Marrakesh is a city full of history, culture, and artistic heritage. The city houses many museums that show the treasures of the past in extraordinary palaces and incredible buildings contributing to the broad cultural diversity. Some of the most fascinating and interesting museums in Marrakesh are in located in the historic Medina and should be a must-see in every traveler’s list.
Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakesh
You likely have heard of the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his YSL brand of luxury handbags, shoes, leather goods and accessories. Whether you consider yourself fashionable or not, a visit to the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakesh is well worth it!
The museum is located just a stone throw away from the enchanting Jardin Majorelle, which was acquired by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1980.
The museum occupies a 4,000 m² building designed by the French architectural firm, Studio KO. The exterior of the museum building is laced with a mixture of cubes and bricks to resemble the fabric pattern found in the lining of a couture jacket.
The museum hosts a 400m² permanent exhibition hall featuring the work of Yves Saint Laurent and designed by Christophe Martin. There are also temporary exhibition halls, a sprawling research library with over 5,000 volumes, a 140-seat auditorium, a bookshop and a charming terrace cafe.
The museum is open to the public everyday, except Wednesdays, from 10 A.M. to 6:30 P.M. Last admission into the museum is at 6 P.M.
The Tiskiwin Museum
The Tskiwin Museum was the former riad home of the Dutch anthropologist Bert Flint. Today, the two conjoined riads have been renovated into a museum showcasing one of the widest and most picturesque collections of North African arts and crafts like textile, jewelry, basket work, and so much more. All of the artifacts on display tell a story of Morocco’s trading past along the ancient trade route between Marrakech and Timbuktu. Each room in the museum is dedicated to a particular community and trading post along this trade route which passes through the Sahara desert. The main exhibit is the Berber tent composed entirely from camel hair.
Marrakech Museum for Photography and Visual Arts
Opened in 2009, the Marrakech Museum for Photography and Visual Arts is one of the relatively new museums in Marrakech. Its collection of photographs expanded from about 4.500 photographs to its current exhibition of over 10,000 documents and photographs covering the period between 1870 and 1960. Here you will find photos depicting the old archeological sites, rare Moroccan landscapes, and portraits of locals. Exceptional films and photographs of Berber culture are available for viewing. The building that houses the museum is a restored fondouk, a caravanserai which resembles a roadside inn for travellers and merchants during their trade journey.
Museum of Jewelry
This is a lovely modern museum hosting vast collections of locally crafted jewelry. The exhibitions represent artefacts demonstrating the talents and skills needed to find and shape precious materials in the region. In every room you will see different collections from various regions and eras, including beadwork, silver work, and embroidered pieces.
Museum of Friends of Marrakech
This museum is located in a spectacular building from the 19th century called the Palace of Dar Menebhi and it is dedicated to contemporary art inspired in the region from local and international artists. Besides many forms of art, the museum also offers displays of jewelry, ceramics, and manuscripts.
Plan a Private Morocco Tour to Visit These Museums in Marrakesh
The most convenient way to visit these spectacular museums in Marrakesh. Let us handle all the planning and logistics, while you can maximize your enjoyment throughout the Morocco trip.
You might be interested in our popular Morocco tour packages – all of these include a visit to Marrakesh:
- Explore Morocco 7-Day Tour
- Ancient Cities and Sahara Sand 11-Day Tour
- Highlights of Morocco 13-Day Tour
You can also contact one of our Morocco Travel Experts and we can help you customize a Morocco tour itinerary that meets your travel preference. We can add a visit to a few or all of these museums in Marrakesh listed above.
