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Getting to El Badi Palace: Directions and Best Routes

How to get to El Badi Palace in Marrakech

El Badi Palace is in Marrakech's Kasbah district, off Place des Ferblantiers in the southern Medina, about 15 minutes on foot from Jemaa el-Fna. The Medina's lanes are car-free, so vehicles can only drop you at the Medina perimeter; from there the walk to the entrance is 5 to 10 minutes. The entrance gate itself is at the north end of Rue de Berrima, which runs off Place des Ferblantiers: the most common mistake is circling the square looking for a gate that is actually accessed via a short side lane. Follow the palace walls north until you see the gate.

Address: Place des Ferblantiers, Mechouar-Kasbah, Marrakech 40000, Morocco | Find on Maps

Neighbourhood pointers:

  • 15-minute walk from Jemaa el-Fna (Medina centre)
  • 5-minute walk from the Saadian Tombs (Rue de la Kasbah)
  • 3-minute walk from the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) entrance
  • 10-minute walk from Bahia Palace
  • 30-minute taxi from Marrakech Menara Airport

Compare your travel options

Mode of transportTravel timeEstimated costBest for

🚌 Bus (ALSA L6, L20)

15 to 35 mins from various hubs

4 MAD

Budget travellers from Gueliz or the northern Medina perimeter

🚕 Petit taxi

5 to 15 mins from Jemaa el-Fna; 25 to 35 mins from Airport

20 to 150 MAD

Fastest option from most hotels and the new city

🚗 Car

10 to 20 mins drive + walk

10 to 30 MAD parking

Visitors with a rental car approaching from outside the city

🚶 Walking from Jemaa el-Fna

14 to 18 mins

Free

Most visitors staying in the Medina; the most direct and practical route

🐴 Calèche (horse carriage)

15 to 25 mins from Jemaa el-Fna

150 MAD per hour

Families, couples, or visitors combining the Kasbah circuit at a slower pace

Getting to El Badi Palace by public transport

  • Travel time: 15 to 35 minutes depending on origin; the closest stop requires a short walk to complete
  • Closest stop: Bab Rab, approximately 5 to 7 minutes on foot to the El Badi Palace entrance
  • Lines: L6, L20, L24, L25, L33, L35, L45, and L251 stop near Bab Rab in the Kasbah perimeter area. Line 1 connects Gueliz and the Jemaa el-Fna area; from the Jemaa el-Fna stop, walk the remaining 15 minutes south through the Kasbah.
  • Timings: Most ALSA routes operate from approximately 6am to 11pm daily. Frequency on Kasbah-area routes is approximately 15 to 20 minutes between buses.
  • Fare: 4 MAD per single ride, payable on board in cash. Ikhlas rechargeable card reduces fare to 3.50 MAD per ride.
  • Accessibility: Bus accessibility varies by vehicle. The approach to El Badi Palace from the nearest bus stop involves a short walk on uneven Medina paving. The stop at Bab Rab is on the Medina perimeter road and is reachable at street level.
  • From Gueliz or the Ville Nouvelle (new city), take a bus toward the Medina perimeter and alight near Bab Rab or Bab Agnaou. Ask the driver to confirm the Kasbah stop. From Jemaa el-Fna, the bus is not necessary; walking is faster and more direct. The ALSA History Tour sightseeing bus stops near Bahia Palace and El Badi Palace on its Monumental Tour loop, making it a useful option if you are combining multiple Kasbah sites.
  • Closest drop-off point: Place des Ferblantiers (3 to 5 minutes on foot to the entrance on Rue de Berrima) or Bab Agnaou gate (5 to 7 minutes on foot). Tell your driver "Place des Ferblantiers" or "Bab Agnaou" rather than "El Badi Palace" for clearer navigation.
  • Travel time: 5 to 10 minutes from Jemaa el-Fna; 10 to 20 minutes from Gueliz; 25 to 35 minutes from Marrakech Menara Airport
  • Estimated fare: 20 to 40 MAD from Jemaa el-Fna or within the Medina perimeter. 80 to 120 MAD from Gueliz. Airport fixed fare: 100 to 150 MAD to the Medina area (buy ticket at official airport booth before leaving arrivals).
  • Local taxis: Hail on the street or use the stands near Jemaa el-Fna, the Koutoubia Mosque, or major hotels. Petit taxis are required by law to use meters. Insist on the meter ("compteur, s'il vous plait") or agree the price firmly before entering. The minimum metered fare is 7 MAD by day and 10 MAD at night. Drivers near tourist areas routinely quote higher fixed prices to tourists; the meter fare for a short Medina-to-Kasbah hop should be 15 to 25 MAD at most.
  • Ride-hailing apps: inDrive is the most widely used in Marrakech, with a negotiated fare model. Careem (Uber-owned) provides clear upfront pricing. Heetch operates via taxi partnerships. Uber relaunched in Morocco in late 2025. A local SIM card improves reliability. Use the app to request drop-off at "Place des Ferblantiers" for the most accurate routing.
  • Airport pickup: Use the official fixed-rate taxi booth in arrivals at Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) rather than kerb negotiation. Ticket price is fixed at approximately 100 to 150 MAD to the Medina area. Ride-hailing apps have designated airport pickup zones; follow in-app instructions.
  • Accessibility: Grand taxis are more accessible than petit taxis for passengers with reduced mobility. Pre-booked private cars with drivers, arranged through your riad or hotel, are the most reliable accessible option. Drop-off at Place des Ferblantiers provides the most level approach to the entrance. Morocco Accessible Travel can arrange adapted vehicles. Note that El Badi Palace's ramparts and underground passages are not wheelchair accessible; the courtyard and Minbar pavilion are.

