French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent was smitten with Morocco from his first visit in 1966. Cementing his connection to the city, Musée Yves Saint Laurent opened in 2017 next door to Jardin Majorelle - Saint Laurent's second home - as an homage to YSL's life and 40 years of creative work. Designed by Studio KO, the terracotta facade guards the designer's sketches, haute couture fashions - including the famed peacoat and Mondrian dress - and accessories, in addition to a 150-seat auditorium, research library, bookstore and terrace café.

It's not the best-kept secret in the city, but Le Jardin Secret remains a worthwhile pit stop. The riad-museum dates back to the 16th century and the complex comprises two bountiful gardens: one is an exotic marvel; the other, a traditional Islamic display. Intended as a centre for sharing knowledge and the latest research on Moroccan and Islamic gardens, the property is also home to a rooftop café offering gloriously verdant views.

El Badi's crumbly majesty precedes it. Plans for this palace - constructed by sultan Ahmad al-Mansur in the 16th century - were grandiose, right down to the gold, turquoise and crystal paving, but its destruction in the 18th century and ensuing pillage left it a shell of its former self. Today, there's a stripped-back elegance to the ruined edifice - all bare rock, fragments of fallen pillars and rooms left wide open to the cerulean sky. Explore its expansive courtyard, sunken gardens and reflecting pools, all of which are surveyed by nesting storks.

Away from the main fray, on the outskirts of the city, you'll find the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL). Worth the taxi ride, the independent, not-for-profit museum is dedicated to contemporary African art, with works on display presented across a diverse range of media. In addition to the permanent collection, regular exhibitions focus on art that engages in a dialogue with the continent, showcasing works by local and international artists.