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 an assault on the senses. Especially in the heart of the medina where motorbikes whizz at speed down the narrow alleyways, shops spill out onto the streets, and donkeys drag carts through the bustling thoroughfare. This is all before you’ve reached the exotic fanfare of Djemaa el-Fnaa (the main square). With snake charmers, street food, musicians, and teeth sellers (yes, they sell teeth there!).
From our own experience of Marrakech, we’ve put together the 17 best things to do with little kids. 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
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 Marrakech Food Tour In Marrakech With Kids
Moroccan food has become very popular over recent years and it’s not hard to see why. You may already be familiar with tagines and cous cous. However, if you would like to find out more about Moroccan food, then a food tour is a great idea and a real family adventure.
Most of them start near Djemaa El Fna and then you’ll venture into the medina. Our kids love trying new foods and the traditional Moroccan snacks (nuts covered with various sweet and savoury toppings, such as sesame, aniseed, sugar and cheese) are the best place to start. Olives, Moroccan macaroons and pastries, then some pastilla (sweet Moroccan pastry with a savoury chicken filling) and msemen (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 Moroccan mint tea at a local tea shop. It’s likely you’ll finish at a local restaurant where you’ll be served Moroccan tangia (slow-cooked in traditional clay pots).
A food tour is one of the best things to do for a Morocco family holiday. It’s so much fun trying out all of the food!
3. Learn To Cook With A Local Family In Marrakech With Kids
A great way to introduce young kids to new styles of food is to give them a hands-on experience. Most classes will have you spend some time in the market learning how to choose ingredients and how to barter for the best price. You’ll then spend time at a local’s house learning how to put together the ingredients to make the perfect Moroccan meal. When it made, you’ll sit down to dine on your creation 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. Stop By The Djemaa El Fna In Marrakech With Kids
The main square of Marrakesh is called Djemaa El Fna which means ‘Assembly of the Dead’. Centuries ago it was where the heads of traitors were displayed, and is now street theatre at its best. It’s where people gather to share stories and be entertained. The biggest draw for us was the excitement of watching the people in the crowds. You can also join in on the street games, try local street food and meeting other young kids. It all kicks off early evening around sunset each day. This is when the food stalls are built and the storytellers and performers arrive. We enjoyed it so much that we went a few times. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Marrakech with kids.
There are lots of different types of food vendors in the Djemaa El Fna. You can try anything from brochettes (kebabs) to snails to tangia. Eating street food at one of the stalls in the Djemma El Fna is an experience worth having, because you’re in the middle of the action and it’s a great atmosphere. We tried various dishes from the menu each time we went. It was good fun chatting to the servers and watching the food getting cooked.
One evening we headed up for a bird’s eye view of the Djemaa El Fna by going to one of the restaurants with a terrace for a drink. It’ll give you a great perspective to enjoy the square from.
Things to be aware of at Djemaa El Fna
The downside to Djemaa El Fna is that you’ll see monkeys dressed in trousers (which are sadly kept on chains) and snake charmers who remove the fangs from their snakes. We kept away from the snake charmers and monkey handlers. We’d also suggest that you keep your distance from the ladies offering henna tattoos because they can sometimes take your arm and start tattooing you before you have agreed to it. And then request you pay for it when you didn’t want it in the first place.
5. Take A Carriage Ride
Just on the edge of Djemaa El Fna you’ll find an area full of horse carriages. This is where to head if you’d like to see Marrakech by a horse and carriage. You should negotiate the rate ahead of time. 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
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
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 one of the most visited tourist attractions in Marrakech. And in the peak season, the queues can get fairly long. It’s best to visit them early in the day so that you can beat the crowds and enjoy the majesty of the tombs relatively undisturbed.
The incredible tombs were built in the 1600s by Sultan al-Mansour ed Dhabi. The centrepiece is a 12-pillar mausoleum that was walled up following the death of the Sultan. It wasn’t rediscovered until 1917. The magnificently tiled rooms have inspired hundreds of thousands of visitors since they were opened to the public.
8. Discover The Bahia Palace In Marrakech With Kids
This large Marrakech palace is royal majesty at its finest. With its combination of floor-to-ceiling tile work, sprawling gardens, and majestic rooms inviting both locals and visitors to enjoy a taste of Moroccan royal living. 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, and the one we saw completely captured our sons’ attention.
The Bahia Palace was built by Grand Vizier Si Moussa in the 1860s. The palace was expanded between 1894 and 1900 by his son Abu Ahmed. In fact, it was Abu Ahmed’s vision that led to much of the beautification of the palace. An interesting fact is that La Bahia translates as “The Brilliant”, and that it’s named after Abu Ahmed’s favourite wife.
When Morocco gained independence from France, it was temporarily used as a royal residence until it was finally transferred to the Moroccan Ministry of Culture, which opened it up to visitors as an iconic cultural icon of the city.
9. Visit Anima Garden In Marrakech With Kids
These quirky and colourful gardens were designed by Austrian artist Andre Heller and opened in 2017. They are the perfect combination of art and botany! Anima Garden is outside of Marrakech city however, you can book a free shuttle bus via the Anima Garden website. This leaves from the Koutoubia Mosque car park.
