This Marrakech blog is packed with tips for Marrakech! Including the five most awesome things to do in Marrakech, a beautiful riad and the best restaurants in this magical city in Morocco. Everything for a wonderful holiday to Marrakech, an imperial city in Morocco!
cooters drive around like crazy, passing right and left you are being pulled by shop owners who are trying to convince you to enter their store. In the meantime, a group of cheerful children rush past you and you hear the prayer call from the mosque in the background. Welcome to the hectic Medina, the centre of Marrakech. Marrakech is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco. The other three are Fez, Meknès and Rabat. These cities were once the capital once in the history of the kingdom.
Is Marrakech too touristic?
fter a week of road-tripping through the south of Morocco and the Atlas mountains, we now have four days to relax in Marrakech. A bit sceptical we enter the city, after so many beautiful things in the rest of the country, the touristy Marrakech can only be disappointing. Or not …? From the first moment, we feel at home here. The crowds, the pleasant temperature but especially all the beauty makes Marrakech magical. The city is beautiful, every corner is Instagram worthy with its pink buildings, colourful herb towers and amazing mosaics. We shoot over 500 photos in these four days, not bad.
Marrakech is touristy, you can’t ignore this. But I did not find this disturbing at all. People speak here, in contrast to the rest of Morocco, pretty good English. Be alert for the typical “tourist traps”, watch your things and negotiate about almost everything. And yes, be prepared for crowds, especially in the Medina. Furthermore, just enjoy all the nice shops, amazing food and colourful moments.
Did you know: Marrakech is also called Marrakesh? Morocco itself uses the spelling ‘Marrakech‘, which is the French name of the city. In English, the sh spelling is used and it is ‘Marrakesh‘!
5 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN MARRAKECH!
Besides enjoying the vibe, Moroccan food and your amazing riad, there is much more to do in Marrakech. Below are 5 favourite things to do and activities for a city trip in Marrakech!
1. Stroll (and shop) through the Medina in Marrakech
There is happening something everywhere you look and there is so much to see. You will find beautiful leather, lots of jewellery, carpets and Moroccan tableware. But also herbs, meat, fish and fruit are things you can buy here. I bought argan oil, saffron, a hammam towel and cute leather sandals. Bargaining is a must, where walking away is sometimes part of the game. Tired of shopping? Then relax with a cup of mint tea on one of the many rooftop terraces in Marrakech. Go in the morning to do your shopping in peace, and in the evening to see a thousand-and-a-night scene.
2. Visit the YSL museum and the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech
Just one and a half kilometres from the Medina you will find the Yves Saint Laurent Museum and the Jardin Majorelle. The YSL museum was unfortunately closed when we were in Marrakech but contains an exhibition about clothing and architecture. The adjacent Jardin Majorelle is really beautiful. Between the high cactuses and the bamboo forest, there are fountains made of mosaics and beautiful buildings in bright blue and yellow. The entree fee is 70 dirhams per person (+/- 6.5 euro).
3. MUST do in Marrakech: Drink mint tea on a rooftop terrace with views over Jamaa el-Fna
This enormous square on the edge of the Medina comes to life, especially in the evening. It is not that great, neither is it fun, with all pickpockets, cheaters and sellers with monkeys on a chain. But it is a place that belongs to Marrakech. We viewed the spectacle from above, on one of the roof terraces on the square, and that is very nice!
4. My favourite activity in Marrakech: Visit the Maison de la photographie
This small private museum has a nice collection of photos taken in Morocco. It is absolutely worthwhile to visit this if only to drink mint tea on the roof terrace. This is perhaps one of the most beautiful rooftop terraces in Marrakech. The entrance fee is 40 dirhams per person (+/- 4 euros).
5. Stroll through the Palais Bahia
I can highly recommend this palace, because of the peace and beautiful mosaics that you see everywhere. Wander from room to room and sometimes sit down to view the beautiful colours in the courtyards. As long as you are already there, also visit the nearby Tombeaux Saadiens, a beautiful garden where the tombs of the Saadian dynasty. The entrance to both the palace and the tomb is 10 dirhams per person (+/- 1 euro).
