The large court of the Bahia Palace in Marrakech: a marble and zellige floor with a fountain at its centre, ringed by blue and yellow painted arcades

HeritageCity Tours Morocco

Royal heritage and architecture

Morocco Palaces Guide

Photograph: Val Traveler, CC BY-SA 4.0

Painted ceilings at the Bahia, the ruins of El Badi, royal gates you can only admire from outside, and palace-hotels where you can stay the night.

Open inside
Bahia, El Badi, Dar Si Said
Gate only
Royal palaces of Rabat, Fes, Casablanca
Best hours
Opening time or late afternoon
Best seasons
Spring and autumn

Introduction

A Thousand Years of Palatial Splendor

For centuries, Moroccan sultans, viziers and pashas built palaces to show off the best craftsmanship of their day: hand-cut zellige, carved stucco and cedar ceilings painted in patterns that took years to finish.

Moroccan palaces keep their decoration inside. From the street you see plain walls and a heavy studded door; a narrow passage then opens onto a wide courtyard. That moment of arrival is central to how these buildings work.

Today they range from preserved interiors like the Bahia Palace, to ruins like El Badi, to royal residences still used by the Alaouite dynasty. Several historic palaces and palace-style buildings are now hotels.

Where to go

The Great Palaces of Morocco

Three palaces in Marrakech are open inside; the royal palaces are working residences you see from the gate. Entry fees change: pay at the gate.

1

Marrakech · open to visitors

Bahia Palace

The palace most visitors see, and the best-preserved interior you can walk through.

The grand vizier Si Moussa began the Bahia, and his son Ba Ahmed enlarged it, meaning it to be the finest palace of its day. The name means "brilliance". Painted cedar ceilings, carved stucco and zellige run through a chain of courtyards, reception rooms, harem quarters and planted gardens.

Built
Late 19th century (1866–1900)
Access
Open to visitors; entry fee at the gate
Look for
Painted cedar ceilings, the large marble court, the harem rooms

TipArrive at opening time to see the courtyards before tour groups arrive. Afternoon light suits the main court.

2

Marrakech · ruins open to visitors

El Badi Palace

The "Incomparable Palace", now a vast ruin of pisé walls and sunken gardens.

The Saadian sultan Ahmad al-Mansur built El Badi to celebrate his victory at the Battle of the Three Kings, and decorated it with Italian marble and gold. A century later Moulay Ismail stripped it to furnish his own capital at Meknes. What is left shows the original scale: a huge central court with sunken gardens, high walls and passages beneath.

Built
1578–1593
Access
Open to visitors; entry fee at the gate
Look for
The sunken gardens, the underground passages, storks nesting on the walls

TipClimb to the terrace on the walls for views over Marrakech towards the Atlas. The Marrakech folklore festival has been held in the courtyard.

3

Rabat · exterior only

Royal Palace Rabat (Dar al-Makhzen)

The King's official residence, seen from the gate.

Dar al-Makhzen in Rabat is the King of Morocco's official residence and the seat of royal administration. The walled complex holds the residence, offices, a mosque, guard barracks and gardens. You cannot go in, but the gates, the uniformed Royal Guard and the open esplanade are worth the walk.

Access
Exterior only; free
Look for
The monumental gates, the Royal Guard, the Ahl Fas Mosque beside the palace

TipCombine it with the Chellah necropolis nearby.

4

Fes · exterior only

Royal Palace Fes (Dar el-Makhzen)

Seven brass doors in a wall of zellige: the famous view in Fes.

The Royal Palace of Fes has been a royal residence since the Marinid dynasty founded Fes el-Jdid. It covers roughly 80 hectares between Fes el-Bali and Fes el-Jdid, with mosques, gardens and private quarters. Visitors see the main facade: seven monumental brass doors set in zellige-tiled walls.

Founded
13th–14th century (Marinid), expanded over the centuries
Access
Exterior only; free
Next door
The Mellah, the historic Jewish quarter

TipPhotograph the doors in the morning, when the sun is on the brass. Then walk through the Mellah and its synagogues and on into Fes el-Bali.

5

Marrakech · museum

Dar Si Said

The Bahia's smaller sibling, now the national museum of weaving and carpets.

Si Said, the brother of Ba Ahmed who built the Bahia, had this palace built at the end of the 19th century. After restoration it reopened in 2018 as the National Museum of Weaving and Carpets, with rugs from across Morocco shown in rooms of carved and painted cedar around a courtyard garden.

