Marrakesh is a hectic, colorful, bustling insanity of Afro-Middle Eastern cultural fusion. It can be overwhelming at times navigating through the medinas, snake-charmers, and aggressive merchants selling everything under the sun. Full of culture, history, art, architecture, and food, Marrakesh has something to offer everyone.
We ended our two-week Morocco trip with 5 days/4 nights in a Marrakesh riad outside of the main medina. We found Marrakesh to be a little more tourist-heavy, which offered more contemporary dining options but also a lot of aggressive merchants and scams. The circus-like Djemaa El Fna square was both entertaining and exhausting. A little more hectic and a little less authentic than our Fez experience, Marrakesh is still a must-see destination and is a great jump-off point for the Atlas Mountains and Sahara desert.
To learn more general tips about traveling to Morocco, check out our Destination: Morocco page.
Interested in exploring Casablanca or Fez? Check out our guides for everything you need to know!
HOW TO GET AROUND
There is also an international airport in both Marrakesh and Casablanca. You can book cheap domestic flights between major cities as well.
It is easy to get to/from Casablanca, Fez, or other major cities via train. We were able to book tickets in advance using RailNinja.com.
Taxis are available for local travel. Negotiate a price before starting your journey. Most are not metered. Many will only allow 3 or fewer customers per sedan. Find a van or truck if you have a larger group or hire a private driver.
Marrakesh is very walkable if you are mostly hanging around the medina and old town. However, you must be extremely careful! Unlike Fez, motorcycles are not banned from the medina which means they are flying through narrow alleyways and around blind corners. Always look both ways before crossing any street or alleyway.
WHAT TO DO
*Night festivities at Djemaa El Fna
This main square of Marrakesh is full of vendors, fruit stalls, and snake charmers by day and transforms into its full carnivalesque form by night. Surround yourself with musicians, magicians, street games, stilts, monkeys, lamps, and buzzing energy. A hot spot for tourists and locals. Make sure to come hungry and bring some change/small bills as everyone will ask for a tip. Try snails, barbecue meats, fruit juices, spice cakes, pastries, and even lamb heads. A must-visit for your Marrakesh stay.
*Explore the Marrakesh Medina
Also known as “The Red City” for its ochre walls, the Marrakesh Medina is a lively and frantic marketplace bazaar in the historic old part of town. Full of colors, smells, noises, and cats, let yourself get lost amongst the streets of merchants and food. Just be careful, unlike the medina in Fez which is vehicle-free, motorcycles and scooters are often zooming around blind corners on the small, crowded streets forcing you to be on high alert at all times. Check out this post for more information on how to stay safe while navigating the medinas of Morocco.
Experience royalty at Bahia Palace
If you’re into detailed tile work, intricate wood carvings, and painted ceilings check out the Bahia Palace. Open from 0800-1700 daily, you can explore the grounds for an entrance fee of 70 dirham/person (~$7). The palace features several rooms, an outdoor courtyard, and gardens with fountains. We honestly found Le Jardin Secret more beautiful and better maintained compared to Bahia which felt a little run-down and was completely overrun with tourists. Try to come very early or late to best avoid crowds.
Visit Le Jardin Secret an old royalty Riad
This 400-year-old riad was once the home of a Qaid U-Bihi, the head of the Haha tribe. Its beautiful renovation has been well documented with photographs and videos depicting the detailed work. What really stands out are the two Islamic gardens, one full of fruit trees and the other with more desert variety. There is an entrance fee of 80 dirham/person (~$8) which seems a little pricey as the whole thing is relatively small. Come here for some photos and a tea break at their rooftop cafe.
Admire Koutoubia Mosque & Gardens
You can see the minaret of this mosque from all around the medina of Marrakesh. Located just a few steps from the Djemaa El Fna square. We mostly admired it by walking by at night when it is all lit up.
Get a Henna Tattoo
Henna is a natural, temporary dye made of the Lasonia plant. You have probably seen these red or black designs on the hands and feet of South Asian brides or wedding guests. The ink tends to last up to 2 weeks before it starts to fade into an orange color (although it will fade quicker with frequent hand washing). Many ladies offer henna services in the Djemaa El Fna square and you can also grab a meal with your henna at the Henna Art Cafe.
Get bathed at a Hammam
Everyone should get a good scrub down at a hammam at least once in a lifetime. Usually divided by gender, with a wide spectrum from public baths to luxury spas, a hammam usually involves a sauna room with a bath on a hot stone. You will not only be bathed like a small toddler but will also leave with the soft skin of a newborn. Bring a swimsuit or don their disposable underwear, you will first be washed down with some buckets of warm water in either a private or public hot stone room. An application of black soap will be followed by an aggressive scrub to remove any dead skin. I don’t know if I would necessarily call it relaxing… but it is certainly a hilarious experience to remember. Here is a list of the Best Hammams/Spas of Marrakesh by Lonely Planet.
*Go glamping in the Sahara Desert
This was the highlight of our Morocco trip. Many outfitters will take you to either the Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga dunes of the Sahara, but we used Desert Luxury Camp after reading all of their positive reviews. We were not disappointed. Not only did the package come with breakfast, dinner, camel-riding, and nightly entertainment, but they were also able to transport us from Fez to Marrakesh eliminating a flight/train from our itinerary. We opted for the 4 day/3 night package which cost about $500-600/person. Our experience came with an awesome driver/guide Youseff who made the journey all the more incredible.
