El Badi Palace — “the Incomparable” — was a lavish late-16th-century palace built by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur. Once decorated with gold and onyx, today you visit its vast romantic ruins, where storks nest on the high pisé walls.
Where is El Badi Palace and how to get there
In the Kasbah district, minutes from Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs. From Jemaa el-Fna, about 15–20 minutes on foot via Place des Ferblantiers.
Opening hours and entrance fee
Open daily, generally 9:00–17:00. As of 2025 the fee is about 100 MAD (roughly €10) per adult. Entrance fees for Marrakech’s monuments are set by Morocco’s Ministry of Culture and reviewed from time to time, so treat any figure as a guide. The current price is posted at the ticket office, tickets are bought on site (bring cash in dirhams — cards are rarely accepted), and children usually pay a reduced rate.
What to see at El Badi Palace
- The great courtyard — a 135-metre esplanade with a central pool and sunken orange gardens.
- The original Koutoubia minbar — the inlaid 12th-century pulpit, in a side pavilion.
- The ramparts — climb for panoramic medina views and stork nests.
- The underground passages — former stables and dungeons.
Tips for your visit
Little shade — bring water and a hat in summer. Allow about an hour.
Visit El Badi Palace with a licensed local guide
El Badi Palace rewards a little context. Our guides are officially licensed by the Moroccan authorities, speak English, French and Spanish, and meet you right on Jemaa el-Fna square — so you get the history, the symbolism and the shortcuts, without the guesswork.
- Hire a private licensed guide in Marrakech — from €20, build your own monuments route.
- Marrakech Monuments & Souks tour — a guided 3-hour walk, from €22 per person.
Book a licensed guide on WhatsApp
More Marrakech monuments
See them all in our complete guide to Marrakech monuments — with fees, hours and locations. Popular next stops: Bahia Palace · Saadian Tombs · Koutoubia Mosque · Majorelle Garden.
New to the medina? Start with our complete Jemaa el-Fna guide.