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The Best Things to Do in Marrakech With Kids
Travelling to Marrakech with children sounds daunting and turns out to be a joy — Moroccan culture adores kids, and the city is full of the sort of sensory wonder that keeps small people wide-eyed. The trick is pacing: short bursts of sightseeing, lots of shade and water, and a couple of genuinely fun set pieces. This is the family shortlist that keeps everyone, adults included, happy.
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- Things to do
- Updated
- 20 July 2026
The short answer
The short answer
With kids, lean into the fun and the outdoors: a calèche ride around the ramparts, camel or pony rides in the Palmeraie, a shaded morning in Le Jardin Secret or Majorelle, and a pool afternoon to reset. A half-day in the Agafay stone desert and a hands-on kids' cooking session are the big wins. Keep sightseeing to short morning bursts and browse family-friendly options on our activities page.
At a glance
- Pace beats ambition: two hours of sightseeing then a pool or a garden keeps meltdowns away in the heat.
- The set-piece thrills — camel rides, a calèche, the Agafay desert — are what kids actually remember, so build the day around one of them.
- Riads with a plunge pool are worth their weight in gold with children; a midday swim resets everyone.
- Moroccans are warm and welcoming towards children, so expect fuss, treats and patience rather than tutting.
What makes a Marrakech activity family-friendly
Short and shaded
Small children wilt in the midday sun, so the best family activities are either brief, indoors, in a garden, or on or near water. We favoured things you can do in under two hours.
Hands-on or active
Kids engage when they can touch, ride, splash or make something. A camel to sit on or a tagine to help stir beats a museum label every time.
Buggy- and toddler-realistic
The medina lanes are uneven and crowded, so we flag what works with a pushchair (little) versus a baby carrier (lots), and where a taxi or a calèche saves tired legs.
A win for the grown-ups too
The best family picks are ones adults enjoy independently — a beautiful garden, a sunset camel ride, a cooking class — so nobody is just chaperoning.
Easy on the budget for a group
Families multiply costs fast. We noted where a shared or group option keeps prices sane, and where a private guide or driver is worth the splurge for the sanity.
The best family things to do, by age and energy
Mix one big outing with one gentle activity each day and you will keep every age group content. Links go through to where you can plan each one.
A calèche ride around the ramparts
Best for littles and tired legs
The horse-drawn carriages that wait near Jemaa el-Fnaa offer a breezy, shaded loop around the old city walls and the Menara gardens — a genuine hit with children and a rest for parents. Agree the price and the length before you set off. It is one of the easiest wins on our activities list.
Camel or pony rides in the Palmeraie
Best for the photo everyone wants
A short amble on a camel through the palm groves on the edge of town is gentle, supervised and endlessly delightful for kids — ponies are on hand for the nervous. Go early or late to dodge the heat. Book a family-friendly slot through our experiences page.
A shaded garden morning
Best for a calm, cool start to the day
Le Jardin Secret and Jardin Majorelle give children space to roam among fountains, cats and colour without traffic or crowds pressing in. Majorelle's cobalt walls are a photographer's dream; Le Jardin Secret has a little tower to climb. Both feature on our attractions list.
A pool afternoon
Best for resetting everyone at midday
The single best parenting move in Marrakech is a riad or day-pass pool from roughly noon to four, when the sun is fiercest and small people fray. Some Palmeraie resorts sell day passes with lunch. It is the quiet secret behind every calm family itinerary.
A half-day in the Agafay stone desert
Best for a mini-adventure without the long drive
Just 40 minutes out, the lunar Agafay landscape offers camel rides, quad bikes for teens, and a lunch in a desert camp — all the desert romance without an overnight trek. It is the family-sized taste of the Sahara. Compare formats on our desert tours pillar.
A kid-friendly cooking session
Best for a rainy plan and a proper souvenir
Plenty of cooking workshops welcome children to knead bread, shape pastries and stir a tagine — messy, hands-on and rewarded with lunch you all made. It is indoors, air-conditioned and endlessly instagrammable. Find family sessions among our experiences.
The Menara gardens and pavilion
Best for a free, open-air run-around
A vast olive grove around a reflecting pool with the Atlas behind it, the Menara is where Marrakchi families themselves picnic at the weekend. There is space to run, ducks to watch and no entry fee for the grounds. Pair it with a calèche ride there and back — details on our attractions page.
Practical tips for Marrakech with children
Heat is the main variable. From May to September, treat the middle of the day as off-limits for sightseeing and plan around water and shade. Bring high-factor sun cream, hats and refillable bottles, and never underestimate how much a mid-afternoon swim salvages the mood.
In the medina, a baby carrier beats a pushchair on the uneven lanes and steps, and it keeps small children close in the crowds. Food is rarely a problem — plain bread, couscous, grilled meats, chips and fruit are everywhere — but ask for dishes mild if your kids dislike spice; most Moroccan cooking is aromatic rather than hot.
- Best months for families: March-May and October-November (warm, not brutal)
- Carry a baby in the medina; save the buggy for gardens and the new town
- Riads with a pool are worth booking specifically for the midday reset
- Agree calèche and camel prices up front to avoid awkwardness with kids in tow
Frequently asked questions
Is Marrakech safe and suitable for young children?
Yes. Violent crime is rare, Moroccans are genuinely fond of children, and families are welcomed everywhere. The real hazards are heat, uneven medina lanes and mopeds in the alleys — so hold little hands, stay hydrated and pace the days around the sun.
What is the best area to stay with kids?
A riad with a plunge pool inside the medina puts you close to the action with a place to cool off, while a Palmeraie or Route de l'Ourika resort gives more room, bigger pools and quiet — at the cost of taxi rides into town. Families wanting space often prefer the latter.
Can toddlers do the camel and calèche rides?
Calèche rides suit all ages — it is just a carriage. Camel rides are fine for supervised toddlers held by a parent, but many families prefer a pony ride for the very small. Operators are used to nervous little riders and keep it slow.
Is the Agafay desert doable with young kids?
Very much so — it is a short drive, activities are gentle by default, and camps are set up for families. Skip the quad bikes for younger children and stick to camel rides and the camp lunch. See the near-desert options on our desert tours page.
Where can we cool down in the afternoon?
A pool is the answer — book a riad or resort with one, or buy a day pass at a Palmeraie hotel. Shaded gardens like Le Jardin Secret and Majorelle are the next best thing when swimming is not an option.