22 Gorgeous Moroccan Locations You Won’t Believe Exist—Until You See Them for Yourself
Morocco is quite literally one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. The colors alone are unforgettable—vivid reds and deep ochres in the cities, the golden dunes of the Sahara, brilliant blue tiles and zellige mosaics, lush gardens tucked behind high walls, and bright textiles filling every corner of the souks.
But it’s not just about color. Morocco’s beauty comes from the dramatic variety of landscapes and centuries of layered culture—from seaside towns to mountain valleys, ornate palaces to crumbling kasbahs, quiet courtyards to chaotic medinas. It’s a place that constantly surprises you with how photogenic, atmospheric, and unique it is.
These are 22 of the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous places in Morocco—some famous, some lesser-known, all absolutely worth seeing for yourself.
22 Prettiest Locations in Morocco
Here is my list of my personal favorite beautiful places in Morocco, broken down by cities or regions:
Most Beautiful Places in Marrakech
1. Musee Dar El Bacha
The Musée Dar El Bacha is a total hidden gem in Marrakech. As a museum, it does have some exhibits, but mostly the building is the museum.
The building itself used to be a private palace for Thami El Glaoui, who was a powerful governor in Marrakech during the early 1900’s. A lot of notable European guests, like Winston Churchill, were entertained here!
In 2017, this residence opened as a museum, and Glaoui’s loss is most definitely our gain! The place is gorgeous. The main courtyard has trees and a fountain, and several little rooms to wander into. The tilework is impressive, and the columns just add an air of opulence.
The main courtyard garden has a fountain, tiles and mosaics, and greenery to rival *any* spot in Marrakech (Bahia included!).
2. Jardin Majorelle
This spot is actually a pretty unique place to visit in Marrakech – instead of tiles and mosaics and symmetry and fountains, you have a garden and a villa painted in vibrant blue and yellow hues, with “exotic” plants like cactuses throughout the gardens. It’s a popular spot, and for good reason.
The garden was designed and developed by the artist Jacques Majorelle in the first half of the 1900’s, and then bought by the designer Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Berge. They revitalized the gardens and turned the villa into a museum, which today houses the Berber Museum and the Yves Saint-Laurent museum.
3. Jardin Secret
Another much lesser-known and less-visited attraction in Marrakech is the Jardin Secret. Tucked behind unassuming medina walls, this peaceful spot feels like a hidden gem in the middle of the city. There are two gardens here—the first you’ll enter is a nice exotic garden with lush greenery and global plant species. But the second one, the Moroccan garden, is the real stunner and what’s pictured above.
Here you’ll find a striking courtyard with a traditional layout, shaded arcades, greeen tiles, and an elegant gazebo at the center. It’s incredibly photogenic and wonderfully serene. Wander around, snap some photos, maybe grab a tea or light lunch at the on-site café—the surroundings are absolutely gorgeous.
4. Bahia Palace
The Bahia Palace is one of the most visited sites in Morocco, and it’s an unforgettable stop—filled with tiled courtyards, tranquil gardens, and charming little alcoves tucked throughout the complex.
Bahia was built between the 1850s and 1900 by a father and son who both served as grand viziers to the kings of Morocco. The palace was intended to be the most beautiful of its time—and honestly, it still holds up.
There are over 160 rooms (you’ll only tour a portion of these), and because the palace was added onto gradually over several decades, the layout isn’t as symmetrical as many other Moroccan buildings—but that just adds to the charm.
You’ll wander through grand courtyards, peaceful gardens, and beautifully decorated private rooms that give a peek into how the palace’s elite once lived.
5. Your Riad
There are some absolutely swoon-worthy riads in Marrakech. Riads are traditional Moroccan homes that have been converted into boutique guesthouses, and staying in one is such a unique and delightful part of any Morocco trip. Most have just a handful of rooms and are built around a central courtyard—often with a fountain or small pool, and always with a calm, intimate feel that feels worlds away from the busy streets outside.
Pictured above is Riad BE Marrakech, one of the most stunning riads in the city. The rooms and common spaces are beautifully tiled and full of character, with lush plants, flowing curtains, and cozy corners to relax in. There’s even a small plunge pool in the courtyard—perfect for cooling off after a hot day exploring Marrakech.
Alternatively, these are other similarly amazing riads in Marrakech:
6. The Saadian Tombs
Another absolutely stunning spot in Marrakech is the Saadian Tombs – the intricate, colorful tombs framed by arches are incredible to see.
The Saadian tombs were constructed by the Saadian sultan Ahmad Al Mansour in the early 1600’s to bury his and some of his descendants’ bodies.
