Bahia Palace (Palais Bahia)

Bahia Palace is one of Marrakech’s most popular attractions. It’s often visited during Marrakech sightseeing tours, as well as day trips to Marrakech from cities including Essaouira, Agadir, or Casablanca. Guided tours typically visit the Petit Riad; Grand Riad; the Grand Courtyard, where Ba Ahmed lived with his four wives, 24 concubines, and numerous children; the Room of Honor; and the Harem.

• There is an admission fee to visit the palace.

• It’s best to visit with a guide, as there is no visitor information available.

• Plan to spend about an hour.

• Most areas of the palace are wheelchair accessible.

Bahia Palace is located at the southern end of Marrakech’s medina, close to the Mellah Jewish quarter. Taxis stop right outside the palace, or else it’s an around 15 minutes’ walk from Jemaa el-Fna square.

The palace is open daily, but it can get busy. Plan to visit before 10am to avoid the crowds.

This richly decorated masterpiece is one of Marrakech’s most magnificent buildings. The palace showcases a mix of Islamic and Moroccan architectural styles, with dazzling floor-to-ceiling embellishments, including intricate mosaics, inlaid wooden ceilings, molded stucco, and gilded finishes. Highlights include the grand marble-paved courtyard with its beautiful zellij tile-work lining the walkways; and the harem, a series of rooms encircling a vast courtyard, where the ladies of the house once congregated.

There are plenty of ways to experience Bahia Palace. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

Marrakech: Private Guided Half-Day City TourMarrakech Historical and Cultural Tour - Private Tour (Half day)Marrakech City Tour: Private Guided TourMarrakech Day Trip including Lunch, Camel Ride from CasablancaHighlights of Marrakech: Private Half-Day City Tour

Admission tickets for Bahia Palace are 70 Moroccan dirhams (approximately US$7) per person. However, these prices are for an independent visit and do not include the services of a guide. Marrakech walking tours, including Bahia Palace, start from as little as US$5, but don’t include ticket fees or tips.

Bahia Palace was built between 1866-67 by Si Moussa, a former slave who became Grand Vizier of Sultan Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman. However, much of the palace can be attributed to an expansion in the late 19th-century carried out by his son, Si Ba Ahmed ibn Musa, Grand Vizier of Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz.

Bahia Palace is renowned for its exquisite architecture, which features a blend of Islamic and Moroccan styles. Highlights include the Grand Riad and Petit Riad, adorned with elaborate zouak and marquetry, the marble-paved Grand Courtyard, the beautifully decorated Harem Quarters, and the pretty gardens lined with orange trees.

Yes, while there is no official guided tour at Bahia Palace, there are many ways to visit with a guide. The palace is a popular inclusion on many Marrakech sightseeing tours, and visiting with a guide affords a greater appreciation of the palace’s varied architecture and unique decorative features.

With 150 rooms and gardens about the size of two football pitches, there’s plenty to see at Bahia Palace. You can take in the highlights in an hour, but a comprehensive tour takes up to two hours, including the Petit and Grand Riads, the Grand Courtyard, and the Harem.