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Ouarzazate, nicknamed the Hollywood of Africa, mixes UNESCO ksars, working film studios and desert oases within a 40km radius. Most sights are cheap: the main kasbahs charge 10 to 30 MAD (about 1 to 3 EUR), and several are free. These are the best things to do in Ouarzazate and around the city. Match them to your dates with best time to visit Ouarzazate, and see the Ouarzazate city guide for the full regional overview.
Things to Do in Ouarzazate: Film History and Kasbahs
Ait Ben Haddou (UNESCO World Heritage)
This fortified ksar 30km northwest of Ouarzazate is a UNESCO site and one of Morocco’s most photographed places. It’s free to walk the village, while climbing to the granary and kasbah costs about 10 to 20 MAD per person, collected by the families who maintain the houses. Scenes from Gladiator, Game of Thrones and Lawrence of Arabia were shot here. Go early or late to avoid the tour buses from Marrakech, and allow 2 hours to climb to the top for the view over the riverbed.
Atlas Studios
Atlas Studios, 5km west of the centre, is the largest film studio in Africa, with sets from Kingdom of Heaven, The Mummy and Gladiator still standing. Guided tours run throughout the day and cost around 80 MAD (about 8 EUR) per adult. Tours last about 45 minutes and show the Egyptian temple, aircraft set and desert backlots. Arrive by 3pm for the last tour of the day. The studios sit 5km west of the centre; see where to stay in Ouarzazate for nearby stays.
Kasbah Taourirt
This 19th-century Glaoui dynasty palace sits right in the centre of town on Avenue Mohammed V. Entry costs about 20 MAD, and it’s open roughly 8am to 6pm. The kasbah has 300 rooms and courtyards, though only a portion is open, with painted ceilings and lattice windows. Give it 45 minutes and combine it with the nearby Cinema Museum.
Cinema Museum (Musée du Cinéma)
Housed in a former studio opposite Kasbah Taourirt, the Cinema Museum displays props, costumes and old cameras from films shot in the area. Entry is about 30 MAD. It’s small, taking 30 to 45 minutes, and closes by 6pm. It pairs well with the Taourirt kasbah on the same afternoon.
Things to Do in Ouarzazate: Desert and Nature Day Trips
Fint Oasis
Fint is a palm and almond oasis 15km south of town, reached by a rough but drivable track. It’s free to wander the river and date palms, and a few family houses offer mint tea for 10 to 20 MAD. A shared grand taxi from Ouarzazate costs about 20 to 30 MAD each way. Spend 2 hours here to see a working oasis village. Avoid the midday heat in July and August; check Ouarzazate weather by month for the mildest months.
Draa Valley and Zagora
The Draa Valley, a 200km ribbon of palm groves and kasbahs, runs southeast toward Zagora, the traditional gateway to the Sahara. The drive takes 2.5 hours each way, and a shared grand taxi to Zagora costs around 80 MAD. Stop at the Amridil Kasbah in Skoura (20 MAD entry) and the Tamnougalt kasbah near Agdz. This is a full-day trip from Ouarzazate. Shared grand taxis leave from town; see Ouarzazate travel tips for fares and routes.
El Mansour Eddahbi Lake
The El Mansour Eddahbi reservoir, 12km north of town, backs up against a desert ridge and draws birdlife and local fishermen. It’s free to visit, and the road to it passes the Kasbah Tifoultoute, which you can photograph from outside. Sunset here is a good, low-effort outing, 20 minutes by taxi (about 50 MAD).
Tizi n’Tichka Pass
The N9 road from Marrakech climbs the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260m (7,415 ft), the highest main road pass in Morocco, about 100km north of Ouarzazate. If you’re driving in, the switchbacks and High Atlas views are the route’s main event, with a few stalls selling fossils and minerals at the top. In winter, check for snow closures before driving.
Things to Do in Ouarzazate: Markets and Local Life
Ouarzazate Central Market
The covered souk and surrounding stalls near Avenue Mohammed V sell spices, dates, Berber silver and ceramics. Haggling is expected, and you should aim for roughly half the first asking price. The market is liveliest in the morning, and stalls mostly close by 7pm. It’s the best place to buy saffron and rose products from the region.
Kelaa M’Gouna (Valley of Roses)
Kelaa M’Gouna, 90km east on the N10, is the centre of Morocco’s rose water and rose oil industry, with a festival every May. The drive passes through Skoura’s palm grove. Rose products (water, oil, soap) are cheaper here than in Ouarzazate. It’s a half-day outing, best combined with the Draa Valley drive.
Most visitors pair the kasbahs and studios with one desert day trip. For the annual dates of the Rose Festival and other events, see our Ouarzazate events and festivals guide, and find the best areas to base yourself in Ouarzazate neighborhoods.
