What to do in and around Marrakech with Kids
It’s always hard to know how ambitious to be when planning a trip. I’m guilty of making huge lists of everything I’d love to experience but then also have to consider everyone else’s energy, the fact we were staying at a dreamy resort {see this post for where we stayed} and with kiddos who love nothing more than swimming! It’s a tough balance, you’re in Morocco! There’s so much to see and do! But also you’re on holiday. So I scaled it back, still feeling very happy and not at all deprived and our kids also marvelled at everything we did. This is what we ended up doing on our trip to Marrakech with some top tips:
A Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride //
This was such a bucket list experience that I deliberated on for weeks. When my husband and I had stayed in Marrakech a few years ago, you could see them from our hotel every morning but we only had 3 nights and didn’t fancy setting a 5am alarm when we weren’t getting woken up by kids for a rare change! I regretted it ever since but really questioned the safety and if our children would enjoy it or be traumatised! I did some reading and the safety and reviews all sounded so positive, even if you don’t like heights people of all ages were raving about it. I found a guide who was recommended on Facebook who sent me photos of children of all ages. I think the official minimum age was 2 but I did also see a photo of a baby in a carrier. It ended up being the best decision.
We got picked up at 5.20am, the time varies depending on the sunrise time. The clocks had actually changed for Ramadan the night we arrived so we had to get up an hour earlier than it had been. Definitely pack warm clothes as it’s chilly in the morning! Then we were driven around 40 minutes to a desert style camp for morning coffee, tea and cake by a fire and heaters in a traditional Moroccan style tent whilst they sort everybody into groups. This bit was definitely the most nerve wracking not knowing what to expect but then they called us out and we could see the glow before sunrise on the horizon and the scale of the huge balloons and baskets in front of us. This was a bit hectic getting us loaded into the basket, a fair amount of shouting over the sound of the air pumps and it was a rush to get everyone in! Once we were in, we met our pilot and all of a sudden, a few bumps as it got off the ground later, we were in the air! The kids hunkered down in the corner of the basket to start with, I’d taken ear defenders for them to shield against some of the fire noise. My husband and I, standing up, were holding on for sheer life! I was petrified and wondered what the hell I’d done for the first few minutes or so. What was I doing taking children on something so scary? But then. Then, it was still, the fire stopped, we were flying. It didn’t feel scary. But amazing. Our kids got used to it and peeked through the foot-holes in the basket and were in absolute awe. The pilot was super experienced, we later learnt that he was the chief pilot for the company. He would turn the balloon around for everyone to get a view of the sunrise that was slowly peeking over the mountain and at the other balloons taking off. You could look down and see the countryside below and some traditional houses, fields of goats, a motorbike. The kids remarked how it looked like a toy town. But my favourite view was looking across to the other balloons on the horizon.
The rides are between 40-60 minutes long depending on the wind I guess. You get taken with the elements so we had no idea where we’d land but it was so impressively done that the pilot was on the radio constantly and a team were waiting for us to jump onto the basket as soon as we were close to the ground. I’d heard of bumpy brace position tipped onto your side landings but this was seamless! Then there was a chance for more photos and the jeeps waiting to take us back to the base camp for breakfast this time {Mor{Moroccan pancakes, jam, juice, yogurts, boiled eggs, oranges, olives and coffee/tea} and certificates to be issued. We were all ecstatic! It was amazing to see all of the other balloons landing all around too. The only annoying thing was waiting for a solo traveller in our bus to be ready at the end of it, she took a lot longer than the rest of us families who were ready and waiting to get back by this point to our resorts for a proper full breakfast but there was nothing we could do about it. But it was a small price to pay. Obviously you could arrange a private balloon for a really special experience {there were about 30 people in ours which did feel crowded} or a private transfer but it would end up costing a lot more.
We used Oasis balloons and arranged it through a guy called Aziz that I found on a Facebook group. All of the communication was excellent and you pay on the day. It worked out at £100 per adult and £60 each for the children including the transfers. We ended up paying a bit more for the drone footage which was cool to see afterwards. If you’re on the fence about booking one, we all loved it {even my heights hating husband!} and our children want to go on another one day which is always a good sign!
If you are booking one then I’d book it for one of the first days of your trip to give room to move in case of the weather being inclement, the conditions have to be just right for you to fly.
