iEasily one of the most beautiful and fascinating cities in Morocco, no trip to Northern Africa is complete without checking out Marrakech which is the heart of tourism in Morocco. This 1000-year-old city is home to a thriving medina, amazing shopping, and some of the most gorgeous architecture you’ll find anywhere in the world. Marrakech is also famous for its beautiful riads (guesthouses often converted from family homes) and you’ll find amazing little boutique riads dotting winding streets all over the city. Ready to fall in love with Morocco? Here’s the ultimate Marrakech travel guide.
GETTING AROUND MARRAKECH :
Marrakech is really two cities standing side by side_ the old town within its historic walls and the new town with its districts of Geuliz and L’Hivernage and intersected by Avenue Mohammed VI. the city covers a good deal of ground and is ideal for exploring by foot by bicycle or barouche the traditional Marrakech of getting from a place to another.
City hopping in Morocco is easy and cheap. I took an overnight train from Marrakech to Tangier during my trip and had a good experience. If you’re travelling between Tangier, Fes, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, or any other major area in Morocco, train travel is the way to go.
NOT TO BE MISSED OUT ON :
Jemaa el-Fna:
What is it? The vast open square at the heart of the medina is one of Marrakech’s biggest attractions and is a Unesco world heritage site. Expect snake charmers, street entertainers and over-enthusiastic henna artists at every turn.
Locals and tourists descend on the Jemaa every night, drawn by the ceaseless hoopla and halqa (street theatre). Grab some food from one of the barbecue stalls, listen to some music, and then head up to a rooftop bar and marvel at the sunset.
Jardin Majorelle:
What is it? Created by the French painter Jacques Majorelle, this botanical garden is home to more types of cacti than you can shake a terrarium at, and has a stunning indigo-blue art deco house as its centrepiece.
Phone cameras at the ready – Jardin Majorelle is pure Instagram gold. Though you’ll see some cringe photoshoots going on, it’s impossible to take a bad picture here. Arrive early to avoid unwanted photo-bombers.
Bahia Palace:
What is it? This 150-room palace was home to slave-turned-vizier Abu ‘Bou’ Ahmed, who spared no expense in its gorgeous decoration. The painted, gilded ceilings, polychrome zellige tiling and carved stucco still have the intended effect – which is just ‘wow’.
Bahia is roughly translated as ‘beautiful’ and it’s the name Bahmad calls his favourite wife which is one of the 28 wives he had. Escape from the heat of the midday sun to the palace’s shaded spaces and get lost in all the intricate detailing.
Maison de la Photographie:
What is it? A three-storey riad-turned-gallery housing the vintage Moroccan photography collection of Patrick Menac’h and Marrakshi Hamid Megan. The images document the lifestyle and landscapes of Morocco between 1870 and 1950 – more than a century later, many things remain exactly the same.
To immerse yourself in the visual history of Morocco. The rooftop café is also one of the highest in the medina and is a great spot for a drink.
Souk Semmarine:
What is it? Marrakech is famous for its souks (markets) and Souk Semmarine is the biggest of them all. Rugs, leather goods, silverware and crockery of all shapes and sizes are on offer in this labyrinth – just try not to get lost.
If you’re looking for a true Marrakchi experience, get stuck in and do some haggling with one of the local traders. Knock them down from their opening price and come away with a one-of-a-kind memento.
Souk Place des Épices:
What is it? Moroccan cuisine is famous for its rich, aromatic flavours. Place des Épices is the traditional spice souk where you’ll find merchants selling everything from allspice to ras al hanout (a mix of more than a dozen spices).
This open-air souk is truly atmospheric. As well as bags of spices, you can pick up colourful basketry or simply watch the show from one of the cafés that ring the square.
Musée des Confluences:
What is it? The former governor’s palace and home to the notorious Thami El Glaoui, Lord of the Atlas. Now the Musée des Confluences, it houses the archaeological collection of American Patty Birch and puts on shows exploring the intersection of eastern and western cultures.
This is probably the most beautiful construction in the medina, vast in ambition and covered in intricate detail: coffered cedar ceilings, geometric tiling, and stucco worked into elaborate floral motifs. Don’t miss Marrakech’s best coffee shop, Bacha Coffee House, which serves more than 40 brews in the same building.
Gueliz:
What is it? A short journey to the west of the medina, you’ll find the neighbourhood of Gueliz, the so-called 1930s ‘New Town’. There are European-style shopping malls and small homeware boutiques aplenty, plus an excellent array of bars and restaurants for a post-retail therapy pit stop.
Gueliz is the modern face of Marrakech and it’s here you’ll find the city’s best restaurants. Its laid-back vibe makes for a refreshing change from the intensity of the medina.
Ateliers d’Ailleurs:
What is it? Hands-on workshops with Marrakchi maalems (master craftsmen) in their studios. Learn how to make your own pair of babouche slippers or follow a course in tadelakt (plaster), basketry, pottery or cooking.
It’s an opportunity to meet serious artisans on their own terms and hear how they became masters of their craft. It also gives you a new appreciation of the work that goes into the goods you’re haggling over in the souk.