Marrakech is a vibrant city with so much going on, and honestly it can feel a little overwhelming when you first arrive with kids. The souks are chaotic and the mopeds don't slow down for anyone but the people here are so welcoming to kids and proud to show off their culture and history.

This 3 day itinerary is what worked for us with our 2 yr old, covering the palaces, gardens and markets in the medina, plus a day trip out to Agafay desert that ended up being one of our daughter's favourite memories of the whole trip. We've included practical info on pram access, queues, and where we found space for her to run around, so you can plan a trip that doesn't feel like a constant battle against steps and crowds!

Day 1: Ben Youssef Madrasa, Le Jardin Secret & the souks

After a hearty breakfast in your Riad, start the day at Ben Youssef Madrasa, which was once an Islamic college and is known for its intricate tiles and woodwork. It's definitely worth visiting with but there are a few things to know before going with kids. Firstly, the space is small with a central water feature so if they are running around on the ground floor make sure to keep a close eye on your kids, especially since it also can get quite crowded. There are also stairs up to the balconies on the first floor (no lift available) which are quite tight so I would recommend carrying or using a carrier if your child isn't that confident on stairs yet.

Entry is 50 MAD per adult, with young children going free. You don't need to book ahead, but it does get busy, so go early. We arrived around 10am and it was already filling up, and by 11am the queue was out onto the street.

From there it's a 7 minute walk to Le Jardin Secret, an ornate 19th-century palace complex with traditional Islamic gardens, we found it a nice way to unwind after the crowds of Ben Youssef Madrasa. This was one of the best spots for our daughter to run around freely. The courtyard is planted with palm trees, cacti and citrus, and there's a little pond with turtles. There are cafes on site if you want a drink, or plenty of benches if you'd rather just sit. Entry is 100 MAD per adult, free for under 12s, and an hour is about right here as it's fairly small.

For lunch, head to Le Trou Au Mur Restaurant and Roof terrace, which does a modern take on traditional Moroccan dishes. The tagines here were so tasty and as we were on a rooftop we had some really nice views of the city but bear in mind there are no lift so you have to walk all the way up.

After lunch, I would recommend using nap time to explore the souks. These markets have a real hustle and bustle too them and feel alive, but they're hectic, and not somewhere we'd want our daughter walking herself given how many mopeds cut through the narrow streets. A pram works fine if your toddler is happy to nap through the noise (ear defenders help) or make sure you hold onto them tight here.

For dinner, Le Salama, right next to Jemaa el-Fnaa, is a reliable choice before heading back to your riad. My biggest tip would be to avoid the night market and food in Jemaa el-Fnaa. We ate here on the first night and it was a bland, overpriced and really touristy experience. They are all shouting for your attention as you pass through and one person even grabbed the pram whilst we were walking past to try and get us to eat there.

Where to stay: Riad Saba

Where to eat: Le Trou Au Mur, Le Salama

Day 2: Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs & Le Jardin Majorelle

Start at Bahia Palace, a vast palace with 160 rooms, courtyards and 8 acres of gardens. Only parts are open to the public, but there's still plenty to see, and the decorative ceilings are beautiful. Entry is 100 MAD per adult, free for children. We left the pram at the entrance since the route loops back to where you start, though you could bring it throughout if you prefer as there are only a few raised steps.

A short walk away are the Saadian Tombs, royal tombs built in the 16th century and one of the more important historical sites in the city. Tickets are also 100 MAD per adult, and it's a lot quieter and more spacious than other attractions, so my daughter could run around and burn off energy. You'll queue briefly to see the main mausoleum, but it moves quickly.

For lunch, Dar Naji is worth it for the interiors alone! The restaurant is spread across two floors and has a cosy roof terrace, with tasty and reasonably priced food.

