How to spend 4 days in Marrakesh (a long weekend guide)

If you are looking for a city break with almost guaranteed sunshine, a real sense of adventure, and somewhere you’ll find some seriously good food, then look no further than Marrakesh, Morocco.

This North African city, known as The Red City, is growing in popularity as a tourist destination, and quite rightly so. There’s a real creative energy about the city, and I came away feeling so inspired. I was also really surprised to find an incredible thriving food scene, as well as so many opportunities to go exploring.

So, if you’re ready to book a trip to Marrakesh, here’s a long weekend itinerary for you (and if you want a full guide on what to expect from Marrakesh, check out our complete Marrakesh guide here)

Why choose Marrakesh as a long weekend city break

Marrakesh probably isn’t the first place you’d think of to go to for a city break, but there is so much on offer here.

Not only is it somewhere perfect to explore for some winter sunshine, it’s got a really rich culture, and the art scene here is stunning. If you’re someone who loves art and art history, this is definitely the place for you to explore.

As well as it being somewhere that will inspire creativity and be a real adventure, it’s also a really affordable city break. You can find cheap flights to Marrakesh easily, and once you’re there food and drink are really affordable. Even in the more expensive restaurants, a three course meal + drinks was still only around £30.00pp.

Day one in Marrakesh : Exploring the souks + a brilliant food tour

I caught an early morning EasyJet flight from Manchester to Marrakesh, and was at my hotel for 12pm. This meant I had a full afternoon to go out exploring.

But first, food. Because a morning travelling means you need to refuel.

Head out into the Souks and to the spice square, where you’ll find Cafe Des Epices. This is the perfect place to fuel up, enjoy some delicious food and mocktails, as well as start to immerse yourself into the daily life of Morocco.

Along with a mocktail (virgin mojito) and a big bottle of water, I had the vegetarian sandwich. What came was more like a mezze platter; three half of a bread roll, one with hummus, one with baba ghanoush and one with roasted red pepper salad. It was fresh and tasty and the perfect light lunch.

Wander back through the Souks and spend the rest of your afternoon at Le Jardin Secret. This place is stunning and the perfect way to spend a relaxing few hours. Walk through the traditional Islamic Gardens, walk up the tower, and stop for a coffee in one of the cafes. Allow yourself to just be and have a calming few hours.

Spend your first evening in the city by going on one of the food tours of Marrakesh. I absolutely adored our food tour as not only did I eat at places I never would have found myself, I also ate the best shackshukka of my life, and learnt so much about the city from our guides. An absolute must do!

Day two : Exploring the museums of Marakesh

Kickstart your first full day in the city by getting up early, and heading to Jardin Majorelle and the YSL museum. It’s a 10 minute taxi journey from the Medina, and the first ticket slots are at 08:30am. This is a really popular place to visit so don’t be like me and miss out on getting a ticket! Book your tickets in advance on the website, and the early slot is best if you’re wanting photos with minimal people in.

After spending the morning at Jardin Majorelle, head back to the Medina for lunch. Grab a table at NOMAD – a restaurant that offers a modern take on Moroccan cuisine and oozes style and elegance. With views over the busy square below, it is the perfect place to have a long lunch and soak up the sunshine. I really recommend the Braised Aubergine with mushroom, chickpeas, zaalouk and green chermoula. Not only did it look beautiful, it also tasted delicious and so full of flavour.

If you’re ready to explore more of the museums of Marrakesh, in the afternoon head to Ben Youssef Madrasa – an architectural and artistic gem that reflects the history of authentic Moroccan art. This is a stunning former palace that will take your breath away.

For dinner, take a 10 minute taxi out of the Medina to Folk for an evening of delicious food and entertainment. 

Walking inside, it feels magical with draped curtains, cosy seating areas, and a stage with traditional Moroccan music being played. Over the evening we had traditional music, a DJ, a singer, and belly dancing – so something for everyone!

Day Three in Marrakesh : a day trip to the Atlas Mountains

I always like to try and get out of the city and explore further afield, and this trip is one my friend did and she recommended wholeheartedly.

Explore the Atlas Mountains and Imlil Valley on a full-day tour from Marrakech. Enjoy scenic stops, savor a Berber breakfast and lunch, as well as taking a hike through the incredible scenery.

Not only is this is a great way to see the stunning Atlas Mountains which surround you whilst in the city, you also get to see a slower pace of life.

This is a full 8 hour adventure day, so once you’re back you’ll want a nice and relaxing evening. I really recommend booking into Le Jardin – a gem of a restaurant hidden behind a tiny door in the Medina. The space is beautiful – it’s like sitting in a large garden terrace with plants and trees filling the space.

Offering traditional Moroccan cuisine and an incredible range of mocktails, you won’t be disappointed. We shared hummus and bread to start, which was delicious, and then for starters, I had Zucchini fritters withgoat cheese and coriander. This was lovely, but one I’d recommend sharing as it got a bit samey. My main course was incredible though – I had the Traditional Kefta Tagine with Eggs. It arrived in a traditional tagine, which just looked wonderful, and inside was basically like a shakshukka but with lamb meatballs in. Love love love. For dessert, I had the lemon tart which was fresh, tangy and the perfect palette cleanser.

Final day in Marrakesh

If you’re ready to squeeze in a little bit more adventure before heading for your evening flight, head over to Dar El Bacha which is in the heart of the Medina. This is an absolutely stunning museum filled with a large collection of art objects and other works typical of Morocco (calligraphy, manuscripts, Berber carpets, etc.).

Get there early and head straight to the cafe to get a reservation (it was a three hour wait when I got there at 10am so I skipped, but I have heard so many incredible things about it!)

Once you’re in the virtual queue, explore the museum at a slow pace and just enjoy. I also really recommend going to the Bacha Coffee shop and buying some coffee beans – they’re expensive but the customer service and buying experience is like nothing I’ve experienced before.

This is the perfect way to end your trip, before heading to the airport knowing you’ve had an incredible long weekend in a beautiful and creative city.

If you’re planning a trip to Marrakesh, make sure to check out our Morocco section filled with tips and tricks for visiting the country. For more weekend trip guides, you can find our weekend travel guides for the UK and abroad here.