A row of four tickets, three in gold and one in silver, labeled 'my return ticket' with a decorative border.

VERDICT: WE GAVE 4 OUT OF 5 TICKETS AND HERE’S WHY!

This guide forms part of our complete Morocco Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across Morocco.

This article is part of our 14 Days in Marrakech: Ultimate Guide. We visited the famous Jemaa el Fnaa market, ancient Ait Ben Haddou, travelled the Atlas Mountains and saw the incredible Ouzoud Waterfalls. Our trip also included a stay at the Riad Catalina and a one in a lifetime Hot Air Balloon flight over the desert.

Top Attractions

Many of the attractions are Highly Recommended with a 5 Ticket rating!

Hidden behind relatively modest walls, Bahia Palace reveals spectacular courtyards, intricate mosaics, painted cedar ceilings and the extraordinary craftsmanship of 19th-century Morocco.

Don’t forget to read about the three lesser known facts about Marrakech’s Bahia palace:

The Palace Was Built by Two Generations of the Same Family
“Bahia” May Have Been a Tribute to a Favourite Wife
The Palace Was Stripped Soon After Ba Ahmed Died

Things to do in Marrakech: Step inside Marrakech’s magnificent Bahia Palace and discover an extraordinary maze of ornate rooms, peaceful gardens and spectacular courtyards. We took the time to visit local museums and palaces in and around Marrakech. This particular time we planned to visit the much talked about Bahia Palace.

Throughout its history, Bahia Palace has endured numerous challenges, including decline. Today, it continues to be a symbol of Marrakech’s rich heritage.

It was interesting to see the stunning courtyards with their tile work & the intricate mosaics. You can tell by the design, the geometry wouldn’t allow for mistakes. The Bahia Palace is one of those historic places in Marrakech you need to visit.

Spread roughly across 2 acres, the palace has a labyrinth of luxurious rooms, courtyards, riad gardens and even at one time, ahem, quarters for a harem…

The delicate stucco, the stained glass windows, the painted inlaid cedar ceilings are only surpassed by the marble-paved Grand Courtyard, surrounded by decorated wooden galleries.

The empty rooms actually make more sense once you understand the history. Bahia Palace’s greatest treasures today are the building itself, the cedar ceilings, carved plaster, zellige, marble, courtyards and gardens, not a collection of royal furniture and artifacts.

Zellige: is a traditional, handcrafted Moroccan terracotta tile known for its glossy, uneven surface and unique colour variations. Originating in 10th-century Morocco, zellige (also spelled zellij) has been used for over a thousand years in Islamic architecture, palaces, and mosques. Authentic tiles are made from natural clay found around Fez, molded by hand, sun-dried, kiln-fired, and hand-dipped in enamel glazes.

You can wander about yourself, or you can take a tour, either way, you’ll need about 1-1.5 hours to take it all in.

Intricately designed ceiling featuring ornate patterns and vibrant colors, seen from a corner perspective.

Ornate ceiling featuring intricate geometric patterns and floral designs in vibrant colors.

3 Lesser-Known Historical Facts About Bahia Palace

1. The Palace Was Built by Two Generations of the Same Family

Bahia Palace wasn’t created by a king. Construction began under Si Moussa, a powerful grand vizier to Sultan Hassan I, during the 19th century. His son, Ahmed ben Moussa, better known as Ba Ahmed, subsequently became grand vizier himself and dramatically enlarged the palace. Under Ba Ahmed, the complex grew into the sprawling collection of courtyards, private apartments and gardens visitors explore today.

2. “Bahia” May Have Been a Tribute to a Favourite Wife

The name Bahia means “brilliance” or “the beautiful,” and it is widely associated with one of Ba Ahmed’s wives. The palace was designed to accommodate his large household, which included his wives, concubines, children and servants. Rather than following one simple floor plan, rooms and courtyards were added over time, helping explain the fascinating maze-like layout visitors encounter today.

3. The Palace Was Stripped Soon After Ba Ahmed Died

One of the more surprising chapters came after Ba Ahmed’s death in 1900. The palace’s valuable contents were reportedly removed and dispersed under the authority of Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz. What visitors admire today is therefore largely the extraordinary architecture and fixed decoration, rather than rooms filled with the original furnishings and possessions of the family who lived there.

Jemaa-El-Fnaa Market ⎮ The Beating Heart of Marrakech

5 Places to Visit Nearby

Because Marjana is in the Essaouira area rather than near Marrakech itself, I would frame these as places to combine with your cooperative stop on the Marrakech–Essaouira route.

1. Essaouira Medina: Wander the UNESCO-listed historic centre, with narrow streets, shops, galleries, cafés and a much more relaxed atmosphere than Marrakech.

2. Essaouira Fishing Port: One of the city’s most photogenic areas, filled with distinctive blue fishing boats, fishermen, seafood stalls and views of the Atlantic.

3. Skala de la Ville: Walk Essaouira’s historic oceanfront fortifications for cannons, stone ramparts and superb views across the Atlantic.

4. Essaouira Beach: The city’s enormous sandy beach is perfect for a walk after exploring the Medina and provides a completely different experience from inland Morocco.

5. The Argan Forests: Keep watching the roadside as you travel through argan country. This is also where visitors sometimes encounter Morocco’s famous goats climbing argan trees: certainly one of the more bizarre photographs you can bring home from Morocco.

Explore these places in Morocco

Continue exploring Marrakech

Nearby Marrakech attractions

Must-See Jemma el Fnaa famous market

Planning your trip?

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With every trip, we offer feedback to travel companies along with honest views for you, the reader. We rate adventures on a scale of one to five tickets, judged on quality, service, memorability, and price. A perfect ‘Ticket Rating’ of a five-ticket score means the experience was flawless and we’d eagerly return. Your desire to go back is the ultimate measure of a trip’s worth. Exclusive to My Return Ticket.

The Bahia Palace⎮Marrakech⎮ Inside One of Morocco’s Most Beautiful Historic Palaces