Step by Step Through Marrakesh: The Complete Guide to Exploring on Foot (Full-Day Itinerary)
How do you spend one full day exploring Marrakesh on foot?
The best full day on foot in Marrakesh starts early on a quiet Jemaa el-Fna, then a guided morning walk north through Derb Dabachi, Rahba Kedima, Ben Youssef Madrasa and the artisans' souks, lunch on a rooftop, an afternoon in the south of the Medina at Bahia Palace, the Mellah and the Saadian Tombs, the Koutoubia gardens at golden hour, and sunset with dinner at the food stalls of Jemaa el-Fna. We guide the morning or the whole day, from 300 MAD per person in a small group, or from 900 MAD for a private walk of about 3 hours, with 300 MAD more and about one more hour for monuments. Message Us On WhatsApp or use our Booking Form.
The Medina is made for walking. Cars stop at the gates, scooters and donkey carts share the derbs with you, and everything worth seeing, souks, palaces, fondouks, fountains, ferran ovens, is within a few kilometers of the Koutoubia minaret. A good day on foot is about timing, monuments in the morning or afternoon before they close, workshops while the artisans are at work, and the square when it comes alive at sunset.
Visit Marrakech Medina, The Best Shopping and Walking Tour Company in Marrakech, has walked travelers through the Medina since 2004. Our guiding is Recommended By Rick Steves, and our Medina walk was featured by Daniel Jacobs in The Rough Guide To Morocco.
Choose your tour
• Who Can Guide Your Morning Through The Medina? Our best Marrakesh walking tour, private or in a small group.
• Want To Shop The Souks During Your Day? Our top rated Marrakech souks shopping tour, lanterns, babouches, leather and spices.
• Planning A Rug Stop Between Two Monuments? Our best Marrakech carpets and rug shopping tour, with quality checks and shipping.
• Prefer A Private, Premium Day? Our luxury shopping tour, master artisans, antiques and design studios.
• What If You Have More Than One Day? Majorelle Garden, the Menara gardens, hammams and rooftop cafés.
What does a full day on foot look like, hour by hour?
• 8.30 am Jemaa el-Fna while it's quiet, orange juice stalls setting up, the Koutoubia minaret in the morning light, mint tea at the Café de France
• 9 am to 12 pm Guided walk north, Derb Dabachi, Biadine, the spice pyramids of Rahba Kedima, the ferran of Sidi Ishak, the Almoravid Koubba, Ben Youssef Madrasa, the metalworkers of Souk Haddadine and the dyers' souk, then back down Semmarine
• 12.30 pm Lunch on a rooftop near Rahba Kedima or in a riad courtyard, tagine, couscous or pastilla, with fresh mint tea
• 2 pm Le Jardin Secret in Mouassine, restored Islamic gardens with a tower view over the rooftops
• 3 pm South through Riad Zitoun to Bahia Palace, painted cedar ceilings, zellige courtyards and orange trees
• 4 pm The Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, its spice market and the Lazama synagogue, then the Saadian Tombs or El Badi Palace before they close
• 5.30 pm Bab Agnaou and the Kasbah, then the Koutoubia gardens at golden hour, with roses and palm trees
• 6.30 pm Sunset over Jemaa el-Fna from a rooftop terrace, as the smoke of the grills rises
• 7.30 pm Dinner at the numbered food stalls, harira, brochettes, tangia and snail soup, among Gnawa musicians and halqa storytellers
Monument hours change with the season, so check before you go. See When Do The Souks And Workshops Open And Close?
Why walk the north in the morning and the south in the afternoon?
The northern souks, Rahba Kedima, Souk Haddadine, the dyers' souk and Ben Youssef, are best in the morning, when artisans hammer copper, dye wool and weave on their looms, and the lanes are cool. The southern Medina, Bahia Palace, the Mellah, the Saadian Tombs and El Badi, is a string of monuments with entry tickets, easy to visit in the afternoon before they close. Ending at the Koutoubia puts you right next to Jemaa el-Fna for sunset. Locals call the north loop The H Rule, Biadine and Semmarine side by side, joined by Rahba Kedima. See How Does The H Rule Keep You From Getting Lost?
Should you do the full day with a guide or alone?
