Things you must do in Marrakech, Morocco
Things you must do in Marrakech
Morocco is a magical place, unlike any place I have experienced. You can feel the magic as soon as you enter the medina (walled city center) of Marrakech. It feels as if you’ve stepped back in time in this bustling quarter. It is a sensory overload of sights, smells, sounds, vivid colors, and textures. There is a contrast of old and new with donkey pulled carts and mopeds zipping through the narrow alleyways. In the densely packed medina, Djemma El-Fna (the main square) comes alive at night with smoke rising above the food stalls, street performers and people packed in every direction.
Get lost in the souks
A souk is an Arab marketplace. Marrakech’s Medina has a maze-like system of alleyways in every direction. You can easily get lost in this amazing colorful shopping utopia. My biggest regret with this trip was not bringing an empty suitcase or bag to bring more of these treasures home! Some of my favorite items from this trip are a beautiful blue ceramic bowl and straw leather-trimmed tote that I have seen in the U.S. selling for 6 times the price. Do haggle on the price. Prices are usually not marked on the items and the seller is likely sizing you up of what they think you might pay. They are expecting you to haggle and pricing accordingly, so do so! Some common items in the souks are ceramics, rugs, brass lamps/lanterns, babouches (Moroccan leather slippers), leather goods, Moroccan tea sets, and Thuya wood items. It is so easy to get lost in this maze but so worth it!
Stay at a riad
To get the full Moroccan experience, stay at a riad instead of a hotel. This Moroccan-style guest house features a lush courtyard with a garden or plants, beautiful intricate tile work, and often a pool. We stayed at Jnane Mogador which is conveniently located near the main square and most importantly, easy to find! We were there almost 10 years ago and I believe we paid around $40 a night. It was very clean and comfortable and had a hammam (spa) and a rooftop patio with amazing views of the Djemma El-Fna. There are plenty of riads in Marrakech and many luxury ones around $100! It’s an amazing value and experience to stay at a riad.
To explore more Marrakech lodging, click here!
Experience Djemaa El-Fna
Djemaa El-Fna (pronounced Jema) is the heart of Marrakech. This square dates back to the 11th century! This lively square should be experienced early in the day and at night for a completely different experience. Early in the day, it’s quiet and you can purchase fresh-squeezed orange juice and dried fruits from vendors. There are also plenty of restaurants and coffee shops around the square to relax or get a bite to eat. At night the square comes alive with smoke rising above the food vendors, Moroccan music, snake charmers, and fortune-tellers entertaining the crowds.
Eat like a local
The aromas and exotic spices in Marrakech are tantalizing. There are plenty of options, whether you are eating from a street vendor, a small cafe, or a formal restaurant. Look for food stalls where locals are eating and be wary of places that you only find tourists (this rule could apply anywhere you visit). As a good rule of thumb, bring your own bottled water and hand sanitizer, just to be on the safe side. Hygiene might not always be up to par.
Some traditional Moroccan foods to try
Tagine This popular Moroccan dish was probably the bulk of our meals and so delicious! The dish is named after the cone-shaped clay vessel in which it is prepared. The dish consists of a meat, vegetables, and a wonderful array of spices. I was vegetarian at the time and I can attest that there are plenty of vegetarian tagines available as well!
Tanjia This juicy dish consists of lamb, beef or chicken with a blend of spices and preserved in lemon, then roasted for up to 8 hours and served in a tagine.
Couscous Moroccans eat this grain with almost every meal. It is cooked with the meat, vegetables, and spices to absorb all that wonderful flavor.
Kebab The Moroccan Kebab can be found at street vendors. Follow the locals to find the best Kebab.
“Salad” 
Dar Essalam
Dar Essalam was a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of the medina. The restaurant was beautiful and ornately decorated. We had a delicious full-course meal while being entertained by traditional Berber musicians and belly dancers. The restaurant’s claim to fame is that a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s 1956 film The Man Who Knew Too Much was filmed at this restaurant.
