Marrakesh is a lively and intense city to visit. With different options and activities for everyone, great restaurants, and a very interesting accommodation offer, it’s definitely a place not to miss when traveling to Morocco.

During our Morocco road trip, we left Marrakesh for the last days of the trip. I must be honest and admit I was a bit skeptical about the city and a little bit afraid I won’t like it at all.

Once more again, I fought against my prejudices and decided to give it a try.

 

 

Located in Western Morocco, Marrakesh is not the capital as many people think, which is Rabat, but it’s the capital of the Marrakesh-Safi region and a big economic and cultural center.

The common English spelling is “Marrakesh“, although “Marrakech” (the French spelling) is also widely used. The name is spelled Mṛṛakc in the Berber Latin alphabet, Marraquexe in Portuguese, Marraquech in Spanish, and “Mer-raksh” in Moroccan Arabic.

Being very close to the Atlas Mountains and just about 190 km to Essaouira in the Atlantic Ocean, Marrakesh is a great place to start or end your trip to Morocco.

The region where Marrakesh is located has been the land of the Berber since Neolithic times. Founded in 1062, Marrakesh was one of Morocco’s four imperial cities during the 12th century. After the construction of its red sandstone bricks in 1122, the city has been called the “Red City” or “Ochre City”, and one of the most important cultural, religious and trade centers in the sub-Saharan region.

 

 

Best things to do in Marrakesh

Marrakesh is a city to explore with calm, to enjoy little pleasures, like zipping a cup of mint tea and just looks people and time pass in front of you.
Here are some of my favorite things in the city I would definitely recommend you add them to your stay in Marrakesh.

 

Explore the Souks inside the Medina

Getting lost in the Medina streets and little alleys full of color, noises, spices, handicrafts and all kinds of people, will be an experience you won’t forget.

If you love markets, exploring the different Souks in the Medina will be one of your favorite things to do in Marrakesh. I’m a real market addict, and I decided to stay inside the Medina with the goal of experiencing this area at its best.

I got to admit at certain moments it was a little bit overwhelming, as our Riad was located after a very busy area and this was the only way to reach it, but once we got used to walking around it was getting less annoying.

You can CHECK HERE the rates and availability for Riad Vanilla Sma, the place we choose to stay in Marrakesh this time, it was very comfortable, well designed and in a good location to explore Marrakesh Medina.

 

TIP for Solo Female Travelers in Marrakesh

If you are walking around Marrakesh, especially inside the Medina alleys, I would recommend you to be aware of certain things.

Perhaps the most important topic to keep in mind is that Morocco is a Muslim country and the customs and especially the dressing code tend to be very conservative when compared to the western world and some Asian countries.

Staying within a conservative dressing code will avoid most of the issues about men trying to hit on you in all possible ways.

Just be serious, walk with confidence and don’t talk with anyone if you don’t fill like, this is very normal and many kids and men are constantly trying to reach you to offer you something, or to guide you to the Jemaa el-Fna square (even if you are not going there, lol).

You can also explore the Souks and the Medina with a guided tour, if you feel like having someone to show you around, you can BOOK HERE this tour. We were thinking about doing this tour as soon as arriving so we could get a glimpse of the area as well as some tips about moving around, getting proper prices and good food.

 

 

Jemaa el-Fna square

Located in the Old Town in Marrakesh, the Jemaa el-Fnaa is the busiest square in Africa.

During the day you find juice stalls, some handicraft vendors, fortune tellers, monkeys, and snakes enchanters and lots of people wandering around.

As the day pass, the place is getting even more alive, with food stalls in the middle serving tajines and grilled vegetables and meat, more fresh natural juices, storytellers, dancers, musicians and almost anything you can imagine.

 

 

It’s an experience just being there and walking around, or you can walk the stairs up to one of the restaurants or cafes and enjoy the view from above.

With the aim to protect the cultural patrimony of all things happening in the Jemaa el-Fna square, the community could make this place part of the UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity

Visiting the Jemaa el-Fna square is an adventure at any time of the day, but especially during the night. If you feel a little intimidated to go all by yourself, or you would love to have someone to tell you stories and to talking with vendors and performers, you can take this tour that will show you all the best of the most visited place in Marrakesh Medina.

You can BOOK HERE to learn about local cuisine and explore the best street food in Marrakesh.

 

Koutoubia Mosque

This mosque has been the symbol of the city since the 12th century, with the 75mt high minaret being visible from far away, it was for a long time the reference point for the city. Today the prayer is made from it 5 times a day and the gardens are a peaceful and beautiful place to be in Marrakesh.

>>> Did you know in Northern Chile there’s an exact smaller replica of the Koutoubia Mosque?

Remember this, as all the other mosques in the city, are places of worship and it’s only allowed for Muslims to go inside to pray. You might think, how can they know you are not Muslim? Trust me, they will, so I personally think the best is to respect the rules and not try to sneak in if you are not part of this religion.

The gardens are open to everyone and it’s still a beautiful place to be.

 

 

Saadien’s Tombs

If you love history, this place is a must.

