The Ultimate Walking Tours of Marrakesh: A Journey Through the Red City
What is the best route to walk through the Red City of Marrakesh?
The best way to walk the Red City is in two loops from Jemaa el-Fna. The northern loop follows Derb Dabachi, Rahba Kedima and Sidi Ishak to Ben Youssef Madrasa and the artisans' souks, then back down Semmarine. The southern loop follows the ochre ramparts past the Koutoubia minaret, Bab Agnaou, the Saadian Tombs, El Badi Palace, the Mellah and Bahia Palace. With us, a local guide walks you through one or both, from 300 MAD per person in a small group, or from 900 MAD for a private walk of about 3 hours. Message Us On WhatsApp or use our Booking Form.
Marrakesh is called the Red City because its walls, riads and minarets are built from the ochre earth found on the spot. The color softens the hard sun, and for Berber families red means life. Walking from the 12th-century Koutoubia to the Almoravid Koubba, the Saadian Tombs, the Mellah and the dead-end derbs of Riad Zitoun, you read eight centuries of Almoravid, Almohad, Saadian and Alaouite history in the color of the walls.
Visit Marrakech Medina, The Best Shopping and Walking Tour Company in Marrakech, has guided 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. Our guides were born inside these red walls, in Derb Dabachi, Riad Zitoun and Mouassine.
Choose your tour
• Ready To Walk The Red City With A Local? Our best Marrakesh walking tour, history, riads, fountains and hidden derbs, private or in a small group.
• Want To Stop In The Souks Along The Way? Our top rated Marrakech souks shopping tour, lanterns, babouches, leather and spices.
• Is A Berber Rug Part Of Your Trip? Our best Marrakech carpets and rug shopping tour, with quality checks and shipping.
• Prefer A Private, Premium Day In The Medina? Our luxury shopping tour, master artisans, antiques and design studios.
• What Else Should You See Beyond The Red Walls? Majorelle Garden, the Menara gardens, Gueliz, hammams and rooftop cafés.
Why is Marrakesh called the Red City?
• The earth The Almoravid founders built with the red clay and ochre soil they found on the plain, mixed with straw and lime
• The sun White walls dazzle under the Marrakech sun, while ochre absorbs the light and rests the eyes
• The meaning For Berber families, red is the color of life, which is why it fills their rugs too
• The rule New buildings in Marrakech still keep the ochre color, from the Medina to Gueliz
• The holes in the walls They held the wooden scaffolding during construction and let the walls breathe after heavy rain, they're not pigeon nests or spy holes
The story in full is in Why Did Marrakech Choose Ochre Over White?
What do you see on the northern loop?
1. Jemaa el-Fna and the Café de France, the starting point, with orange juice stalls, henna artists and the Koutoubia minaret in view.
2. Derb Dabachi, where Marrakchis buy kaftans, djellabas and babouches, far from the tourist bazaars.
3. Biadine and Znikat Rahba, narrow lanes of small bazaars leading to the old spice square.
4. Rahba Kedima, spice pyramids, dried rose buds, black soap and herbalist shops.
5. Sidi Ishak, vegetable stalls, tagine piles, butchers and a ferran where the baker knows every family's bread.
6. Ben Youssef square, with the Almoravid Koubba, the Ben Youssef Madrasa with its zellige, carved stucco and cedar, and the Marrakech Museum.
7. Souk Haddadine and Souk Anaal, metalworkers hammering brass lanterns, babouche makers, then the long return down Semmarine, the mile of shops.
We call this loop The H Rule, Biadine and Semmarine run side by side, joined by Rahba Kedima. See How Does The H Rule Turn The Maze Into A Map?
What do you see on the southern loop?
1. The Koutoubia minaret and gardens, the 12th-century landmark nothing in Marrakech may rise above, next to the ruins of the first mosque.
2. Bab Agnaou, the most beautiful of the Medina gates, carved stone in the Kasbah quarter.
3. The Saadian Tombs, 16th-century mausoleums with cedar ceilings and Italian marble.
4. El Badi Palace, the vast ruined palace of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, with storks nesting on its red walls.
5. The Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, with its spice market, balconies and the Lazama synagogue.
6. Bahia Palace, 19th-century courtyards, painted cedar ceilings, zellige and orange trees.
7. Riad Zitoun, "the olive garden", and its quiet derbs back to Jemaa el-Fna.
Bahia Palace, El Badi and the Saadian Tombs have entry tickets in dirhams and close in the late afternoon, so this loop works best in the morning. On a private walk, add 300 MAD and about one more hour for the visits.
Our Red City walking tour prices
Group walk without shopping
• 300 MAD per person
• Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 10 am
• Up to 15 people, about 3 hours
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
• 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
Check this week's dates, and join even at the last minute, on Which Walks Leave Jemaa El-Fna This Week?
What Happens On A Real Tour With Us?
Thomas, France
"We found Marrakech This Week online when looking for something to do in the Medina. We called and joined the walking tour. Really nice experience, saw places we would never have found alone. The guide was friendly and we enjoyed every minute. Merci!"
What Do Our Guests Usually Ask On The Tour?
Sophie, Belgium
"I was looking for a walking tour online and came across Marrakech This Week. Sent a message and everything was easy to arrange. The walk was lovely, especially the little streets and workshops inside the Medina. Very interesting but also relaxed. Happy we did it!"
What Surprises Travelers Most On Our Walks?
Mark, United Kingdom
"We were looking for something different to do during our stay and found this tour online. Our guide showed us the real Medina, not just the main tourist streets. Lots of interesting things to see and learn. Good value and definitely recommended."
How do you walk the Red City comfortably?
• Start early, when the derbs are cool and the workshops open. See When Do The Workshops Of The Medina Open?
• Wear closed shoes for the cobbled lanes and uneven stone thresholds
• Cover shoulders and knees, with a scarf or hat for the sun
• Carry water and small dirhams for mint tea, orange juice, khobz from the ferran and monument tickets
• Watch for scooters and donkey carts in the narrow derbs
• Come back at sunset, when the red walls glow and the food stalls open on Jemaa el-Fna. See What Happens On The Square When The Sun Goes Down?
What do travelers ask about walking the Red City?
How long does it take to walk the Medina of Marrakesh?
About 3 hours for one loop with a guide, from the Café de France to Ben Youssef or Bahia Palace, and a full day for both loops with the monuments.
How far is the walk?
About 3 to 5 km per loop, on flat cobbled derbs, with stops for mint tea, orange juice and photos of the ramparts.
How long are the red walls of Marrakesh?
The ramparts run for about 19 km around the Medina, with nine main gates such as Bab Agnaou, Bab Doukkala and Bab Er-Rob.
Can I join a walk at the last minute?
Usually yes. Message us on WhatsApp in the morning, and if there's space, meet the group at the Café de France on Jemaa el-Fna at 10 am.
Is the walk suitable for children?
Yes. Kids love the storks of El Badi, the metalworkers' hammers and the spice pyramids of Rahba Kedima.
Ready for the best walking tour of the Red City? Book Your Walk On WhatsApp for a fast reply, or use our Booking Form.
Curious about the stories behind the doors? Read Why Do Medina Doors Have Two Knockers?
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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Discover our full range of authentic Marrakech tours on our Visit Marrakech Medina homepage.