Bahia Palace in Marrakesh: Worth Visiting?

The Bahia Palace is a late-19th-century mansion built for a vizier's concubines. Expect a rambling complex of courtyards, tiled floors, carved cedar ceilings and peaceful gardens. It's photogenic but gets very crowded; you'll spend most of your time dodging large tour groups and selfie sticks. The rooms are mostly empty so the appeal is the architecture and decoration rather than historical artefacts. Plan on 45-75 minutes inside. It's a reasonable add-on if you're already in the medina but not worth a special trip on its own.

Best time to visit is November to March when the weather is cooler. Go early morning (opens around 9am) or in the last hour before closing to avoid the worst crowds. Expect to pay around 70-100 MAD for a standard ticket; guided tours or combo tickets with other sites push the total to 150-300 MAD per person depending on group size and inclusions. Skip the official guides at the gate; they're usually rushed and not especially insightful.