Before you arrive: book Jardin Majorelle for the 8:00 slot on day 1. It is the only thing in this plan that sells out, and the morning slot is what makes the day work. Not a Wednesday if you also want the YSL Museum.
Day 1: Majorelle, then the Kasbah palaces
- 8:00 – Jardin Majorelle. First slot, before the groups. 45 minutes in the garden, 30 in the Berber Museum. Taxi from the Medina 20–40 MAD, agree it first. Full guide and prices.
- 9:30 – Breakfast at the garden café or walk down Rue Yves Saint Laurent to a Gueliz café (cheaper, better coffee).
- 10:00 – YSL Museum (optional, closed Wednesday, ~150 MAD). One hour. Skip it if fashion leaves you cold and head straight to step 4. Details.
- 11:30 – Taxi to Place des Ferblantiers (25–35 MAD). Lunch on the square or at one of the rooftop cafés around it.
- 13:00 – El Badi Palace (100 MAD). The ruins, the storks, the Koutoubia minbar, the terrace. 45 minutes. Guide.
- 14:00 – Saadian Tombs (100 MAD), 8 minutes' walk through the Kasbah. Small; the queue for the Chamber of the Twelve Columns is the only slow part. 30 minutes.
- 15:30 – Bahia Palace (100 MAD). The afternoon window after the groups have left. 45 minutes. Guide.
- 17:00 – Walk north up Rue Riad Zitoun el Jdid to Jemaa el-Fna. 15 minutes. Orange juice on the square (5–10 MAD).
- 18:00 – Sunset from a terrace (Café de France or Le Grand Balcon, 25–40 MAD for a drink) as the food stalls set up and the Koutoubia turns orange.
- 19:30 – Dinner on the square at the stalls (30–80 MAD a plate, agree prices first) or at a restaurant on the lanes just north. Then the storytellers and musicians. What everything costs on the square.
Day 2: the Medina properly
- 8:30 – Walk through the souks while they open. Souk Semmarine north from the square. Nobody is selling yet; this is when you take photos.
- 9:00 – Ben Youssef Medersa (50 MAD) at opening, for the empty courtyard. 40 minutes. Guide and photo tips.
- 10:00 – Maison de la Photographie (50 MAD), 5 minutes away. Old photos of Morocco and a rooftop café for coffee. 45 minutes.
- 11:00 – Le Jardin Secret (100 MAD, +40 for the tower). 8 minutes west. The quiet garden, the tower view, mint tea on the terrace. One hour. Guide.
- 12:30 – Lunch in the Mouassine quarter. Plenty of rooftop options within 5 minutes; Nomad and Le Jardin are the known names, the small places on Rue Mouassine are cheaper.
- 14:00 – The souks for real. Rahba Kedima (spices), the dyers' souk, the metalworkers, the Kissaria. Bargain for anything you actually want: 40–60% of the first price. Two hours, and you will get lost; that is fine.
- 16:30 – Koutoubia gardens on the way back, for the minaret in the afternoon light. Free.
- 18:00 – Hammam. The classic end to a Medina day. Public hammams 20–50 MAD (bring your own kit), tourist hammams 300–600 MAD with scrub and massage. Book the latter a day ahead.
- 20:00 – Dinner at a riad restaurant in the Medina (reserve), or back to the square if you loved it.
Alternative day 2 evening: swap the hammam and dinner for an Agafay desert sunset (pickup 15:00, back 22:00). Then do the souks on the morning of day 2 only, and skip Jardin Secret or do it on day 1 after Bahia.
Logistics that make it work
- Taxis: petit taxis, 20–40 MAD for any Medina–Gueliz hop. Insist on the meter or agree before. inDrive and Careem show prices up front; Uber does not operate.
- Cash: most monuments want dirhams. ATMs on Jemaa el-Fna (Rue Bab Agnaou) and all over Gueliz. Take out 1,000 MAD on arrival.
- Opening hours: palaces 9:00–17:00, Majorelle 8:00–17:30, medersa 9:00–19:00, Jardin Secret from 9:30. Ramadan shortens everything by 1–2 hours.
- Walking: Day 1 is about 6 km plus taxis; day 2 is 8–10 km in the lanes. Comfortable closed shoes; the souks are uneven and the carts do not stop.
- Friday: many souk shops close around noon prayers for an hour; monuments stay open.
Budget per person
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Majorelle + Berber Museum | 170 MAD |
| YSL Museum (optional) | ~150 MAD |
| Badi, Saadian Tombs, Bahia | 300 MAD |
| Ben Youssef Medersa, Maison de la Photographie | 100 MAD |
| Jardin Secret with tower | 140 MAD |
| Taxis, 2 days | 150–250 MAD |
| Food, 2 days (stalls to mid-range) | 300–800 MAD |
| Hammam (tourist) | 300–600 MAD |
| Total excluding hotel | ~1,500–2,500 MAD (€140–235) |
Variations
- With children: drop the YSL Museum and the Saadian Tombs, add the Cyber Park (free, shaded, between the Medina and Gueliz) and a calèche ride around the walls (150–200 MAD per carriage, agree first).
- In summer: move everything outdoors to before 11:00 and after 16:30. Spend 12:00–16:00 in the YSL Museum, a hammam, or the riad pool. Jemaa el-Fna only after dark.
- Three days? Add a day trip: Ouzoud for waterfalls, the Ourika Valley for a shorter mountain day, or Essaouira for the coast. See the 3-day itinerary.
- Rainy day: rare but it happens in winter. The YSL Museum, Dar Si Said (museum of Moroccan arts, 70 MAD), Bacha Coffee at Dar el Bacha, and the Kissaria (covered souks).
2 days in Marrakech: frequently asked questions
Is 2 days enough for Marrakech?
Yes for the city itself. Two full days cover the Medina, the palaces, Majorelle and an evening on Jemaa el-Fna without rushing. Day trips (Agafay, Ouzoud, the Atlas) need a third day. Most people who say "two days was too much" tried to do everything at midday in August.
What do I need to book in advance?
Only two things: Jardin Majorelle (online, timed slot, sells out) and, if you want it, the YSL Museum (same ticket site). Everything else in this itinerary is pay-at-the-door or free. Book a desert evening a day or two ahead in high season.
How much does 2 days in Marrakech cost?
Entry fees for this itinerary: about 420 MAD (~€40) per person for Majorelle, Bahia, Badi, Ben Youssef and Jardin Secret. Add 100–200 MAD a day for taxis, 150–400 MAD a day for food depending on where you eat, and a riad from €40 to €200 a night. A comfortable budget is €80–120 per person per day excluding the hotel.
Should I stay in the Medina or Gueliz?
Medina (a riad) for the experience and to walk everywhere in this plan; Gueliz for a hotel with a pool, easier taxis and quieter nights. First visit: Medina. With small children or mobility issues: Gueliz or the Hivernage.
Is Marrakech safe to walk at night?
The main streets, Jemaa el-Fna and the Kasbah are busy and safe until late. The deeper souk lanes empty after 21:00 and are confusing rather than dangerous; use your phone map and walk with purpose. Petty hustling is the real issue, not crime.
