Koutoubia Gardens (Lalla Hassna Park), Marrakesh
Gardens in Marrakesh
Tucked just behind the famous Koutoubia Mosque, the Koutoubia Gardens - also known as Lalla Hassna Park - offer a cool, green refuge right in the heart of Marrakech. With their perfectly symmetrical walkways, manicured rose beds, and generous shade from palm and citrus trees, they feel worlds away from the noise of nearby Jemaa el-Fnaa, making them one of the best places to visit in Marrakech when you need a breather from the medina.
This is where locals come to sit on benches, chat with friends, or simply watch the world go by, and where visitors quickly realise how much Marrakchi life unfolds outdoors. At the centre stands the white-domed koubba of Lalla Zohra, wrapped in legend and local devotion, and the gardens themselves are often visited on walking tours of Marrakech as a gentle counterpoint to the city's busier, more intense sights.
Table of Contents
- History and Significance of the Koutoubia Gardens
- Things to See and Do in the Koutoubia Gardens
- How to Get to the Koutoubia Gardens
- Practical Tips on Visiting the Koutoubia Gardens
- Where to Stay close to the Koutoubia Gardens
- Is the Koutoubia Gardens Worth Visiting?
- FAQs for Visiting Koutoubia Gardens
- Nearby Attractions to the Koutoubia Gardens
History and Significance of the Koutoubia Gardens
The Koutoubia Gardens sit on a prime piece of Marrakech real estate, just a few steps from the city's most iconic mosque. Created as a formal public park, they were designed to give residents and visitors a clean, ordered green space framed by views of the Koutoubia's minaret. The layout reflects a love of symmetry typical of traditional Islamic gardens: straight paths, balanced planting beds, and water features that bring a sense of calm and clarity to the space.
The name Lalla Hassna Park is used alongside Koutoubia Gardens, highlighting both the local reverence for female saints and the park's role as a space of quiet reflection. At its heart lies the small, white-domed koubba of Lalla Zohra, a figure whose story blends history and folklore. She is said to have been the daughter of a liberated slave, a woman by day who transformed into a dove at night to escape the unwanted advances of her former master, listening to the city from above and gathering all of Marrakech's secrets as she flew.
For many Moroccans, this legend is still very much alive, and some parents even name their daughters Zohra in her honour. The presence of her tomb, tucked into a corner of a public park, gives the gardens a subtle spiritual depth: this is not just a pleasant green space, but a place where stories of freedom, resilience, and protection are remembered quietly every day. Sitting on a bench here, watching families stroll past and gardeners tending the roses, you are sharing a space that locals genuinely value.
Things to See and Do in the Koutoubia Gardens
The main joy of the Koutoubia Gardens is to slow down and take in the details. Stroll along the straight, tiled paths lined with low hedges and rose bushes, and notice how every line seems designed to draw your eye towards the soaring minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque. At different times of day the light changes dramatically; early morning feels fresh and almost contemplative, while late afternoon and sunset bring warm, golden tones and long shadows.
Make your way towards the central koubba of Lalla Zohra, whose simple white dome stands out against the greenery. Even if you do not enter the small shrine, pausing nearby gives you time to reflect on the legend and its place in local memory. You may see people offering a quiet prayer or simply walking past with a nod of respect, small gestures that say a lot about how Marrakech weaves the sacred into everyday spaces.
Beyond the shrine, the gardens are full of small pleasures: fountains and shallow pools that glitter in the sun, shaded benches perfect for people-watching, and occasional playgrounds where children run off steam. It is a popular spot for picnics, and you will often see families sharing food or young couples strolling slowly along the paths. In the evening, subtle lighting transforms both the gardens and the nearby mosque, creating a soft, almost magical atmosphere that feels completely different from the bright midday heat.
How to Get to the Koutoubia Gardens
To reach the Koutoubia Gardens, you first need to get to Marrakech, and the easiest way is to fly into Marrakech Menara Airport, located just a short drive from the city centre and well served by international and domestic routes. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Marrakesh on Booking.com. From there, taxis and airport shuttle services can bring you towards the medina; ask to be dropped near the Koutoubia Mosque or Jemaa el-Fnaa and you will be only a few minutes' walk from the gardens.
If you are travelling within Morocco, trains connect Marrakech with cities like Casablanca, Rabat, and Tangier, arriving at Marrakech's main railway station on the western side of the city.Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio. From the station you can take a petit taxi or local bus towards the medina; many visitors choose to combine a short taxi ride with a walk, using the minaret and the garden’s palm trees as an easy landmark to navigate by. Long-distance buses from other towns and regions arrive at various stations on the outskirts, from which taxis can bring you closer in.