They are the only vestiges remaining from the Saadian dynasty which reigned on the golden age of Marrakech between 1524 to 1659. At the beginning of the 18th century, Sultan Moulay Ismaïl indeed decided to remove all traces of the magnificence of this dynasty by asking for the destruction of all the remaining vestiges.

 

 

Located next to the mosque of the Kasbah, the Saadian tombs are one of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur ordered the construction of this burial site for himself and his descendants. This means that today, you will be able to find over 200 tombs of members of the Saadian dynasty here. The tombs are essentially divided into two sections: the mausoleums and the gardens.

The biggest advice is to go very early if you really want to see the tombs as it can be very crowded. The day we visited the queue was so long and it was so hot that after waiting for one hour and still missing so many people I gave up and went for lunch instead.

Anyway, the gardens are beautiful and the tiles on the walls around are so beautiful I was happy to have tried at least.

 

 

Bahia Palace

This 19th-century palace was one of my favorites to visit during my stay in Marrakesh.

The palace was set up in an eight hectares ground for the personal use of the sultan and was the harem took place, having a central basin and surrounded by 4 rooms for wives, and 12 rooms intended for the 24 concubines.

 

 

Apart from the business hall, a dining room the Bahia Palace was having a school for their kids, and the same place was turned into the mosque during the prayer time 5 times per day.

It’s finely decorated with tiles, mosaic floors and walls, beautiful woodwork and colorful windows, made by some of the best Moroccan artisans that went to Marrakech from across the country.

 

The son of Joseph School

The former Islamic school from the 14th-century is a great representation of Moroccan architecture and design. It was once the home of more than 800 students and you can see the rooms and the beautiful woodcrafts in the windows.

Sadly or not, it has been under renovation, apparently reopening in 2020.

House of Photography

If you love history and photography, you will love to visit this little museum. Located inside a beautiful Riad, the collection features photography from different times and they present the techniques and styles of Moroccan photography.

They also have a coffee shop on the rooftop terrace with a beautiful view and delicious products.

 

 

Quartier des Tanneurs

If you have always dreamed to visit the Tanneries in Fez, you can visit the smaller version while you are in Marrakesh.

I really wanted to visit this place, but I had no time enough. I was the advice the smells are very strong here and there are some people trying to make money when you visit alone, so I can advise you to hire a driver or better, a tour to guide you through the alleys and avoid the hassle with the people trying to make money from you just being there.

 

Badii Palace

This palace is a really nice place to visit and it’s also very different from the other attractions to visit in Marrakesh.

Being completed around 1593 after 15 years of construction using very expensive materials like Italian marble, onyx, and gold.

There’s no certainty about the original size of the palace, but it’s believed to have had 360 richly decorated rooms, a big courtyard, and a 90-meter length central pool. The site also includes several stables, dungeons, and several pavilions that might have been used as summer residences.

Today, the Badii Palace complex includes a museum, exhibiting relics including a restored 12th-century minbar that once stood in the Koutoubia Mosque. The Palace is also a place of big events, weddings, Fashion shows, and is hosting every year the Marrakesh Folklore Festival.

 

Where to eat in Marrakesh Medina

If you love food, Marrakesh is a good place to be. With a big and wide offer of different cuisines, lots of local food on the streets, in all kinds of restaurants, international restaurants, and cute coffee shops.

While you are in Marrakesh, you can even learn to cook couscous or Tajines, BOOK HERE a morning cooking class and have lunch with your self-made Tagine with the guidance of an expert chef.

Perhaps you might prefer to go with a guide to explore the food around the souqs inside the Medina, you can BOOK HERE a 3-hour food tour trying the flavors and spices of the Medina and finishing with dinner in the famous and busy Jeema el-Fna square.

As a tip for eating outside in Marrakech, just be aware most good restaurants were very busy when we were there in October, the recommendation is always making a reservation to avoid frustrations and long waiting times when you are already hungry.

 

My favorite restaurants during my stay in Marrakesh were the following:

Naranj

This lovely restaurant is having mainly food inspired by Lebanese cuisine. With a beautiful interior as well as a cute rooftop terrace perfect to enjoy in warm evenings.

 

Nomad

Another very hype place, with a perfect mix between western and classical Moroccan decoration, also in the menu you will find a wide range of adapted versions of the traditional food, combined with western options and even some vegetarian.

The view from the rooftop to the Place des epices is one of my favorites in the Medina!

 

 

La Table de Kasbah

This was one of the best restaurants we’ve been to. With good service and a simple yet interesting menu consisting mostly in traditional Moroccan food but well prepared and presented.

 

 

Le Jardin

Located in a big house with a garden, thus the name, Le Jardin is one of the hype places to go inside the Medina. Be prepared for long waiting times, we even had a reservation but had to wait more than 15 minutes to get a table and they were not respecting our preference to be located in the upper terrace.

The food is good and well prepared and they even have wearable blankets for the chilly nights.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Marrakesh is a vibrant and very diverse city that reflects the Moroccan culture in a good way. There’s something for everyone to find activities, restaurants and a wide range of accommodations for every taste and budget.

It’s definitely one of the cities not to miss when traveling in Morocco

 

Have you already been there and are you missing here your favorite place?