Built
1894–1900
Access
Open to visitors; entry fee
Look for
Carved cedar ceilings and doors, the courtyard fountain, the carpet collection

TipVisit after the Bahia to compare the two brothers' palaces. It is smaller and usually quieter.

6

Casablanca · exterior only

Royal Palace Casablanca

A 20th-century royal palace beside the Habous quarter.

The King stays here when in Casablanca. The palace stands by the Habous, the "new medina" built under the French Protectorate as a modern version of a traditional medina, with arcaded streets that are pleasant to wander.

Built
20th century
Access
Exterior only; free
Nearby
The Mahkama du Pacha, a former courthouse decorated with zellige, stucco and cedar

TipPair it with a walk through the Habous quarter.

7

Fes · limited access

Palais El Mokri

A Fes palace built by a family of grand viziers, mixing Moroccan and European decoration.

The El Mokri family, whose patriarch served several sultans as grand vizier, built this palace in Fes. Its large courtyard, carved stucco and painted ceilings sit alongside European touches that set it apart from purely traditional palaces.

Built
19th century
Access
Used for events; opening varies

TipAsk at the tourist office in Fes or at your riad whether it is open during your stay.

How to read a palace

The Art of Moroccan Palace Architecture

The decorative and structural elements you will see in every palace, and where to see each one best.

Zellige tileworkBahia, Royal Palace Fes, Dar Si Said
Hand-cut pieces of glazed terracotta, each chipped to shape and set into geometric patterns. In palaces, zellige covers the lower walls, fountains, columns and floors.
Carved stucco (gebs)Bahia, El Badi fragments
Above the zellige, walls change to carved plaster. Craftsmen cut arabesques, calligraphy and geometric patterns into it with small chisels. Stucco is far more fragile than stone, so what survives needs careful conservation.
Painted cedar ceilingsBahia, Dar Si Said, Palais El Mokri
Ceilings of Atlas cedar, carved into geometric and floral patterns and painted by hand in reds, blues, greens and gold. Cedar resists insects and keeps its scent.
Courtyards and fountainsBahia, Dar Si Said, the palace-hotels
Moroccan palaces turn inward, around one or more courtyards with a fountain at the centre. Water, orange blossom and the shade of fruit trees make the courtyard the coolest part of the house.
Andalusian gardensBahia, El Badi, La Mamounia, the Agdal
Palace gardens follow the Andalusian pattern: paths divide the garden into quarters planted with citrus, jasmine, palms and roses, and channels carry water between the beds. The Agdal and Menara gardens in Marrakech are royal garden estates.
Studded doors and horseshoe archesRoyal Palace Fes, Royal Palace Rabat, Bahia
Palace entrances have massive wooden doors studded with brass or iron, often with a small door within the door (khokha) for daily use, framed by horseshoe arches.
Deeply carved white stucco with interlaced arabesques and a band of calligraphy above a scalloped arch
Carved stucco (gebs) at the Al-Attarine madrasa in Fes, the same craft found on palace walls. Photograph: Robert Prazeres, CC BY-SA 4.0

Where to stay

Palace-Hotels: Sleep Like a Sultan

Rates vary widely with the season and are highest from October to April and on holidays. Book well ahead and check prices with each hotel.

1

Marrakech

La Mamounia

Its gardens began as an 18th-century royal gift to a prince, and Winston Churchill was among its famous guests. Jacques Garcia redesigned the interiors, mixing Art Deco with Moroccan craftsmanship. The hotel has a large spa, an outdoor pool and extensive gardens.

2

Marrakech

Royal Mansour

Built at the initiative of King Mohammed VI. Instead of rooms, guests stay in private riads, each on three floors with its own plunge pool and roof terrace; staff move through underground service tunnels so they stay out of sight. Zellige, stucco and cedar work fill every riad.

3

Fes

Palais Faraj

A palace turned hotel on the edge of the Fes medina, with views over the old city from its roof terrace, traditional Fassi architecture, a hammam and spa, and a restaurant serving Fassi cooking.

4

Marrakech (Palmeraie)

Palais Namaskar

A contemporary take on palace architecture in the Palmeraie outside Marrakech: reflecting pools, open-air pavilions, gardens, a spa and several pools, with suites that open to the outside.

