Marrakech With Kids: 17 Best Things To Do & Tips
Thinking of visiting Marrakech with kids?
Marrakech is a great place to take little kids as there are so many exciting things for them to see and do. We can testify to this as we recently took our toddler and baby there are part of our month-long road trip through Morocco. Marrakech with little kids can be extremely exciting.
In the heart of the medina you’ll find motorbikes whizzing down the narrow alleyways and many shops spill out onto the streets. You’ll even see donkeys pulling carts, which was massive excitement for our eldest who loves donkeys. And then, after your Medina experience there is the incredible scenes that will meet you at Djemaa el-Fnaa (the main square). There you’ll find an explosion of things to see, hear and smell such as snake charmers, street food vendors, lively musicians, storytellers, and even teeth sellers – yes, they sell teeth there.
We’ve put together the 17 best things to do with little kids, if we’ve tried and tested them ourselves then we’ve put our ⭐T&T⭐ icon next to them. Otherwise they’re ideas that we’ve heard of but not had a chance to try ourselves (we’ll have to save them fro next time!).Along with these we’ve given you some top tips on how to make the most of your stay. That way you can enjoy yourselves and make sure that you have a trip packed with memories that last a lifetime!
17 Best Things To Do When Visiting Marrakech With Kids
1. Take A Walking Tour In Marrakech With Kids ⭐T&T⭐
A walking tour of Marrakesh is a great way to start a family trip with little kids. It will help to give you your bearings in what is a very busy city with large crowds. Most of the main parts are easily walkable, and most tours should cover the top things to see. Our first stop was the Koutoubia Mosque, where we had a thorough overview of the history of Marrakech.
A good walking tour should also take you through Kasbah of Marrakesh. The main entrance is a the main gate called Bab Agnaou. Ours finished with a tour through the busy medina and into some of the souks. We also stopped by a caravanserai where the traders coming into the city would keep their camels for the night when they came to trade.
2. Take A Food Tour In Marrakech With Kids ⭐T&T⭐
Moroccan food has become very popular recently and it’s easy to understand why. You may already know about tagines and their side of cous cous. However, if you’d like to learn more details and history about Moroccan dishes and food then a great way to do this is by joining a food tour. They can be great fun for all of the family!
Most of them start near Djemaa El Fna and then you’ll venture through the stalls of the medina. Our kids loved trying new foods and the Moroccan traditional snacks made from nuts with various savoury and sweet toppings, that included aniseed, sesame, cheese and sugar. You’ll also have a chance to try other foods such as olives, Moroccan pastries and macaroons, then some pastilla (a Moroccan pastry filled with a savoury filling of chicken) and msemen (which are tasty Moroccan pancakes). We all had a bit of a msemen habit by the time we left Morocco as they’re so great!
You’ll also get offered glasses mint tea to try at one of the local tea shops. It’s likely you’ll finish at a local cafe or restaurant where you’ll be offered a Moroccan tangia (which is slow-cooked meat dish cooked and served in a traditional clay pot).
A food tour is one of the best things to do for a Moroccan family experience. It’s so much fun trying out all of the delicious food!
3. Learn To Cook With A Local Family In Marrakech With Kids ⭐T&T⭐
A great way of introducing young kids to new styles of food is to give them a wonderful hands-on experience. Most classes will have you spend time visiting the local market learning to select ingredients and how to barter the best discount. You’ll then spend time at their house learning to put the ingredients together to make your favourite Moroccan meal. After you’ve cooked you’ll sit down to eat your final plates of food together.
We did our cooking class at the riad that we stayed in as they offered private classes for families.
Top tip: There are many cooking courses in Marrakech however, they aren’t all suitable for children. You should double-check age requirements with anywhere you decide to book.
4. Get Entertained in Djemaa El Fna In Marrakech With Kids ⭐T&T⭐
The main square of Marrakesh is called Djemaa El Fna is where you’ll find the best street theatre and story telling Marrakech has to offer. It’s where visitors and locals gather to share stories and be entertained. The biggest draw for us as a whole family was the excitement of watching the people in the crowds, joining in on the street games, trying to local street food and meeting other young kids. It kicks off late afternoon/early evening around sunset every day when the food stalls are built and the storytellers and performers arrive. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Marrakech with little kids. We loved it!
Eating in Djemaa El Fna
There are lots of different street food vendors to try in the Djemaa El Fna. You can order dishes such as tangia, brochettes (little kebabs) and even snails too. Eating street food at these stalls is totally an experience in itself and not to be missed. It was one of the best dining experiences that we had in Morocco because there’s a really cool atmosphere of locals and tourists eating and chatting together. We tried various dishes from the menu each time we went.
