The monuments are numerous in Marrakech and luckily they are more less grouped together in the medina. Opening hours vary and are definitely not written in stone. Generally they are open from 0900 - 1200 and from 1500 - 1800 and closed on Tuesdays.

We suggest hiring a guide for private tours of the monuments and you can always find an official guide at the entrances. It is a good idea to agree on the cost before beginning your tour.

Ali Ben Youssef Mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakech and was originally constructed in the second half of the 12th century. Later the mosque was destroyed and rebuilt several times, each time altering its size and changing in architectural style. The most recent renovation was done in the Merenid style (19th century).

This vast and dazzling Koranic school was founded by the Merinid sultan Abou el-Hassan (1331-1349) and is one of the most remarkable monuments in Marrakesh. Architecturally speaking the mosque is amazing. Refined and simple at the same time…look everywhere, the floor, ceiling, detail of the arches, how the light plays with the colors….sculpted wood where you can still see traces of the original paint…

La Koubba Almoravide is next to the Museum of Marrakech and though it may not seem like much on the outside, the interior décor is extraordinary and is a great example of Muslim art. It is also the only surviving example of Almoravides art in Marrakech.

Construction of the El Badi Palace was ordered by the Saadien Ahmed el Mansour in 1578 and was not yet completed upon his death in 1603. The most precious materials that could be located were purchased for its creation, all the way to China. There is a beautiful view of Marrakech from the terraces.

Dating from the twelfth century, the Koutoubia Minaret measures 69 meters (as tall as Notre Dame in Paris), and is the first thing seen by visitors to Marrakech. Each arch and façade of the Koutoubia Mosque are different. The surrounding gardens include the Almoravid Palace remains as well as those of a mosque that was destroyed because it was not perfectly aligned with Mecca. Non Muslims cannot visit the interior of the mosque or minaret.

One of the most visited sites in Morocco is the Saadian Tombs which were only accessible via the mosque next door. However, in 1917 they were opened to the public and can now be accessed via a narrow passage that leads to an enclosed garden watched over by two mausoleums that include more than one hundred mosaic decorated tombs.

The Bab Doukkala Mosque rises high above Marrakech and is dominated by a fabulous minaret tower that has a lot of detail.

The Palace Bahia was constructed around 1880 by Ba Ahmed, a Moroccan minister who assured the allegiance of Moulay Hassan and Abdelaziz. Ba Ahmed was more or less the leader of Morocco between 1894 and 1900. The palace is an extraordinary example of Moroccan art.

Dar Si Said was the home of the brother of Ba Ahmed and was constructed by the same artisans that built the Bahia Palace. Today the Museum of Moroccan Art is housed here and the expos give a good representation of the history of Marrakech.