Practical

Practical Tips for Palace Visitors

  1. Go early or late

    Arrive at opening time to have the courtyards and gardens almost to yourself, or come in the late afternoon for warm light. Midday brings the tour groups and the harshest sun.

  2. Photography

    Photography is generally allowed. Indirect morning light shows zellige and stucco detail best; a wide lens helps in the courtyards. Look up for the painted ceilings.

  3. Guided or on your own

    Official guides work at the larger palaces and add the history you will not get from the walls. A self-guided visit works if you read up first. A licensed city guide can combine several palaces in one tour.

  4. Dress and manners

    Palaces are not mosques, but modest dress is appreciated: cover shoulders and knees. Take off your shoes where asked, do not touch zellige, stucco or painted surfaces, and keep to the paths in the gardens.

  5. Three palaces in one walk

    In Marrakech, the Bahia, Dar Si Said and El Badi are within walking distance of each other in the medina and fit in one morning. Each charges its own entry fee.

  6. Summer heat

    Summer temperatures in Marrakech and Fes can pass 40°C. Courtyards give shade, but gardens and ruins are exposed: carry water, wear sunscreen and visit early or late. Winter visits are comfortable all day.

History

The Legacy of Moroccan Palace Building

Palace building in Morocco runs from the Almoravids in the 11th century to the present Alaouite monarchy. The Almohads built fortress-like palace complexes, the Marinids refined the decoration in Fes, the Saadians built El Badi, and the Alaouites made the Dar al-Makhzen both home and seat of government.

The style draws on several traditions: Amazigh building in pisé (rammed earth) and Atlas cedar, the geometry of Islamic design, Andalusian gardens, and the wealth of the trans-Saharan trade, which paid for El Badi's gold.

The craftsmen are called maallems, masters who trained apprentices within their trade. In Fes and Marrakech, zellige cutters, stucco carvers and ceiling painters still work by hand.

One morning

Marrakech Palace Walking Route

Three palaces in a single morning walk through the Marrakech medina, about 2 kilometres in all. Pay entry at each gate; a licensed guide can lead the whole route.

  1. 9:00

    Bahia Palace

    9:00–10:30

    Start at opening time for the quietest visit, and allow about 90 minutes for the painted ceilings, the zellige courtyards and the gardens.

  2. 10:45

    Dar Si Said

    10:45–11:45

    A five-minute walk from the Bahia. A quieter, smaller palace: compare the two brothers' houses and see the carpet collection.

  3. 12:00

    El Badi Palace

    12:00–13:00

    Finish at the El Badi ruins. After the decorated Bahia, the stripped walls show how quickly Moroccan dynasties rose and fell. Climb to the terrace for the view over the city.

Stop for mint tea between palaces at one of the medina cafés.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which palaces in Morocco can you visit inside?

In Marrakech, the Bahia Palace, the El Badi Palace and Dar Si Said (now a museum) are open to visitors and charge an entry fee at the gate. The Royal Palaces in Rabat, Fes and Casablanca are active royal residences and cannot be entered, but you can see and photograph their gates from outside.

What is the most beautiful palace in Morocco?

Of the palaces open to the public, the Bahia Palace in Marrakech is the usual answer. Built in the late 19th century, it has painted cedar ceilings, zellige tilework, carved stucco and planted courtyards. For scale and history, the ruins of the El Badi Palace are as memorable in a very different way.

Can you stay in a palace in Morocco?

Yes. La Mamounia and Royal Mansour in Marrakech are the best-known palace-hotels. Palais Faraj in Fes and Palais Namaskar near Marrakech also draw on palace architecture. Rates vary widely by season; check with each hotel.

What are the key architectural elements of Moroccan palaces?

Zellige (geometric mosaic tilework), carved stucco (gebs), painted and carved cedar ceilings, central courtyards with fountains, gardens planted with orange trees and jasmine, horseshoe arches, muqarnas (honeycomb vaulting) and studded wooden doors. Together they combine Islamic geometry, Amazigh craftsmanship and Andalusian garden design.

How much does it cost to visit palaces in Morocco?

The Bahia Palace, El Badi Palace and Dar Si Said each charge an entry fee, paid at the gate; fees change, so check at the ticket desk. Viewing the outside of the royal palaces is free. Photography is generally allowed.

What is the best time to visit Moroccan palaces?

Go at opening time or in the late afternoon to avoid crowds and the midday sun; late-afternoon light suits the courtyards. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons for walking between sites.

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