The Koutoubia Mosque at a glance
The Koutoubia Mosque stands west of Jemaa el-Fna, and its minaret is the landmark you see from the square and from many roofs in the medina. The minaret is 77 m high. The mosque dates from the Almohad period in the 12th century. UNESCO, which spells the name Koutoubiya, lists it as a central monument of the medina.
The visit is an outside visit. The prayer hall is not open to non-Muslims, and there is no climb of the minaret for tourists. What you can do is walk around the building and through the gardens around it, which are open to everyone. Together with a walk on the square, that makes a good first or last stop of the day, and you can pair it with a medina walk; see our overview of tours from the square.
Our pick: the Koutoubia and two monuments
Our take: a guided walk that passes the Koutoubia from outside and continues to the palace and the tombs.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours that include the Koutoubia
Medina walks and city tours that pass the mosque, with live prices and availability.
What you can see
The views are from outside the building.
The minaret
The tower dominates the skyline of the medina. The upper part of the tower is worth a longer look.
The gardens
The gardens around the mosque are open to everyone, every day of the week. No ticket is needed. There are no exact gate times to plan around, so treat the gardens as an open public space.
The wall remains
Next to the minaret you can see wall remains. They make a good foreground when you photograph the tower.
Visiting rules for the Koutoubia
It is an active place of worship.
The prayer hall is closed to non-Muslims
Non-Muslim visitors cannot enter the prayer hall. No ticket or tour changes that, so do not buy a product that claims to take you inside.
No minaret climb
The minaret cannot be climbed as a tourist, and there is no paid interior visit. The views of the tower are from the gardens and from the streets around it.
Behave as you would near any mosque
Dress modestly and keep your voice low, especially at prayer times. Do not point cameras at people who are praying.
Give worshippers room
Prayer is part of daily life at the mosque. Keep out of the way of people who are going in and out.
Where to look and when
Three views to try, each with a different light.
From the gardens
The tower seen from the garden paths is the classic view, with the greenery in the foreground.
At sunset
In the evening the tower takes on a warm light. This is also when the square begins to fill, so combine it with a walk east to the stalls.
Over the rooftops
From a roof or terrace in the medina, the minaret stands above the other buildings. Not every roof gives this view, so ask your riad or café before you go up.
Names, spelling and history in brief
Why the mosque appears under several spellings.
You will see Koutoubia and Koutoubiya on maps and in guides. Both mean the same mosque. This guide uses Koutoubia, and UNESCO uses Koutoubiya for the central monument of the medina.
The mosque belongs to the Almohad period, in the 12th century. Beyond that period, the exact order of building is not something a visit can settle. For the city's wider story, the square's name and its UNESCO status, see the history page.
How the Koutoubia fits into your day
The mosque is a short stop, not a half-day visit.
As a first stop
Start at the gardens in daylight, take your photos of the tower, then walk toward the square. In the late afternoon you arrive as the stalls begin to set up.
As an evening stop
Come at sunset for the light on the tower, then continue to the square for the evening. The square changes quickly once the stalls open; the evening guide explains the rhythm.
With other sights
Palaces, the medersa and the museums are covered on the nearby page. Check hours and prices there before you go.
Plan the rest of your visit
The mosque sits on the edge of the square, so it combines well with these pages.
The souks of Marrakech
Trades, shop hours and bargaining north of the square.
Things to do near the square
Palaces, the medersa, museums and gardens.
How to reach the square
Airport bus, taxi and the last stretch on foot.
For the wider city and its other sights, see the Marrakech medina guide.
Koutoubia Mosque: frequently asked questions
Can non-Muslims enter the Koutoubia Mosque?
No. The prayer hall is not open to non-Muslims. You can walk through the gardens and look at the minaret and the building from outside.
Can you climb the Koutoubia minaret?
No tourist climb is offered, and no paid interior visit exists. Enjoy the tower from the gardens, the streets and the roofs of the medina.
Is there an entrance fee for the gardens?
No. The gardens are open to everyone every day of the week. There are no exact gate times to plan around, so use them as a free public space.
How tall is the Koutoubia minaret?
The minaret is 77 m high.
When was the Koutoubia built?
The mosque dates from the Almohad period, in the 12th century. A visit does not depend on one founding year, and the building is best enjoyed as a landmark of the medina.
Is this the official site of the mosque?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the mosque, the city, a tourist board or a tour company.