Marrakech: A Guide For Your First Visit
Known as Morocco’s Pink City, Marrakech is sure to surprise you in so many ways. It has become a popular destination for tourists, especially from Europe, and one trip there will reveal why. Busy and chaotic, yet exhilarating at the same time. Planning a trip to Marrakech? Here is a guide for your first visit:
How to Prepare:
Marrakech is one of the largest cities in Morocco, so expect the hustle and bustle. Unlike the rest of Morocco, which is a Muslim country, Marrakech is actually more liberal than you would expect. I still dressed conservatively, but I was actually surprised at the amount of female tourists I saw walking around in short shorts and mini skirts. It’s important to keep in mind though, that it is still an Islamic city and you should respect the culture and dress somewhat modest. Showing shoulders is okay in Marrakech, but you should carry around a light scarf to cover up when needed.
One of the highlights in Marrakech is wandering around and getting lost in the markets. It’s impossible to go home from the souk empty handed. You’ll be tempted to buy a little bit of everything. Expect to do lots of shopping, so you will need to have cash handy. Credit cards are not widely used in Morocco, especially in the markets. Some shops may have a “we accept credit cards” sign, but don’t expect the card machines to work either due to poor internet connection. Best bet is to have cash, which you can either exchange at the airport or at a money exchange place, known in Morocco as “bureau de change.” ATM’s are also widely available around Morocco, and you can find a couple at the famous Jemaa El Fna square.
Getting Around:
Marrakech is a very walkable city. You can get to the major attractions by foot, but taxis are also very cheap and easy to find. The traffic gets crazy as the day progresses though, so this alternative may just add travel time. However, if you need to venture out of the city center, taxi is the way to go.
English is spoken more in Marrakech compared to other Moroccan cities, so communicating shouldn’t be too difficult. In any case, I suggest having some basic words written down in French or Arabic just incase. For me, internet service didn’t function all that well when I was away from wifi, so I would also suggest having your destinations pinned on an offline map incase you need to access directions while outside.
Where to Stay:
You cannot stay in Marrakech without experience one of the hundreds of beautiful riads in the city. A riad is a traditional Moroccan home built around a courtyard. They are much smaller in size compared to a hotel, but just as beautiful, if not more. The courtyard typically includes a garden and a pool, and each room is uniquely decorated. One of the hardest decisions you’ll come across is which riad to stay in, especially since riads are quite affordable as well. My initial plan was to stay in a different riad each night, but walking around the Medina with your luggage can be difficult, especially in the heat. So, unless you want to spend money on a cab, my suggestion is to pick one riad, or pick another one that’s nearby.
I stayed in two riads: one night in Riad Jemaa El Fna, and four nights in Riad Dar Baraka & Karam. The later was my favorite of the two, as it was much more peaceful and a bit more open space. It was still within walking distance of the souks, though Riad Jemaa El Fna was right by the main square (5 minute walk). A company known as Marrakech Riads has restored many older riads, including Dar Baraka & Karam, so if you’re interested in booking this riad or similar ones, visit this link: https://marrakech-riads.com/hostel_room/dar-baraka/
Marrakech Riads doesn’t only manage riads, but restaurants as well. They renovated this riad, known as Dar Cherifa, and turned it into a traditional Moroccan restaurant. It also functions sometimes as a cultural venue, and houses many workshops and national/international events. Whether you’re stopping in for a full dinner or just for quick desert or drink, Dar Cherifa is worth checking out as well!
Things to Do:
You should plan about 3-4 days in Marrakech, more if you want to do day trips or a trip out to the Sahara. Though a lot of places are within walking distance, if you’re visiting in hotter temperatures, you will have less energy to get a lot done in just a day.
Jemaa El Fna Square
Jemaa El Fna Square is like the Times Square of Marrakech. I’d say this is the heart of the city, where all the action is. During the day, you’ll find the square mainly occupied by fruit juice stalls as well as the famous snake charmers and Barbary apes. The square gets more crowded as the day progresses, and the entertainment changes as well. The snake charmers leave, and you’ll find more story tellers, magicians and henna artists. At night time is when the square gets the busiest, and all the food stalls come out. I had been in the square as late as 11pm, and there was no sign of anyone leaving anytime soon. I loved the vibes here and it was definitely a highlight for me.