Visit a hammam
A hammam is a Moroccan spa. This experience consists of entering a steam room and getting scrubbed from head to toe for ultimate exfoliation. In Morocco, this is a cultural and communal experience and is often a ritual incorporated into wedding and birth celebrations and part of a weekly routine. There are two types of hammams: public or private. In a public hammam, you enter the room with a group of the same gender. You are given a mat to lie on, black soap and an exfoliating glove in which you or an attendant scrubs you down. If being naked or wearing a paper thong in front of a group of strangers is not your cup of tea, you can opt for a private hammam. Following this treatment, you can have a massage as well, if you choose. There are hammams in Marrakech of varying price points. Sadly, we missed out on this experience because the hammam at our riad was closed on the days that we were in Marrakech and opened up while we took a trip into the desert. Unfortunately, I didn’t do enough research beforehand.
Jardine Majorelle
A taxi ride away, outside of the Medina is the Jardine Majorelle: an oasis of 300+ plant species and cacti. It took French painter Jacques Majorelle 40 years to complete this masterpiece. In 1980, the late French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent purchased the property. It now is open to the public to visit the garden and Berber museum. The garden is a 2.5-acre property of cacti and exotic plants, serene streams and fountains, and numerous species of birds. The villa on the property pops in its bright “Majorelle blue” and art deco in design.
Ben Youssef Mosque
You can’t miss this beautiful mosque from anywhere in the medina. It’s call to prayer can be heard echoing through the Medina 4 times per day. The adjacent Ben Youssef Madrasa is the largest college in Morocco. It is known for its beautiful and intricate tile work.
Take a trip into the desert
If sleeping in the Sahara is on your bucket list, there are many companies out of Marrakech that can make this happen for you! We did the two-day/one-night trip. In hindsight, I would’ve done the two night or more option, that takes you further in the desert.
Our trip consisted of 7 or more hours, over the High Atlas Mountains, with stops at Ait-Ben-Haddou UNESCO World heritage site and the town of Ouarzazate. This was an amazing opportunity to see the Moroccan countryside and pass by Berber villages.
High Atlas Mountains 
Ait-Ben-Haddou
Upon arriving in the desert, we began our camel caravan to camp (about 45-60 minute camel ride). Once at camp, we were fed a delicious tagine dinner and were then entertained with traditional music around a campfire. The most memorable part of this adventure for me was lying on the soft sand dunes and admiring the starry sky. Seeing this was truly magical and indescribable!
To learn more about excursions in and around Marrakech, click here!
More Marrakech travel tips…
How to dress in Morocco
Morocco is a Muslim country and it is important to be respectful of local customs anywhere you travel. In Morocco, it is good rule of thumb to wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Having a scarf handy is not a bad idea. Not only can be helpful while entering a mosque to cover your shoulders, but it can be useful for sheltering you from the sun. The sun can also be relentless in Morocco, so don’t forget a hat and sunscreen!
Beware of scams
In general, Marrakech is safe. However with any destination where there is a high concentration of tourists, you can expect scams. Marrakech has its fair share of scams, especially in Djemaa El-fna. A few we experienced were….while walking through the souks we were approached by a man that was trying to give us directions. We later found out that this is common. When the scammer “helpfully” walks you to a location, they then demand money for this service and can become quit loud, if you don’t give them money. In Djemma el-fna, I was approached by a woman that grabbed my arm asking if I wanted a henna tattoo. Though I declined it and never consented to her painting on my arm, she continued to follow me and grab my arm, until I was very firm with my telling her no and to stop!
In Djemma el-fna, it’s common for snake charmers to place a snake on an unsuspecting tourist and then demand money to remove the snake. I am so glad this did not happen to me. The person would likely be kicked or clawed because I am not a fan of snakes! Also scammers can place monkeys on your shoulders and even grab your phone or camera, snap a picture and demand money. It’s never a good idea to exploit animals or encourage this because these animals are captive and in abusive situations.
Though there are scams, don’t let this discourage you or consume you. It is more of an annoyance than a real threat. It is just something to be mindful of whether traveling here or anywhere.
I hope you found this post helpful.
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Happy travels,
Angela