Jardin Majorelle //
This beautiful cactus oasis was rescued by the designer YSL and in all of the times we’ve been to Marrakech we had never made it here before. I was so glad that we got to visit this time. Make sure you book tickets in advance online a few days or a week ahead of time as you can’t buy them on the door and they do sell out. Midday slots are the busiest so for quieter crowds try earlier or later in the day. We had a 4pm slot but luckily they let us in around 3pm as we were worried we’d run out of time to head into the medina for the sunset at a rooftop bar afterwards. It’s such a beautiful garden full of cactus, impressive bamboo, banana palms and the trademark blue buildings and fountains.
You mostly follow it around a one way system and there are some fish ponds and terrapins that our children enjoyed spotting. The colours were stunning. We laughed as the kids spotted some of the trademark blue paint on the leaves of some of the plants, they must have to repaint regularly. There are security guards the whole way around, presumably to stop anymore name carving into any of the cactuses! There’s also the YSL museum.
The YSL garden is located in Gueliz, the new part of the city. You’ll find a carre four supermarket here, trendy patisseries and cafes.
We walked from here into the souks, going through the huge arch to get into the walled city. Past all of the produce market stalls full of incredible pomegranates, avocados, oranges and bananas with donkeys moored up and motorbikes constantly whizzing by.
You can book tickets online at the official website HERE
Souk shopping //
The narrow streets of the medina are such a maze.
I had bought an e sim, use this referral code link or input REBECC7296 for £2.50 off when you sign up, before we went to be able to use unlimited data for using google maps. It’s not always super accurate in the depths of the souks as there are narrow alleyways, drop a pin if you need to get back to a specific point you might find in there! But it’s not impossible. It’s amazing how you do realise you’ve gone past the same areas a few days in a row.
The souks are so immersive. You do have to know what to expect. It’s far from the calmest of shopping experiences but I absolutely love it.
If it’s your first time then I’d say to:
Be prepared to haggle. Some small items are labelled price wise but most of the prices require negotiating. As a general rule you can expect to end up paying 1/3 of the starting price but you’ll kind of know if it’s an acceptable price if they let you walk away or not. We didn’t find many sellers to be at all pushy compared to when we first visited in 2010.
Just say no thank you to anybody who offers you directions or to take you to a special shop or tannery. Otherwise you’ll be expected to pay a small fee.
Keep to the right! Be aware of motorbikes and huge carts getting pushed through narrow streets. We tended to have a kid on shoulders and one in a buggy or held onto them pretty tight to avoid them getting run over!
Like any city be aware of pickpockets. We didn’t experience anything thankfully and did feel very safe but always best to be aware.
The items on offer are just incredible, so many artisan pieces which you just don’t get anywhere else. Crafted lamps, leather, woven baskets and hats which you can get hand embroidered personalised, shoes, slippers, cushions, Berber rugs, jewellery, wooden chess boards being hand whittled as you walk past. For bigger items they can arrange shipping. If we ever have another house to furnish I’d definitely go back!
If you buy personalised items then expect to pay half up front then the remainder on collection.
There are also spices. It’s definitely a little buyer beware with the spices and check the quality of shoes, any leather etc. Check the smell.
They’re typically open from around 9am until the evening.
I dressed conservatively covering my knees & shoulders when out and in the souks. It’s not a strict requirement but shows respect and avoids any unnecessary attention.
Our children delighted in looking at everything. They were enthralled by the crystal and fossil shops, the kind shop keepers answering any of their questions. They ended up buying a personalised basket each, a knock off football kit {£7.50! - basically every child in the hotel was wandering around in a Hakimi Moroccan shirt}, a crystal, a sharks tooth, a fossilised scorpion and a little wooden box that has a wooden snake in that pops out as you slide the handle {they can’t wait to surprise their grandparents}. I was hunting for some mirrors but had no luck in the end! The ones I wanted on our first day I couldn’t then find again.
We also couldn’t resist the deserted Photo Booth - find it here.
We went in three times in total, two mornings and one evening. The buzz and unique atmosphere is really special and as a photo lover it’s addictive and unlike anywhere else! That was the great thing about staying at our resort, it was easy to pop in & out.
You’ll also find some fab eateries in the middle of the souks. We mainly ate at our hotel as we were all inclusive but stopped at Sweet & Sook gelato for date, orange blossom and raspberry & rose ice cream treat one afternoon {the best rated ice cream in Morocco supposedly} and had special cocktails on the rooftop at El Fenn - a really special riad with a gorgeous rooftop. You don’t need to book but it is a popular spot. We were lucky to score a table when we walked in they told us it would be bar seating only. The prices vary, obviously expect local places to be very reasonable {Raffy got hungry and we bought him a croissant for just 40p} but the higher end bars and restaurants can be like any other city.
