4 days in Marrakech Itinerary: A Travel Guide
Situated at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, Marrakech known as the ‘The Red City’ is an assault on the senses. This ancient city is filled with cultural attractions, lively markets, a maze of streets and has an invigorating atmosphere.
After spending a little time exploring the city, I put together this 4 days in Marrakech Itinerary: A Travel Guide. I feel this gives you enough time to enjoy all the unique experiences available.
This is a year round destination, due to its warm desert climate. I would suggest avoiding the summer months where the heat can become oppressive, but there is really no ‘bad’ time to visit.
Day 1 – Explore the Medina and Street Food Tour
After an early morning flight, we found our accommodation and relaxed for a while. We then truly started our trip by taking a guided street food tour. This is the perfect way to explore Marrakech’s buzzing souks and you have an expert guide sharing all of the local spots.
The tour begins at Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, the beating heart of the city. It can be quite overwhelming in this area so we immediately headed into the souks, making our way down side streets stopping at local places sometimes missed by travellers.
We enjoyed an array of local delicacies, from sweet pastries to snails! We would stop to take in the vibrant aromatic spices at vendor’s stalls and try the fresh local produce at another stand. One of my favourites was trying out the many different varieties of olives, it was incredible.
We visited a number of smaller restaurants trying freshly baked breads, soups, salads and even seeing a whole lamb being cooked in a traditional pit oven!
This is a wonderful introduction to not only Moroccan cuisine, but the city itself. You see people haggling with vendors and learn about the different spices and herbs that are abundant in the local cuisine.
We finished the tour on a rooftop terrace of a small restaurant I probably never would have found myself, where I had the most delicious tagine of our entire trip and sipping on a mint tea, of course.
Make sure you come to this tour with a big appetite!
Day 2 – Hot Air Balloon Ride and Discover the City
Just outside of Marrakech you’re able to take a hot air balloon ride over the desert at sunrise. You see the city and Atlas mountains in all of their glory from above. It’s the epitome of adventure and a magical experience.
We had to wake up very early to meet our transfer, who drove us around 20km outside of Marrakech. We received a warm welcome when we arrived and were provided mint tea and pastries.
The team then began preparing the balloons for our flight, they were much larger than I had anticipated. It’s quite the sight seeing them fill up with air ready to take us on an adventure.
There is a safety demonstration before boarding and the captain will gives information about the hot air balloon and the flight we’ll take.
Climbing into the basket is trickier than you might expect, but once you’re situated it’s time to take flight. There were around 20 people in total in our hot air balloon, however it didn’t really feel crowded. The basket is kind of segmented and there were a total of four people in our segment, meaning we were all able to have space and take in the phenomenal views.
We began ascending as the sun was beginning to rise over the Atlas Mountains. The sky was turning such beautiful shades of purple and pink. It felt like there were hundreds of balloons floating around us, it was truly a breath-taking moment.
The pilot manoeuvred to ensure that everybody was able to enjoy the different views over the vast desert and Moroccan countryside.
It felt like we were much higher than the other balloons and one of the last to land – which involves bracing and dragging along the floor a little. Quite bumpy but fun none the less. We then were presented a certificate of the flight and a video was made of the captain releasing the remaining gas.
Before heading back to the city, we were served a traditional Berber breakfast in a Caidal tent.
This was a spectacular morning and an unforgettable memory, if you’re considering taking a hot air balloon ride – do it! You wont regret it.
After an adrenaline filled morning, we took it relatively easy on the afternoon. We decided to walk around the Medina stopping to shop in the souks and enjoying a spot of lunch at one of the many rooftop cafes.
We then revisited Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, en route to the Koutoubia Mosque which is a must visit attraction.
This chaotic square is home to snake charmers, monkeys, musicians, vendors and so much more. It’s wasn’t one of my favourite places in the city, but you will find yourself there during your trip.
Enjoy it for what it is and beware of scams. We actually didn’t experience any of the harassment I had been warned of prior to visiting, but it’s always good to be cautious in new surroundings.
Day 3 – Visit Bahia Palace, Babouch Making Workshop in the Medina and Palm Grove Quad Tour
In the heart of Marrakech is Bahia Palace, an absolute must visit! The palace is incredibly beautiful with ornately decorated rooms, peaceful courtyards and lush gardens that feel like an oasis within the city.
It’s a testament to Moroccan architecture and culture. There are so many impeccable details throughout the complex – with floor to ceiling zouak and stained glass windows. We really enjoyed wandering around the complex and taking it all in. It can get busy here, so try to arrive early in the day or consider taking a guided tour.
After exploring Bahia Palace we made our way over to the Medina for a very unique experience. We had a Babouch making workshop planned, we met our guide and she walked us through the winding streets to a leather studio.
