Marrakech Walking Tour: Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef & Souks

Bahia Palace holds 160 rooms arranged around courtyards, each one decorated differently.

A guided walking tour of Marrakech's medina takes you through the Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Medersa, and the souks with a licensed local guide and skip-the-line monument access. The tour runs four hours and covers the city's main historical sites on foot. Hotel pickup is included in the private option. Shared and private tours both run in English and French. Entry tickets to the two palaces are separate from the tour price.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Koutoubia Mosque15m
2. Bahia Palace55m
3. Ben Youssef Madrasa45m
4. Marrakech Medina30m

Explore Marrakech's historic sites and markets

• Visit Koutoubia Mosque
• Tour Bahia Palace and gardens
• Explore the Mellah Jewish quarter
• Walk through vibrant souks and artisan workshops
• Visit Ben Youssef Medersa
• Wander through Marrakech Medina
• Conclude with cultural highlights

The experience

The walk starts at the Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech's largest place of worship, where you'll see the Almohad tower topped with four copper spheres. From there you move into Bahia Palace, an eight-hectare compound of 160 rooms built around courtyards and gardens. The palace walls carry zellij tilework, stucco panels, carved cedar ceilings, and painted motifs: each room distinct from the last. Your guide walks you through the layout and the history of the palace itself, which dates to the 19th century.

The route then cuts through the Mellah, Marrakech's former Jewish quarter, before opening into the souks. Here the streets narrow and the sensory load arrives all at once: stalls stacked with spices, leather, textiles, and perfumes, and artisan workshops where potters, metalworkers, and woodcarvers work in front of you. You stop to watch the crafts happen, not just pass by them. The Ben Youssef Medersa comes next: a Quranic school rebuilt in the 1560s under the Saadian dynasty, with zellij tilework and carved cedar that mirrors what you saw in the palace but in a different scale and purpose. The medina itself, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, closes out the day. You wander the winding alleys and return to the markets with time to explore on your own pace.

Skip-the-line access means you don't queue at the monuments. The guide is licensed and speaks either English or French depending on which option you book. Hotel pickup from your riad is included if you choose the private tour. The shared tour meets at a set point. You'll need moderate fitness for the walking and the uneven medina streets, and the tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers.

What’s included

• Licensed local guide in your chosen language.
• skip-the-line access to both monuments.
• free time to explore each site at your own pace.
• hotel pickup from your riad (private option only).
• personalized service and insider tips from your guide.

Options for this experience

4 options

English-language walking tour, shared10:00 and 14:00Shared tour from the meeting point: take part in this group tour led by an experienced, licensed guide, beginning at Café de France in Djemaa El Fna Square.

French-language shared walking tour10:00 and 14:00Shared tour from the meeting point: join this small group tour led by an experienced, licensed guide who speaks French, starting at Café de France.

English-language private tour8 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00Private walking tour: pick this private option for a more personalised experience. Your tour starts from your riad within the medina of Marrakech.

French-language private tour8 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00Private walking tour: pick this private option for a more personalised experience. Your tour starts from your riad within the medina of Marrakech.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupUp to 1000

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 15.29

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Moments in Morocco

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour if you're staying in a riad and want pickup included. Pick the shared tour if you'd rather meet at a set point and travel with other visitors. Both options give you the same monuments and guide access. The difference is whether the guide collects you or you arrive at the start together.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

How many rooms does Bahia Palace actually have?

Bahia Palace contains 160 rooms arranged around courtyards and gardens spread across eight hectares, each decorated with different tilework, stucco, and carved cedar.

What exactly is the Ben Youssef Medersa?

The Ben Youssef Medersa is a Quranic school originally built during Sultan Abou el Hassan's reign and later reconstructed in the 1560s, showcasing Moroccan architectural details like zellij tilework and intricate stucco plasterwork.

Do I have to pay extra for entry to the palaces?

Entry tickets to Bahia Palace (100 MAD) and the Ben Youssef Medersa (50 MAD) are not included in the tour price and are paid separately per person.

What's included in the private tour that the shared tour doesn't have?

The private tour includes hotel pickup from your riad within the medina. The shared tour does not. Both include the guide, skip-the-line access, and free time to explore each monument at your own pace.