Once in the central area, the Koutoubia Gardens are best reached on foot. They sit just southwest of Jemaa el-Fnaa, so it is easy to weave your way through the square and follow the sight of the minaret until you reach the park entrance. If you are driving, be aware that cars cannot enter the medina itself, but you can park in one of the guarded car parks near the city walls or main avenues and then walk into the historic centre to reach the gardens.
Practical Tips on Visiting the Koutoubia Gardens
- Suggested tips: Visit once during the day and again after dark to experience both the lively, family-friendly daytime atmosphere and the softer, more romantic evening lighting.
- Best time to visit: Early morning and late afternoon or evening are the most pleasant, especially in summer when midday heat can make the open paths feel intense.
- Entrance fee: Free - this is a public park open to everyone.
- Opening hours: Generally open at all daylight hours, though the most comfortable and lively times are from early morning until late evening.
- How long to spend: Plan around 30-60 minutes to wander the paths, sit on a bench, and take in the views; longer if you are picnicking or people-watching.
- Accessibility: Paths are mostly flat and paved, making the gardens relatively accessible, though some surfaces can be uneven and crowded at peak times.
- Facilities: There are plenty of benches and shaded areas; cafés and food stalls are close by around the mosque and main streets, but you may need to leave the park itself for toilets.
- Photography tip: Frame the Koutoubia minaret through rows of rose bushes or palm trees, and return at sunset or after dark when the gardens and mosque are beautifully lit.
- Guided tours: Many medina walking tours pause in the gardens as a quiet stop, giving guides a chance to tell the story of Lalla Zohra and point out architectural details of the mosque.
- Nearby food options: Head towards Jemaa el-Fnaa for street food and rooftop terraces, or explore the surrounding avenues for cafés where you can sit with a mint tea and enjoy garden views.
Where to Stay close to the Koutoubia Gardens
Staying near the Koutoubia Gardens means you are perfectly placed between the serenity of the park and the energy of the medina. For a resort-style stay with direct views of the minaret, Les Jardins de La Koutoubia is a classic choice, with pools, courtyards, and rooftop terraces that look straight over the gardens. If you prefer a stylish riad atmosphere just a short walk away, Riad El Fenn blends traditional architecture with contemporary art and offers a peaceful retreat from the nearby square. For a more iconic luxury experience within easy strolling distance of the park, La Mamounia combines legendary service with vast gardens of its own, making it ideal if you want both green space and quick access to the Koutoubia area.
Is the Koutoubia Gardens Worth Visiting?
The Koutoubia Gardens are absolutely worth adding to your Marrakech itinerary, especially if you like seeing how locals really use their public spaces. They offer a cool, calm refuge from the medina without ever feeling disconnected from city life, with families picnicking, friends chatting on benches, and the Koutoubia's minaret always in view. Whether you come to hear the stories of Lalla Zohra, capture sunset photos, or simply rest your feet under the trees, this little park beside the mosque easily earns its reputation as one of the top sights in Marrakech.
What Other Travellers Say...
Park Lalla Hasana is a manicured green space across from the Koutoubia mosque with fountains, benches, sculptures, palm and citrus trees, and flower beds; visitors say it's a pleasant, relaxing spot for a walk or to chill with friends and family, offers good views of the mosque, and is a quieter alternative to the busy main square though it can attract street vendors on one side.
FAQs for Visiting Koutoubia Gardens
Nearby Attractions to the Koutoubia Gardens
- Koutoubia Mosque: The city's most famous mosque, with a stunning 12th-century minaret that dominates the skyline just beside the gardens.
- Jemaa el-Fnaa: Marrakech's legendary main square, full of food stalls, storytellers, and market life, only a short walk away.
- Cyber Park (Arsat Moulay Abdeslam): A historic garden turned modern city park, offering more shaded paths and small exhibitions about technology and communication.
- Bahia Palace: A beautifully preserved 19th-century palace with richly decorated rooms and courtyards showcasing classic Moroccan craftsmanship.
- Saadian Tombs: Ornate royal burial chambers tucked behind the Kasbah Mosque, known for their intricate tilework and atmospheric setting.
The Koutoubia Gardens (Lalla Hassna Park) appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Marrakesh!
Moira & Andy
Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!
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Planning Your Visit
Generally open at all daylight hours, though the most comfortable and lively times are from early morning until late evening.
Free – this is a public park open to everyone.
Nearby Attractions
- Kasbah Mosque (0.1) km
Mosque - Koutoubia Mosque (0.1) km
Mosque - Jemaa el-Fnaa (0.6) km
Market and Square - Walls of Marrakesh (0.8) km
City Gate and City Walls - Souks of Marrakesh (0.8) km
Market - Saadian Tombs (0.9) km
Palace - Dar el Bacha (0.9) km
Historic Building and Museum - Le Jardin Secret (1.0) km
Gardens and Historic Building - El Badi Palace (1.0) km
Palace - Dar Si Said (1.0) km
Historic Building and Museum