We were greeted by Youssef, who is a craftsman leather maker and would be teaching us how to make our own Moroccan babouch. If you didn’t know, babouch are the beautiful leather slippers that you will see for sale when you’re in the souks, they come in such vibrant colours and different styles.
Firstly, we looked at his store at the different styles we could make and then we picked out the colours we wanted. After making our selections for the leather, we got to work!
We were guided through the process, from cutting the leather and hammering it to making the shoe using traditional tools.
It was such a fun experience, our guide was there to help translate for us and we got to chat with both her and Youssef. Stopping for an obligatory mint tea and pastries throughout the workshop.
This is such a unique and special way to bring a souvenir home – it’s helping to keep this traditional art form alive and an initiative to support women in work (all of the guides are women).
I’d highly recommend this! I LOVE that I made my own babouch and wear them a lot at home.
In the afternoon we were ready for an adrenaline filled adventure, quad biking through the palm groves outside of Marrakech.
You’ll meet the driver in the city and take a short drive to the quad centre. There is a safety briefing and you’ll be taught how to ride a quad bike, if you’ve never done it before.
Then it’s time for the adventure to begin! We were assigned a guide, who led us on our quad bikes and it was like a personal tour – not sure if this is always the case, but it felt like amazing value for money.
You head out into the dusty desert going as fast as you’re comfortable with, passing by local villages and desert vistas.
We had a rest stop with mint tea, delicious olives and fresh honey and bread. This was in a traditional Berber village and we were able to relax and enjoy the sunshine before finishing off our ride.
We passed through the palm grove speeding through the winding turns and dunes, stopping to take some pictures with the iconic palm trees.
Such a fun experience and definitely one for adrenaline lovers.
Day 4 –Visit Jardin Majorelle and Agafay Desert Camp Day
After an activity filled weekend, we wanted our final day to be relaxed and rejuvenating. We started our morning at Jardin Majorelle, the famous gardens and home to the YSL museum.
Take in the art deco architecture and wander around the peaceful gardens at your leisure. Home to more than 300 plant species from five continents, it feels magical.
This is an incredibly popular attraction, I would highly recommend booking online in advance – you are given a time slot to visit. I’d also suggest going earlier in the day, to avoid the crowds and heat.
The Agafay desert, situated south of Marrakech is almost other worldly. The sand dunes and rocky terrain spans for miles with the snow capped Atlas mountains visible in the distance.
We would have loved to explore this area more, but with only a long weekend in Marrakech, we opted for a day trip.
We met our guide in the city and joined another group on a drive out to the desert. Enjoying the scenery along the way, it was about an hour until we arrived at the stunning Les Terrasses d’Agafay camp.
This luxury desert camp was the perfect location for a relaxing day. We were provided a welcome drink and towels, then grabbed a lounger by the heated pool with spectacular views.
We spent the rest of our time lounging in the sun, swimming in the pool and taking shade under the pergola and olive trees.
We indulged in a three course lunch, of fresh local cuisine which was delicious. 
Truly a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and cap off a brilliant 4 days in Marrakech itinerary.
Where to stay?
We checked into Riad Dar Dada for our time in the city, this was a real leap of faith – as it was a completely new listing at that time. There were zero reviews online, it wasn’t even on any online maps(!), but I was instantly in love with the vibe and took the risk of booking.
What a hidden gem I have found! The Riad is stunning, the interior design is a work of art. It’s a perfect blend of traditional Moroccan features and modern luxe touches.
The beautiful architecture and serene courtyard are a world away from the chaotic streets of the Medina. The plunge pool is a great place to unwind and escape the heat of the city.
The rooms provide all of the comforts of home, with comfortable beds and beautiful design features. The only windows in the room do overlook the courtyard, this is typical of a Riad but worth noting.
There is a rooftop terrace, where a delicious local breakfast is served under the warm morning sun. It’s a wonderful space to enjoy.
Riad Dar Dada is the perfect base for a Marrakech adventure whilst enjoying unparalleled hospitality.
However, the downside is the location, it’s on the outskirts of the Medina and somewhat difficult to find.
When we visited the location wasn’t on maps and we had to resort to asking people to direct us to the correct street. We updated the location on Google to be accurate, so this shouldn’t be an issue going forward.
The nearby Bab Aylan is where you can be dropped off and also grab a taxi from. You have to walk from there through some narrow streets to reach the accommodation.
For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend to solo travellers. I feel it could be unnerving to walk alone in the evening or earlier morning when it’s dark.
If you’re travelling with someone, don’t hesitate to book this gorgeous Riad as your oasis in Marrakech.
I hope you’ve found this 4 days in Marrakech itinerary: A Travel Guide useful. As you can tell, we were able to experience a lot of what the city and surrounding areas have to offer in a short period of time. You could adapt to your preferences and add more activities, or take it easy with more time to relax.
I encourage you to visit this intriguing city – you’re sure to have some magical experiences.
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