One evening we headed up for a panoramic view over Djemaa El Fna by going to a restaurant on the edge of the square with a terrace. You don’t have to have a full blown meal there, we just went for a drink. It’ll give you a great perspective to enjoy the square from, and seats if your kids are tired and need a rest.
5. Take A Carriage Ride
For a fun way to see the city why not take a horse and carriage ride. To find them you’ll need to head to the edge of Djemaa El Fna where you’ll find an area full of horse carriages. You should negotiate the rate ahead of time, and rates are typically 200-250dh for an hour. However, like most things in Marrakech – they’re negotiable. We’d suggest taking a look at the horses before deciding to take a carriage ride. Because you’ll want to check that they are healthy and happy. You’ll want to try to pick a driver who has horses who look well cared for.
6. Wander The Souks In Marrakech With Kids ⭐T&T⭐
You can’t visit Marrakech with kids without entering the narrow streets of the souks. The medina itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its small shops that line the busy streets. Our kids loved wandering around the busy medina as they enjoyed the energy and atmosphere. It also probably helped that our 3-year-old was in his motorcycle stage and was hooked on watching the locals speeding along on their mopeds and bikes along the narrow streets. With that in mind, you’ll want to keep the motorcycles in mind when you’re walking through the medina. They can come through pretty fast so be prepared to duck to the side when you see one coming.
You should make sure to try pop into some of the shops. They’re very child-friendly and will usually make every effort to chat away to young kids.
7. Explore The Saadian Tombs In Marrakech With Kids ⭐T&T⭐
This is an unusual one to add to our list. However, we’ve added it as it was super child friendly and we saw lots of other families there. The majestic tombs are above ground, and you can spend a relaxing hour wandering and exploring them. They are very popular and during peak tourist season, the queues can be quite long. It’s best to visit them earlier in the morning so that you can avoid the busy crowds and then enjoy the tombs pretty much undisturbed.
These incredible tombs were originally built during the 1600s by Sultan al-Mansour ed Dhabi. The main centrepieces to enjoy is a 12-pillar mausoleum after the Sultans death was walled up. It rediscovered in 1917, and since then these incredible tiled structures have been opened up for people, like us, to enjoy. Cam enjoyed looking inside them, whilst it also gave us a respite from the heat.
8. Discover The Bahia Palace In Marrakech With Kids
This large Marrakech palace is the ultimate in royal majesty. With its floor-to-ceiling tile work combined with sprawling gardens, as well as majestic rooms inviting you to enjoy seeing how Moroccan royalty might have once lived. Kids will love exploring and playing games in the wide courtyards. They can also discover the colourful gardens, and magnificent rooms, where there is plenty of room to jump and explore. There are often art exhibits hosted here to capture the imaginations of young kids.
The Bahia Palace was built by Grand Vizier Si Moussa in the 1860s. Between the year 1894 and 1900, the palace was extended by his son Abu Ahmed. It was then Abu Ahmed’s finest palace dream design that led to the stylisation of the beautiful palace that we see today. An interesting fact is that La Bahia translates as “The Brilliant”, and that it was named after Abu Ahmed’s favourite wife.
9. Explore Anima Garden In Marrakech With Kids
These fun and brightly coloured gardens were designed by Andre Heller an Austrian artist and opened in 2017. They are a fantastic combination of botany and art! Anima Garden is a little way outside of Marrakech city however, you can reserve yourself a seat on the complimentary shuttle bus by visiting their website. The shuttle departs from the car park Koutoubia Mosque.
There are more than 250 different plant species at Anima Garden and copies of art by Keith Haring and Pablo Picasso. There’s also a little museum and a delicious cafe which is the perfect place to grab a drink and snack. Plus there are great panoramic views of the Atlas Mountains from the rooftop!
Fortunately, the garden isn’t too big and all the paths are somewhat connected together – so can always find each other again! This colourfuloasis near Marrakech is one of the best place to visit if you’re visiting Marrakech with children.
Top tip: If you don’t have long in Marrakech then we’d recommend choosing Anima Garden rather than Majorelle. Simply because it’s more fun and playful!
10. Relax At The Majorelle Gardens ⭐T&T⭐
Jardin Majorelle is a botanical garden as well as an artist’s playground, developed by esteemed French artist Jacques Majorelle. He began designing and planting it in 1923 and he took nearly 40 years to complete his garden. In the 1980s it was bought by designer Yves Saint Laurent. And in 2008 after he passed away he asked for his ashes to be scattered within the gardens, which they were.