Easily the grandest of the tombs the Room of 12 Columns (pictured above), the burial site for Ahmad Al Mansour himself, his son, and his immediate successors. The walls are covered with “glazed earthenware crowned with Koranic freizes” (I’ll admit to not knowing what a Koranic frieze is, but I LOVE looking at it).
The ceiling is spectacular with both carved stucco and cedarwood. I appreciate the unusual nature of this Marrakech attraction – it’s not every day you see tombs so decked out!
7. The Souks
The souks (markets) in Morocco are a feast for the senses—narrow, winding alleys overflowing with tiny shops and stalls, each packed to the brim with beautiful and intriguing wares. You’ll find intricate brass lamps, hand-painted ceramics, pyramids of vibrant spices, colorful babouche slippers, traditional clothing, ornate teapots, and fanciful carpets hanging from every corner.
Even if you don’t plan to bring anything home, the souks are an experience in and of themselves. The energy, colors, and sheer variety make them a must-see—but fair warning: it’s nearly impossible to leave without picking something up as a souvenir from Morocco, so you might want to save some space in your suitcase just in case.
Beautiful Spots in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco
8. Ait Ben Haddou
Ait Ben Haddou is an excellent example of a ksar, a fortified city or village. Since the 11th century, the city used to be a stop on the silk road, and caravans would pass by on their journey . The city needed to be fortified so it couldn’t be attacked by robbers and bandits.
In those times, 150 families used to live in the city, but today only 5 remain. As such, Ait Ben Haddou is mainly a tourist attraction, but it has also been used as a film set for many movies.
You can find this fortified hilltop city in the Atlas Mountains, about 4 hours from Marrakech. Most people visit either as a day trip from Marrakech, or as part of a bigger road trip through the country.
Definitely walk through the city, but the best viewpoint of the ksar itself is from the top of the nearby hill. It’s a really surreal and epic view!
9. Monkey Fingers Hike in the Dades Gorge
The Dades Gorge sits between Ait Ben Haddou and Merzouga, where the Sahara Desert of Morocco starts. Its location makes it a really easy stop on your way out to the desert, and in the Dades Valley you can do the beautiful Monkey Fingers hike!
The Monkey Fingers are named for the rock formations that look impressively like knuckles in certain spots! The hike takes you inside a canyon, where the rocks are sometimes smoother, and sometimes the path narrows into a slot canyon.
You can hike up and out to the top, where the “knuckled” rocks are – making for a fantastic hike in Morocco.
10. The Switchbacks of the Dades Gorge
Fifteen minutes up the road from the Monkey Fingers hike brings you to the famous switchback section of the Dades Gorge. The view from the top is really something, and is a great addition to your Morocco itinerary!
The best viewpoint and photo spot is from the patio of a restaurant at the top of the hill. To find this spot, put in “Café-restaurant Timzzillite Chez Mohamed” or “Riad Bleu Afriqua” (the riad right next door) into your maps.
Top Spots in the Sahara Desert, Morocco
Our nights in the Sahara Desert were what I was looking forward to the most out of our entire trip to Morocco, and y’all, it was absolutely magical. These are some of the prettiest spots to visit during your time in the Sahara Desert of Morocco.
11. A Luxury Camp
I cannot even communicate how absolutely enchanting these Sahara desert glamping sites were. The interiors of the tents were comfortable, cozy, and inviting, and the main camp had carpets laid throughout it, with lanterns, plants, and little tables and chairs set up throughout.
I could’ve stayed here for a week.
Pro Tip: Most people stay just one night in the Sahara, but I would actually recommend staying for two nights! You spend so much time and energy getting out to the Sahara, to arrive at camp around 6pm, and leave camp at 9 or 10am the next morning. I promise you’re going to want more time!
With that full day, you can watch the sunrise and sunset one more time, explore the dunes and take pictures, go sandboarding, go ATVing or do a tour through the desert, oasis, and nearby villages, enjoy your luxurious tent, chat with the Berber men running the camp, and just hang out and enjoy the incredibly unique experience of glamping in the Sahara.
12. With the Saharan Night Sky
The night sky in the Sahara is breathtaking – light pollution is very low, and lying on the dunes, knowing that you’re in the Sahara looking at the night sky, is pretty dang magical.
You can actually get some pretty good night sky shots with a camera phone too! As I mentioned in the intro, we are far from photography pros, but we did use a few tricks to get some pretty impressive night sky shots in the Sahara with just our cell phone:
- Set your phone up on a tripod. We traveled in Morocco with this bigger one and this little one – either one will work fine for star photos, but using a tripod is an absolute must as stability is key for getting clear shots.
