Best Sunset Spots in Marrakech: Where to Watch the Light

The best sunset spots in Marrakech are the rooftop terraces around Jemaa el-Fna, the gardens below the Koutoubia, the Menara gardens with their view toward the Atlas, and the open palm groves of the Palmeraie. Each gives a different evening: lively and noisy on the square, quiet and green at the Menara, wide and golden in the Palmeraie. Below you will find what each spot offers, how to time it and how to link two or three of them in one ride.

When the light is best

Marrakech is a city of earth-coloured walls, and they react to low sun beautifully: ochre turns orange, then pink, then a soft violet once the sun has gone. The last hour before sunset, the golden hour, is the time to be in place. The 20 to 30 minutes after sunset, often called the blue hour, are just as good near the square, when lights come on and smoke rises from the food stalls.

Sunset time varies a lot over the year, early in winter and late in summer, so check a weather app for your date rather than relying on a fixed time. Clear winter days give the sharpest views of the snow-capped Atlas; summer haze softens the horizon but colours the sky deeply.

Rooftop terraces around Jemaa el-Fna

This is the classic Marrakech sunset. Several cafes and restaurants around the square have terraces that look over Jemaa el-Fna, with the Koutoubia minaret on the skyline. As the light drops, the square changes: juice sellers and henna artists give way to food stalls, musicians and circles gathered around storytellers.

Tips:

• Arrive early, especially in high season, as the best edge seats fill up.
• Most terraces expect you to order a drink; prices vary, so check the menu.
• Stay for the blue hour, when the smoke from the grills catches the last light.

The Warider meeting point in front of Café de France is right here, which makes the square a natural end point for an evening ride.

Koutoubia gardens

A few minutes' walk from the square, the gardens beside the Koutoubia Mosque are a calmer place to watch the minaret glow. Families stroll here in the evening, and the palms and roses frame the tower nicely for photos. Non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque, but the gardens and exterior are open to everyone.

It is a good spot if you want something gentle without the crowds of the rooftops, and the gardens entrance on Avenue Mohammed V is also a Warider meeting point.

Menara gardens

South-west of the medina, the Menara gardens are a large olive grove around a long rectangular basin with a green-roofed pavilion. On clear days, especially in winter, the Atlas mountains rise behind the pavilion: this is one of the most photographed views in Morocco.

What to know:

• The place is popular with local families on weekends.
• The garden has its own opening times and the pavilion may have an entry fee; check locally, as these change.
• The view works best in the golden hour, with the pavilion reflected in the water when the air is still.

The Palmeraie

North-east of the city, the Palmeraie is a wide area of palm groves crossed by quiet roads and dotted with villas and hotels. At sunset the light slants through the trunks and the dust turns gold. There is no single viewpoint: the pleasure is in moving slowly through the groves as the sky changes, which is exactly why it suits a motorcycle.

For more on the area, read our guide to the Palmeraie in Marrakech.

Other places to consider

• Outside the ramparts: the long ochre walls near Bab Doukkala or Bab Agnaou glow in low light and are easy to reach by road.
• Gueliz rooftops: some hotels and bars in the new town have terraces with a modern city view; check whether they are open to non-guests.
• The Kasbah and Mellah: storks nest on the walls of El Badi Palace, and the low light on the old walls is lovely, although monuments usually close before sunset.
• Agafay: the stony desert south-west of Marrakech is famous for sunsets, but it lies outside the city and is a separate excursion, not a same-city ride.

At a glance: comparing the spots

Spot	Mood	Atlas view	Best for
Jemaa el-Fna rooftops	Lively, noisy	Rarely	Atmosphere, blue hour
Koutoubia gardens	Calm, local	No	Minaret silhouettes, a stroll
Menara gardens	Peaceful, open	Yes, on clear days	Classic postcard view
Palmeraie	Wide, quiet	Sometimes	Golden light, riding
Ramparts	Urban	No	Wall colours, quick stop

Linking several spots on a sunset ride

On foot you will usually pick one spot. On a motorbike you can follow the light: the Menara or the Palmeraie for golden hour, a short stop along the ramparts as the colours turn pink, then the square for the blue hour and dinner.

A simple evening plan:

1. Meet your rider about 90 minutes before sunset at the Koutoubia gardens or Gueliz.
2. Ride out to the Palmeraie or the Menara for golden hour.
3. Follow the ramparts back toward the medina as the sun goes down.
4. Finish at Jemaa el-Fna for the blue hour and street food.

Warider's featured Marrakech Sunset Ride is a 2-hour tour designed by a local rider; you can see it, with its stops and price, on the Marrakech tours page. If you prefer to set your own plan, a 2-hour instant ride in Marrakech costs a fixed 350 MAD, paid in cash to the rider at the end. Rides run until 22:00, so there is time to finish after dark. Read our motorcycle tour Marrakech guide for how riding pillion works.

Bring a warm layer for the ride back: even after a hot day, the air cools fast once the sun has gone. And if photography is your goal, our list of the best photo spots in Marrakech will help you plan the rest of your trip.