Imperial Cities Tours
Koutoubia Mosque: History, the Minaret and the Best Places to See It
Published November 4, 2026 by Morocco Amazing Tours
The short answer: the Koutoubia is Marrakech's great mosque, built by the Almohad dynasty in the 12th century. Its 77 m minaret is the city's landmark and the model for the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat. Non-Muslims cannot enter the prayer hall, but you can walk around it, through the rose gardens, and see it best from the Jemaa el-Fnaa rooftops at sunset.
A short history
The Almohads took Marrakech in 1147 and immediately built a great mosque. A second mosque followed beside it within a few years; the reason often given is that the first was not correctly oriented toward Mecca. You can still see the excavated foundations of the first mosque next to the current one. The minaret was completed under Sultan Yaqub al-Mansur at the end of the 12th century.
The name comes from "kutubiyyin", the booksellers, whose market once surrounded the mosque.
The minaret
- Height: about 77 m including the spire, built of local sandstone and once covered in plaster.
- Design: each face is decorated differently with carved arches and a band of ceramic tiles at the top.
- Inside: a ramp instead of stairs, wide enough for the muezzin to ride up on horseback, according to tradition.
- The globes: four copper spheres crown the spire. Legend says they were made of gold from the jewels of a sultan's wife.
- Its family: the Giralda in Seville and the unfinished Hassan Tower in Rabat follow the same Almohad design; see our Rabat guide.
Can you go inside?
No. As in most Moroccan mosques, the prayer hall is open only to Muslims. Visitors can walk around the outside, the excavations and the gardens at any time. If you want to see a great mosque inside, the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca offers guided tours, and the Ben Youssef Madrasa in Marrakech is open to all.
The best places to see it
| Spot | When |
|---|---|
| Koutoubia gardens | Morning or late afternoon, among roses and orange trees |
| Rooftop cafés on Jemaa el-Fnaa | Sunset, with the square below |
| Avenue Mohammed V | Day, the long straight view from Gueliz |
| At night | The minaret is floodlit and visible across the city |
Etiquette nearby
- Dress modestly around the mosque and avoid loud behaviour during prayer times.
- On Friday around midday, the area is crowded with worshippers; it is a moving moment to watch from a distance.
- The small white mausoleum of Lalla Zohra stands beside the mosque; it is not open inside.
The Koutoubia is a natural first stop on a walk to the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs and the gateway to Jemaa el-Fnaa. All three are part of our Marrakech tours.
Frequently asked questions
Can tourists enter the Koutoubia Mosque?
No. Non-Muslims cannot enter the prayer hall, but the gardens, the outside walls and the ruins of the first mosque are open to everyone.
How tall is the Koutoubia minaret?
About 77 m including the spire. It is the tallest structure in the Marrakech medina.
How old is the Koutoubia Mosque?
It dates from the 12th century. The Almohads began it after taking Marrakech in 1147, and the minaret was finished under Yaqub al-Mansur.
Why is it called Koutoubia?
The name comes from the booksellers ("kutubiyyin") whose market once surrounded the mosque.
See it with a private driver
Planning a trip around this? These private, driver-guided itineraries cover it — every route can be adjusted to your dates.
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