Our time in Morocco has been a magical trip. It’s special in many ways, and no doubt, it will always hold a special place for me. We started our journey in Marrakech and made our way to Fez (part 3) via the Sahara Desert (part 2), followed by Chefchaouen (part 4), and had our final stop in Tangier (part 4). It’s been an absolute journey, to say the least. So let’s start off this little Morocco series with our first stop of the trip: Marrakech.
- Why Should You Visit Marrakech
- What's the Weather Like in Marrakech in December
- How Safe is Marrakech
- Getting Around Marrakech
- Changing Money in Morocco
- Food in Marrakech
- Where to Stay in Marrakech
- Other Marrakech Travel Tips
- What to See & Do in Marrakech (Our 3-day Itinerary)
- Day Trips & Excursions from Marrakech
- Continue to the Next Part of Our Journey
Why Should You Visit Marrakech
Marrakech is a place that’s vibrant, even chaotic at times, yet a peaceful oasis all at once. It captivates you with its rich history, a city of red buildings and walls that date back to the Almohad dynasty. Sometimes, it feels like a sensory overload when you walk down the labyrinth of medina and souks, but a little escape into one of the beautifully manicured gardens would make you forget all your worries.
Surrounded by the Atlas Mountains, Marrakech boasts an amazing landscape and serves as a great base for day trips into the mountains, desert tours, and exploring the Berber villages. Not to forget the Moroccan hospitality, with endless fragrant mint tea and warm welcomes from the locals.
Flights to Marrakech from London take about 3 hours and 30 minutes, and it is an affordable destination, especially for escaping the cold and dark winter season!
What’s the Weather Like in Marrakech in December
The weather was mild and generally sunny when we visited in December. We find it pleasantly warm during the day, with temperatures averaging around 20°C (68°F). However, it could get a bit chilly at night as temperatures drop below 10°C (50°F). Nonetheless, it still makes a great winter destination.
How Safe is Marrakech
Overall, Marrakech felt very safe to explore. However, scammers are not uncommon, especially near the medina and souks.
For instance, on the very first day, as soon as we left our riad, a guy approached us, appearing very friendly and offering directions. But soon after, he started demanding money! When we refused to pay, his “backups” surrounded us, coming out of nowhere from the streets, to demand payment. After some heated arguments, we reluctantly paid them at a negotiated price and walked away. It really was a terrible start to the trip. However, I would like to emphasise that these people are not a reflection of Moroccan hospitality at all. The majority of people we met are genuinely super nice and friendly.
Also, do be prepared to haggle and negotiate at the souks. To explore the medina and souks without anyone harassing you, we recommend getting a local guide, either from your hotel or other tour companies.
Getting Around Marrakech
InDrive is the Uber equivalent available in Marrakech and is a reliable way to get around Marrakech. Local taxis are also widely available, and you should come up with an agreed price beforehand. Taxis take cash only in Marrakech. For peace of mind, we booked an airport private transfer to get to our riad from Marrakech Menara Airport and for any rides with longer distances throughout our trip.
Please note that cars are not permitted within the medina. Cars will normally drop you off by one of the gates, and you’d have to walk the rest of the way, or arrange for someone from your destination to pick you up from there.
Changing Money in Morocco
You will need cash when in Marrakech, especially for any shopping in the medina and for local taxis. The currency in Morocco is Moroccan Dirham (MAD), and it is a closed currency. This means that you can’t buy Moroccan Dirhams outside of the country, and you get significantly better rates when you exchange your money once you are in Morocco. You can do so at the airport ATMs, as well as Bureaus de Change and big banks across the city. For Marrakech, many recommended exchanging your money at Hotel Ali for the best rates. Personally, we did it at the airport for convenience.
Food in Marrakech
Marrakech has many great restaurants, cafes, and rooftop bars. Some must-try dishes in Marrakech include Tangia (a Marrakech specialty slowed-cooked lamb stew), Tagine, Pastilla, Harira Soup, and many more.
Where to Stay in Marrakech
There are many all-inclusive resorts on the outskirts of Marrakech, but to truly experience Marrakech, we’d recommend staying at a Moroccan Riad in the medina, or in Gueliz or Hivernage, which are the new modern areas next to the medina.
What are Moroccan Riads
A riad is a traditional Moroccan house that is built around an interior central courtyard, usually with a fountain at the centre and open sky above. Most accommodations available in the Marrakech centre are riads, and they basically operate as small, intimate boutique hotels. Staying at a riad offers an authentic Moroccan experience, and it’s a great way to experience the warm and welcoming Moroccan hospitality.
Marrakech Hotel & Riad Recommendations
- Riad Kasbah & Spa – ££
- Maison Dar Saada – ££
- Dar Darma – £££
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Other Marrakech Travel Tips
- Download offline map before arriving at Marrakech, as your mobile signal can get patchy in the Medina due to the narrow streets.
- If being offered directions, do not accept them, as they are usually scams.
- Get an eSIM to help you stay connected.
- Pre-book your tickets for popular sights such as the Majorelle Gardens and YSL Museum to avoid disappointment, as they could get very busy.
- Not imperative, but it is recommended to dress modestly to respect local customs, as Morocco is a muslim country
- Tap water in Morocco is not safe to drink. Always consume bottled water only.
What to See & Do in Marrakech (Our 3-day Itinerary)
Jump to day:
Day 1: Koutobia Gardens & Mosque, Lunch at Al Fassia, Majorelle Gardens
Traditional Moroccan Breakfast at our Riad
We stayed at Riad Chams and started our day with a delightful breakfast spread served in the courtyard. My favourite was the Moroccan pancakes, known as Baghrir, which were delightfully spongy and perfect with butter and honey. We’re also served with fresh bread daily, accompanied by butter and fresh jam.
