Marrakech after the earthquake: what reopened in 2023, which monuments still have works, and what has changed for visitors

💡 The Short Version: The earthquake of 8 September 2023 (magnitude 6.8, in the Al Haouz region) damaged walls, palaces, madrasas and mosques in the medina. The Bahia Palace, El Badi Palace and Saadian Tombs reopened on 9 October 2023, and Dar El Bacha on 23 November 2023. Parts of the Bahia, El Badi and the Saadian Tombs are still under restoration: the state’s November 2025 report put the Saadian Tombs at 65% and El Badi at 40%, with the contracts due to end in June 2026. Expect fenced-off areas, and buy tickets at the ministry’s site or the gate. Tours to Imlil, Ourika, Ouzoud and Aït Benhaddou run daily. Or book a tour: the Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, souk and medina tourad (from £13, 4 hours) visits the Kasbah monuments with a guide.

What is open, and what still has works

Hours and prices are from the operators. The restoration figures are the state’s, from its November 2025 report to UNESCO (report).

• Bab Hmer: the state’s report says this monumental gate, on the route between the Sidi Youssef Ben Ali and Berrima quarters, was temporarily closed because of its poor state.
• Mosques: 34 mosques were affected, and in November 2025 restoration was under way at five: the Koutoubia, Ben Youssef, Al Wasta, Kharbouch and Al Mansour.
• Fondouks: 26 fondouks, the old trading courtyards, were under study, so some may be fenced off in the souks.
• Kzadria towers: the project covers 10 towers on the Kasbah’s northern wall, built in the 17th century. Only five were secure in November 2025, and the works were 25% complete.

The courtyard of the Dar El Bacha museum, which reopened after the earthquake. Photo: YassirZek, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The timeline

Tours worth paying for

A tour is the easiest way to see the Kasbah monuments in one morning. Prices are GetYourGuide’s lowest “from” prices, per person.

The Bahia, the Saadian Tombs, the souk and the medina

From £13 (usually £26) · 4.7 stars from 7,604 reviews · 4 hours

Marrakech: Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Souk and Medina Tourad visits the two ministry monuments in the Kasbah quarter and the souks. The monuments are 100 MAD each at the ministry, so read “what’s included” for the entry.

What to check before you go

1. Buy the ministry tickets online or at the gate. The platform sells no timed slot.
2. Go at 09:00. The state’s report says the Bahia, the Saadian Tombs and the Ben Youssef Madrasa are under heavy pressure from visitor numbers.
3. Expect fenced-off areas. Parts of the Bahia, El Badi and the Saadian Tombs are still under restoration.
4. In the Atlas, tours to Imlil, Ourika, Ouzoud and Aït Benhaddou run daily. See day trips from Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains and Imlil guide.
5. In your room, read the earthquake instructions, as the UK Foreign Office advises.

What to skip: Bab Hmer, the monumental gate that the state closed temporarily.

Practical information

• Tickets: the ministry’s monuments are 100 MAD each for a foreign adult. See what to book before you go to Marrakech.
• Foreign Office: it advises you to familiarise yourself with earthquake safety procedures and any instructions in hotel rooms.
• Koutoubia: the mosque reopened to worshippers on 16 March 2024 after six months of restoration. Non-Muslims cannot enter.

The Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and El Badi Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa and Le Jardin Secret each have a ticket guide, and Marrakech museums lists the museums. Jemaa el-Fnaa is being rebuilt as well, and Marrakech medina tours and licensed guides compares the guided options. 3 days in Marrakech fits the monuments into a plan. Is Marrakech safe? covers the rest of the safety advice. To sleep in the medina, hotels near Jemaa el-Fnaa lists the hotels beside the square, and where to stay in Marrakech compares the areas.