Anima Garden contains over 250 different plant species and copies of artworks by Pablo Picasso and Keith Haring. There’s also a small museum and a delicious cafe which makes a lovely spot to grab a snack and drink. Plus the rooftop has great views of the Atlas Mountains!
Our kids particularly loved the hammocks and all the hidden area. It’s like a maze and mazes are always popular with young kids).
Fortunately, the garden isn’t huge and all the paths are connected – so you’ll always end up back together! This little oasis near Marrakech is the best place to visit if you’re travelling to Morocco with children.
Top tip: If you don’t have long in Marrakech then we’d recommend picking Anima Garden over Majorelle if you’re visiting with kids. Because it’s much more fun!
10. Take a Break At Majorelle Gardens
Jardin Majorelle is a botanical garden and artist’s landscape, developed by esteemed French artist Jacques Majorelle. He began in 1923 and it took nearly 40 years for him to complete the garden. In the 1980s it was purchased by designer Yves Saint Laurent. And in 2008 his ashes were scattered in the garden, following his death.
The garden is famous for its beautiful ‘Majorelle Blue’ accents.
Jardin Majorelle and its peaceful gardens are a great urban oasis in the centre of Marrakech. This makes them worth visiting for an hour or two. The fantastic Cafe Majorelle is open whenever the garden is, and offers a delicious Moroccan mint tea.
11. Book A Marrakech Dune Buggy Experience
If you’re looking for unique and high energy things to do in Marrakech, this is definitely one of them. There are several great tours to book. Most will collect you from your hotel and drive you out to the sand dunes on the outside of the city. You’ll be close to a Berber village.
Your guide will kit you out in helmets and goggles. These are much needed due to all the sand and dust which will inevitably fly your way. Because of the speed, noise and sand flying around, this is probably an activity more is suitable for older kids (6 years +). Children under 16 years old will need to travel as passengers with an adult.
During a couple of hours you’ll stop for mint tea and Moroccan biscuits in a small village. And in the second part of the drive (through a Palm Grove) there will be some great photo opportunities. Your guide should know just how to take the best shots.
The driving itself is great fun, especially during the bumpy at times (but that adds to the entertainment). Whilst you don’t need. specific licence to drive one. You will need to be able to keep up with the guide and any others booked on the tour.
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. Wee 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 this is a little more “desert-like”. 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. Take a Splash in A Water Park
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. A waterpark is one of our top recommendations for things to do in Marrakech with kids as it’s sure to add an element of fun into your itinerary!
Oasiria
First up is Oasiria, which is just outside of the city centre. It has slides, a wave pool, a lazy river plus smaller pools and 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 set in lush green surroundings it makes a refreshing break from the frenetic nature of the city.
Aqua Mirage Aqua Parc
The second option is 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 worth thinking about if your kids (or you) are fans of a waterpark. If you’re not a guest at the hotel, you can still pay to visit for the day and it has a large variety of different slides suiting all age ranges and it has a small wave pool as well.
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, desert oasis, deep valleys and along the front of High Atlas mountains. The different colours of the landscape will leave you 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. See a Fantasia Show
Chez Ali is a fantasia show that includes traditional performances with horse riders, music, and along with a full Moroccan buffet. We’d heard mixed reviews about it, as It can be a late evening with the program concluding near midnight, so 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 then and are looking for things to do in Marrakech then the kids parks might fit the bill. There are two small amusement parks in that are targeted towards younger children under 12 years old. Theses are called Ludipark and Paloozaland. At Ludipark you’ll find bouncy castles, pony rides, 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 6D cinema, 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 pay a visit to Jarjeer mule and donkey refuge. The owners of this refuge have creates a safe space to save the working animals of Marrakech when they were no longer useful to their owners. Because, sadly, many animals are simply abandoned when they can no longer work but here, they’ve found a forever home. You can go to be with the animals, or to take a walk with them into the foothills. There’s no fee to visit however, any donations are welcomed by the team to help care for the animals.
Visit Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou
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
A favorite escape from the heat for Marrakechi’s is a visit to the Ourika Valley. There you’ll find restaurants lining the Ourika River where tajines are made to order. In the warmer months kids play in the shallow water, and if your kids are older you can hike to the waterfalls. There are a series of seven waterfalls to explore. The first is accessible however, the other 6 are much higher and suitable for more experienced hikers.
Go Skiing in Oukaimden
Yes, skiing in Africa is possible! In the winter the High Atlas Mountains get a lot of snow and one of Morocco’s two ski resorts operates at Oukaimden. It’s not world class by any means however, if you want to go sledding or skiing in Africa then it’s a great opportunity. This one is on our bucket list for next time!
Travel Tips For Travelling To Marrakech With Kids
Choose your accommodation wisely
You’ll have two choices of location to stay when you visit Marrakech. One choice is to stay in the Medina for a more authentic experience of Marrakech. Or, if you need your creature comforts, you could stay in one of the larger, modern hotels outside of the Medina.
