Majorelle Garden is Marrakech's famous cobalt-blue botanical garden, once owned by Yves Saint Laurent. Book a timed ticket online, arrive at opening (around 8 am) and allow 2-3 hours if you add the YSL Museum.
Majorelle Garden (Jardin Majorelle) in Marrakech is a walled botanical garden created by the French painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, famous for its cobalt Majorelle blue villa, cacti and bamboo groves. To enjoy it, book a timed ticket online in advance, arrive at opening time around 8 am and combine it with the Yves Saint Laurent Museum next door. Below you will find approximate prices, opening hours, how long to stay and how our drivers fit it into a Marrakech day.
The story of Majorelle Garden
Jacques Majorelle, son of the Art Nouveau cabinetmaker Louis Majorelle, settled in Marrakech in the early 1920s and bought a palm grove on the edge of the medina in 1923. Over four decades he turned it into a garden filled with plants collected from five continents, and in the early 1930s he built an Art Deco studio painted in the intense blue that now carries his name. He opened the garden to the public in 1947 to help pay for its upkeep.
After Majorelle's death, the garden was threatened by a hotel project. In 1980 the designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé bought it, saved it and restored it. When Saint Laurent died in 2008, his ashes were scattered in the garden, where a simple Roman column stands as a memorial. Today the site is managed by a non-profit foundation; you can read more on the official Jardin Majorelle website.
What to see inside Majorelle Garden
The garden and the blue villa
The garden covers less than one hectare, but paths, pools and shade make it feel larger. Highlights include the giant cactus collection, the bamboo alley, palm trees, bougainvillea, water lilies on the pools and the famous blue studio with yellow accents. Many visitors are surprised by how small and busy it can be, which is why timing matters so much.
The Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts
Inside Majorelle's former studio, this small museum displays over 600 objects from Amazigh (Berber) culture: jewellery, costumes, weapons, carpets and basketry from the Rif to the Sahara. The mirrored room of jewellery is a highlight. It requires a separate ticket and is well worth 30 minutes, especially before a trip to the Atlas or the desert.
The Yves Saint Laurent Museum Marrakech
Opened in October 2017 a few steps away on Rue Yves Saint Laurent, the museum building in terracotta brick is architecture worth seeing by itself. Inside, a rotating selection of haute couture pieces, sketches and photographs shows how Morocco influenced the designer's colours. There is also a temporary exhibition hall, a bookshop and a café. Plan about one hour.
Majorelle Garden tickets and opening hours
Prices have increased several times in recent years, so the figures below are approximate and should be checked on the official website before you travel. Payment is easiest online by card; on-site counters may be limited.
| Ticket | Approx. price | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Majorelle Garden only | approx. 150 MAD (about 14 EUR) | 45-60 min |
| Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts (add-on) | approx. 30-40 MAD (about 3-4 EUR) | 30 min |
| Yves Saint Laurent Museum | approx. 100-140 MAD (about 10-13 EUR) | 1 h |
| Combined garden + museums | approx. 250-330 MAD (about 23-30 EUR) | 2-3 h |
The garden generally opens daily from 8 am to 6 pm, with longer hours in some summer periods and shorter ones during Ramadan. The YSL Museum has its own schedule and has traditionally closed one weekday, so check before planning a museum day. Moroccan residents often have reduced rates, and children under a certain age may enter free.
How to book online
- Go to the official website and choose the ticket type (garden only or combined).
- Select a date and time slot; morning slots sell out first from March to May and October to December.
- Pay by card and keep the e-ticket with its QR code on your phone.
- Arrive 10 minutes before your slot; the entrance for ticket holders is on Rue Yves Saint Laurent.
Avoid unofficial resellers outside the gates offering skip-the-line tickets at higher prices.
Best time to visit Majorelle Garden
In our experience, the single best tip is to be at the gate at opening time. Between 8 and 9 am the light is soft, the paths are quiet and you can photograph the blue villa without dozens of people in front of it. From about 10:30 am until mid-afternoon, tour groups arrive and queues form.
- Best months: March to May for flowering plants and mild temperatures (20-28°C), October and November for clear light.
- Summer: July and August often reach 38-45°C in Marrakech; go at opening and then head somewhere cool.
- Late afternoon: the last hour is the second-best window, with warm light on the cacti.
- Weekends and holidays: Moroccan families visit too, so weekday mornings are calmer.
If you are building a full city plan, our 3 days in Marrakech itinerary shows where Majorelle fits best, and our Marrakech travel guide covers the other main sights.
Getting to Majorelle Garden
The garden is in the Guéliz side of town, just outside the medina walls near Bab Doukkala, about 2.5 km north of Jemaa el Fnaa. Walking takes 30 to 35 minutes through busy streets; a petit taxi costs approx. 20-40 MAD (insist on the meter). When our travellers stay in the medina, we often schedule Majorelle at 8 am as the first stop of a day with a driver, then continue to the souks or out of the city.
A smart combination is Majorelle in the morning and Jemaa el Fnaa at sunset; see our Jemaa el Fnaa guide for timing. Majorelle is also a perfect first morning before heading out on one of our private day trips from Marrakech, or on the last day after returning from a Sahara desert tour from Marrakech, when you appreciate the green and the shade even more.
Tips for your visit
- Drones, picnics and large tripods are not allowed; keep to the paths.
- Photos are allowed in the garden, but rules inside the museums can differ.
- The garden is mostly flat with paved paths, suitable for strollers and limited mobility, though some areas are narrow.
- There is a café inside the garden and one at the YSL Museum; both are pricier than in the medina.
- Combine with the Secret Garden (Le Jardin Secret) in the medina for a second garden experience.
Is Majorelle Garden worth it?
For lovers of design, photography, plants or fashion, yes, absolutely. If you only have one day in Marrakech and dislike crowds, consider whether you prefer the medina sights instead, or go at opening time to keep it pleasant. The YSL Museum is worth it for its architecture and its insight into Moroccan colours even if you are not a fashion fan.
Plan your Marrakech days with us
Our team based in Marrakech can book your time slots, arrange a private driver for an early start and combine Majorelle with the desert, the Atlas or the coast. Tell us your dates and interests, and request a free quote for your private tour: we answer within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book Majorelle Garden tickets in advance?
Yes, booking online in advance is strongly recommended. Tickets are sold for specific time slots, and in high season the morning slots can sell out days ahead. On-site sales may be limited or unavailable, and queues without a ticket can last a long time. Book on the official Jardin Majorelle website and keep the QR code on your phone.
How much does it cost to enter Majorelle Garden?
The garden alone costs approx. 150 MAD, around 14 EUR, at the time of writing. The Berber Museum is an add-on of approx. 30-40 MAD, and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum is a separate ticket of approx. 100-140 MAD. Combined tickets exist. Prices change regularly, so check the official website before travelling.
How long should I spend at Majorelle Garden?
Plan 45 to 60 minutes for the garden itself, which is relatively small. Add 30 minutes for the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts and about one hour for the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. With travel time and a coffee, a visit to all three fills a comfortable half morning, ideally starting at 8 am opening time.
Is the YSL Museum inside Majorelle Garden?
No, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum is a separate building a short walk from the garden entrance, on Rue Yves Saint Laurent. It needs its own ticket, although combined tickets are sold. The smaller Berber Museum, however, is located inside the garden in Jacques Majorelle's former blue studio.