The gardens are particularly famous for their beautiful ‘Majorelle Blue’ colour accents. Jardin Majorelle and its peaceful gardens are a wonderful urban oasis right in the middle of Marrakech. Their proximity to the city makes them great to visit for a couple of hours if you need a break from the city. The fantastic Cafe Majorelle opens at the same time as the garden, and has a delicious selection of pastries to enjoy with a mint tea.
11. Take Tour On A Dune Buggy
If you’re keen on trying a unique and high energy activity, then this is totally one for you to try! There are several great tours to book and most will collect you from your hotel and drive you out to the sand dunes on the outside of the city. You’ll also usually get to visit a Berber village as part of your tour.
Your guide will kit you out in helmets and goggles. Which you’ll due to all the sand and dust that will kick up as you drive along. Because of the speed, noise and sand flying around, this is an activity that is more suited to kids that are 6 years +. Kids under 16 years old will have to travel as a passenger with an adult, however, being a passenger is just as much fun!
During the few hours that you drive, you’ll usually stop halfway through in a local Berber village for a mint tea. Then during the second half you’ll drive into a Palm Grove which is very cool. You guide will be able to show you where all the good photo spots are and even take some photos and video of you driving for you.
The buggy driving is great fun, especially as you fly over the bumps! The good news is that you don’t need a specific licence to drive the buggy. However, your guide will expect you to be able to keep up, so this isn’t for slow drivers!
12. Go On A Camel Ride (maybe!)
If you’re in Marrakesh and for just a few days then one of the only chances you might have to ride a camel is in in Menara Gardens in the city itself. There are often a few there with their owners, and there are also pony rides on offer too. What’s also great about the gardens is that they are free, and there is also a very large children’s play area (busy in the late afternoon) and even a skatepark. We made the most of these fun things to do in the afternoon once we’re done the touristic part of our day!
An alternative is to head out to the Palmeraie because it is more like the desert. You can either head out there and arrange your ride when you get there. Or, there are lots of tours available that include the camel ride with drinks and food.
13. Hit A Water Park To Cool Off ⭐T&T⭐
When your kids start to need a break from the heat there’s absolutely no better way to cool off than to head to one of the waterparks in Marrakech. Enjoying a waterpark in Marrakech is one of our top recommendations for things to do in Marrakech with kids because it’s a fun addition to your travel itinerary. And a great way to cool off! What’s great is that there are a couple of choose from.
Oasiria
Our first recommendation is Oasiria, which you’ll discover outside Marrakech. It has a wave pool, slides, a lazy river as well as some smaller pools and even a kids club. The park also has a cool climbing wall and a large section set aside specifically for those in Marrakech with young kids. It includes a pirate ship and smaller slides that are perfect for tots. As it is all located in natural green surroundings it makes a perfect break from the chaotic nature of the city centre.
Aqua Mirage Aqua Parc
Another option is to hear to Aqua Mirage Aqua Parc which is attached to a family friendly resorts called Aqua Mirage Club. If you stay at the resort then the waterpark is free entry. This is a great place to stay if your kids are big fans of enjoying waterparks. If you’re not staying in the hotel then you can pay for a guest pass for a day. Experiences and activities wise it has a big selection of different types of water slides that suit all age of kids as well as a smaller wave pool too.
14. Hot Air Balloon Ride
Do your kids love a thrill? An amazing, albeit pricy experience to have in Marrakech is to ride in a hot air balloon ride. A hot air ballooning experience will take you high up over amazing views of Berber villages, deep valleys , desert oasis and along the front of High Atlas mountains. You’ll notice the different colours of the landscape and they will leave you feeling amazed, this is definitely an activity not to be missed. Our friend did this years ago and said that it was the highlight of her visit to Marrakech. So we had to include this on our list, especially if you have older kids.
You should be aware that children need to be at least five years old. At the time of our visit ours were one and three years old so we had to miss out. We’ll have to go back another time!
15. Enjoy a Fantasia Show
Chez Ali is famous for being a fantasia show which includes traditional performances that have horse riders and people playing live music, along with a full on Moroccan buffet. We’d heard mixed reviews about it, and because people said that it can finish near to midnight, we decided with such young kids that we should skip it. However, if you’re looking for some fun evening entertainment then this is most definitely it!
