Skip to content
Ben Youssef Madrasa Mistakes to avoid
Menu

Ben Youssef Madrasa Opening Hours 2026 (and When to Go)

Open every day of the week, with shorter hours in Ramadan. The trick is choosing the hour, not the day.

Book this visit

Some links are affiliate links: if you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works

Sorted by price, lowest first. Prices from the booking platform; the price at checkout is the one that counts.

Morning light on the marble courtyard and pool of the Ben Youssef Madrasa

The Ben Youssef Madrasa is open 9:00–19:00, every day. During Ramadan the hours are shorter: 9:00–16:30, every day (official hours, 2026). No weekly closing day is listed.

In short

  • Regular hours: 9:00–19:00, every day.
  • Ramadan: 9:00–16:30, every day.
  • Quietest: 9:00 and the last two hours before closing.
  • Plan about 45 minutes to 1 hour; up to 1.5 hours if you explore every upstairs room and take photos.

Quick facts

Opening hours
9:00–19:00, every day
Adult ticket (foreign visitors)
50 MAD
Children under 12: 10 MAD
Location
Rue Assouel, Marrakech 40000
Time needed
about 45 minutes to 1 hour; up to 1.5 hours if you explore every upstairs room and take photos

Prices and hours change. Always confirm on the official madrasa website . Last checked 3 November 2026.

Opening hours through the year

Period Hours
All year, every day 9:00–19:00, every day
During Ramadan 9:00–16:30, every day

The official site does not publish a last-entry time or holiday closures. Ramadan moves about eleven days earlier each year; check its dates for your trip, and plan a morning visit if they overlap.

National and religious holidays can affect opening at short notice. If your visit falls on Eid, call the madrasa (+212 524 38 41 12) or check its social media pages the day before.

When is the best time to go?

The madrasa’s main courtyard is beautiful but not big: 21.90 × 16.50 m. Visitors consistently report that it fills with tour groups from mid-morning to early afternoon, when the half-day medina tours pass through.

  • 9:00, at opening: the calmest courtyard, still water in the pool, and soft light on the stucco.
  • Late afternoon: the groups have left; the sun is low and warm on the upper walls.
  • Midday: busiest, and the courtyard is in hard light. If this is your only slot, start with the upper floor, which is quieter.
Visitors walking around the courtyard of the Ben Youssef Madrasa in the middle of the day
The courtyard in the middle of the day, when the tour groups arrive.

Best season to visit Marrakech for the madrasa

The building is shaded and cooler than the streets, so it works all year. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for the walk through the medina; in July and August, go at opening time and save the afternoon for your riad. Winter mornings can be chilly in the marble courtyard, but crowds are thinner.

How long should you stay?

Plan about 45 minutes to 1 hour; up to 1.5 hours if you explore every upstairs room and take photos. Most people spend 15 minutes in the courtyard and prayer hall, then lose track of time upstairs. The building has 134 student rooms around 13 small courtyards: 54 on the ground floor and 80 upstairs (official architecture page).

Ready for the practical side? How tickets work · How to get there · Mistakes to avoid

Questions people ask

What time does the Ben Youssef Madrasa open?

9:00–19:00, every day. During Ramadan: 9:00–16:30, every day.

Is the Ben Youssef Madrasa open on Fridays?

Yes. The official hours are 9:00–19:00, every day, with no weekly closing day listed.

What is the best time to visit the Ben Youssef Madrasa?

At 9:00, before the half-day tours arrive, or in the last two hours before closing. Mid-morning to early afternoon is the busiest time, visitors report.

How long does a visit take?

about 45 minutes to 1 hour; up to 1.5 hours if you explore every upstairs room and take photos.