Marrakech · Landmarks
It's hard to stay lost for long in Marrakech: wherever you are in the medina, the Koutoubia minaret eventually appears at the end of an alley. This 77-metre landmark is only the most visible part of a wider set of Almohad and Saadian monuments that make Marrakech one of Morocco's best-preserved imperial cities. A few hundred metres away, the Ben Youssef Madrasa holds the finest example of Andalusian-Moorish architecture in the city, and between the two a very much alive tradition still sets the rhythm of the streets: the horse-drawn carriage. Here's our complete guide to these three must-sees.
The Koutoubia, the minaret that towers over Marrakech
Completed at the end of the 12th century under the Almohad dynasty, the Koutoubia is Marrakech's largest religious monument and its ultimate visual landmark: a 77-metre pink sandstone minaret, visible from nearly every point in the city. Its name comes from kutubiyyin, "the booksellers", a reference to the manuscript merchants who once lined its surroundings. An earlier mosque, misaligned with Mecca, was abandoned mid-construction — its foundations are still visible right next to the current building, a detail most first-time visitors miss entirely. The minaret is said to have inspired Rabat's Hassan Tower and Seville's Giralda, both built by the same dynasty. Reserved for Muslims on the inside, the Koutoubia is best experienced from the outside and its gardens, a short walk from Jemaa el-Fna: access is free, day or night, and the monument is lit up after dark.
The Koutoubia minaret lit up at night
The Ben Youssef Madrasa, an Almohad and Saadian masterpiece
Founded in the 14th century under the Marinids and largely rebuilt in the 16th century by the Saadian sultan Abdallah al-Ghalib, the Ben Youssef Madrasa was one of the largest Quranic schools in North Africa, once housing several hundred students from across Morocco. Around its central courtyard and rectangular reflecting pool, 132 small student rooms contrast with the splendour of the prayer hall and galleries, entirely covered in zellige tilework, carved stucco — Quranic inscriptions, geometric and floral motifs — and ornately carved cedar wood. Deconsecrated, the madrasa reopened to the public as a monument in 1982, then underwent major restoration launched under royal impetus from 2017. Entry costs 50 MAD (about €5), the site is open daily from 9am to 7pm (9am-4:30pm during Ramadan), and it's worth allowing a full hour to take in all the carved detail.
Detail of the carved stucco at the Ben Youssef Madrasa
Between the two, a horse-drawn carriage ride
It's hard to picture Marrakech without the clip-clop of hooves on cobblestones — a carriage ride is close to a rite of passage for visitors, and a good way to link the Koutoubia to the madrasa without walking under the midday sun. Carriages line up mainly along the avenue linking Jemaa el-Fna square to the Koutoubia minaret, each one decorated a little differently. The activity is regulated by a coachmen's association affiliated with the Marrakech-Safi Chamber of Commerce, and horse welfare is monitored by SPANA, which runs regular checks. Classic routes wind along the ramparts, out to the Ménara gardens or the Palmeraie. Prices are negotiated directly with the driver before boarding — roughly 80 to 150 MAD per hour depending on season and haggling. For the light and the atmosphere, aim for late afternoon: the Koutoubia's ochre stone turns a particularly photogenic gold.