Like many North African cities, the Moroccan city of Marrakech is steeped in history, comprising as it is of an ancient fortified city and a modern adjacent city. This comfortable combination of ancient traditionalism and modern developments means that tourists will be in their element when seeking some of the city’s most sumptuous eye candy.

Here, I draw upon my own experience of holidays in Marrakech in this two part series dedicated to some of the most visually gorgeous Marrakech attractions to see during Marrakech holidays. In no particular order, here are ten Marrakech must-see’s.

1. El Bahia Palace

Apparently, the name of this palace, built between 1894 and 1900, translates to ‘palace of the beautiful’ – and it certainly lives up to its name. Sadly, you won’t find Monica Bellucci here, at one of the premier Marrakech landmarks, but you will see plenty of water features, stucco panels, tiled floors, smooth arches, an eight-hectare garden surrounding the palace, plus a lot more. Just be sure to employ a guide, so that you don’t get lost.

2. Ali ben Youssef Medersa and Mosque

As Marrakech historical sites go, the Medersa, a former Islamic college, really does offer one of the most amazing feasts for the eyes with its plentiful art and architecture. You will, for instance, see plenty of carved cedarwood and colourful zellij tiles in the courtyard, while the interior of the prayer hall is covered in pine cone and palm motifs.

The Mosque, another of the truly significant Marrakech heritage sites, is similarly worth a look, though it is only open to Muslims.

3. Majorelle Garden

Majorelle Garden in Marrakech. Photo by Luc Viatour (http://www.lucnix.be/)

You can expect a slightly higher entrance fee here than with many Marrakech attractions, but trust me – it’s worth it! The sheer variety of plants on display, many of which you probably never would have seen before, is truly awe-inspiring.

You will probably never see so many different types of cactus plants in the same place ever again in your entire life. You should definitely arrive early, however, as the crowds appearing later can be annoying during any Marrakech holidays.

4. Museum of Islamic Art

You will see a lot to marvel here even before you get inside the thing. Not only is it based in the lovely Majorelle Garden (see above), it is based in a house quite unlike any in the city, boasting as it does a blue and yellow colour scheme and ornate windows. The exhibits themselves, many dating back hundreds of years, include carpets, jewellery, paintings and pottery, making the Museum of Islamic Art one of the most intriguing Marrakech heritage sites to visit during Marrakech tours.

5. Atlas Mountains

Though you will need to embark on an hour’s drive to see these up close, they can nonetheless be seen from several places in Marrakech, since they hover in the sky above the city’s pink defensive walls. The entire mountain range spans about 1,500 miles through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, but only the High Atlas subrange, often coated in snow during the winter months, is visible from Marrakech.

This is a guest post by Dave Clough who writes for lowcostholidays.com.

About the Author | Dave Clough

Dave Clough is a music journalist, blogger and travel writer from the UK. He has DJ’d across the globe and is involved in club night event promotions in London.

Visit Dave Clough Website.