10 things to do in Marrakech in October

The arrival of autumn is the best time, along with spring, to visit the city of Marrakesh and the main sites around it. The days are warm but not sweltering, the nights are very pleasant, there are many hours of sunshine so you can make the most of the days, the number of tourists drops considerably and so do the prices. All these reasons are combined, of course, with the wide range of plans that the city has to offer. Would you like to find out more about them?

But first, don't hesitate to read the post when to travel to Marrakech and you'll have no doubt that October is one of the best months to visit both this city and Morocco in general. And if you are looking for more information that is not specific to this month, don't hesitate to visit the article what to see and do in Marrakech.

Everyone agrees that the most spectacular experience you can enjoy on your trip to Marrakech in October is a tour of the Sahara Desert. In this month the temperature in the city is around 25ºC and in the desert, although a little higher, it's totally bearable and not as stifling as in previous months. So, with the arrival of the autumn season, you'll be able to enjoy this experience in style.

To do so, you have the possibility of going to the Merzouga Desert, located approximately 550 kilometres from Marrakech, the Zagora Desert, approximately 350 kilometres away, and the Agafay Desert, which is about 40 kilometres away.

Read the post Marrakech desert excursions and learn about all the options for your trip. Also, keep in mind that in the desert you can enjoy different activities and you can even spend the night in a desert camp.

Located in the heart of Marrakech, Jemaa el Fna Square is a must-see no matter when you travel to the city, but in October it's very pleasant to visit and stroll around in the balmy temperatures. A place to be entertained while you watch the locals or enjoy an impromptu show in the middle of the square.

When night falls, this is the meeting place for storytellers, acrobats, singers, musicians, dancers and snake charmers, among other unique characters. All of them will make you spend a unique moment as if you were immersed in a fairy tale.

You can also take advantage of your visit to this neuralgic point of the city to eat in one of its restaurants. Here is the post The best restaurants in Marrakech and, on the other hand, so that you have your homework done, you can read the article Food in Morocco where you will learn all the details of the traditional gastronomy.

October is an ideal time to visit the souk of Marrakech, located in the heart of the Medina of Marrakech, because in the middle of the autumn season the heat has given a break and there are fewer tourists than at other times of the year so you can visit the souk more comfortably, and find more easily the best souvenirs of your trip as well as the most peculiar gifts for friends and family. Leather accessories such as backpacks or bags, garments such as the classic djellabas or cosmetic products such as the typical argan oil.

From the north of the Jamaa el Fna Square, you will enter a maze of labyrinthine lanes populated by an infinite number of stalls that will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..

Another great option for the month of October is a tour of the Palm Grove. This wonderful place located in the northwest of the city has around 100,000 palm trees and is considered one of the main luxury areas of the city. There are several options for touring this enclave: you can opt for a camel ride, a horseback ride or enjoy a quad bike tour.

And if you want to find out about other options, don't hesitate to read the post Camel rides in Marrakech.

One of the best things to do in October is to visit the main gardens of the city such as the Majorelle Garden, the Jardin Secret or Anima Garden.

The Majorelle Garden is an oasis in the heart of the city of Marrakech that hides more than 300 plant species from all over the world among palm trees**, cactus, rose bushes, bougainvillea, bamboo, lotus flowers and water lilies**. The forerunner of this garden was the French painter Jacque Majorelle and later, from the 1980s, it was taken over by the entrepreneur and fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. Nowadays, it is one of the most visited places in Marrakech. The price starts at €12.

Le Jardin Secret is a pleasant and exotic place in the heart of the city of Marrakech, home to almost a hundred species. Its origins date back more than 400 years to the Saadian dynasty. Admission costs from €7.

Anima Garden or Andre Heller Garden is a garden of almost two hectares located 30 kilometres from Marrakech and has been promoted by the international multimedia artist André Heller. It is a magical and spectacular place that hides incredible art installations and has shady paths that stand out for their lush and beautiful vegetation. The entrance fee is approximately €3 and there is a free shuttle service from Thursday to Sunday.

October is the perfect month to see the Saadid Tombs, one of the most beautiful monuments in Marrakesh. You may wonder why? This is a place with a large number of visitors and its capacity is very small, so a visit in this month is ideal to see it without queuing up and enjoy the visit in comfort.

