4-Day Marrakech & Casablanca Itinerary for Travel and Photo Lovers
Jardine Majorelle vivid blue structure
Four days exploring two of Morocco’s most iconic cities, learning about the rich culture, finding hidden gems, and capturing photogenic moments around every corner.
From the winding souks of Marrakech to the Art Deco elegance of Casablanca, Morocco is a feast for the senses and the camera. I had four great days immersing myself in its vibrant street life, history, intricate architecture, and calming hidden gardens, shooting on my M11, although I wished I had taken my M6 due to the heat.
For me this trip was a huge personal win as it was the first time I’d ever flown and travelled solo, really helping to build my confidence so that I am ready for my Japan trip in December. (You can read how that trip went in my Japan travel guides).
Planning your photography? See my 10 best Marrakech photography spots.
Still unsure about the coast? Read: Is Casablanca worth visiting?
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day One: Flight, transfer and Riad check in.
Day Two: Exploring Marrakech solo
Day Three: Day trip to Casablanca
Day Four: Touring Marrakech and flight home
5 Top Tips for Marrakech and Casablanca
Plan trips from your Riad/hotel to your destination instead of wandering off track.
Ignore misdirections from young men and children. Learning "La, shukran", meaning "No, thank you," is very useful.
Be prepared for sensory overload with sounds, smells and sights.
Be prepared to haggle on everything, agree taxi prices before getting in.
Have suncream and aftersun and invest in a small portable fan
Marrakech or Casablanca: which should you visit?
If you only have time for one, choose Marrakech: the medina, the souks, Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk and the riads are what most people picture when they think of Morocco. Casablanca is a modern, working city, better suited to a day or two. Its highlights are the Hassan II Mosque (one of the few in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors on a guided tour) and its Art Deco architecture. The two are connected by train in around 2.5–3 hours, so combining them is easy, which is exactly how this itinerary works.
Marrakech Overview
Spice and herb shop
The City
Marrakech is a city that without a doubt you will feel, it’s intense, full of contrasts, and can easily overwhelm the senses. It’s ancient, yet constantly shifting to meet the modern world by updating its neighbourhood with new buildings.
Djemaa El Fna is the city’s beating heart, alive with monkey handlers and snake charmers (both of which you should avoid), storytellers, musicians, and food stalls. Then we have the famous souks that wind into a maze of over 8,000 shops. Haggle kindly, many locals rely on what they earn here, and learning a few Arabic words goes a long way with this.
For anyone with a camera or even a phone, Marrakech is a vibrant canvas of colour and texture. The medina wraps around you with walls that are of rose colour, alleys scented with spices, orange blossom, and the hum of mopeds. People move constantly, on foot, moped, or mule.
Every corner can offer a photo, but approach this with respect as some locals don’t like being photographed. The souks shimmer with brass lanterns, patterned tiles, and artisans at work. Having a plan of where you want to explore and how to get there and back helps, but really, all you need is curiosity, patience, and a charged battery.
If it all gets too much, pause. Find a café as many have misting sprays and take the time to reset before starting again.
What is a Riad?
To really experience Marrakech, I’d recommend staying in a Riad rather than a hotel. Riads are traditional Moroccan homes centered around a peaceful courtyard, often with fountains, greenery, and beautiful local architecture like mosaic tiles and carved wood. Many also have rooftop terraces with views over the city or Atlas Mountains.
Next time, I’d choose a Riad closer to the airport in the Medina as it’s near key sights, easier for transfers, and felt calmer than the area I was staying in.
I visited from June 27–30 during the heat dome that caused a heat wave, with temps hitting 48˚C, which is far above the usual 33˚C expected for that time. It was the hottest I’ve ever felt; at times it was hard to even breathe outdoors. With another heat dome expected, take suncream, a cap, make sure you stay hydrated.
Roof area
Bedroom
Gardens in Marrakech
The gardens in Marrakech were my favourite places to visit, they were calm, relaxing, intriguing and most of all colourful. Something that I am really craving in my photography after spending a lot time shooting black and white.
You absolutely must visit Jardin Majorelle and its nearby counterpart, Le Jardin Secret.
Jardin Majorelle
Jardin Majorelle is a major attraction in Marrakech and can get crowded, for less crowds and wandering in the coolness I would recommend visiting when it opens at 8am, I’d also advise you to reserve your online ticket well in advance, as it is a time entry. You can only purchase tickets here online.
I entered Jardin Majorelle at midday, greeted by stillness as it was not crowd heavy due to the heat. As I started to wander round it was clear to see that there had been great attention paid to the layout of the garden and the choice of the plants. I could hear the fountains trickling as I walked to different spots to admire the scenery closer.
The famous blue you see in the garden is known as Majorelle Blue, it is so deeply saturated that it captures and reflects light in a way no other shade can, transforming walls and pathways into living works of art.
Winding through the garden, you’ll find an ecosystem as rich as its colours: Sarasa Goldfish swimming in ponds, frogs jumping over the lillypads as dragonflies hover mid-air, and birds sing their songs.
If you want to get away from it all for an hour or two this afternoon is a great spots there are lots of little nooks and places to sit, soak up the sun and the scenery.
Jardin Majorelle isn’t just a garden, it’s a sensory study in colour, calm, and quiet rhythm.
Le Jardin Secret
A short walk into the Medina, and you’ll discover the intimacy of Le Jardin Secret. A garden of calm for relaxing.
The garden includes two courtyards. The larger is a restored Islamic paradise garden, whereas the other smaller garden is an exotic garden filled with plants coming from all over the world.
