Travel Guide: Marrakech, Morocco
First off, my trip to Marrakech was such an amazing experience! I had NO idea what to expect, and it’s hands down one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited. The culture, the food, the people, the history; it’s beautiful. It was quite a culture shock compared to where I have visited, but in the best way. I love traveling the world and learning new things about countries and how other people live their day-to-day life. I was there for 5 days, and we crammed a lot into our 5 days. We didn’t do everything on our list - but we did quite a lot. When I don’t finish everything on my list… it’s always an excuse to go back ;) If you want to see my trip to Marrakech on my Instagram - I made a highlight, check it out here!
Where to Eat & Drink
NOMAD - One of the best meals we had! It’s very popular on Instagram, and you can see why. It’s amazing! Tip: Get the NOMAD burger or the Veggie Couscous and a fresh juice! Also note: they do not serve alcohol.
El Fenn - The second best place we went to. This is a luxury boutique hotel right outside the Medina, so it serves alcohol, yay! They have a small bar downstairs, but the rooftop is actual heaven. We had a 3 course lunch here and it was so healthy and delicious (get a bottle of rosè with it!).
Comptoir Darna - We had dinner here the first night, and it was so fun! They have belly dancing shows so make sure to make reservations and ask for a table near the show. Tip: get the hummus & post-dinner espresso martini.
Palais Jad Mahal - We had our big dinner on the last night! There was a show with dinner: belly dancers, fire-eaters, and acrobats. All the food was amazing, make sure to get dessert! After dinner, we went over to the bar/live music area and stayed there for the night.
Theatro - This is a nightclub that we went to on the first night. It was fun if you want to dance and like clubs! It’s connected to a casino.
Kabana Rooftop - We came here one night for drinks and it was a blast! They had live music and it was very lively. We never ate here, but the dinner menu looked amazing (it’s sushi!).
Le Salama - One of the few places near the edge of the medina to get a drink! It’s also cute AF.
Where to Sleep
El Fenn - I mentioned this hotel above for dinner & drinks, and I have to say it again because it is GORGEOUS! If I ever come back to Marrakech, I’m 100% staying here.
Riad Yamina 52 - This is the Riad we stayed in. It was stunning, the food was amazing, there was wine & beer to purchase (hard to find), very safe, and the staff was amazing. Staying in a riad was a unique experience - at first I was unsure but now I am glad I experienced it. It’s like nothing else I’ve ever stayed in! *Note: a riad is not a hotel - it’s a guest house with only a few rooms.
Four Seasons - The pool here looks amazing and I’ve heard great things about it! Very luxurious and away from the old town, if that’s your vibe.
Riad Yasmine - Probably the most “Instagram Famous” riad in Marrakech. Click the link to see why - it’s gorgeous.
Riad Malika - One of the first riad’s to ever open in Marrakech. They are known for their amazing food, make some dinner reservations!
La Mamounia – This hotel is owned by the King, and it very luxurious. I saw this just driving through the city and couldn’t believe how pretty it was!
What to Do
Ethical Camel Ride - I did a LOT of research before booking a camel ride. This is the only “ethical” one I could find. Airbnb has an animal program where they work with the World Animal Protection, and this one is verified. I still felt bad in the process, but it was such a unique experience. Then you sit in a little camp in the desert and drink mint tea!
Hammam - Go to Spa Riad Elisa, and get a massage & a traditional hammam - yes in that order. It’s like nothing you’ve ever done before, and you will leave the cleanest and most relaxed you’ve ever felt. And, this riad/spa/restaurant is one of the hidden gems in Marrakech. I have also heard great things about the spa here.
Le Jardin Secret - This is one of largest and most ancient palaces of the medina of Marrakech. Walk around, take it in. It’s amazing! We went to the cafè that overlooks the garden and got some mint tea.
Shopping in the souks - this saying is very overrated, but “get lost in the souks”. Make sure to bring cash - and always haggle with the price! The souks are located in the Medina. What’s the Medina? It’s the old part of town, it’s surrounded by old stone walls, and contains narrow streets, fountains, palaces and mosques.
Jardin Majorelle - One of Marrakech’s most popular tourist attractions - for good reason. It’s a two and a half acre botanical garden & it’s stunning.
Yves Saint Laurent Museum - This is attached to the Jardin Majorelle, so you can do both these at the same time. Saint Laurent is not from Morocco, but he loved it and all the colors. This museum is completely dedicated to him - if you like fashion, you must come here.
El Badi Palace - This was built at the end of the sixteenth century by the sultan Ahmed al-Mansour, it’s a “place in ruins” but it’s stunning and has a lot of history. Dior had a fashion show here last year & it was fabulous.
Saadian Tombs - These tombs date back to the Saadian dynasty. It is unreal - you must go see them!
Moulay el Yazid Mosque - If you are staying in the old town, you can’t miss this Mosque. It’s huge. Go walk around it, it’s beautiful.
Tips & Tricks
There is a call to prayer in Marrakech - 5 times a day. This will come out of nowhere and blast through speakers. Don’t worry - you can keep on with whatever you are doing. It scared me the first few times, but you get used to it!
I highly recommend staying in a Riad in the medina. We did this and walked almost everywhere (or took a tuktuk!). You will 100% experience the culture and it’s such a cool experience.
Be prepared for chaos in Jamaa el Fna Square - the main square in the old town. There are all sorts of vendors, animals, cars, you name it. You will see snakes, donkeys, men selling teeth… But it’s entertaining! Get a juice at one of the carts - they are so fresh.
Ladies - make sure to cover up. Morocco is a muslim country and it’s rude to be “exposed”. Some museums won’t let you in if skin is showing. I wore lots of maxi dresses and light pants, and always brought a light jacket with me.
Avoid tap water - only drink bottle water.
Make sure to get cash out! Not too much at a time. Most places take cards. But cash is good for shopping, tipping, etc. Everyone said to get money out in the airport, but I actually thought the rate was MUCH higher than just using a regular ATM in the city. The downside of getting money out in a city - you can only get about $200 USD at a time. In the airport, you can get a lot more.
There are a lot of “pick pocketers” - especially in the Medina. Make sure to keep things out of your pocket, and keep your purse zipped up and in front of you. I was very careful the whole time so nothing of mine ever got taken - but all the locals warned us many times.
A lot of people will offer to help you - with your luggage, directions, anything. They are very nice and helpful, but just note if you let them help they may expect you to pay them and they’ll hover until they are paid.
Everyone selling something in the Medina will hound you as you walk by, I chose to ignore them, say no thank you, or a say what someone in our group kept referring back to: “maybe later!”. If you choose to encourage conversation or ask how much something is, they will think you are interested and it can get ugly if you walk away.
While shopping in the souks, always, ALWAYS, make sure to haggle the price! It’s what you are supposed to do. They will laugh and talk to you about how it’s real leather, etc, etc, but they will always come down in price.
There is a lot of animal cruelty happening in the squares, I chose to not give my time or money to these vendors. Always do your research before paying for something. There are snakes in the square - they are drugged, defanged, and treated horribly. Same with the horses and monkeys; etc. And do not try and sneak a picture of any animal - the vendor will come after you and make you pay.
Before getting into a taxi, make sure you set a price. Don’t be afraid to haggle with them!
Lastly: have fun, take pictures, eat local food (chicken tagine), and drink lots of mint tea!