We were picked up from our riad in Fez at 0900 by Youseff who drove us through the cities Irfane (“the Switzerland of Morocco”), Azrou, Midelt, to Merzouga. On the way, we had stops for lunch (delicious trout and we even tried camel), photos, fresh date stands, and even a fossil exhibition. From Merzouga, we transferred to a 4-wheel drive vehicle and off-roaded across the dunes to our glamping campsite.
The canvas tents are beautiful and spacious with full-size beds, western toilets, hot showers, and even AC (only at night though). The campsite has a central fireplace, an indoor dining area, and even a large swimming pool. The staff not only served us dinner at night but also performed for us at night with Moroccan drums and local songs. They were very friendly and attentive.
The next day we went for a camel ride after breakfast and then hung out by the pool until dinner. On our third day we left the campsite and drove through the Todra Gorge and across the Draa Valley spending a night at the beautiful Dar Hnini private villas (this dinner was not included in the package). Our final day was across the High Atlas mountains as we made our way to Marrakesh. If we could do it again, we would probably opt for the 3 day/2 night package as our 2nd day at the campsite was HOT as balls and a little redundant. Be prepared for some long car rides, but such a memorable experience. We were able to book a custom itinerary by reaching out to desertluxurycamp@gmail.com. Highly recommend.
Visit the High Atlas Mountains
The High Atlas Mountains bring crisp cooler air, terraced mud homes, and peaks into Berber life. We drove through the High Atlas on our Desert Luxury Tour back from the Sahara.
WHERE TO EAT
Have a schmancy rooftop dinner at Le Trou Au Mur
This bougie rooftop restaurant has a fusion menu with some not-tajine items, which is a nice break. The food was interesting, the atmosphere was pleasant, a little overpriced. A rare place to grab a martini if looking for drinks. $$$
*Dine in an old riad at Le Jardin Restaurant
This 1960s riad turned modern restaurant was our favorite meal in Marrakesh. They have a big menu with lots of spins on classic dishes as well as refreshing juices and fusion items. The food was fresh, flavorful and the atmosphere was cute. Massive restaurant but was still very full when we got there, might be good to have a reservation as it seems it can be very busy. Delicious. $$
Book in advance for La Table du Riad
This restaurant is located in a riad-turned-boutique hotel and only has 11 tables. It makes for a romantic, intimate dining experience. Some items on the menu must have 24 hours’ notice, so place your order in advance and book by calling +212 (0) 524 387629 or sending an email to info@latableduriad.com. The food was decent but the atmosphere was very worth it. Beautiful courtyard seating with music and lots of plants, nice night out for a special occasion. $$$
*Have a healthy meal at Naranj Libanese
Need a meal while getting lost in the Marrakesh medina? Naranj was so tasty that we came back twice. A contemporary spin on Lebanese food, their falafel wraps were so refreshing we took some to-go for our train ride back to Casablanca. A nice change if you’re sick of Moroccan food with a cute interior. Super nice owner. The healthiest meal we had in Marrakesh. $$
Try some Moroccan street food @ Djemaa El Fna Square
The Marrakesh main square, Djemma El Fna, completely transforms at night. It is a feast for your senses full of street food stalls, juices, music and entertainment. You will find many vendors selling the typical grilled meats, but also snails, lamb heads, and ginger cakes. Be prepared to be swarmed by relentless Moroccan salesmen. $
Support a good cause at Amal Women’s Training Center
Amal means ‘hope’ in Arabic and this women’s center helps train disadvantaged villagers with culinary skills to help them become financially independent. This beautiful outdoor cafe serves home-cooked meals prepared by the trainees. Come support a good cause! $
WHERE TO STAY
*Stay in a Riad
We definitely recommend opting out of a typical hotel stay and renting out a riad instead! A riad, or ryad, is a typical Moroccan multi-story home, centered around an open courtyard often with a garden, fountain and/or pool. These were once the homes of the rich and wealthy of Morocco’s past and are usually full of guestrooms and beautiful details. Many of these riads have been converted into guesthouses and hotels, but you can even rent out entire riads on Airbnb.
We stayed in this private luxury Riad Dar Shariq which is located about 15 minutes outside of the main medina and Djemaa El Fna square. Complete with breakfast, full cleaning staff, and security, it was a little less private and detailed than our Fez riad experience, but the private pool and rooftop terraces were a nice touch! There are plenty of other Marrakesh riads on Airbnb, so explore and pick your favorite, keeping in mind proximity to the main medina.
*Eat fresh dates off the palms at the luxury Dar Hnini Private Villas
On our way out of the Sahara desert en route to Marrakesh, we stayed at the absolutely stunning Dar Hnini private villas in the Draa Valley. This place was magical and we wish we had more time here. It is a stunning property loaded with fruit trees and date palms. You can try every type of date imaginable fresh off the tree. The accommodations were luxurious with private pools attached. Meals were served in the courtyard and the food was delicious. If you find yourself in the Draa Valley, absolutely stay at this magical property.
MAP
Here is our free Google Map with all of our recommendations from above.
