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Want to discover Arab culture, taste their delicious food and explore lively and colourful cities just a few hours’ flight from home? Then you will love Morocco, especially its beautiful Marrakech. This is a city full of markets, fragrant spices and incredible sunsets, without forgetting that it is the starting point for many routes and excursions. I could go on for hours talking to you about what to do in Marrakech!
One of the things that surprised me the most is that Marrakech is not so cheap, the trick (as always) is to stay away from tourist places and find places where the locals go too.
I arrived in Marrakech with two friends and a lot of prejudices: people will only help you when you pay them, walking in the street is dangerous, I have to cover my head with a veil. In the end, none of this actually happened.
I am Mariona, one of the Hostelworld Insider, and I want to tell you about my trip and give you some advice on what to do in Marrakech. Here is my list of the most beautiful things I have visited, the best food and my favourite excursions.
What to do in Marrakech… for free! (or almost) :
Visiting Marrakech will leave you amazed! Heavenly gardens, unbridled shopping, historical wonders such as the Bahia Palace, here is my list of what to do in Marrakech!
1 : Jemaa el-Fnaa :
The main square, and also the most famous one, is a spectacle of a thousand colours, flavours and culture with craft shops and magic exhibitions (literally!). Get your hands on one of the fresh juices made at the square’s marketplace at the moment, it will cost you between 4 and 7 dirhams – the perfect snack while you enjoy this chaotic outdoor theatre! You’ll also find plenty of restaurants and cafés here where you can stop for tea on the terrace, it might cost you a little extra, but it’s absolutely worth it! At this square, there are many grand taxis who organize 3 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga, just in case you want to travel to the Sahara desert to camel ride and camp, it’s the best and the highlight of Morocco tours.
Price: Free, although street artists will ask you for offers after their performance.
2: Marrakech markets :
The labyrinthine streets of the medina surrounding the Jemaa el-Fnaa square can be found on all but one side of the square. The bustling souk of Marrakech is full of shops selling all sorts of souvenirs: carpets of all colours, lanterns and lamps, ceramics, argan oil, leather bags and backpacks, spices, jewellery… it is impossible to leave the souk of Marrakech without buying anything, so don’t worry about trying to resist. Embrace the shopaholic in you!
Price: Free if you don’t buy anything, but we already know how this is going to end, don’t we?
Advice: Negotiation is essential as most of the time you will be offered a pro forma price. Don’t let them scare you, the sellers will stop you to try to sell everything, in case you are not interested, just don’t pay attention to them and go on your way.
3: Koutoubia Mosque :
Visible from the square, this magnificent mosque is the most famous in Marrakech. It is only open to Muslims, but if you can’t get in, you can still stroll through its beautiful gardens and have a mint tea in the shade of its orange trees.
If you’ve ever been to Seville, you may notice the similarity between the Koutoubia Mosque and the Giralda, as the latter was made inspired by the one in Marrakech at the end of the 12th century.
4: Bahia Palace:
The attractive patterns of tiles, engraved wood and coloured paint are the main attraction of this building. Built in the nineteenth century, the Bahia Palace in Marrakech and its gardens belonged to Sri Moussa, advisor to Sultan Hassan I, who dedicated it to one of his wives with a name meaning “beautiful, bright”. Of the many rooms in the Bahia Palace, the sunny inner courtyards stand out, decorated with plants, fountains, tiles and beautiful arcades.
5: Majorelle Gardens:
Majorelle Gardens is a perfect place to get lost for hours. This botanical garden (and villa!) was built by French painter Jacques Majorelle and renovated by Yves Saint-Laurent, so the whole place is a lesson in beauty and glamour. The artist’s studio has been converted into the Museum of Islamic Art in Marrakech and is definitely worth a visit. For me, the Majorelle Garden and its museum are one of the best things to do in Marrakech.
After discovering Marrakech, it is recommended to head to visit the Sahara desert, you can either book a travel agency in Morocco or take supratour, a bus by the government that goes there.
