Walking & Guided Tours
Gueliz: Modern Marrakech Tour
The new city — Art Deco boulevards, galleries, concept stores and café culture.
- Duration
- Half day (3 hours)
- Price
- From 27 EUR / 295 MAD
- Group size
- Private or small group (1–10)
- Best time
- Late morning into the afternoon, when galleries and cafés are open
Reply within 2 hours · Private or shared · Pay after we confirm your spot
Overview
There's a whole other Marrakech beyond the red walls. Gueliz, the Ville Nouvelle laid out by the French in the 1910s, is a grid of palm-lined boulevards, Art Deco façades, contemporary galleries, concept stores and pavement cafés — the city where young Marrakchis actually live, shop and hang out. This walk shows you that modern side, a bracing change of pace from the medina.
Your guide walks you through the history of the new town — how it was planned as a European quarter beyond the walls, and how its early-twentieth-century Art Deco and Mauresque buildings survive between the newer blocks along Avenue Mohammed V and around Place du 16 Novembre. It's a lesson in the other half of Marrakech's story: the colonial period, independence, and the confident, cosmopolitan city of today.
The heart of the tour is the contemporary scene. Gueliz has become the centre of Marrakech's art world, with galleries such as David Bloch and the Comptoir des Mines showing Moroccan and North African artists, and concept stores like 33 Rue Majorelle stocking a new generation of local designers. Your guide can weave in the Marché Central food market, independent boutiques, and the café culture — from old French-era brasseries to third-wave coffee — that defines daily life here.
It suits design lovers, art followers and repeat visitors who've done the medina and want to see where the city is heading, as well as anyone after an easy, flat, shaded walk with good coffee built in. Going private lets you lean into galleries, shopping, architecture or food, and pairs neatly with the Jardin Majorelle and YSL Museum, which sit on Gueliz's edge.
Highlights
- The French-built Art Deco boulevards of the Ville Nouvelle
- Contemporary Moroccan art at galleries like David Bloch and Comptoir des Mines
- Concept stores and design shops such as 33 Rue Majorelle
- The Marché Central and the city's modern café and dining culture
The route, step by step
A typical tour runs about Half day (3 hours). The order flexes with the season, the crowds and whether you go private or shared — here is the usual shape of it:
- 1
Meet in central Gueliz
Start at a café on or near Avenue Mohammed V, the new town's spine.
- 2
Art Deco architecture
Read the surviving 1920s–30s façades and the story of the French-planned Ville Nouvelle.
- 3
Contemporary galleries
Visit one or two art galleries showing Moroccan and North African artists.
- 4
Concept stores & design
Browse design shops and concept stores like 33 Rue Majorelle for local makers.
- 5
Marché Central
The modern covered market — produce, flowers, olives and a slice of everyday Gueliz.
- 6
Café finish
Wind down over coffee or a pastry in the new town's café culture.
What's included & what's not
Included
- Local guide for the walk
- A route through Gueliz's architecture, galleries and shops
- Pickup from a central point or a set café meeting spot
- Bottled water
Not included
- Coffee, food and any shopping
- Gallery admission (most are free)
- Tips for the guide
- The Jardin Majorelle and YSL Museum (optional add-ons)
Good to know
- Go late morning onward — galleries and shops open later than the souks
- Most galleries are free to enter and welcome browsers
- It pairs perfectly with the neighbouring Jardin Majorelle and YSL Museum
- Gueliz is flat, shaded and easy underfoot — a good hot-day walk
- Bring a card as well as cash; new-town shops and cafés often take both
Who this tour suits
- Design, art and architecture lovers
- Repeat visitors who've already done the medina
- Coffee and café-culture fans
- Shoppers after contemporary Moroccan design
Maybe not for you if: First-timers with limited time who should prioritise the medina and its monuments.
Frequently asked questions
What is Gueliz and is it worth visiting?
Gueliz is Marrakech's Ville Nouvelle — the new town the French laid out beyond the medina walls from the 1910s, now the city's modern hub of boulevards, galleries, concept stores and cafés. It's very much worth a few hours, especially for design and art lovers or repeat visitors, as it shows the confident, contemporary side of Marrakech the medina doesn't.
Are the art galleries in Gueliz free to visit?
Most commercial galleries — like David Bloch or the Comptoir des Mines — are free to enter and happy for you to browse, whether or not you're buying. Exhibitions rotate, so what's showing depends on the day. Your guide will pick the strongest current shows and give you the context on the artists.
Can I combine Gueliz with the Jardin Majorelle?
Yes, easily — the Jardin Majorelle and the YSL Museum sit on the edge of Gueliz, so they're a natural add-on to this tour. Tell us when you book and we'll build in the time and help with tickets; note the garden gets busy, so an early or timed entry is wise.
Is Gueliz a good place to shop in Marrakech?
For contemporary design and fixed-price shopping, yes. Concept stores like 33 Rue Majorelle and various boutiques stock a new generation of Moroccan designers, and prices are marked rather than haggled — a relief after the souks. It's the place for modern homeware, fashion and gifts as opposed to traditional crafts.