Staying in Marrakech Medina
During our trip to Morocco we stayed in several Medina’s, what we loved was the character, charm and history all in one place. Accommodation wise you can chose between staying B&B style in a riad, or booking a house to yourself through Airbnb.
Generally, riads in Marrakech don’t often allow children under the age of 12 to stay. However, there are a couple of riads that are very welcoming to families such as Riad Les Hibiscus and Riad Africa.
Staying in the Medina means you’re in the middle of the actions, however, you need to be aware that IT IS VERY LOUD! And we mean very very loud. Whilst you might find that your kids sleep through it, you, as parents, may be woken by motorbikes tearing past, kids playing in the street late at night, and the call to prayer. The call to prayer will always happen at sunrise – read: will feel like the middle of the night! Staying in Marrakech Medina is an experience, however, it’s not for everyone.
Staying outside Marrakech Medina
If you’re looking for a good night’s sleep, or perhaps a large pool for the kids, and some creature comforts, then your best bet is to stay in one of the larger hotels outside the Medina. These large hotels will most likely provide a free shuttle into the Medina, and some even have waterslides for the kids. However, you will miss out on experiencing Marrakech life on your doorstep and these hotels are often a lot more expensive than the Medina accommodation.
Sometimes, we all need a bit of luxury and a bit of a treat. Maybe you’ve stayed in Marrakech before and don’t feel the need to visit the sights, or perhaps Marrakech is your first point of entry on your Morocco holiday after a hectic school term. Or perhaps this is the end of a Morocco road trip, and you need time to relax before returning to reality.
If you’re looking for relaxation, then we very much recommend treating yourselves to an all-inclusive stay at Four Seasons – you will not be disappointed.
Get out early in the day to beat the crowds
We often suggest for almost everywhere we visit across the globe, that you should aim to set out early to beat the crowds. If you’re kids are early risers like ours are then this shouldn’t be a problem! Getting out early really does make a difference in Marrakech. Most of the stalls and shop sellers in the Medina don’t open until 10am and the narrow streets are much quieter in the morning. Less crowds make it much easier to navigate Marrakech with kids. By the early evening is when it gets particularly crazy with the motorbikes zipping around. 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 the day rolls on it gets increasingly busier as more street performers join and the food stalls set up. By evening times is when it’s super busy.
Prepare your kids for Djemaa el-Fnaa
Djemaa el-Fnaa is the number one attraction in Marrakech, the busiest square in North Africa and infamous in the Arab world. It’s a great place to take the kids of all ages, however, you’ll need to be prepared as there will be large crowds and lots happening.
With so much going on in the busy square of Djemaa el-Fnaa, it could be a sensory overload for some very young kids. They may have some questions when they see the monkeys on chains, snake charmers and street performers.
Some people may try and put a monkey on your shoulder, or pass a snake to your child and in return they will expect payment. PLEASE TRY TO AVOID THESE PEOPLE. The snakes have their mouths sewn shut so they don’t bite people, and the Barbary monkeys have been captured from the Atlas Mountains and treated poorly to perform for tourists. You only have to look at their tiny blue cages! And any money you do decide to give to these people will go to them, with only a very small amount being spent on the animals.
That being said, there are lots of harmless activities for kids to get involved in at 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 a small payment. Every type of street performer around the square is expecting some sort of payment.
If it all becomes too much, then you just head to one of the many rooftop restaurants overlooking the square and view it all from a quiet spot.
Keep babies and toddlers in a carrier or use a scooter
Marrakech Medina is not particularly pram friendly at all, unless you have a particularly robust one and are happy weaving around the narrow streets of the Medina. We did take our pram around with us as 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 little ones in a back carrier up high so they can look around and take it all in. It is also much easier to navigate with a back carrier around the narrow alleyways than a pushchair.
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 kids on the far right when walking around the Medina
If you have kids that want to walk through the Medina, then you should try to keep them on the far right with you on their left hand side. That way you are then shielding them from any motorbikes grazing past and you don’t need to worry about them veering off. If you have one adult to one child, this works really well. However if your kids outnumber the number of adults, you can put the oldest child in the front on the right, and hold the hand of the youngest behind. You can then walk right behind the oldest and have your spare left hand available should you need to guide them at any point.
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 dotted all around the Medina, which makes for a healthy and refreshing drink whilst out and about exploring. A small orange juice is generally 10DH. 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 a whirlwind of flavours, colours, sounds and smells! It’s chaotic and noisy and possibly quite intense for some kids (and even adults too) who are first-time visitors. 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.
Visiting Morocco can be extremely overwhelming for kids. However, Moroccans love children so it’s usually 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. The most important thing to remember is to remain respectful of others . Also, try to remain good-natured if and when haggling and agreeing on prices, and be patient.
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 late September through to mid-November. Outside of the brutally hot summer months, Marrakech has fairly mild temperatures and is a good destination to visit September through May. In general, spring and autumn are peak tourist season because this is when you’ll experience prime 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 lease one night to get the full Essaouira experience.
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.