- Adjust your phone settings on Pro mode (on a Samsung phone, but it’s just the mode where you can manually adjust the settings). We had good results with 15-30 second shutter and 800-3200 ISO.
- Turn your self-timer on, even 3 seconds will do! You just want to avoid any jostling of the phone from you hitting the button when the shutter is open.
- If you are in the photo, do not move a muscle!
- Voila! Pretty dang good photos, just from a phone camera!
13. With The Camels
This miiiiight be my favorite photo from all of Morocco – good job Matthew! Riding camels is a must when doing a Sahara desert tour, and we asked our guide if we could take a few pictures with the camels right at the end of our ride.
We bought Matthew’s outfit and scarf in Marrakech – they sell outfits like this all over the city. While we were going to buy an outfit and scarf to bring home anyway, it would’ve been worth it just for this picture – doesn’t he look so legit?!
14. The Sand Dunes
The sand dunes in the Sahara are huge and undulating, and you have to spend an hour or two exploring the dunes and snapping some pictures. Of course, sunset is an incredible time to be out!
Prettiest Places in Fes, Morocco
15. At Your Riad
There are some really next level riads in Fes at incredibly low price points. Not going to lie, when we walked into our riad, I legitimately felt like we had walked into a palace. Pictured here is the second level, but the whole entire place was like a museum.
My Riad Recommendation for Fes: Pictured above is Riad Sara, and honestly I can’t recommend this riad enough. It was absolutely stunning, from the common areas to the individual rooms, and was so close to everything in Fes. The staff was wonderful and helpful – I almost didn’t want to go out sightseeing and instead just stay in and enjoy the wonderful ambiance all day.
Alternatively, these are other similarly amazing riads in Fes:
16. Madrasa Al-Attarine
This historic school in Fes is absolutely stunning—and was one of my favorite places we visited in the city. The intricate tilework, carved cedar wood, and quiet courtyard make it one of the most beautiful examples of Islamic architecture in Morocco.
It’s not a huge space, but every inch is detailed and intentional. You don’t need a lot of time here, but it leaves a big impression.
17. The Blue Gate
The Blue Gate is one of the most famous entrances to the Fes medina, officially called La Grande Porte Bab Boujeloud. It’s one of many gates in the city, but definitely the most photographed.
Interestingly, the gate isn’t just blue—on one side, it’s decorated in the iconic cobalt color that represents Fes and its famous pottery. But on the opposite side, it’s green, the traditional color of Islam. It’s a beautiful, symbolic way to welcome you into the medina.
18. The Chouara Tanneries of Fes
The tanneries of Fes, with their very distinctive vats of colors (and distinctive smell to go with it!) is one of the top places to visit in Fes. While I can’t deny that its a very interesting place to observe, I also felt kind of bad up on the terrace, looking down at the men working in pretty awful conditions.
It’s a great shot, but also comes with some mixed feelings (but also, tourists up on the terraces lead to sales, which leads to job security… I guess? Like I said, a mixed bag of feelings on this one). Can’t deny it’s a really unique spot in Morocco, though.
Prettiest Spots in Chefchaouen, Morocco
19. Literally Anywhere in the Medina
Let’s face it: the entire blue city of Chefchaouen is just jaw-dropping. The entire old town is painted varying shades of blue (we even saw a few painters out touching up the blue while we were there) and is so, so gorgeous. I literally squealed as we pulled up to the city and got my first glimpse of the blue buildings.
20. Flower Pot Alley
Okay, so Flower Pot Alley is definitely one of the most Instagrammable spots in the Chefchaouen medina, with the colorful flowerpots accenting the blue background. You can find this spot by walking down Avenue Hassan II in Chefchaouen.
Beautiful Spot in Casablanca, Morocco
21. Outside the Hassan II Mosque
The biggest attraction in Casablanca is the Hassan II Mosque – one of the biggest mosques in the world and the only mosque in Morocco that allows non-Muslims inside. Honestly, it’s worth even just a half-day in Casablanca to go on this tour! We loved seeing the beautiful architecture and learning about Islam and the significance of the mosque.
There are a lot of spots for a great photo outside, but we really liked this shot with the minaret framed in by the arch!
22. Inside the Hassan II Mosque
Pictures are allowed inside the mosque on the tour, which I’m very glad of because this place was just insanely beautiful. Hand carved stucco and cedarwood adorned the the columns, the arches, the ceilings – essentially every surface!
The Wrap Up
Morocco is packed with incredible places that are just as fascinating to experience as they are to look at. The mosaics, the sand dunes, the medinas, the historic towns—there’s beauty around every corner that will make you fall in love with this unique country.