• Guided morning, free afternoon The most popular choice. A local guide shows you the derbs, the artisans and the way back, and you explore the southern monuments on your own after lunch
• Guided all day A private walk with monuments, about 4 hours, then lunch and an afternoon at your own pace, or a longer custom day on request
• Alone with a plan Possible on the main streets, Semmarine, Riad Zitoun, Kennaria, but expect a few "the square is closed" stories and some lost time in the derbs. See Why Does Google Maps Lose You In The Derbs?
Our walking tour prices
Group walk without shopping
• 300 MAD per person
• Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 10 am
• Up to 15 people, from the Café de France on Jemaa el-Fna
Private walk, every day at 9 am or 2 pm, about 3 hours
• 1 to 2 people, 900 MAD
• 3 to 4 people, 1,200 MAD
• 5 to 6 people, 1,500 MAD
• 7 or more, on request
• Monuments, add 300 MAD and about one more hour, entry tickets not included
• Pickup at your riad or hotel in the Medina or Gueliz, or near Jemaa el-Fna for hotels far away
• Payment nothing in advance, you pay in dirhams at the end
• Cancellation free up to 24 hours before
• Languages English and French
Only deciding the night before? See Which Walks Can You Join Tomorrow Morning?
What Happens On A Real Tour With Us?
Sophie, France
"We joined the walking tour with a small group on our second day in Marrakech. It was a really nice experience. We discovered parts of the Medina we would never have found on our own. The little streets, local shops and artisans were the best part. Very enjoyable morning!"
James, United Kingdom
"We booked a private walking tour and had a great time exploring the Medina. Our guide showed us places away from the busy tourist streets and explained a lot about local life. It made walking around the souks much easier for the rest of our stay."
What Do Our Guests Usually Ask On The Tour?
Laura, Canada
"Really enjoyed this tour! I joined a group and it was a relaxed way to discover the old Medina. Lots of interesting little places and things to see. Time went by very quickly."
Marco, Italy
"We decided to take a private tour because we wanted to explore at our own pace. It was exactly what we needed. We walked through different neighbourhoods, saw workshops and learned about the history of Marrakech. Our guide was friendly and never rushed us."
What Surprises Travelers Most On Our Walks?
Emma, Australia
"Found this walking tour online and booked before arriving. So glad we did. The Medina can be a little confusing at first, but discovering it with a local guide was a completely different experience. We saw much more than we expected and really enjoyed the walk."
How do you stay comfortable on a full day of walking?
• Closed shoes for the cobbled derbs and zellige thresholds
• Water and a hat, especially from May to September, when the ochre walls hold the heat
• Small dirhams for orange juice, mint tea, khobz from the ferran and monument tickets
• Light clothes covering shoulders and knees, with a scarf for the sun
• Breaks on rooftop cafés and in riad courtyards, the Medina is best in small doses
• Friday at midday, some shops in the souks close for prayer, plan couscous lunch then
What do travelers ask about a full day on foot in Marrakesh?
Can you see the Medina of Marrakesh in one day?
Yes, the essentials. Jemaa el-Fna, the souks, Ben Youssef, Bahia Palace, the Mellah, the Saadian Tombs and the Koutoubia fit in one full day on foot, with a guided morning to save time.
How far will I walk?
About 8 to 12 km for the full day, on flat derbs and souks, with stops for mint tea, orange juice and photos of the Koutoubia.
Is it too hot to walk all day in summer?
In July and August, walk the souks early and the gardens late, and rest on a rooftop or by a riad fountain in the hottest hours.
Do I need tickets for the monuments?
Yes. Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, El Badi, Ben Youssef Madrasa and Le Jardin Secret charge entry in dirhams.
Can the guide meet us at our riad?
Yes, for private walks, at riads and hotels in the Medina, Gueliz or the Hivernage. Group walks meet at the Café de France on Jemaa el-Fna, facing Semmarine.
Ready for the best day on foot in Marrakesh? Book Your Walk On WhatsApp for a fast reply, or use our Booking Form.
Want the history behind each stop? Read Which Dynasty Built Each Monument You Walk Past?
Who Wrote This Guide?
This guide was written by the Local Team of Visit Marrakech Medina, Marrakchis who were born and raised in the city and have guided travelers through the Medina since 2004. Our Medina walk is featured in The Rough Guide to Morocco, and our guiding is recommended by Rick Steves. Everything here comes from what we see and hear on our walking tours every day.
Have a question about your trip, even if you don't book a tour? Ask Us On WhatsApp. We're happy to help travelers plan their days in Marrakech.
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