Morocco · best-of list
16 Top Things to Do in Morocco
All 16 things to do our route editors picked in Morocco, across 3 destinations, gathered in one list. 16 come with an insider tip, and 6 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
16 things to do in Morocco, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Fes 7 picks
Al-Attarine Madrasa
Fes · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
Small 14th-century madrasa with some of the finest zellige tilework in Morocco.
Tip: Combine with a look into Al-Qarawiyyin's doorway nearby.
Photo: Robert Prazeres · CC BY-SA 4.0
Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque
Fes · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
Founded in 859 and among the world's oldest universities; non-Muslims view from the doors.
Tip: Peek through the main door into the courtyard.
Photo: Soufiane El Kadaoui · Google
Bab Bou Jeloud
Fes · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
Blue-and-green tiled gate that is the main entrance to Fes el-Bali.
Tip: Start medina walks here; Talaa Kebira leads downhill.
Photo: Petar Milošević · CC BY-SA 4.0
Borj Sud
Fes · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
Restored 1582 Saadian fort on the hill south of the medina, now a fortifications museum with sweeping old-city views.
Tip: Walk up from Bab Jdid; go late afternoon for the light and calls to prayer.
Photo: Robert Prazeres · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bou Inania Madrasa
Fes · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
Marinid madrasa with carved stucco and cedar and a working minaret.
Tip: Closed to visitors at prayer times; go mid-morning.
Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but pl · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chouara Tannery
Fes · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
Medieval tannery with stone dye vats, viewed from leather-shop terraces.
Tip: Visit before noon; take the mint sprig offered for the smell.
Photo: Uwe Brodrecht · CC BY-SA 2.0
Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts
Fes · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
Restored fondouk with carved cedar work and a rooftop cafe.
Tip: Have tea on the roof terrace.
Photo: Mustapha Taleb · Google
Marrakech 5 picks
Bahia Palace
Marrakech · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
19th-century vizier's palace with painted ceilings and tiled courtyards.
Tip: Go early; tour groups arrive by 10am.
Photo: Val Traveler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ben Youssef Madrasa
Marrakech · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
16th-century Koranic school with a carved cedar and zellige courtyard, restored in 2022.
Tip: Arrive at opening for an empty courtyard.
Photo: Wolfgang B · CC BY-SA 3.0
Jemaa el-Fnaa
Marrakech · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
Main square where snake charmers by day give way to food stalls and musicians at night.
Tip: Settle prices before photos with performers.
Photo: Boris Macek · CC BY-SA 3.0
Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech
Marrakech · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
Museum of the designer's work next to Jardin Majorelle.
Tip: Buy a combined ticket with the garden.
Photo: Ömer Subaşı · Google
Saadian Tombs
Marrakech · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
16th-century royal tombs with a carved Hall of Twelve Columns.
Tip: Expect a short queue to view the main chamber.
Photo: C messier · CC BY-SA 4.0
Merzouga 4 picks
Camel trek to a desert camp
Merzouga · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
Ride 1–2 hours into the dunes to a Berber camp for dinner and stars.
Tip: Book through your auberge; bring a scarf for wind.
Photo: Merzouga luxury Desert Camps · Google
Khamlia village
Merzouga · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
Village of Gnawa families descended from West Africans; music sessions over tea.
Tip: Dar Gnawa groups play for visitors; leave a tip or buy a CD.
Photo: Ali el farkali · Google
Ksar Abbar
Merzouga · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
Fortified mud-brick ksar near Rissani, once a palace for the Alaouite royal family.
Tip: Combine with the Rissani market.
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 3.0
Sandboarding on Erg Chebbi
Merzouga · On our Morocco Imperial Cities route
Slide down the high dunes on boards rented from auberges.
Tip: Best in late afternoon when the sand cools.
Photo: Neil Paterson · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in Morocco?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 16 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Morocco has the most things to do on this list?
Fes has the most (7 of 16), followed by Marrakech (5) and Merzouga (4).
Are any of these free?
6 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque, Bab Bou Jeloud, Jemaa el-Fnaa, Ksar Abbar, Borj Sud, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
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