In the afternoon, take a taxi to Le Jardin Majorelle, a botanical garden known for its vibrant blues, exotic plants and unusual architecture, originally designed by French painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent. This is the one attraction worth pre-booking, and at 170 MAD per adult it's the priciest attraction in the city, but it was one of our highlights. You can push the pram around the trails but make sure you keep your eyes on your kids as my daughter decided to run off into the areas that were barriered off and when my husband ran after her it prompted security to chase him until they realised he was just chasing our daughter!

For dinner, book ahead for Naranj, a trendy spot in the Medina serving Lebanese food, a nice change of pace from tagine and couscous.

**Where to stay:** Riad Saba (or move to Riad Samsli if you want an on-site hammam)

**Where to eat:** Dar Naji, Naranj

Day 3: Agafay Desert day trip, Camel ride & Dinner show

For your third day, I would recommended heading outside the city to the Agafay Desert which is only about an hour away. It's not the Sahara, and before we went we read mixed reviews online but we figured that the 8 hr drive to the Sahara was feasible with a 2 yr old so decided to check out Agafay instead. Fortunately the drive was absolutely worth it and we were rewarded with an exotic desert feeling and pretty sand dunes around. We even made an evening out and we stayed at Agafay Pearl Camp, which had a swimming pool, a small playground, and animals (goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys) that our daughter loved.

Activities on offer include quad biking and camel rides. But because we were traveling with our toddler, we thought the sunset camel ride through the desert would be the best option and, and all three of us really enjoyed it.

Dinner comes with a show of traditional music and dancing, which was our daughter's favourite moment of the entire trip. The musicians let her join in, try on a tasselled fez and have a go at the drums. Once she was finally asleep, the camp staff set up a fire outside our tent for stargazing. Read the full review here: Toddler Glamping in the Agafay Desert: Review of Agafay Pearl Camp, a Family-Friendly Oasis Near Marrakech

If a full night away doesn't suit your plans, Agafay also works well as a day trip from Marrakech and here's a tour here: Marrakech: Agafay Desert Quad Biking & Camel Ride & pool

Where to stay in Marrakech with kids

For this itinerary we based ourselves at Riad Saba then Riad Samsli, which were an easy walk to Bahia Palace and Jemaa el-Fnaa. For a full luxury base in the Kasbah, La Sultana Marrakech is five interconnected 18th-century riads with a pink marble spa, heated pool, babysitting on request, and free cots for under 6s, all a ten minute walk from Jemaa el-Fnaa. If design is the priority, Dar Darma is an 18th-century mansion turned six-suite hotel with a rooftop plunge pool looking out to the Atlas Mountains, one minute from Ben Youssef Madrasa. If your children are a little older, Les Jardins de la Médina (ages 4 and up) has a 16 metre heated pool set in gardens that once featured in a BBC documentary!

For the full breakdown across all budgets and areas, read our complete guide: Where to Stay in Marrakech with Kids: 10 Family-Friendly Hotels and Riads

Final Thoughts

Three days is enough to get a proper feel for Marrakech with kids, from the calm of the gardens to the chaos of the souks, and if you can fit in a night out at Agafay it's absolutely worth it and one of the most memorable stays we've done. My key tips would be to pack light, keep a carrier handy for the busier sights, and don't be afraid to build in more downtime than you think you'll need.

If you're planning a longer trip around the country, take a look at our 7-Day Morocco Family Itinerary & Road Trip with Kids for how to build Marrakech into a bigger loop, or read our full review of Agafay Pearl Camp if a night in the desert is calling.

Read these blog posts to help you prepare for your family trip to Morocco and Marrakech:

• 7-Day Morocco Family Itinerary & Road Trip with Kids

• Where to Stay in Marrakech with Kids: 10 Family-Friendly Hotels and Riads

• Toddler Glamping in the Agafay Desert: Review of Agafay Pearl Camp, a Family-Friendly Oasis Near Marrakech

• Where to Stay in Taghazout with Kids: Best Family-Friendly Hotels and Apartments