The garden has similar features to that of Jardine Majorelle such as the water features with fish and hidden seating areas for reflection and quiet contemplation. However, If you head to the back of the garden there is a tower you can climb to be rewarded with a shaded view of the whole garden and the city walls, there is a cafe on the rooftop and down at the exit where you can take shade and enjoy a cold drink.
House of Photography in Marrakech
The House of Photography in Marrakech was a must visit for myself, the museum opened in 2009, is a beautifully restored Riad in the medina that showcases Morocco’s visual history from the 1870s to 1950s.
Its collection includes over 10,000 photos, postcards, and documents featuring portraits, landscapes, and street scenes. I love the older methods of photography and it was great to see that the images had been blown up so big when printing without losing their quality or the story the photographer was trying to tell.
It is 50 Moroccan Dirhams (MAD) (£4) for adults, and children under 15 enter for free, there is a rooftop terrace which offers stunning views of the city and Atlas Mountains, making it a great stop of for both culture and photography lovers.
Vintage black-and-white Moroccan street photography on exhibit
Other Must Visit Locations
Ben Youssef Madrasa is a historic Islamic school in the heart of Marrakech, in fact it is was one of the largest in North Africa. Built in the 14th century and later restored, it’s renowned for its stunning architecture, intricate stucco, carved cedar, and colourful zellige tiles. The central courtyard is , perfectly symmetrical and serene, reflects the beauty of Islamic design, is a very busy spot as it is very popular with influences (see pictures below). Though no longer in use as a school, it offers a peaceful glimpse into Morocco’s spiritual and artistic heritage.
Bahia Palace was high on my list to photograph, I had imagined capturing a clean shot of the water fountain, those yellow and blue arches, and the roofline framed against the sky for a large print back home. Unfortunately, I didn’t realise parts of the palace were damaged in the 2023 earthquake (see photos below), and I was told restoration would take another six months. So if you're hoping for that iconic courtyard shot, keep that in mind. Built in the 19th century by Grand Vizier Si Moussa, the palace blends Moroccan, Moorish, and French influences, with stunning tile work, carved cedar ceilings, and peaceful courtyards that live up to its name, Bahia, meaning "brilliance."
The Saadian Tombs are also nearby and feel like a hidden spot in the city, tucked behind modest walls near the Kasbah Mosque they are the final resting place of members of the Saadian dynasty. Inside, light filters through lattice windows and brushes over 16th century marble, carved stone and perfect geometry tile designs. They were only rediscovered in 1917 after being sealed for centuries under sand.
Casablanca Day Trip Overview
Hassan II Mosque with Atlantic Ocean waves
In the these pictures you will see the Hassan II Mosque that is perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. This is by far one of the most impressive and incredible architectural wonders I’ve seen and explored. I can’t even begin to explain how grand it is as well as its size (which you will start to appreciate in the third picture below in the gallery).
The Mosque was fully built in 1993 and has the world’s second‑tallest minaret which stands at 210m.The walls are of hand-crafted marble, there are handcrafted mosaics, Murano-glass chandeliers, and panoramic ocean views, whilst the roof is retractable. A maximum of 105,000 worshippers can gather together for prayer: 25,000 inside the mosque hall and another 80,000 on the mosque’s outside ground.
Get Your Guide
I use @getyourguide , extensively when I am away as they are a trusted website that provide verified providers of services.
In order to get to Casablanca I booked a Day Trip Guided Tour from Marrakesh to Casablanca which included picking me up at my Riad and dropped me off at the front door (making life stress free).
The tour saw me provided with:
• Air Conditioned Mini Van for the trip
• A local guide who was full of stories and history keeping us on track
• Fast-track entry for Hassan II Mosque with a English speaking tour guide (£14 fee)
• Taken to the best view points for photo opportunities
• Stopping at spots like Rick's Café, local souks, and Mohammed V Square.
• Stopping off at a good local restaurant to refuel
• An hour stop off at the beach to cool down and relax!
So if you are in Marrakesh for a five or more days then this is a tour worth undertaking, it only cost me £25.
I then booked two further tours for my final day below, which were back to back so I started at 10am and got finished at 5pm, again when doing the tours just stay hydrated as there is a lot of walking. I really enjoy the tours as they provide an amazing insight on the history of the city (the guides were both excellent), meet different people and see aspects of life you probably would miss. This is really good if you're travelling solo or have children with you on the trip.
Marrakech: Madrassa Ben Youssef, Secret Garden & Medina Tour £17.23
Marrakech: Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, & Koutoubia Mosque £24.69
Final Thoughts
As, this was my first time flying solo, and honestly, I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did and I’m feeling more confident now for flying to Japan in December thanks to this trip to Morocco.
Marrakech is a place so alive with energy and colour it really does hits you with it all at once: the sounds, the scents, the stories hidden in every tiled wall and alleyway.
Casablanca, just a few hours away, offered a striking contrast, it is a very different experience to Marrakech. The grandeur of the Hassan II Mosque alone is worth the trip with the waves of the Atlantic roaring beside one of the world’s largest mosques, I felt both small and lucky to witness it.
Back in Marrakech, evenings spent on rooftop terraces with mint tea, listening to the call to prayer echoing over the red city felt a million miles away from the UK.
Something I do regret is not going on a tour to the atlas mountains and spending an evening in the Agafay Desert.
I think I would return to do this but also then travel to Fez, Essaouira and Agadir for more experiences by the coast.
Would I go back: Yes but as a group rather than solo and I would select a different area to stay in.
Overall Experience: ⭐⭐⭐