Marrakech has a rhythm. You feel it the moment you set foot in the medina, walk around the kasbah and explore the gardens. It’s not a palpitating beat but a subtle, consistent measure of senses — the call to prayer, a breeze scented with orange blossoms or the classic taste of mint. It doesn’t take long to fall into step with it.
And there’s no better place to tune into the city’s rhythm than Forbes Travel Guide Recommended La Sultana Marrakech, a hideaway where every detail echoes the destination’s timeless allure. Sitting on the edge of the kasbah, La Sultana shares a retaining wall with the royal Saadian Tombs. The hotel is perfectly positioned for exploring Marrakech’s layered history, from the ancient medina to the imperial district and beyond. And with only 28 rooms, it’s also a masterpiece of restored moderation.
The property is composed of five historic riads from the early 1900s, each carefully restored using traditional techniques such as mosaic tiling, hand-carved plaster, painted wood ceilings, marble and brickwork, all working together to create a tranquil retreat crowned with a rooftop garden that overlooks the medina and the distant Atlas Mountains.
Day 1
Start the day with a sunrise run through the cityto give you more than just a lay of the land but a scope of the history. Jonathan Wheeler, founder of Running in Morocco, curates 5 and 10K running tours that blend movement with culture. Wheeler, a certified USA Track & Field coach, has been leading runs through Marrakech for more than a decade and tailors loops that include city highlights like the kasbah walls, Bab Agnaou and the Mamounia gates. But before you dismiss the activity as something strictly for hardcore athletes, know that runs are adapted to pace, fitness level and interests.
“I always tell guests, this isn’t a race, it’s an experience,” Wheeler says. “Whether you’re here for one run or five, I want people to discover Marrakech in a way that feels personal, active and connected to the place.”
After you cross the finish line, refuel with an afternoon spread of prawn green salads, barbecue sea bass and fulfilling terrace views at the hotel’s La Table du Souk.
When you complete your meal, lace up to explore the ancient medina, the historic heart of Marrakech, which dates back to the 11th century and was designed as an almost impenetrable labyrinth meant to thwart invaders. Of course, you can explore the medina on your own, but Najat Noudari is one of the city’s top cultural guides. Her immersive walks take you deep into the medina and its history and up close with its artisans. You’ll visit the city’s breadmakers, blacksmiths, weavers, herbalists and tanners while also checking out landmarks such as the Koutoubia Mosque, the 16th-century Saadian Tombs and the Kasbah Mosque, a rare example of Almohad religious architecture.
By the time you’re back at La Sultana, you can put your newfound knowledge of Moroccan craftsmanship into action in La Sultana’s design tour. Khalid, La Sultana’s resident heritage expert, takes you through the hotel’s design history and restoration, pointing out every hand-chiseled detail — from zellij tilework and cedar ceilings to custom ironwork and painted stucco.
Come dinner time, head up to La Sultana’s Odette Rooftop Bar. Its mezze menu is made for Marrakech magic — flirty and flavorful. The small plates celebrate Moroccan ingredients, spices and aromas but mix them up with global flair, like with the crispy sheep cheese cigars with basil, garden spring rolls and five-spice calamari.
As much as you’re here for the bites and view, you’re also here for the cocktails. Enjoy an Yves Saint Laurent in Majorelle (Gin G’Vine, Cointreau, curacao and lemon juice) under the stars or have a little fun with Morocco-inspired drinks like Rock the Kasbah (champagne, peach and cactus) or Midnight in Marrakech (vodka, bitter orange and star anise).
Day 2
Set your alarm for 5:30 a.m., which may sound early, but it’s worth it because you’re heading out for a hot-air balloon ride with Atlas Montgolfière. The team will pick you up at your hotel and for a 30- to 40-minute drive out of the city, where you’ll take a small group balloon ride across the countryside. As the sun rises, you’ll drift above olive groves, desert ridges and Berber villages before landing for a traditional breakfast in a desert camp.
By mid-morning, you’ll be back in Marrakech for more discoveries with Noudari, just in time to dive into the city’s imperial past. You’ll wander through the Bahia Palace, a 19th-century marvel of painted ceilings and sculpted gardens, then explore Dar Si Said, a former palace now home to one of Morocco’s richest collections of intricate wood carvings, textiles, jewelry and more decorative arts. Make sure to ask Noudari to bring you to a traditional Berber pharmacy, where shelves are stocked with age-old holistic products, such as tisanes, tinctures and the TikTok favorite: clay pot lipstick, made the traditional way using natural ingredients like poppy petals and pomegranate.
For lunch, make your way to Terrasse des Épices, a rooftop restaurant built on the ruins of an old caravanserai (inn) in the heart of the medina. Expect open-air eating, panoramic vistas of the souks below and a curated menu of traditional Moroccan dishes and international favorites.
If you can’t get a table there, venture out to the kasbah to the unassuming Zeitoun Cafe, which has its own charming terrace and a menu of not-to-miss local dishes like lamb tagine (the Red City’s signature is slow-cooked and spice-infused), pastilla (a sweet-and-savory pie dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar) and harira (a lentil- and chickpea-packed tomato soup). And, of course, Maghrebimint teais a must. Moroccans have made pouring tea an art, but when it’s too hot for you, it’s fine to ask for a frothy iced version.
When you’re ready for a little treat, book the ultimate immersive experience: a Royal Hammam Signature treatment at La Sultana’s spa. Step inside the jade-and-tan-colored sanctuary and you’ll feel like you’ve wandered into a dream. With this service, a black soap-aided exfoliation, a body mask and gentle body stretching show Marrakech at its most indulgent.
After the pampering and some down time in your room, seek out cuisine and cocktails with a view on El Fenn’s rooftop. This little design oasis sitting practically shoulder to shoulder with the Koutoubia Mosque pours outstanding drinks (the vodka-, cucumber- and melon liqueur-powered El Pacha) and cooks amazing meats and fish dishes.
Day 3
Spend your final morning immersed in artistry. Begin at Jardin Majorelle, a lush, cobalt-blue sanctuary. Dreamed up in the 1920s by French painter Jacques Majorelle and restored in the 1980s by Yves Saint Laurent and business partner Pierre Bergé, Jardin Majorelle is a two-and-a-half-acre urban oasis of towering cacti, bamboo groves and bougainvillea from five continents, all set against bursts of the signature Majorelle Blue color often associated with Morocco. It’s part Islamic garden, part North African hideaway.
Next door is the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. Book the combined ticket in advance; it’s the only way to unlock both iconic attractions. The terra cotta-hued museum pays a stylish tribute to the legendary designer. As Africa’s first fashion museum, it’s a futuristic love letter to couture that houses YSL’s most iconic looks alongside rotating exhibitions. Inside, you’ll also find a research library with more than 5,000 books, a 150-seat auditorium, a chic bookstore and a sun-drenched terrace café that invites post-museum lounging.