16. Kids Parks
If you’re travelling with very young kids like we were and are looking for things to do in Marrakech then these kids parks might fit the bill. There are two very small kids amusement parks in Marrakech that are especially for younger kids. Theses are called Ludipark and Paloozaland. At Ludipark you’ll find pony rides, bouncy castles, a mini zoo, mini-golf and an aqua park plus lots more. Paloozaland is dinosaur themed and has several fairground style rides for kids as well as a swimming pool and some live shows.
17. Explore Further Than Marrakech With Kids
We absolutely loved our time in Marrakech, however, it can be busy, noisy and hot. As part of your visit you might want to take a day trip or two and explore further afield. We’ve listed some of the best things to see outside of Marrakech.
Agafay Desert
Just 30 minutes from Marrakech, this is a fun desert area where you can ride camels, do quad biking and even sleep under the stars. However, this isn’t the Sahara Desert because that’s 8 hours away. So, you shouldn’t go expecting to see sand dunes. It’s still a lot of fun, but it’s more rocks that sand dunes.
Jarjeer Mules
If you love animals then you should visit the Jarjeer donkey and mule refuge. The people that run this refuge have creates a safe haven that saves the animals working in Marrakech when they’re no longer able to be of any use to the owners. Because, sadly, many owners abandon their animals when they can’t work any longer, however here, the animals will find their forever home. You can choose to go be at one near the animals, or even take them walking into the foothills. Whilst it’s free of charge to visit however, all donations are welcomed by the team to help look after the animals.
Visit Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou ⭐T&T⭐
Head through the High Atlas Mountains to Ouarzazate which is the centre of the film industry in Morocco. There you can visit the Atlas Studios to see the sets of films such as Prince of Persia and Kingdon of Heaven. And then nearby is the ksar of Ait Benhaddou which is where both Gladiator and Games of Thrones were filmed.
Ourika Valley
This is a favourite way to escape from the heat for Marrakech locals is by taking a day trip to the stunning Ourika Valley. There you’ll find the beautiful Ourika River that it lined with restaurants that serve super fresh food. When the warmer months arrive kids will play within the shallower water, whilst older kids can enjoy walking up some nearby waterfalls wit you. In total there are seven waterfalls to explore. The first one is easily accessible however, the remaining 6 are a lot higher up and suitable for experienced and advanced hikers.
Travel Tips For Travelling To Marrakech With Kids
Get out early in the day to beat the crowds
Our top tip for visiting the Medina is that you should if you get out early to avoid the crowds. Later on in the day the busy crowds, noises and smells can be overwhelming for young kids. However, if your kids are early risers like ours are then getting out early shouldn’t be a problem! Getting out early will make a big difference for your day in Marrakech, because less crowds make it much easier to get around Marrakech with kids. This is especially the case if you go out before 10am when the stall and shops open. By the early evening this really start to get busy as more people are out and about and there are people whizzing around on motorbikes. It’s also a lot cooler first thing before the day heats up. Cooler and less crowds is always a winner in our minds.
The main square, Djemaa el-Fnaa is pretty much empty in the mornings – in fact it’s strangely quiet without the food stalls in the middle. However, as it gets later in the day it gets busier because the food stalls set up and the street performers will start to arrive. By evening times it is usually very busy.
Prepare your kids in advance of visiting Djemaa el-Fnaa
There is no where that we’ve visited on our travels that is quite like Djemaa el-Fnaa. As soon as you visit you’ll see why it is the top tourist attraction in Marrakech. It’s also helpful to know that it is possibly one of the busiest main squares in North Africa, and by busy we mean really busy. It’s a fun place to take the kids of all ages, however, you’ll need to be prepared as there will be large crowds and lots happening.
Some very young kids might Djemaa el-Fnaa a little scary, noisy and overwhelming. They’ll encounter things that they’ve never seen before such as performing monkeys on chains, snake charmers and street performers. Prepping them in advance will help them be ready.
Prepare them for the animals
Sadly the animals you see at Djemaa el-Fnaa will likely have been badly treated. You’ll find that you and your kids will be offered snakes to hold, and monkey handlers will try to put a monkey on your shoulder. These animals are far from happy, and spending money to hold or touch these animals will sadly not go on improving their living standards, so we’d suggest avoiding these people.
We prepared our eldest before going by explaining that whilst there would be lots of animals there, we wouldn’t be able to go over to them. We explained the difference between happy animals and unhappy animals, and this seemed to make sense.
Get them excited for the adventure ahead
That being said, there are lots of other fun activities for kids to try in the square. Our son Cameron particularly loved the games that you could play such as the “hook a bottle” or one that involved scoring goals. He also just loved watching the large crowds and asking “what’s that” multiple times. You should remember that anyone you engage with will expect some sort of small payment. Performers and stall owners are there to make money, so you should expect to have small change at hand to pay with.