This monument, which was discovered in the 20th century but dates back to the Saadid dynasty that reigned between 1524 and 1659 in Marrakesh, has several areas that can be visited, such as the Mausoleum of Lalla Massouda, the Room of the 12 columns, the Room of Prayers, the Room of the Three Niches and the exterior burial sites. The entrance fee starts at €6.50.

Another ideal place to visit if you visit Marrakesh in October is the Bahia Palace, also known as the "Palace of the Beautiful". Built at the end of the 19th century and promoted by Ahmed Ben Moussa, the grand vizier of Sultan Abdelaziz, it is one of the most characteristic works of architecture in Marrakesh and has no more and no less than 8,000 square metres, more than 150 rooms and numerous courtyards and gardens, very pleasant to walk around once the temperatures are not so high.

Located in the south of the Medina, the palace is open from 9am to 5pm and costs approximately €6.50.

Coinciding with the date harvest, the Date Festival takes place on 17 October in the town of Erfoud, just over 500 kilometres from Marrakesh. This is a very popular festival which includes sweets made from this exquisite fruit, which is very typical in the country, and which attracts farmers and Berbers from nearby towns to show off their produce. In addition, dance and traditional music also form part of the backdrop to this initiative, which is well worth a visit.

If you want to immerse yourself 100% in Moroccan culture, I recommend that on your trip to Marrakech you take the opportunity to visit a hammam. Some are more traditional and local, while others are more touristy and luxurious, but all of them offer a relaxing experience. In October there aren't many tourists, so you won't find them overcrowded.

They usually have several rooms: an initial room, a hot room and a cold room. In some of them you can also enjoy a massage. I recommend that if you want to enjoy this experience with more peace and quiet, take advantage of the morning opening hours.

How can you not go to Marrakech and visit its main mosque and one of the most important in Morocco, the Koutoubia Mosque, which dates from the second half of the 11th century. Its 69-metre-high minaret stands as the highest point in the city of Marrakesh and has been the model for other important architectural works such as the Hassan Tower in Rabat.

The only drawback is that you will not be able to enter the mosque, as the visit is forbidden to anyone who does not practice Islam, but I recommend a visit from October onwards, as you will be able to admire it and take in each and every one of its details without being too hot.

Temperatures in Marrakech in October are ideal for a visit to the city. The sun is not as scorching as in summer, with an average temperature of 25°C and highs of no more than 30°C. The lowest temperature is around 20°C. The minimum temperature is around 20ºC. Wind speeds are lower than in September with an average of 15 km/h, making it an ideal time to travel to the desert.

On the other hand, there is hardly any rainfall, with an average of one day of rain per month. And the days are still long: sunrise is around 7.30am and sunset is around 7pm, so there is an average of 12 hours of daylight a day.

Although it's an ideal time to visit Marrakech, the number of tourists in October is considerably lower than in previous months, so you'll have more options for accommodation on your trip and therefore hotel prices are cheaper than at other times of the year. Even so, it is always advisable to be proactive and make your reservation in advance, as you will have more and better options.

Don't hesitate to read the posts safety in Marrakech and how to get around Marrakech. They are very practical.

If you're visiting Marrakesh in October, bear in mind that your trip won't coincide with any national holidays or specific festivities in the city. Ramadan, however, is a 30-day period when Moroccans fast from sunrise to sunset. Don't worry, though, because although some local businesses are closed at this time of year, they are in the minority and museums and major sites remain open as they are the rest of the year.

Prices in Marrakech in October are considerably cheaper than in other months of the year, another decisive factor for you to make your trip in this month of the year. Although the temperatures are perfect for your visit, few people are able to opt for this time of year, so, with fewer tourists, prices fall proportionally.

If your trip to Marrakech coincides with the month of October, you're in luck! It's one of the best months to visit the city in terms of temperature. Even so, the average temperature is around 25ºC, so when packing your suitcase I recommend that you opt for light linen or cotton clothes and the odd jacket, cardigan or jumper. It's also advisable for women to keep their shoulders covered and avoid short or low-cut clothes. Don't forget that Morocco is an Islamic country and although its dress code is not as strict as in other places, you should still keep a certain amount of modesty.