Morocco · 5-day itinerary
5 days in Marrakech
Souks, riads and the edge of the Sahara. Here's a 5-day plan that clusters each day by neighbourhood, with real times, so you walk less and see more.
Day 1
Arrive & settle into Marrakech
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Arrive in Marrakech
Check in at your stay in Medina riad (Mouassine).
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch
- 6:00 p.m. Dinner · Tagine and couscous in a riad
7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. · Medina · ~$21
Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk
Storytellers, musicians and smoke from the food stalls.
Day 2
A taste of the city
Day 3
Art & design
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. · Kasbah · ~$11
Bahia Palace
Zellige tilework and painted cedar ceilings.
Day 4
Layers of history
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. · Medina · ~$9
Ben Youssef Madrasa
A breathtaking fourteenth-century Islamic college.
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Evening at leisure
Dinner somewhere that catches your eye, then a stroll or an early night.
Day 5
Farewell, Marrakech
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Wander Marrakech
Unscheduled time for cafés, rest, or the discovery you didn't plan.
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Depart Marrakech
Check out and head to the airport or station, allowing plenty of time.
- 7:00 p.m. Dinner · Tanjia, the city's slow-cooked specialty
Where to stay in Marrakech
Shoestring
Medina riad (near Jemaa el-Fnaa)
Authentic courtyard guesthouses at great prices.
Hotels in Medina riad (near Jemaa el-Fnaa)Comfort
Medina riad (Mouassine)
Quieter lanes with design riads and rooftop terraces.
Hotels in Medina riad (Mouassine)Luxury
Hivernage / Palmeraie
Palace hotels, big pools and gardens.
Hotels in Hivernage / Palmeraie
What to eat in Marrakech
Tagine
Slow-cooked stew in a conical pot: lamb with prunes or chicken with preserved lemon.
Couscous
Traditionally eaten on Fridays, piled with vegetables and meat.
Tanjia
Marrakech's own: beef slow-cooked in an urn in the hammam's embers.
Pastilla
Flaky pastry pie of pigeon or chicken with almonds and cinnamon.
Harira
Tomato and lentil soup, served at dusk during Ramadan.
Mint tea
Green tea with fresh mint and plenty of sugar, poured from a height.
Where locals send visitors
Jemaa el-Fnaa food stalls $
Night market · Medina · Best for dinner
Numbered stalls fill the square at dusk. Pick a busy one and agree prices first.
ReviewsChez Lamine Hadj Mustapha $
Méchoui · Medina · Best for lunch
Slow-roasted lamb by the kilo in the méchoui alley off the main square.
ReviewsCafé des Épices $
Rooftop café · Rahba Kedima · Best for lunch
Rooftop tagines and juices overlooking the spice square.
ReviewsNomad $$
Modern Moroccan · Medina · Best for dinner · Reserve ahead
Lighter takes on Moroccan dishes on a rooftop terrace.
ReviewsLe Jardin $$
Garden restaurant · Medina · Best for lunch
A green courtyard oasis in a restored riad.
ReviewsAl Fassia $$$
Traditional Moroccan · Guéliz · Best for dinner · Reserve ahead
Run by women for decades; order the slow-cooked lamb shoulder ahead.
Reviews
Heads-up: what to steer clear of
- Scam: In the medina, people may say a street is "closed" or offer to guide you, then demand payment. Politely refuse, and use a map app or a licensed guide.
- Scam: At Jemaa el-Fna, snake charmers, monkey handlers and henna artists may start before you agree, then ask for a lot. Settle the price first.
- Getting around: Agree taxi fares before setting off, or ask for the meter in petit taxis.
Giro's notes, reviewed October 2026. Things change, so check current advice before you go: Government of Canada travel advisories .
Good to know
- Agree taxi fares before you set off.
- Haggling is expected in the souks; start around a third of the asking price.
- Politely decline unofficial 'guides' in the medina.
Daily budget per person
| Shoestring | ~$68 |
| Comfort | ~$174 |
| Luxury | ~$619 |
A shared double room, meals and local transport. Flights and tickets not included.
Make this Marrakech trip yours
Giro rebuilds this plan for your dates, your group and your budget. Swap stops, drag them between days, add your flights and hotel, and share it with everyone coming.
Plan this tripTimes and prices are estimates (prices in CAD at the latest ECB rate). Check opening hours before you go. Place descriptions and photos from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, credited on each photo. Giro may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to you.