The Bahia Palace in Marrakech is a historical monument that has become one of the most visited ones in the city. The wonderful Bahia palace is arguably the most stunning palace in Marrakech and can simply not be missed. It is an incredible example of Moroccan architecture that makes you swoon at the sight of it. There is definitely no wonder why Bahia Palace is one of the biggest must-do’s when in Marrakech.
The history of the Bahia Palace in Marrakech
The Bahia Palace was built in the late 19th century. Compared to some of the other monuments in Marrakech this means that the palace is not that old. It was built in a style that attempted to capture both Islamic and Moroccan styles in one building. The palace consists of almost 150 rooms including a large harem section, and the incredible Court of Honor. Moroccan royalty never lived in the palace, and it became home to Si Moussa. He was a former slave who had risen to become an influential grand vizier, who managed the sultan’s household. His son, Ba Ahmed, took over his position and enlarged the Bahia Palace further. When he died the servants ransacked the palace. Later during the French protectorate, the palace was restored and became home to the French Resident-General.
The palace today
Nowadays only a little part of the palace and its 150 rooms can be seen by the public. It has been stripped away of all its furniture and is therefore completely empty. But this does not mean that the palace is not worth a visit. On the contrary, you will be able to admire a stunning display of the period’s marvelous decorations. During your visit, you should keep a lookout for the breathtaking courtyard and architecture, as well as the smaller gardens within the palace. Everything is absolutely stunning and well worth a visit.
You are able to walk through the palace on your own or you can opt to join a guided tour. The guides at the Bahia Palace are locals who are very knowledgeable and can help explain some of the Moroccan history of the place. If you decide to join a tour, we recommend you give yourself time to walk around the palace on your own afterward. That way you will be able to go back if the tour was a bit rushed. We loved walking through the palace at our own pace and taking in the beautifulness of it all.
What to know about visiting Bahia Palace in Marrakech
As we have said so many times before, there are a huge number of things that are good to keep in mind when traveling and exploring different attractions and sights. As usual, we have gathered some of the information we found useful for our visit to Bahia Palace. Below you will find everything you need to know about visiting Bahia Palace in Marrakech.
Getting to the Bahia Palace in Marrakech
Bahia Palace is located in the southern part of the Medina of Marrakech. The palace is found along Rue Riad Zitoun el Jdid not so far from the incredible El Badi Palace. You should be able to find Bahia Palace by following the signs throughout the Medina. If you end up getting lost in the maze you can always use Google Maps. You can either search for ‘Bahia Palace Marrakech’ or the address: 5 Rue Riad Zitoun el Jdid, Marrakech 40000 Morocco. Either way, Google Maps will guide you to this stunning place.
Opening Hours
The Bahia Palace in Marrakech is open to the public every day of the week. The opening hours are from 8:00 to 17:00.
NB: Keep in mind that closures may occur during royal visits or other events.
Entrance fee
The entrance fee to this breathtaking palace depends on your nationality. The admission is 10 Moroccan dirham (MAD) for Moroccan citizens, whereas it is 70 Moroccan dirham for tourists / other nationalities. Always keep in mind that these prices may be subject to change.
Time spent at the Bahia Palace
Bahia Palace is not one of the biggest complexes in Marrakech as only a small part of the palace is open for the public to visit. Even so, you can easily spend a couple of hours admiring the marvelous decorations and imagining what the palace might have looked like. We would recommend you set aside 1 to 2 hours for a visit to the stunning Bahia Palace. That way you will be able to walk through and enjoy the amazing sights the palace has to offer.
Best time to visit the Bahia Palace in Marrakech
One of the good things about visiting Bahia Palace in Marrakech is that the interior is naturally cool – which especially comes in handy during the summer months. This means that you do not have to visit the palace first thing in the morning. We would actually say that the best time to visit Bahia Palace in Marrakech is during the afternoon. That way you may be able to skip some of the bigger crowds and the light tends to be quite beautiful.
