Place · Kasbah & Mellah
El Badi Palaceقصر البديع
The ruins of a 16th-century sultan's palace: go at opening or late afternoon, 45 minutes, and skip it in the midday sun.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Key facts
- Time on site
- 45–60 min
- p95 90 min
- Price
- about MAD 70
- bring cash
- Hours
- 09:00–17:009:00 AM–5:00 PM
- typical, check
- Best time
- at opening or after 16:00
- quietest window
- 28″ bags
- No
- Kasbah & Mellah: forbidden
- Getting there
- Place des Ferblantiers, then the palace gate
- Ruins and storks
- Go before 11:00
- Open-sun site
- Go at opening or after 16:00
- Bring cash
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 11Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Taxis stop at a medina gate or square, not at the riad door
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- North Africa ↗Plan links between North African countries by air or by ferry via Europe; the only regularly usable land borders for visitors are Tunisia–Algeria and Morocco–Mauritania via Western Sahara.
- North Africa ↗Book Saharan nights (dunes, desert camps, oasis tours) between October and April; from May to September desert day temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C and many tours stop.
- Morocco ↗Check entry rules for your passport with the Moroccan consulate or official government sources before booking; visa exemptions depend on nationality.
- Morocco ↗The Moroccan dirham is a closed currency: you normally obtain it on arrival (ATMs, exchange desks) and change leftovers back before departure, keeping exchange receipts.
- Morocco ↗Do not bring a drone without prior authorisation: drones are routinely confiscated at customs.
- Morocco ↗During Ramadan, do not eat, drink or smoke in the street in daylight; tourist restaurants and hotels still serve.
- Marrakech and the High Atlas ↗Dec–Feb: snow can close the Tizi n'Tichka pass and mountain roads for hours or days; ask your driver about the road before you leave.
- Marrakech ↗Taxis stop at a medina gate or square, not at the riad door: send your flight number and ask the riad to meet you at a named gate with a porter.
- Marrakech ↗Anyone who offers directions, says a road is closed or leads you to a shop or tannery expects payment: say no thanks and keep walking, or ask a shopkeeper.
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Usually 09:00–17:00Usually 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Crowds
Go at opening or after 16:00
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Thu · busiest Fri–Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: about MAD 70 (2026 estimate)
- Time to spend
- 45–60 min · up to 90 min if you linger
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Time on site
Minimum
30min
Worthwhile
45min
Typical
60min
p95
90min
Opening hours are not printed until verified; the site can close for festivals or restoration.
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (60 min).
Nothing else in our notes is a short enough walk from here for the time that is left.
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Buy at the entrance on the day.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- Bring cash; cards may not be taken (check).
- Queues
- Arrive at opening or after 16:00; the courtyard has almost no shade.Arrive at opening or after 4:00 PM; the courtyard has almost no shade.
- Dress code
- Shoulders and knees covered; hats and water are wise.
- Photos
- Allowed for personal use; drones are not.
- What's closed
- Friday middaycheckSome sites shorten hours at prayer.
- Festivals and eventscheckThe palace can host cultural events with closures or crowds.
- RestorationcheckParts of the ruins close in rotation.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| El Badi Palace entry | about MAD 70 (2026 estimate) | Cash at the gate; the minbar museum may need a separate ticket (check). |
How to do it well
- 1Arrive at opening or after 16:00; the courtyard has almost no shade.
- 2Walk the sunken gardens, then climb to the terrace for the view of the storks and the Atlas.
- 3See the minbar in the small museum room if it is open.
- 4Leave through the Ferblantiers side for a mint tea in the shade.
On the ground
Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Place des Ferblantiers, then the palace gate
- Exit
- —
- Ticket
- on site · official site · bring cash
- Stairs
- Steps to the terraces and the roof walk; uneven ground.
- Shoes
- Shoes on; sturdy soles for uneven ground.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Tour groups from 10:00; little shade after 11:00.Tour groups from 10:00 AM; little shade after 11:00 AM.
- Sensory load
- 3/5
- Exposure
- high
Which month is quietest
- Janbusy
- Febbusy
- Marheavy
- Aprheavy
- Maybusy
- Junbusy
- Jullight
- Auglight
- Sepbusy
- Octheavy
- Novheavy
- Decheavy
Quietest Jul–Aug · busiest Mar–Apr · Oct–Dec.
Estimate: desk reasoning from season, weekday and holiday patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Bailouts
heat
Place des Ferblantiers café (AC)
crowd
Saadian Tombs or Bahia Palace
Nearest rescue anchor: E — El Badi Palace forecourt (field-verify)
What to have on you
- CashThe ticket desk is likely to take cash only.
- Clothing that meets the dress ruleShoulders and knees covered; hats and water are wise.
- Footwear that suits the ruleShoes on; sturdy soles for uneven ground.
- Water, a hat and sun or rain coverRated high exposure: little shelter while you walk.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: partly · partlySteps to the terraces and the roof.
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: check · check
- Wheelchair: partly · partlyThe central courtyard is possible; the terraces are not.
- Stroller: partly · partlyManageable on the flat courtyard.
The courtyard is level but the terraces and towers have steps; the ground is uneven.
Combine with
- 4 minPlace des Ferblantiers (cafés)
- 8 minSaadian Tombs
- 8 minMellah spice market
- 10 minBahia Palace
Walk the Kasbah & Mellah area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
Red lines
- Do not climb on the ruined walls; storks nest on them.
- No drones.
More on the groundRules on site · With kids
Rules on site
- climbing
- Do not climb the ruined walls; stay on the marked paths.
- food
- A small café and toilets near the gate (check).
With kids
- with kids
- Open space to run, storks to spot and tunnels to peer into; bring water and a hat.
- child price
- check
Deep dive
Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources
Questions and answers
What is left of the palace?
Big walls, a sunken courtyard planted with orange trees, pools and underground passages. The wood, marble and gold were taken in the 17th century, so most of the interest is scale, not decoration.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
What else is inside?
The museum room shows the carved minbar (pulpit) made for the Koutoubia mosque in the 12th century, one of the finest pieces of Almohad woodwork.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.