Where to Eat //
As I mentioned we’ve mainly been in all-inclusive resorts but these are a few standout spots in Marrakech that always seem to come highly recommended if you’re looking for somewhere special to eat or stop for a drink.
On our very first trip we ate at Nomad. I can still remember the man who guided us through the lantern-lit alleyways to find it — it felt like such an adventure at the time. It ended up being an unforgettable evening with fantastic modern Moroccan food, music and a beautiful rooftop setting.
El Fenn has one of the most stylish rooftops in the city. Even if you just go for a drink, the views across the medina and towards the Atlas Mountains are incredible, especially at sunset.
DarDar Rooftop is another famous rooftop restaurant known for its lively atmosphere, colourful décor and great views over the rooftops of the medina.
Café des Épices sits right above the spice square in the souks and is a lovely spot to pause for lunch, mint tea or fresh juice while watching the bustle of the market below.
The beautiful Le Jardin Secret also has a peaceful café inside the gardens, which makes for a really calm little escape from the busy streets outside.
And if you love coffee, Bacha Coffee is famous for its incredibly elegant setting and huge menu of coffees from around the world — definitely one for a special treat but expect to queue!
For something a little more modern and glamorous, the rooftop at Nobu Marrakech is also supposed to be fantastic. It’s stylish and trendy but still very welcoming to families, and you can book ahead which is always helpful when travelling with kids.
Main square, Jemaa El-Fnaa//
A must visit! Here you’ll find a big open space in the daytime, save for some fruit and juice sellers with impressive displays, horse and cart rides and the sound of the snake charmers. We personally stayed well away from the cobras in the square and the monkeys kept on chains. We don’t agree with it but also you’ll get pressured into paying them if you do get too close or take photos! But obviously the kids were fascinated from a distance by the cobras standing up. In the evening, at sundown it transforms into a bustling evening food market. On our first ever trip we ate here a few times on little benches!
Agafay Desert //
The other main excursion we did was out to the desert. Well… I say desert. The real Sahara Desert is around three hours away, but the rocky Agafay Desert is only about 40 minutes from Marrakech.
In recent years lots of luxury desert camps have opened there. We briefly considered staying overnight for the full experience — sleeping in a tent under the stars sounds pretty magical — but I’d read that the tents can get really cold at night at this time of year and most of the pools aren’t heated. A few reviews also mentioned dogs barking through the night and the prices were quite high, so we decided against it. I wasn’t sure how much there would be for the kids there either food wise etc.
I then looked into day passes at some of the camps where you can book lunch or dinner and use the pool. I’d actually provisionally reserved one that looked amazing, but once we added up the costs it was starting to feel a bit excessive — the private taxi alone was around €70 return, plus roughly €200 for dinner and a camel ride.
We kept hearing people mention tours through GetYourGuide, which offer packages for about €17 per person including transport, a camel ride, dinner in a desert camp, traditional music and a fire show. It had thousands of glowing reviews, although we weren’t entirely sure what to expect.
It ended up being fantastic. Our guide was incredibly kind and everything was really well organised. Some tours also offer quad biking if that’s something you’re interested in too. It is definitely more of a group experience rather than a private, intimate one, but we were genuinely impressed by how smoothly everything ran. Let’s maybe skip past the camel part as none of us enjoyed that and felt so scared, gripping on for dear life {we seemed to be the only people who hated it out of everyone else we spoke to!} but luckily it was only a very small part of the tour.
Like most tours in Morocco, we made a stop at an argan oil cooperative where we were welcomed with mint tea, able to sample some products and learn a little about how the oil is traditionally produced. After that we stopped at a beautiful viewpoint looking across to the Atlas mountains and over the valley before continuing on to the desert camp just as the sun was beginning to set.
The setting was stunning — an architect-designed house and pool overlooking the desert, with traditional tents filled with cushions where dinner was served. The meal was simple but delicious: soup, Moroccan bread and tagine. One Canadian dad in our group seemed slightly disappointed there weren’t French fries for the kids, but thankfully ours were happy enough with the chicken and couscous! I’d definitely recommend taking some snacks for kids though for before/after dinner. You could buy drinks there but nothing else.
There was traditional music throughout the evening and the kids quickly joined in with the musicians. After dinner we all gathered around the fire, where the music continued and everyone ended up dancing beneath the clearest, brightest stars — the lack of light pollution out there makes the sky incredible. It was one of those real “pinch me” travel moments.
