Back in October 2024, our family had the opportunity to travel to Marrakech for a weekend. Despite having spent a week in Marrakech a few years ago, there were still many places we wanted to see. Marrakech is a vibrant city we really enjoyed visiting, so we were all excited to go back to spend a weekend in Marrakech!
Getting There
Getting to Marrakech from Lisbon is super easy! We took a direct flight on TAP and landed in Marrakech less than two hours later. We didn’t even have to switch time zones! The only delay we had was going through immigration. When we arrived to the Marrakech airport, the end of the line was nowhere to be seen! Fortunately, we were pulled aside and brought to the line for families, and we were through within an hour. Once we cleared immigration, we took a taxi to our Airbnb inside the Medina.
What To Do
There is so much to do in Marrakech! For this weekend, we decided to do see and do what we didn’t get to the first time we visited.
Friday Afternoon
We arrived on Friday afternoon and after a quick stop at our Airbnb, we headed out to the Jemaa el-Fnaa square for dinner. This square is a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity! We really enjoy the energy of this square! There is always music playing and many street performers. We always stay away from any animal-centered attraction as they are quite inhumane. Please think twice before taking photos with snakes, monkeys, or any other animals.
At the square, we did the touristy thing and grabbed dinner from one of the food carts. Dinner was delicious! There were no prices included in the menu, and we definitely over-ordered, but at the end our dinner total was about €50 for dinner for 4 people.
Saturday
On Saturday morning we walked to the Bahia Palace. Tucked away in the heart of Marrakech, the Bahia Palace is a stunning example of 19th-century Moroccan architecture and craftsmanship. As you wander through its tranquil courtyards, intricate tilework, and grand cedarwood ceilings, it’s easy to imagine the opulent life once lived within these walls. The name “Bahia,” meaning “brilliance,” is no exaggeration—the palace is a peaceful escape from the city’s bustle, offering a glimpse into Morocco’s rich cultural past. We were happy to visit the Palace first as we arrived when it was still pretty quiet. By the time we left, tour groups were arriving and it definitely was getting more crowded.
After we grabbed lunch at a rooftop terrace in the heart of the Medina, we visited the Ben Youseff Madrasa. The Ben Youssef Madrasa is a historic Islamic school in Marrakech that’s known for its beautiful architecture and peaceful atmosphere. Walking through its quiet courtyards and seeing the detailed tilework and carvings gives you a real sense of the city’s history. It’s a calm, fascinating place to explore, even when there’s lots of people there. We managed to find peaceful places tucked away in the Madrasa to really absorb the beauty of it!
After visiting the Madrasa we went back to the Airbnb to get some rest. We actually didn’t leave again until the next day because one of our kids got a fever. Otherwise we would’ve gone back out to the Medina to grab dinner.
Sunday
On Sunday morning we decided to go back to the Saadian Tombs, which we had visited the first time we went to Marrakech. This is the one site we visited that we felt was too crowded the first time around, so we decided to give it another try. Fortunately, it wasn’t in vain because we had the tombs basically to ourselves! The Saadian Tombs are a historic royal burial site. They date back to the 16th century, and were hidden for centuries and rediscovered in 1917. The tombs are known for their beautiful tile work, and intricate carvings–they are truly stunning!
Visiting this part of the city (near the Kasbah Mosque) also allowed us to really absorb the magnitude of the damage caused by the 2023 earthquake. It is amazing to see the tombs were pretty much intact when there were so many collapsed structures nearby.
After visiting the tombs we made the impromptu decision of spend our last night outside the Medina at an apartment with a swimming pool! The weather was unseasonably hot for October and we really didn’t feel like doing more sightseeing, so we spent our last afternoon of our weekend in Marrakech in the Menara area soaking up the sun and relaxing before our Monday morning flight home!
Final Thoughts
You can definitely squeeze a lot more during a weekend in Marrakech, but we decided to take it slowly instead. In between sightseeing we stopped at cafes to drink mint tea, visited street stalls to enjoy freshly made juices, and wandered aimlessly around the Medina. I personally love just walking around the Medina, checking out crafts and chatting with people, and I would recommend other travelers do the same!
Check out our Morocco page to learn more about traveling to other cities in Morocco.
