- Best time to travel to Marrakech: March-May / September-November (although winter can still be sunny and nice, avoid the hot summer!)
- How to reach to city: By train or Bus
- Number of nights suggested: 3 to 5, depending on whether you choose to take day trips from there or not.
Marrakech is probably the first place that comes to your mind when you think about Morocco. Long before visiting it for the first time, it sounded absolutely exotic to us. The colorful souks, the snake charmers, the vibrant and bustling medina… Well, we were not disappointed.
Not only is the city as amazing as we thought it would be, but it’s also a very good budget destination. It’s not the cheapest city, but you can find many budget-friendly options.
Before you travel there, however, it’s important to know that it can be a bit chaotic. And when we say a bit, we might in fact mean VERY chaotic! You must prepare yourself mentally because it’s not all restful!
But knowing it in advance, you’ll know that it’s just part of the experience!
BEST THINGS TO DO IN MARRAKECH
1.JAMAA EL FNAA SQUARE
Although it could be described as a real chaos, the famous Square is the center of Marrakech and an amazing experience in itself. It will be a bit quieter during the day, and it becomes really crazy at night. No matter what, make sure you experience both times of the day.
If you’re terrified by snakes (like us!) prepare yourself mentally, as they are pretty much everywhere. They can be hard to spot in the middle of the action, so be aware that the sound of an enchanting flute is your cue. Where there is a flute playing, there are snakes!
SIDE NOTE
There are also other exotic animals like monkeys but please, do NOT pay to take pictures with any of them. Animal tourism is cruel, and you don’t want to give your money to encourage these practices. If someone is coming at you to let you hold an animal, firmly refuse and walk away.
2. GET LOST IN THE SOUKS
From the Jamaa El Fnaa Square, go explore the narrow streets of the medina. You can easily spend more than a day walking around, but brace yourself, it can get pretty tiring. You’ll see all kinds of things, from colorful pottery, endless piles of rugs and tajine, mountains of spices, entire suspended animal carcasses, and people running around everywhere.
3. STAY IN A RIAD
Marrakech is a very good place to stay in a riad inside the medina. Although you can find amazing ones for a very reasonable price, if you are on a budget, you can still stay in an incredibly cheap one and it will still be an enjoyable experience. To give you an idea, we paid 8 euros each per night to stay in a very comfortable riad with 2 double beds.
4. ADMIRE THE KOUTOUBIA MOSQUE WHILE SITTING AT A FOUNTAIN IN THE KOUTOUBIA PARK
The minaret is the highest point of Marrakech (nearly 70m). It’s the most important mosque in the city, and even though you can’t visit it if you’re not Muslim, hanging out in the gardens around will give you an amazing point of view and a little break from the medina!
5. DINE ON A ROOFTOP AN ADMIRE THE SUNSET
First, let’s mention that this experience can cost you around 3$ ONLY if you choose to stay in a riad with a terrasse on the rooftop! That’s what we did, and we could eat food we bought in little restaurants or markets close by (around 3$ for dinner!) while admiring the sunset every night. Pretty amazing, right?
But you might of course also want to try a real restaurant in the middle of the medina, to enjoy the full experience of the place. We personally ate at the Knock Knock restaurant on our first night, but you have plenty of choices.
6. SIP A CUP OF MINT TEA AT THE KIF KIF CAFÉ
The café Kif Kif was one of our favorite place in Marrakeck. We sipped a cup of mint tea on the terrace while trying delicious pastries. You get a beautiful view of the mosque, the food is good and the place is lovely!
7. WALK TO THE MENARA GARDENS
If it’s not too hot and you’re in the mood for a walk, reach the Menara Gardens on foot! (it’s a 2km walk) You have probably seen pictures of this place while making researches about Morocco. There are the most famous gardens in the city, with a lake and a pavilion right in the center along with thousands of olive trees.
To be honest, though, they are not the most beautiful gardens and you won’t find a lot of shade there. Going early in the morning on a cloudy day would be the best.
8. VISIT THE JARDIN MAJORELLE
Le Jardin Majorelle, on the other hand, is a lush and colorful garden in the northeast part of the medina. It’s less known than the Menara Gardens but prettier for sure. The only downside is that you have to pay around 7 euros to visit it.
9. TAKE A DAY TRIP TO THE OUZOUD WATERFALLS
From Marrakech, you can take different day trips. So it’s a good idea to book a few more nights in this city to explore the surroundings during your stay.
This tour costs 18 euros for an entire day of exploration, transport included! It should definitely be on your bucket list, as it is an occasion to get out of the cities and wander in Moroccan nature for a very low price!.
The Ouzoud Waterfalls are very spectacular waterfalls, the highest we had ever seen. They are located in the forest, and you have to hike a little to reach the place. It’s not a very hard trail, and you can stop to admire several maggot monkeys on the way. You’ll walk through green valley, orchards and you will even meet Berbers living in the mountains.
The tour starts in the morning. It’s a 3 hours drive, but it’s worth it. You will enjoy a delicious lunch with the best view ever, and you can take a boat tour if you wish to. First, you admire the waterfalls from the bottom, and you reach the top after for a different – and breathtaking point of view.
10. TAKE A DAY TRIP TO ESSAOUIRA
We did not personally take that day trip, but it is our biggest regret. If you get the chance, spend at least one day exploring this charming coastal city.
Make sure to have a look at all our other travel guides for Morocco!
0 Comments