Be prepared to take a break from the crowds
If you find it overwhelming or just want a break from the crowds, then just head up to one of the restaurants around the square which has a rooftop terrace. We headed there one evening for a drink and it was still a fun experience without all of the hustle and bustle.
Use carriers for babies and toddlers, or use a scooter
Marrakech Medina is not particularly pram friendly. It’s the mixture of narrow streets and cobblestones that will test your pram to its max.
We did take our pram around with us because Dylan was 4 months old and we wanted him and Cam to share it as a place to sit down. We have a very good off road pram which meant that we didn’t have issues with it taking some knocks along the way.
In hindsight, we’d probably suggest popping your young kids in a back carrier, that way they are high up and can see what’s happening around them from your shoulders. It is also much easier to move through the narrow streets and alleyways with a back carrier.
Take a scooter in Marrakech with kids
Or, you could take a scooter like we do. Cam loves to use it, as it means that he’s independent and can go at a similar speed that we walk. We have to make sure that he knows where he’s going, and then he’s been pretty good at listening and not scooting off without us.
Keep hydrated with the juice stalls
With the heat and dust you’ll want to make sure that any kids you have with you in Marrakech are hydrated. There are plenty of fresh juice stalls around the Medina, which are great when you’re looking for something refreshing to drink as you go about visiting the Medina. An orange juice costs around 10DH, and more if you have more exotic fruits. Our son loved going up to the juice stalls and engaging with the owners. It was such a fun way to get involved with the locals and it meant that we tried a selection of different fruits and fresh juice.
Hire a guide to show you around the souks first
Most hotels and riads will organise a guide for you and relatively cheaply too. We love to set off and explore on our own, however, the one thing we’ve started doing now that we have kids is to start our time in new cities by taking a walking tour. Because as well as juggling two young kids, with don’t want to end up helplessly lost. So we got a guide to show us around Marrakech including showing us some shortcuts as well as give us quick tips on what to do/not do. Then after our tour we set off on our own afterwards.
Marrakech With Kids FAQ
Marrakech is an exciting mixture of flavours, colours, sounds and smells! It’s chaotic, noisy and could, for younger kids, be quite intense an intense experience. From a travel perspective it’s great for a family trip as you can get a direct flight from most European cities. And if you’re looking for lots of interesting things to see and do, then Marrakech has a lot to offer. If you’re more into beach style family holidays then you might find the high energy of Marrakech city life too much.
For some young children visiting Marrakech could feel overwhelming. However, Moroccans love children so it’s normally very safe for families. They’re very friendly and you’ll usually get lots of offers of help. Such as helping to lift your pram up stairs (like we did!). To making special meals in restaurants when your kids are having a fussy moment.
Like we mentioned before, Moroccans love kids and babies even more. You’ll need to be prepared for people to want to kiss your babies hands or feet – it’s a symbol of love and respect and they are simply being friendly. We didn’t have a problem with this ourselves, as our baby seemed happy enough, however, if you did then you could simply say no thank you.
Yes! Before we went on our trip I did a lot of research on the etiquette of breastfeeding in Morocco so that I was respectful of their culture. And wow, was I surprised – most people were saying that I’d be made to feel uncomfortable as it wasn’t the “done thing” to do it in public. However, nothing could have been more from the truth. Not once in our 4 week trip did I feel uncomfortable. In fact, I have fond memories of a few times where I was feeding next to some other women and they made a point to make me feel comfortable by pointing at me feeding and giving me a thumbs up, quite often even double thumbs up. Yes, it’s a conservative country, however, they are so family friendly that it was never a problem.
Mid-March through to mid-May and then late September all the way through to mid-November. Outside of it’s incredibly hot summer months, Marrakech usually mild temperatures and is a good place to visit from September through to May. In general, you’ll find spring and autumn are the peak tourist seasons because this is when you’ll experience the best weather. To avoid the height of crowds and still have wonderful weather, focus on early spring and mid to late autumn.
Yes you can, however, it’s a 3 hour car journey from Marrakech to Essaouira which doesn’t leave you much time to enjoy this fantastic coastal town. We’d recommend staying at least one night to get the full Essaouira experience because there are so many fun things to do there.
Final Thoughts On Visiting Marrakech With Kids
We think that Marrakech is a great place to visit with kids of all ages. It’s got so much incredible energy, history and culture to share with you. And, even just walking through the Medina and into Djemm El Fna is enough to interest and excite young children.
