Marrakech medina tour: Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa & souks

Ben Youssef Madrasa holds 900 students' worth of carved wood, tilework and stucco in a single courtyard.

A four-hour guided walking tour of Marrakech's medina with a certified English or Arabic-speaking guide, covering the Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Koutoubia Mosque, traditional handicraft workshops and the spice market. Monument entry tickets are available to purchase at checkout. The tour winds through narrow streets and alleys, stopping at sites of cultural and historical significance across the old city founded in 1070.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Jemaa el-Fna20m
2. Bahia Palace1h
3. Ben Youssef Madrasa30m
4. Koutoubia Mosque10m

Explore Marrakech Medina and Landmarks

• Visit Jewish headquarters
• Tour Bahia Palace and gardens
• Explore spice market and souk
• Visit Ben Youssef Madrasa
• See traditional handicraft workshops
• View Koutoubia Mosque and minaret

The experience

The tour starts in the medina and moves through its network of narrow streets, beginning at the Jewish quarter before reaching the Bahia Palace. This 19th-century building holds rooms decorated with stuccos, paintings and mosaics, plus a set of gardens. From there, the route takes you into the heart of the medina to the Ben Youssef Madrasa, an Islamic college that once housed as many as 900 students and operated as one of North Africa's largest theological centers until it closed in 1960. The building reopened to the public as a historical site in 1982 and now displays the intricate craftsmanship that defined it: zellij tilework, stucco details and carved wood throughout.

Along the way, you'll pass through the spice market and visit traditional handicraft workshops where artisans demonstrate age-old techniques for leather goods, metalwork and textiles. The guide explains the craftsmanship behind each piece and the methods passed down through generations. You'll also see the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Marrakech and a symbol of the city, built in the 12th century with a minaret that rises above the surrounding medina.

The tour includes free time to explore the monuments and the busy atmosphere of the souk, where you can browse local artisan products and look for souvenirs. A certified guide leads the entire walk and provides advice throughout the day. The route is suitable for all fitness levels, and service animals are welcome.

What’s included

• A certified tour guide in English or Arabic.
• the four-hour walking route through the medina.
• access to traditional handicraft workshops and the spice market.
• free time to explore the monuments and souk.
• advice from your guide throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 14:00

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Morocco Sunny Days

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want the medina's main historical sites (palaces, markets, souks) walkable as one continuous route, rather than scattered stops requiring separate trips across the city.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Ben Youssef Madrasa and why is it worth seeing on this tour?

The Ben Youssef Madrasa is an Islamic college in the heart of Marrakech's medina that once housed as many as 900 students and served as one of North Africa's largest theological centers. It closed in 1960 but reopened to the public in 1982. The building is filled with magnificent carved wood, zellij tilework and stucco work throughout its courtyard and rooms, making it a key example of Islamic architectural craftsmanship in the city.

Do I need to buy tickets to enter the monuments on this tour?

Monument entry tickets are not included in the tour price but are available to purchase at checkout. Your guide will take you to each site, and you'll have time to explore them during the four-hour walk.

What is the Bahia Palace and what will I see there?

The Bahia Palace is a 19th-century building in Marrakech consisting of rooms decorated with stunning stuccos, paintings and mosaics, along with a set of gardens. It is one of the stops on the walking tour where you'll see examples of traditional Moroccan palace architecture and design.

Will I have time to shop in the souk?

Yes. The tour includes free time to explore the spice market and the souk, where you can browse a huge variety of local traditional artisan craft products and look for souvenirs. The guide will be with you to explain what you're seeing and answer questions about the craftsmanship.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and involves walking through the medina's narrow streets and alleys. Service animals are allowed to join the tour.