Koutoubia Gardens & Mosque
After the little chaos and faff for getting lost in the medina, we reached the Koutoubia Gardens. It was an absolute relief to finally get out of the mania of the medina and enjoy a little more peace and quiet.
The Koutoubia Gardens surround the Koutoubia Mosque, which is the most iconic landmark of Marrakech. It’s even nicknamed “The Marrakech Eiffel” as in it’s as iconic to the city as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris.
The Koutoubia Mosque remains the highest structure and largest mosque in Marrakech today, with local laws restricting any new building projects from exceeding the height of the minaret.
Lunch at Al Fassia
Then I booked us a nice lunch at Al Fassia, one of the highly-rated restaurants in Marrakech. I even pre-ordered their signature roast lamb a few days before we fly out! The meal was lovely, and you can read the full review here. It is the Gueliz branch that we visited, which was convenient for us to go off from there to explore that side of Marrakech.
Gueliz
The medina of Marrakech is all about history, whereas the Gueliz displays a much more modern side of the city. The Gueliz area was built during the French colonial era, and it is where you’d find modern malls and plazas, as well as more upscale restaurants. Strolling down the streets, you’d see lots of familiar luxury fashion brand names, as well as the likes of H&M and other mainstream brands.
Majorelle Gardens
From Gueliz, we popped over to the Majorelle Gardens, the famous botanical garden in Marrakech. The gardens exhibit a range of exotic plants, which are carefully manicured across zigzag alleyways and against a majorelle blue backdrop. It’s absolutely serene & peaceful there, offering a striking contrast from the chaos of the medina.
If you’re a fashion and arts lover, the Majorelle Gardens is also home to the YSL Museum and the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts.
Day 2: Bahia Palace, Jemma el-Fna
Bahia Palace
The next day, we went to see the Bahia Palace after breakfast at our riad. Meaning “the palace of the beautiful, the brilliant”, the Bahia Palace was built in the 19th century by the grand vizier at the time, with the intention for it to be the greatest palace of its time. Whilst it may not be Versailles, the architectural intricacy of the place was phenomenal. We were both very fascinated with all the architectural influences at the palace, uncovering how the palace’s architecture embodies a mix of influences. There are the obvious Moroccan and Islamic architectural styles, but you can also see plenty of little hints from the East.
Lunch outside of the palace
After the delightful visit, we grabbed lunch at a nearby spot just outside the palace. I didn’t take note of the name of the place. It’s a casual spot, and we enjoyed some delicious Harira Soup and Kofte Tagine. I must say, from here, I was absolutely hooked on kofte tagine for the rest of the trip.
Jemaa el-Fna
A leisurely stroll post-meal led us to the infamous Jemaa el-Fna square. This is where it felt like sensory overloading with the endless shouting, haggling, and people. It is the main market square in Marrakech, known for its orange juice stalls and street food. We also saw snake chambers and chained monkeys. The square also leads directly into one of the souks.
Day 3: Ben Youssef Madrasa, Rooftop Lunch, Medina, Museum of Women
Ben Youssef Madrasa
The next day, we kept things really chilled. We wanted to visit the Ben Youssef Madrasa, but we found out it’s closed for renovations when we got there. I must say I felt slightly gutted not being able to visit, as the madrasa has really been deemed a cultural gem and a masterpiece in Islamic architecture. It was founded in the 14th century and was the largest Islamic college in North Africa during its height, housing up to 900 students at its peak.
Rooftop Lunch at Jad Jamal
We wandered around a bit and ended up popping into Jad Jamal for lunch. We picked a table on the rooftop terrace that offered a direct view of the Ben Yousef Madrasa. I had the Harira Soup and the Tangia – a Marrakech speciality, not to be confused with tagine. Tangia is basically a beef or lamb stew, slow-cooked in a special urn-shaped pot and buried in hot ash.
Medina, Souks, and the Museum of Women
We then walked around the souks and medina after lunch. It’s much quieter than our first-day experience, which was pleasant. After some time wandering (not as lost this time as well), we visited the Museum of Women. It’s a cute little exhibition showcasing Berber women, chronicling their roles in the nomadic villages and skills. It’s a small and humble museum, but fascinating nonetheless.
Other Sights & Activities in Marrakech
- Le Jardin Secret (botanical garden)
- Dar El Bacha Palace (historical sight)
- El Badi Palace (historical sight)
- Saadian Tombs (historical sight)
- Tagine Cooking Class
- Hot Air Balloon Flight with Breakfast
- Moroccan Hamman Spa
- Take a day trip or excursion to the desert/mountains
Day Trips & Excursions from Marrakech
As mentioned, Marrakech is a great base for day trips and excursions. Popular tours include:
- Agafay Desert Tour – it’s not as spectacular as the Sahara Desert, but Agafay is the closest desert (more rocky plateau instead of sand dunes) to Marrakech, with plenty of activities such as camel ride, quad biking, etc.
- Ouarzazate & Ait Benhaddou – we did this as part of our journey towards Fez through the mountains & desert (read our Morocco trip part 2 here)
- Essaouira – a seaside town with a historic Portuguese harbour
- Ourika Waterfalls & Atlas Mountains
Continue to the Next Part of Our Journey
Part 2: Sahara Desert
Part 3: Fez
Part 4: Chefchaouen & Tangier