Calèches cannot enter the Medina lanes but operate along the outer avenues and around the Medina walls. The most useful calèche route for El Badi Palace brings you along the outer Kasbah walls toward Bab Agnaou or Place des Ferblantiers, from where the entrance is 5 to 8 minutes on foot.

  • Travel time: 15 to 25 minutes from Jemaa el-Fna to the nearest drop-off point
  • Cost: Approximately 150 MAD per hour for up to 4 to 5 people. Agree price and duration before boarding. Shorter hires to Place des Ferblantiers only may be negotiated at approximately 60 to 80 MAD.
  • Where to board: The main calèche stand lines the perimeter of Jemaa el-Fna square on the Foucault Square (west) side. Carriages are also available near the Koutoubia Mosque and major Medina-area hotels.
  • Accessibility: Calèches require a step up to board and are not suitable for wheelchair users. Carriages can accommodate most other passengers, including those with limited mobility who can manage the step.
  • This is a comfortable rather than purely practical arrival. A good choice for families, couples on a relaxed morning, or visitors who want to see the Kasbah walls from the outside before entering. For a direct visit to El Badi, walking or a taxi is faster.

Getting to El Badi Palace by car

Driving route

  • Travel time: 10 to 20 minutes from Gueliz (new city); 25 to 35 minutes from Marrakech Menara Airport
  • Distance: Approximately 7 km from the airport; 2 km from central Gueliz
  • Peak traffic: 8am to 10am and 5pm to 7:30pm on weekdays. Weekend mornings 9am to 11am are also consistently busy near the Medina gates.
  • Route: From the north, approach via Avenue Mohammed V toward Jemaa el-Fna and then south toward Place des Ferblantiers or Bab Agnaou. From the airport (southeast), use the ring road west toward the Kasbah district.
  • Restricted zones: Cars cannot enter the Medina interior. Navigate to Place des Ferblantiers on the outer perimeter. Do not follow navigation app routes that appear to enter the Medina's interior lanes; they are not passable by car.
  • Accessibility: The closest accessible vehicle drop-off is on Place des Ferblantiers or at Bab Agnaou gate. From Place des Ferblantiers, the entrance gate on Rue de Berrima is approximately 3 minutes on foot on a reasonably level surface. From Bab Agnaou, the walk is 5 to 7 minutes. Blue-badge holders should be dropped as close to Place des Ferblantiers as traffic allows.

