The Beautiful Palaces of Marrakech, Morocco
Marrakech was our final stop during our time in Morocco in February. And, to be honest, I didn’t love it. I thought the Fes medina was better than the Marrakech one and appreciated the vibes and architecture of Chefchaouen more. But I completely changed my tune when we visited the palaces of Marrakech.
The first site we visited in Marrakech was Jardin Majorelle, also known as the Yves Saint Laurent garden after the designer bought and restored it in the 1980s. We walked about 45 minutes to get there and then stood in line in the hot sun for another 45 minutes. After paying $10 to get in, I was majorly (or majorelle-y?) disappointed. The garden was small, crowded and it wasn’t even that impressive. I took a few photos, but really wasn’t wowed by any of it.
I thought Marrakech might be a bust after that, but am glad we pushed on and made our way to El Badi Palace and Bahia Palace. The palaces of Marrakech are totally worth visiting and were definitely the highlights of our time there.
PS: Marrakech is also spelt Marrakesh in French and is correct with either the C or S!
Before we jump into the beautiful palaces, check out some other awesome activities you can do in Marrakech:
FAQs about the palaces of Marrakech
What are the palaces of Marrakech?
The two main palaces located within Marrakech are El Badi Palace and Bahia Palace. There’s also the Royal Palace, but you aren’t allowed to go in. If you’re interested in the architecture, it’s worth going to see the outside of the Royal Palace, but the other two palaces offer a lot more to discover and explore.
Where are they located?
The palaces are actually located quite close to one another, about a 10 minute walk away from one another. They are just outside the walls of the medina, to the south, and quite central in Marrakech. From the medina’s main square, Jemaa el-Fna, it’s only a 15 minute walk to the palaces.
And if you want to see the outside of the Royal Palace, it’s right next door too!
How much does it cost to enter the palaces?
When we visited, entrance to each palace was 70 MAD per person, or about $10 CAD/$7 USD.
How long do you need to visit?
I would say you’ll want about 2 hours for each palace. There are a few things to read, but not many. Most of your time will be spent exploring the different sections and taking photos.
When should I visit the palaces of Marrakech?
We visited Marrakech in February and I think that was the perfect time of year. The weather was warm but not hot, so it was easy to dress conservatively. It was also outside of peak tourist season, so there were no lines for either palace when we visited. I would suggest visiting in the morning, so you can ensure you beat any afternoon crowds.
If you want to see both palaces of Marrakech on the same day, I would suggest starting with Bahia as it is more popular and can get more crowded. El Badi is more spread out and won’t feel cramped even if you visit at a busier time. So head to Bahia Palace in the morning, break for lunch and take in views of the Royal Palace, and then tour El Badi Palace in the afternoon for a complete royal residence day!
El Badi Palace
El Badi Palace is the more historic and ancient of the two, as construction started in 1578. It was built during the Saadian dynasty and features materials from all over Africa and Europe. Today, the palace is in ruins, as it was neglected after the reigning sultan died in 1603, so exploring it will make you feel like Indiana Jones. Enjoy wandering through the wide open spaces and envisioning what they used to look like, walking over crumbled walls and broken tile floors, and spotting the heron nests in the cracks above.
Bahia Palace
Bahia Palace was my favourite of the two palaces of Marrakech that we visited. This palace was built in the 19th Century and it has been much better maintained than El Badi Palace. Bahia means brilliance and it really does live up to its name. I loved walking through the gardens, courtyards and palace rooms, admiring the ornate decor and Moroccan style architecture. The ceilings were so impressive that I was ready to move in!
Which palace would you rather visit?
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All of these photos are gorgeous! Your posts always make me want to travel haha. I can’t wait until it’s safe to do so again xx
Thanks, Tiffany! Looking forward to safe travels in the future!
Beautiful! Gorgeous pics, super ornate and unbelievable how extravagant and rich the details of the palace are. I can’t decide on which palace, so if I ever get there, I’ll just have to see both in the order you recommended of course. Love the tips too. I also really liked the pic of Colin admiring the ornate ceiling! Exotic, thanks for sharing! 💕
Thanks, Moo! Yes, definitely worth seeing both since they’re pretty different from one another and close by. And I like that photo of Colin a lot too!
Wow the Bahia Palace looks stunning – could definitely spend a good few hours wandering around there! Shame that the first Yves Saint Laurent garden wasn’t anything to sing home about!
Thanks, Jenny! Yeah, I definitely prefer these two palaces to that garden.
I would love to visit Morocco – gorgeous photos x
Thanks, Heather! Hope you get to visit!
This post has so much information for anyone looking to visit. Your photos are stunning too.
Thanks!
Wow!!! Both are beautiful but I think I’d prefer Bahia Palace too if I could only visit one. The a#rchitecure is so stunning, I’m glad they made Marrakech a better trip for you so it wasn’t a total bust compared to the others x
Sophie
Thanks, Sophie! Yes, the architecture was incredible!
It is such a stunning place! I would love to go there one day xx
Thanks! Hope you get to!
I loved those Marrakesh palaces. So beautiful. Thank you so much for the link and sorry I’m only getting around to reading this now.
Thanks, John! Yes, they were certainly gorgeous.
Beautiful pictures and I love the details everywhere in the Bahia Palace.
Thanks so much, Tiffany!