayed? See our review of Riad le Jardin des Sens et Spa
Want to see where we went next? A three-day tour to the Sahara!
