Tickets for the ANIMA Garden, also known as the André Heller Garden, are priced towards the higher end of Moroccan attractions, but are moderate by European standards. Local residents and children aged 12–16 pay half price; under-12s get in free. Tickets include shuttle-bus transfers from downtown Marrakech, so many travelers visit independently. A popular tour option combines ANIMA Garden with a waterfall hike through the scenic Ourika Valley, a few miles farther south.
ANIMA Garden is a must for anyone who loves art, gardens, or photography.
Most of the works at ANIMA are by Heller himself, but there is a smattering of work by big-name artists and upcoming Moroccan talent.
It’s worth stopping by at the café for an herbal tea made with ingredients grown in the garden.
Wheelchair access to the garden is extremely limited.
The ANIMA Garden is located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of downtown Marrakech. Ticket prices include a shuttle-bus transfer from a stop behind the Koutoubia Mosque and its gardens, about a half-mile (800-meter) walk west of Djemaa el Fna. The bus runs three times a day for much of the year, but only once a day in July and August. For more flexibility, consider a private tour.
ANIMA Garden is open from morning until early evening seven days a week all year round, but closes over the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha holiday periods. (These follow the Islamic calendar and can fall at different times of year.) The gardens are magical year-round but particularly special in spring, when the flowers are blooming but the Atlas are still streaked with snow.
Amid all the dust and chaos, Marrakech boasts some world-class gardens. Modern-art lovers and Instagrammers will adore ANIMA Garden, but don’t miss the Majorelle Garden (Jardin Majorelle). Once owned by designer Yves Saint Laurent, it’s a desert delight that dates back to the 1920s. Another great choice is Le Jardin Secret, a traditional Islamic garden set in a historic riad (courtyard mansion).
