Majorelle Garden Marrakech: Tickets, Opening Hours and How to Beat the Queues
The Majorelle Garden (Jardin Majorelle) is a walled botanical garden in the Gueliz district of Marrakech, about 2 km north-west of Jemaa el-Fnaa, famous for its cobalt "Majorelle blue" villa and cactus collections. Tickets are sold online for timed entry slots, so book a day or two ahead, arrive at opening time (usually 08:00) and allow 45 minutes to 1 hour for the garden, plus another hour if you add the Yves Saint Laurent Museum next door.
What is the Majorelle Garden?
The garden was created from the 1920s by the French painter Jacques Majorelle, who settled in Marrakech and spent some forty years planting exotic species around his studio. In 1937 he painted the Art Deco studio an intense cobalt blue, the colour now known worldwide as bleu Majorelle. The garden opened to the public in 1947, fell into decline after the painter's death, and was bought in 1980 by the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé, who restored it and saved it from a planned hotel development.
Today the garden covers under one hectare, yet it holds several hundred plant species from five continents: towering cacti and succulents, bamboo groves, palms, bougainvillea and water lilies in shaded pools. Paths are narrow and well signposted, and the contrast of blue walls, yellow pots and green foliage makes it one of the most photographed places in Morocco.
What is there to see inside?
- The blue studio - Majorelle's former workshop, now home to the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts, with jewellery, textiles, weapons and costumes from across Morocco's Amazigh regions.
- The cactus garden - the most dramatic section, with giant cereus, agaves and barrel cacti.
- The bamboo alley and lily ponds - cooler, shaded corners that are best early in the morning.
- The Yves Saint Laurent memorial - a simple Roman column set among the plants, where the designer's ashes were scattered in 2008.
A separate building a few steps away houses the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech, opened in 2017, with rotating displays of haute couture pieces, sketches and photographs. It requires its own ticket or a combined pass.
How much are Majorelle Garden tickets?
Prices have risen several times in recent years, so treat these as approximate figures at the time of writing and check the official Jardin Majorelle website before you travel:
| Ticket | Approximate price (foreign adult) |
|---|---|
| Majorelle Garden only | approximately 150-170 MAD |
| Garden + Berber Museum | approximately 200-230 MAD |
| Yves Saint Laurent Museum | approximately 100-150 MAD extra |
Tickets are sold for timed slots, mainly online, and ticket desks may not sell on the day when the garden is busy. Moroccan residents usually pay a reduced rate on presentation of ID, and children under a certain age enter free or at a reduced price.
Opening hours and the best time to visit
The garden generally opens every day from around 08:00 to 17:30 or 18:00, with slightly shorter hours during Ramadan. The Yves Saint Laurent Museum is traditionally closed on Wednesdays, so plan around that if you want to see both.
- First slot of the morning (08:00-09:00) - fewer people, soft light on the blue walls and cooler temperatures, which matters from May to September when Marrakech often exceeds 35 °C.
- Late afternoon - the second-best option, once tour groups have left.
- Avoid 10:30-14:00 - the busiest window, when you may queue for photos in the narrow paths.
Spring (March to May) is the loveliest season, with flowering bougainvillea and comfortable temperatures of roughly 20-28 °C.
How to get to the Majorelle Garden
The garden is on Rue Yves Saint Laurent, in the modern district of Gueliz, just outside the medina walls. From Jemaa el-Fnaa it is a walk of about 25-35 minutes, part of it along busy roads; a petit taxi takes around 10 minutes and should cost approximately 20-30 MAD on the meter in the daytime (insist the meter is switched on or agree the fare first). Many visitors combine the garden with lunch in Gueliz before heading back to the old city.
How long do you need?
Most people spend 45 minutes to 1 hour in the garden itself. Add 30-45 minutes for the Berber Museum and around an hour for the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. A relaxed half-day covers all three with a coffee at the garden café.
Tips for a better visit
- Book your slot in advance, especially at weekends and during European school holidays.
- Carry a small bag: large backpacks and tripods may be refused.
- Keep your voice down - the garden has a calm, almost museum-like atmosphere and the staff enforce it.
- Do not climb on the pots or walls for photos; guards will ask you to move.
- Bring cash and a card: the café and bookshop take cards, but taxis outside do not.
How to fit Majorelle into a Marrakech itinerary
Because the garden is outside the medina, it pairs well with a morning in Gueliz followed by an afternoon in the old city. A good plan is to visit Majorelle at opening time, then join a guided walk of the historic centre - our Marrakech medina guided walking tour covers the Koutoubia, the Bahia Palace, the souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa in about three hours. For more ideas, see our complete list of things to do in Marrakech, and if you plan to shop afterwards, read our guide to shopping in the Marrakech souks before you start bargaining. End the day on the main square with our Jemaa el-Fnaa guide in hand.
If you prefer gardens to crowds, Marrakech has alternatives: the Menara olive grove with its pavilion and pool, the Agdal Gardens (open on limited days) and Le Jardin Secret in the medina, a restored riad garden with a two-tiered layout.
Book it with a local operator
Majorelle is easy to visit independently, but the medina is where a local guide makes the biggest difference. Explore our city tours and cultural experiences, or book a guided walk through the old city from €25 per person with our "reserve now, pay later" request form and free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Questions? Message us on WhatsApp at +212 606 957 514 and a Marrakech-based member of our team will reply.
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