Gardens of Marrakech / Agdal Gardens
Agdal Gardens Marrakech: opening days and visit
When can you visit?
The Agdal is a royal estate. It usually opens to the public on Friday and Sunday, from 7:30 am to 5 pm, and closes when the King stays at the palace. No official site publishes these days and hours, so ask your riad the day before.
Royal orchards since 1157
The gardens were founded in the 12th century by the Almohad caliph Abd al-Mumin. Several hundred hectares of olive, orange, pomegranate and apricot orchards are watered by channels and large basins fed from the Atlas. The largest, the Sahraj el-Hana, served as a reservoir.
Like the Menara and the medina, the Agdal has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985.
Best time to visit
Friday morning at opening, while the air is still cool under the trees. In spring, orange blossom scents the whole estate.
If it is closed
If the Agdal is closed, the Menara offers the same landscape of basin and olive groves, free and open every day. For orchards and gardens in open countryside, the Ourika valley is an hour's drive away.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entry fee for Agdal Gardens?
No, entry is free.
What days are Agdal Gardens open?
Usually Friday and Sunday, from 7:30 am to 5 pm, except when the King is in residence.
What is the difference between the Agdal and the Menara?
Both are 12th-century Almohad gardens with a large basin. The Agdal is far larger and rarely open; the Menara is open every day.
Sources: Archnet, Agdal Garden · UNESCO, Medina of Marrakesh (1985).