The square is also lined on each side with streets and alleys that lead to the markets of the Medina. If you want to people watch, you can also take a seat at one of the many restaurants/cafes that face out into the square.
Get Lost in the Souks
Shopping in the souks is all part of the experience of being in the Medina. With souvenirs ranging from leather goods to pottery to little trinkets, you will find it impossible to not buy anything. I also learned that Marrakech is a very popular destination to get high quality designer knock offs. You will find tons of boutiques around the square with thousands of “designer” goods, many of which look quite legit. I caved and even went home with a gorgeous YSL purse for just $130.
Once you walk further in to the alleys, you’ll eventually get lost in the maze that is the souk. That’s all part of the fun, but just remember, all the twists and turns eventually lead back to the main square (there are signs posted as well).
Take a Food Tour
Though I wasn’t a huge fan of Moroccan food, I do suggest taking a food tour in Marrakech. It was a couple of hours, but we got to taste little “appetizer” type foods I hadn’t tried yet. The food tour takes you to very local spots that you probably won’t come across on a big tour. My favorite was the briwate, which is a small triangle shaped puff pastry stuffed with cheese, veggies and/or meat.
Eat at a Rooftop Restaurant
Whether it’s at the main square or somewhere else in the Medina, Marrakech is full of tons of photo worthy cafes/restaurants that have cool rooftops. I unfortunately got mild food poisoning during my days in Marrakech, so I didn’t get to try many food spots, but I loved Atay Cafe, which has a great view of the Koutubia Mosque.
Jardin Majorelle
One of the main attractions in Marrakech is Jardin Majorelle, which is also next to the YSL museum. Though there’s not much to do here, the colorful gardens do make this spot very “instagrammable” and worth the visit. Make sure to get here early though, as the place fills up very quickly. I got there shortly after opening at 8am, and by 8:45, the crowds started coming in. It’s recommended you purchase your tickets online, where you can also get a combined ticket if you plan on visiting the YSL Museum as well.
Le Jardin Secret
Le Jardin Secret, which translates to “the secret garden,” has been recently opened to visitors. It previously housed some of the country’s most important political figures. Now, visitors can tour the complex and see the beautiful Islamic art and architecture for just 80 dirhams.
Ben Youssef Madrasa
Ben Youssef Madrasa is a former Islamic college that currently operates as a historical site. The site features a central courtyard, which is surrounded by galleries and student dormitories on the upper levels. The courtyard also features a reflective pool. Though it may not be as popular as the other attractions in the city, this was my favorite. It does get crowded at times, so I suggest visiting around 1-1:30pm, when the crowds briefly disappear.
Bahia Palace & El Badii Palace
Bahia Palace is another popular attraction in Marrakech, though it wasn’t my favorite. It’s a 19th century palace complete with a riad and two courtyards. Though it’s very frequented by visitors, when I went, there was a good amount of construction going on and it was super packed. Perhaps this made the experience less enjoyable, so I snapped a few pics and left. Overall, it was smaller than I thought. I suggest visiting El Badii Palace, which is less popular, but judging from photos, looks much more detailed and beautiful. Unfortunately, the day I visited it was closed due to some Berber festivities. Bummer.
Take a Day Trip to the Agafay Desert
I had really wanted to plan a few days out in the Sahara, but unfortunately, you need at least 3-4 days to really see the Sahara. I only had 5 days total in Marrakech, so this was not an option for me, considering the other things I wanted to do. Luckily, our cab driver suggested a sunset drive and dinner in the Agafay Desert, which is under an hour away from Marrakech. While it’s not the Sahara, it’s perfect to get that same desert experience. If you have an entire day, you can plan to ride camels and ATV’s, and you can also glamp under the stars for a night too. *For planning day trips to the Agafay Desert, or other nearby cities, you can find tourism offices offering tours all around the Medina.
For more on Morocco, click here: https://mybucketlistjourneys.blog/category/morocco/
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