Marrakesh casts a spell on travellers who love colour, craft and storytelling. Behind the ochre ramparts of the Medina, centuries-old riads open onto silent courtyards where orange trees and zellige fountains create private worlds far from the bustle of the souks. While Morocco remains a discreet destination for LGBTQ+ visitors, a growing circle of gay-friendly riads, boutique hotels and design-led retreats in Gueliz and the Palmeraie welcomes same-sex couples with tact and warmth, offering a refined base for exploring the red city at your own pace.
Medina Show the map
4 rooms 
Kasbah Show the map
28 rooms 
Hivernage Show the map
76 rooms 
Marrakesh Show the map
16 rooms 
Medina Show the map
13 rooms 
Marrakesh Show the map
40 rooms 
Palmeraie Show the map
21 rooms 
Medina Show the map
52 rooms 
Marrakesh Show the map
37 rooms 
Marrakesh Show the map
123 rooms 
Hivernage Show the map
154 rooms 
Palmeraie Show the map
28 rooms 
Marrakesh Show the map
12 rooms 
Hivernage Show the map
9 rooms 
Marrakesh Show the map
8 rooms 
Medina Show the map
8 rooms 
Kasbah, Mechouar-Kasbah Show the map
10 rooms 
Palmeraie Show the map
18 rooms 
Marrakesh Show the map
67 rooms 
Palmeraie Show the map
40 rooms 
Medina Show the map
13 rooms 
Palmeraie Show the map
46 rooms 
Mechouar-Kasbah Show the map
8 rooms 
Marrakesh Show the map
149 rooms 
Medina Show the map
5 rooms 
Marrakesh Show the map
25 rooms 
Marrakesh Show the map
65 rooms 
Medina Show the map
5 rooms 
Medina Show the map
6 rooms 
Medina Show the map
8 rooms 
Medina Show the map
19 rooms 
Medina Show the map
9 rooms 
Medina Show the map
9 rooms 
Medina Show the map
12 rooms 
Medina Show the map
5 rooms Marrakesh rewards travellers who appreciate subtlety. Local customs call for a measured approach to public affection, and the hotels listed here have been selected for their genuine hospitality toward LGBTQ+ guests. Many are run by international owners or by Moroccan hosts long accustomed to welcoming same-sex couples, with double rooms booked without question and a discreet, attentive service that lets you feel at home within the walls of your riad.
The range is wide, from restored palaces with hammams and rooftop plunge pools to contemporary boutique hotels in Gueliz and luxury resorts scattered across the Palmeraie. Whatever the setting, the courtyard remains the heart of the experience, a cool sanctuary where breakfast is served beneath citrus trees and evenings end with mint tea under the stars.
The Medina is the emotional centre of any stay, a labyrinth of alleys radiating from Jemaa el-Fna square. Staying in a riad here means waking to the call to prayer and stepping straight into the spice markets, dyers' souk and artisan workshops. Nearby, the quieter districts of Kasbah and Mellah offer a more residential pace while remaining within walking distance of the main monuments.
Beyond the ramparts, Gueliz and Hivernage form the modern face of Marrakesh, with tree-lined avenues, concept stores, contemporary galleries and a cosmopolitan café culture. This is where the more relaxed social scene tends to gather, around cocktail bars, restaurants and hotel terraces that attract a mixed, international crowd. Further out, the Palmeraie stretches into date-palm groves dotted with design hotels and wellness retreats, ideal for travellers seeking seclusion.
The city's landmarks reward slow exploration. The Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs evoke the refinement of Morocco's royal dynasties, while the Ben Youssef Madrasa showcases some of the country's finest stucco and cedarwood carving. Art lovers gravitate to the Yves Saint Laurent Museum and the neighbouring Jardin Majorelle, a cobalt-blue garden closely tied to the couturier's legacy in the city.
Craft is everywhere, from the leather tanneries to the lantern makers of the Medina. Spend an afternoon in a traditional hammam, take a cooking class, or slip out to the Atlas foothills for a day of hiking in the Ourika Valley or a tea break in a Berber village.
Spring, from March to May, and autumn, from September to November, offer the most comfortable weather, with warm days and cool evenings well suited to rooftop dining. Summer temperatures climb sharply, making riads with shaded patios and pools particularly valuable. Winter brings crisp mornings and luminous light, a favourite season for photographers and those planning longer stays combining Marrakesh with the coast or the desert.