Then a fire performer appeared and put on an impressive show, even eating fire at one point. Not long after that it was time to head back, and we were driven back to the hotel after such a memorable evening. It really was such a special experience.
This is the tour we booked and you can use my code for REBECCALOVES5 for 5% off any Get Your Guide tour - ad affiliate link. N.B from the hotel we stayed at we were just literally outside of the pick up area so I set our pick up to the nearest part and then when the guide messaged about a pick up time, we just told him where we were staying and it was fine.
Other Suggestions
If we’d have had more time I would definitely have looked into visiting a few more spots that are firmly on my Marrakech wish list for next time…
Atlas Mountains/Ourika Valley Trip
One of the things that makes Marrakech so special is being surrounded by the snow topped Atlas Mountains. You can see them from a distance and the skyline just doesn’t look real with them. My son’s middle name is Atlas so got very excited to share his name with everyone he met that week ‘like the mountains’. I’d been tempted to book a trip to the Ourika Valley and do the waterfall hike and show the kids a proper Berber market/village but all of the tours were around 6 or 7 hours long which just felt a bit too long really when we’d done the other trips. Plus at this time of year it’s snowy. I’ve heard great things though and apparently the guides will carry your kids up/down the trails for you! On our first trip my husband and I did go to the Berber villages and then had lunch and a swim at Richard Branson’s estate but that was back in 2010 - 16 years ago?! I would have booked this great value trip if we’d have had more time.
Bahia Palace
This one feels like an absolute classic and I can’t believe we still haven’t made it there. Built in the 19th century, it’s supposed to be one of the most beautiful palaces in Morocco, with intricate tiles, carved cedar wood ceilings and tranquil courtyards that feel a world away from the buzz of the souks. I think the kids would have loved exploring all the different rooms and open courtyards. It’s also meant to be a photographer’s dream, especially when the light hits the tiled floors and archways.
El Badi Palace
These dramatic ruins are said to be completely different in feel to Bahia — more open, expansive and a little wild. Built in the 16th century, it was once an opulent palace covered in gold and precious materials, and now what remains are enormous sunken gardens and towering walls with storks nesting on top. I’ve seen photos of the storks silhouetted against the sky and it looks incredible. I think it would be such a fun place for kids to explore because of the sheer scale of it — lots of open space for them to roam compared to the tighter streets of the medina.
Le Jardin Secret
Tucked away in the heart of the souks, this restored riad garden looks like a peaceful little oasis. It’s known for its Islamic geometric design, fountains and exotic planting, and I’ve heard you can climb the tower for rooftop views over the medina. It feels like it would be the perfect mid-morning escape from the chaos — somewhere shady and calm to reset before diving back into the maze of shopping. I always love finding green spaces in cities, and Marrakech does them so beautifully.
Ben Youssef Madrasa
My husband and I visited this historic Islamic college on our last trip and it was stunning. The courtyard alone — with its carved stucco, intricate tilework and still reflecting pool — was breath taking. It was once the largest Quranic school in North Africa, and you can peek into the tiny student dormitories that surround the courtyard. I think it would have been such an interesting cultural stop for the kids too, a chance to talk about how students used to live and study there. From a visual perspective, it’s one of those places that just embodies Moroccan architecture. It’s not huge and you can buy tickets at the door.
Dinosaur playground (Parc El Harti area)
We were told about a dinosaur-themed playground not far from Gueliz that apparently has large dinosaur sculptures and plenty of space for little ones to burn off energy. After lots of cultural exploring and restaurant sitting, I do always try to factor in some “just play” time when we travel. A stop like this would have been ideal for letting them run free for an hour without worrying about traffic, motorbikes or navigating crowds.
Kids’ garden / Cyber Park
I also liked the look of Cyber Park, a large public garden near the medina with palm trees, shaded pathways and open lawns. It seems like the kind of easy, low-key stop that works brilliantly with children — space to kick a ball, have a snack, or simply slow the pace a little. When you’re travelling with kids, those pauses matter just as much as the headline experiences.
Secret Family Farm
Again, somewhere that we had thought about visiting for a super family friendly spot but ran out of time. Details here
Jardin Ocre,
This had just opened but it was on my list if we’d have had time. A 5 hectare peaceful, green space located inside the Royal Palm Hotel, it has beautiful gardens, workshops, a climbing wall, animals and a playspace for families. It looked beautifully done from their website and socials. See ticket details here
There’s honestly no shortage of things to do in Marrakech — it’s just about choosing what fits the time you have. Which, for us this time, meant leaving a few gems for next time… and I love having a reason to return.
