The unforgettable experience starts the moment you place your footprint in the city of Marrakesh. This place is full of an exceptional vibe and it’s one of the most walkable friendly I’ve been. One of the best things to do in Marrakesh is wandering around tiny streets, local souks and simply getting lost in the Medina (the Old Town) in Marrakesh.
The best things to do in Marrakesh.
Get lost in The Medina: A Maze of Wonders
Every traveler can find these narrow streets of Marrakesh – you don’t need a guide. I heard a few people saying nothing is interesting to find in Marrakesh.. If your only focus is the main tourist spots, you will definitely end up in the middle of loud souk squares and street markets, which are more annoying than inspirational!
Don’t be scared to step aside from the main streets to discover the hidden beauty of the narrow pink alleys of this ancient Moroccan city. You will notice lots of heavy, carved wooden doors, which are an inherent part of the pink Moroccan architecture. At first,
I didn’t know the source of this unusual pink colour until I visited the Atlas Mountains to the west of Marrakesh. It’s the colour of the Atlas Mountains rocks that are turned into an infrastructure building material.
Riad – Best places to stay in Marrakesh.
Riad – what is it, and why is it worth staying there? This is a traditional Moroccan house. The architectural elements of riads are breathtaking. The place is a typical Moroccan house with a common area in the middle and a number of rooms around the courtyard. There will usually be a swimming pool and a pleasant garden in the middle section. Nowadays, most of the accommodation offered to tourists are riads. Staying little outside the main square has lots of advantages..
Exceptional The Central House Marrakesh Medina.
Staying in a riad, you will be able to observe real local life scenery, where the pace of living is much quieter, far from crowded tourist spots. You’ll find it different in every single element of the architecture, outfits, and ordinary life scenery. I was staying in a riad located 20 minutes’ walking distance from the main square in the rural streets of Marrakesh and it was a perfect choice just for that reason.
Arab and Berber society is very conservative. Sometimes I felt some of them were making a huge effort to tolerate me walking in short sleeves and with a camera, while others were very pleasant and open. Try to be respectful with your outfit and general behaviour.
Avoid young guys who offer to help to show you the way to your destinations; after a short chat, they will always ask for money for the guidance.
Be prepared for hundreds of questions from local people: Where do you go? Where’re you from? What are you looking for? If you share your destination details, they will usually tell you it is located in the opposite direction. ;))) It is because they are willing to escort you for a little money. If you accept their advice or favour, you will definitely be forced to pay for it at the end!
Safety in Morocco for solo traveler.
Since this tragedy in the Atlas Mountains, involving two Scandinavian girls being killed in their tent while trekking Toubkal, safety in Morocco may remain under a big question mark for backpackers or hikers. But we all know it was probably a one-time incident. I was travelling through the Atlas Mountains mountains 2 days before this tragedy happened.
From my perspective, the country is safe. The first thing I always do after landing in a new place is ask locals about the safety! Ask everyone: your reception Guy, people in hotels, other travellers. There isn’t a better source of information than local people or people who are onsite. Generally, tourists are safe in Morocco, as the government is well aware of how important tourism is and that travellers bring money.
Walking at night in Marrakesh wasn’t a problem for me. Pickpocketing barely happens, as the police are quite efficient in chasing the robbers and they usually get caught within a few hours. Most likely you would be hit by a moped. Mopeds drive at full speed even in tiny little streets – stay safe and always try walking on the right side of the road!
Hammam Spa treatment – MUST TRY!
Why Hammam is so exceptional? HAMMAM – is a traditional Moroccan massage. You’ll be able to find lots of spa salons in the city. Not all of them are good, so be careful when picking the right one and definitely stick to Riads.
It’s a very pleasant experience and an amazing body treatment at the same time. At first, a black Moroccan soap is applied to sit on you for 15 minutes while you are in the hot steam room. Afterwards, they wash and scrub your body to remove the epidermis layer.
All this is followed by a great massage. It’s an old traditional cleansing ritual in Morocco nowadays, but it has its roots in ancient Greece. It’s also possible to buy typical black Moroccan soap on the market.
Highly recommended: Marrakech – Traditional Hammam Massage (3 hours) and Hotel Transfer.
Best places to eat in Marrakesh.
You’ll find plenty of traditional Moroccan restaurants located near Medina – the Old Twon of Marrakesh. Best choice you can have are the rooftop terrace restaurants, where you will not only find the real Moroccan taste but also a lovely atmosphere over the stunning views of the surrounding street scenery.
