Marrakech — Medina, colours and discretion

Marrakesch · Marokko

Best season

Mär – Mai, Sep – Nov

Price level

€€

LGBT safety

● Low

A city trip to Marrakech immerses you in the labyrinth of the medina, in souks full of colors and scents and in gardens of intoxicating beauty. At the same time, it is important to note that homosexuality is prohibited by law in Morocco, there is no open scene, and discretion is not a stylistic device here, but self-protection. Everything here is just a rough suggestion that you can change as you please.

What to expect

Discretion & Security

Homosexual acts are punishable in Morocco, and there is no open queer scene that travelers could visit. Completely refrain from public tenderness and from a visible coming-out; dating apps are also becoming a trap in some cases. Many international riads and hotels are discreetly cosmopolitan — being queer is lived here exclusively in private.

Best time to visit

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are ideal with pleasantly warm days around 25 degrees and mild nights. You should avoid midsummer, often over 40 degrees, and the rainy winter months.

Don't Miss

The hustle and bustle of Jemaa el-Fnaa in the evening with food stalls and jugglers, strolling through the souks of the medina, the electric blue Jardin Majorelle by Yves Saint Laurent and the splendour of the Bahia Palace.

Marrakech enchants with the labyrinth of the medina, with souks full of colours and scents and with gardens of beguiling beauty. In the evening, the Jemaa el-Fnaa becomes a stage for food stalls and storytellers, and the bright blue Jardin Majorelle is one of the places not to be missed.

Important for travel planning: Homosexuality is prohibited by law in Morocco, an open queer scene does not exist. Tenderness in public and a visible coming-out should therefore be avoided, and caution is also advised when using dating apps. Queerness is lived here exclusively in private, although some international riads and hotels are discreetly cosmopolitan.

The most pleasant time to travel to the city is in spring and autumn, when mild temperatures around 25 degrees prevail; Midsummer heat above 40 degrees and the rainy winter months are less suitable. If you have this caution, you can fully immerse yourself in the splendour of the palaces, the tranquillity of the gardens and the hustle and bustle of the medina.

Your programme — day by day

Day 1

Medina & Jemaa el-Fnaa

15:00 Arrive at a riad in the medina and immerse yourself for the first time in the winding alleys around the central Jemaa el-Fnaa square.

17:30 Stroll through the souks — spices, leather, ceramics and carpets — and catch a glimpse of the city's landmark, the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque.

20:00 When the sun goes down, the Jemaa el-Fnaa awakens: food stalls, storytellers and music. Enjoy the atmosphere relaxed and with the necessary restraint.

Day 2

Palaces & Gardens

10:00 Morning in the magnificent Bahia Palace with its courtyards, ornate stucco ceilings and quiet gardens from the 19th century.

14:00 Continue to the famous Jardin Majorelle with its blue villa and exotic flora, as well as the neighboring Yves Saint Laurent Museum.

19:30 Dinner in your riad or in a quiet restaurant — social life here takes place privately, not in a public scene.

Day 3

History & Conclusion

10:30 Visit the Ben Youssef Madrasa, once the largest Koranic school in North Africa, with its impressive mosaics and carvings.

13:00 Last peppermint tea on a roof terrace with a view over the rooftops of the medina before we go back relaxed.

Hotels around Marrakesch

Tap the map for prices and availability.

Gay Marrakesch

Gay Marrakech is a destination with reservations: the city attracts many gay travelers, but there is no open scene with gay bars or clubs. According to Article 489 of the Penal Code, Morocco criminalizes same-sex acts. In everyday life, this means above all restraint in public, renunciation of visible tenderness and a conscious approach to one's own journey. If you pay attention to this, you will still experience Marrakech as a fascinating destination. Meeting places here are not a neighborhood or a street, but rather gay-friendly riads, i.e. traditional townhouses with courtyards, some of which are run by queer hosts. Before booking, it is worth taking a look at current reviews.

The heart of the city is the medina, the historic old town with its narrow streets, souks and the central square Jemaa el-Fnaa. Outside the city walls is the modern Gueliz district with cafés, restaurants and galleries, where a more international crowd moves. The fixed points of contact include the Jardin, Majorelle and Menara gardens as well as numerous hammams. If you like, you can combine a stay with a trip to the Atlas Mountains or the desert. Spring and autumn are best. Marrakech often gets very hot in midsummer, while the winter months remain mild and pleasant to explore.

Find a hotel in Marrakesch

Check-in Check-out

Search hotels

Trip key facts

Destination: Marrakesch, Marokko
Travel time: Long weekend (Thu–Sun)
Best season: Mär – Mai, Sep – Nov
Price level: €€
LGBT safety: Low

City guide Marrakesch ↗

Bars, clubs & locations on gay-location.de