Dar El Bacha, the "House of the Pasha", is a palace in the northern medina of Marrakech built in the early 20th century, commonly dated to 1910, as the official residence of Thami El Glaoui, Pasha of Marrakech. It now houses the Museum of Confluences, an art and ethnography museum set within the palace's own walls.
This guide explains what the site actually is, its link to Pasha El Glaoui, its current role as a museum, what you see as you move through it, and how to combine it with a visit to the rest of the medina. Variable practical details (opening hours, admission fees, access to the café) should always be checked with the museum and the venue concerned before you go.
A palace built for Pasha El Glaoui
The palace was built in the early 20th century for Thami El Glaoui, Pasha of Marrakech, a major political figure of Morocco at the time. Its original function was that of an official residence, designed to receive guests and impress them, in the style of traditional Moroccan palatial architecture.
Today: the Museum of Confluences
The building now houses the Museum of Confluences, which comes under Morocco's National Foundation of Museums (FNM). The museum is dedicated to the country's cultural and spiritual heritage and to dialogue between cultures, through collections of Moroccan decorative arts and ethnographic objects.
It is therefore a dual site: a historic monument in its own right, and a museum installed within it to give the public access to this kind of architecture while also presenting collections.
What you see as you walk through
- A central courtyard, typical of Moroccan palatial architecture, often described as one of the most photographed spaces in Marrakech.
- Zellige tilework on wall dados and some floors, with the geometric patterns characteristic of Moroccan craftsmanship.
- Carved woodwork and painted ceilings, documented as features typical of the palace's decoration.
- Worked stucco on some frames and friezes, combined with zellige and woodwork in the decorative compositions.
What to expect: a more modest visit than Bahia or El Badi
Dar El Bacha is a smaller site than Bahia Palace or El Badi Palace. The visit essentially involves walking around the courtyard and a few rooms around it, looking at the architectural decoration and the objects on display, without the same sequence of courtyards and gardens found at other large sites in the medina.
This more compact format works well as a half-hour to one-hour stop within a day spent exploring the medina, rather than as the single highlight of a trip.
The museum and Bacha Coffee, in the same building
A café, Bacha Coffee, operates inside the building, in a courtyard that is among the most photographed in Marrakech. The museum and the café coexist within the same palace, but their respective access conditions (whether a ticket is needed for one or the other, whether the café can be entered without visiting the museum) can change and are not fixed here: they should be checked directly with the museum and the café on the day of your visit.
Rue Dar El Bacha and the surrounding neighbourhood
The palace stands on rue Dar El Bacha, an axis in the northern medina linking the Mouassine and Bab Doukkala area towards the souks. It is a lively street lined with shops, allowing you to reach several other sites in the northern medina on foot, without motorised transport.
Combining the visit with the rest of the medina
Dar El Bacha fits easily into the same walk as the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the souks, and a broader on-foot exploration of the medina. The Secret Garden, also located in this northern area, rounds out this itinerary well for a morning or afternoon devoted to heritage and gardens in this part of the city.
Who this visit suits, and who might skip it
This place suits those who enjoy Moroccan architecture, photographing courtyards and zellige, or who want to see collections of Moroccan decorative arts in a heritage setting. Travellers short on time, or who have already visited a large palace such as Bahia and are looking for very different experiences, may choose not to prioritise it.
Visiting with children
The visit is short and takes place entirely on foot on a simple, single-level route, which makes it manageable with young children for a short time. That said, it is a museum with objects on display in a quiet heritage setting, not a place designed to entertain children: it is best to adjust expectations and plan a brief rather than a long visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bacha Coffee separate from the museum?
The café and the museum occupy the same building, but the access conditions for each (separate ticket or not, whether you can enter the café without visiting the museum) can change. This should be checked on site or directly with the museum and the café before you go.
How much time should I allow for the visit?
As a rough guide, half an hour to an hour is usually enough to walk through the courtyard and the spaces open to the museum at a relaxed pace. This is a planning estimate, not an official duration.
Is it crowded, and are there quieter times?
The central courtyard, being heavily photographed, can get busy at certain times of day. As with most tourist sites in the medina, arriving earlier or outside peak hours generally means a calmer experience, though no specific time slot can be guaranteed here.
Is it suitable for a visit with children?
Yes, for a short visit: it is brief and takes place on a single, simple level. However, it is not a place designed to keep children entertained, more a museum to walk through calmly.
How does Dar El Bacha differ from Bahia Palace?
Dar El Bacha is a more compact site, now set up as a museum with decorative arts and ethnographic collections, while Bahia offers a longer route through courtyards, reception rooms and gardens without its own museum displays. Both sites are linked to major figures of Moroccan power from the same period, but the visiting experience differs in scale and content.
Read next
Sources and verification
Discover Marrakech is not an official site. Opening hours, prices, closures and access conditions should be checked with official sources before you travel. Recommendations reflect our own experience, separate from verifiable facts.
Page reviewed in September 2026; variable information (opening hours, admission fees, café access) must be confirmed with official sources before your visit.
I cannot confirm the exact price or opening hours here. Please check the official page or Google Maps before visiting.
