El Badi Palace

A journey to El Badi Palace rewards a bit of advance planning. Set within Marrakesh’s busy historic area, the site welcomes all types of explorers, though some forethought helps ensure a smoother experience. Marrakesh heats up quickly in summer, and mid-morning or late afternoons bring more comfortable weather and fewer crowds. Most visitors reach the palace on foot, hailing a taxi, or riding a horse-drawn carriage; each offers a different slice of city life. Entry fees remain reasonable, though there is a ticket window at the entrance that sometimes gets busy during peak tourist months. Scattered shade and a few benches let families or older visitors rest, yet the ground underfoot can be uneven in places, especially around the impressive sunken courtyard.

• Best time to visit: Spring (March–May) or autumn (September–November); mornings and late afternoons for cooler air and gentler light
• How to get there: Walking from Jemaa el-Fnaa (about 15 minutes); by petit taxi; or calèche (horse-drawn carriage—popular for a local touch)
• Accessibility: Wide, open spaces with some steps and rough stones; moderate suitability for wheelchairs and families; be mindful of uneven pathways
• Average visit duration: 1 to 2 hours, depending on pace and interest in details

Inside El Badi Palace, the sweep of ruin gives way to sharp detail and wonder. Cool stone corridors and riotous stork nests reveal both grandeur and gritty reality. The palace’s vast sunken courtyard, with its four gardens and large water basins, creates a striking first impression. Each garden once bloomed with citrus and pomegranate—now echoes linger as bursts of green reclaim space. Don’t miss the restored minbar (pulpit) of the Koutoubia Mosque, a rare wooden artifact displayed in one of the palace chambers. The towers, though weathered, deliver panoramic views over the palms and city roofs. Guides share tales that bring distant centuries to life, while observant guests often notice delicate tilework and secret chambers. Locals slip in, pausing in shade or using the space for quiet prayer, adding real life to ancient walls.

• Key sights or features: The central sunken courtyard; remaining walls and towers; the Koutoubia mosque minbar exhibit; underground passages
• Unique experiences: Climb to tower tops for sweeping city views; listen to guides’ dramatic stories; greet the resident storks nesting above the palace walls
• Photo-worthy locations: Ornate arches against sky, shadowy colonnades, and reflective pools (especially near sunrise or sunset)
• Cultural or historical facts: El Badi means “The Incomparable” in Arabic—built in the 16th century using tribute from Portugal, then stripped by later sultans to decorate new palaces further north