Try Moroccan street food!
The aroma of street food will lead you to try different types of local cuisine. Street food goes live around 5-6 pm. I tried it every day and had no stomach problems, in case you wonder. /But I have to say it’s been years of street fooding for myslef;)))) so perhaps I’m well used to it/. I know it’s a cheap food but believe me the best one everywhere I go!
You’ll see lots of different ways this amazing street food is cooked – grilled, baked in a stone oven or cooked in a huge clay vessel.
The best fried food I tried is onion pancakes (10 Dirhams), fried eggplant and traditional vegetarian soup with lentils and beans are incredibly tasty (25 Dirhams). Moroccan bread is amazing too. One of the best things sold on every corner is fresh fruit juice, especially pomegranate (10 Dirhams). That must be a God’s drink!
Another story is the original spices; it is something you need to bring with you back home. Try to avoid buying them in the most crowded tourist souks; any place far from this is fine. You’ll definitely find the difference in taste.
Useful travel tips in Marocco.
Tajine – it’s a traditional Moroccan dish, a slow-cooked stew braised at low temperatures with vegetables, all cooked in aromatic herbs and spices. There are a number of tajine options available on every restaurant menu: stew, chicken, vegetable. If you want to buy a dish for yourself, do not pick the colourful one – they are fake, and you won’t be able to cook in them. The only real tajines are clay ones, with no painted patterns.
ATMs – are mainly located in the biggest squares. There are lots of them near the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. It’s possible to pay by card in almost every restaurant, shop, riad or hotel.
Currency: The currency of Morocco is the Dirham.
Language – Berber language, modern Arabic and French are the official languages of Morocco. However, the importance of English has increased; it has replaced French in schools nowadays.
Jemaa el-Fna – the night market.
Traditional performances in Jemaa el-Fna.
The performance is based on an act where the man you see in the picture below is running away while the other one is chasing him, hitting his back with a huge stick. That makes all the crowd continuously laughing.
The souks – street markets in Marrakesh.
French culture is the majority in Marrakesh. Their fashion world is infused with local attractions, cafes, nice boutiques and handicraft shops.
Be careful with that!! Don’t be attracted by a piece of French influence. Look at this stylish shop selling masks and sculptures, exhibited behind the glowing glass – all extremely overpriced. See the picture below– this gallery is fake! The same items and masks are sold on a public street stand for little money!!!
Bargain on everything you want to buy! Usually start from a very low price; cut the zero off from the original price and divide into two to get the real price of the item. I wanted to buy a mask and was asked for 250 dirhams; I finally bought it for 100 only because I was too tired of having a longer conversation with the seller. But in my riad hotel people told me I still bought it way to expensive.
Best places to see in Marrakesh!
- Jemaa el-Fna Square (see description above),
- Museum of Photography – great place, enjoyed it very much.I prefer to visit such places in the mornings. 70 Dirhams entrance fee. There’s a very nice restaurant on the top floor.
- Everyone will be sending you to the leather market, saying there’s a festival and you’re lucky to be here that day. Bullshit!! The place is unpleasant, dirty and smelly. I’m trying to avoid any kind of leather clothing, so it’s not a place I would recommend.
- Walk the streets of Marrakesh they are full of temporary exhibitions – located in breathtaking riads arrangements.
- Women’s Museum – if you want to understand Women’s culture and traditions it’s the right place. Entrance is around 25 DH.
- There’s lots of museums in Marrakesh so it’s up to you how much time you want to spend inside rather then outside. Other interesting options are Orientalist Museum and Museum of Marrakesh.
Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakesh.
Yves Saint Laurent Museum – which attracts people from all over the world! For me, attraction number one!! You can’t miss it!! The museum is dedicated to the fashion designer and traces his history of fascination with Moroccan colours, residents, and culture. The street along the museum has turned into a luxury valley with French cafes and fashion boutiques.
A leather bag costs 3500 DH here. Not my thing, posh and fake. The queue for the museum is app. 30 minutes. But guess what!!? Pass the entrance and walk another 100 metres to find a second entrance with NOBODY in the queue. Yes, this entrance /ticket point/ is located just near the starting point.
The entrance is 100 DH, but if you combine Jardin and Berber Museum (both can be purchased separately), you’ll pay 180DH. Exceptional place in every way! Exceptional artist! Don’t miss it!
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