Parking

Nearby parking options:

  • Parking Medina Sidi Bouchouka (off Place des Ferblantiers, near El Badi Palace): Covered secure parking closest to the palace entrance, approximately 2 to 3 minutes on foot. Open 24 hours.
  • Parking Bab Agnaou (Kasbah perimeter): Attendant-managed informal parking near Bab Agnaou gate, approximately 5 to 7 minutes on foot to the El Badi entrance. Approximately 10 to 20 MAD per hour negotiated with attendant.
  • Parking Koutoubia (near Jemaa el-Fna, Bab Jdid area): Approximately 900 metres from El Badi. 10 MAD first hour, 1 MAD per subsequent hour. Useful if you are also visiting Jemaa el-Fna or the northern Medina.
  • Street parking along the Medina outer road (Rue El Ksour, Rue Bab Agnaou): Limited spaces; fills quickly before 9am.

💡 Parking at Sidi Bouchouka (off Place des Ferblantiers) puts you within 3 minutes of the El Badi entrance and is the most practical option for drivers visiting the palace.

Other transport services in Marrakech

Airport transfers

Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) is approximately 7 km from El Badi Palace. Official fixed-rate taxis from the airport booth in arrivals charge 100 to 150 MAD to the Medina area (12 to 20 minutes). Pre-booked private transfers via Welcome Pickups or similar services are recommended for early flights, late arrivals, or groups with luggage. Ask to be dropped at Place des Ferblantiers for the shortest walk to the palace.

ALSA History Tour Bus (Hop-on hop-off)

ALSA's Monumental Tour includes a stop near Bahia Palace and El Badi Palace in the Kasbah district. From this stop, the walk to El Badi's entrance is approximately 5 to 8 minutes. Tickets cost 150 MAD for 24 hours, 180 MAD for 48 hours. Commentary in 8 languages via headphones. A practical option if you are also visiting the Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, and the Saadian Tombs in the same day.

Guided tours with transport

The available guided tours (Marrakech Highlights and Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Koutoubia and Souks) are walking tours meeting at fixed Medina points. Note that El Badi Palace is not currently a named stop on either guided tour. Transport between tour stops is on foot.

Walk from Jemaa el-Fna through the Kasbah

El Badi Palace is the most walkable of Marrakech's major Kasbah monuments from Jemaa el-Fna. The route south takes 14 to 18 minutes on a reasonably direct path, passing through the residential southern Medina and the edge of the Mellah before reaching Place des Ferblantiers.

Which entrance should you use?

El Badi Palace has a single main entrance.

Main entrance (Bab Al-Rokham, north end of Rue de Berrima)

  • Location: North end of Rue de Berrima, off Place des Ferblantiers. Not directly on the square; follow the palace outer wall north approximately 50 metres from the square's northeast corner.
  • Best for: All visitors, all ticket types Closest drop-off: Place des Ferblantiers (3 to 5 minutes on foot); Bab Agnaou gate (5 to 7 minutes on foot)
  • Notes: The gate is clearly marked once you are on Rue de Berrima, but is not visible from Place des Ferblantiers itself. The most common arrival mistake is circling the square looking for a gate that faces it directly. Follow the palace walls north. Online ticket holders scan at the gate directly; on-site purchasers join the counter queue first.

Frequently asked questions about getting to El Badi Palace

Walking from Jemaa el-Fna is the most practical option for Medina visitors (14 to 18 minutes). From the new city or outside the Medina, a petit taxi to Place des Ferblantiers is the fastest and simplest choice.

More reads

El Badi Palace Tickets

Timings

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