A year and a half ago at the end of 2016 I made my first visit to Africa for our safari honeymoon. It was one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had and even though I loved visiting Africa, I thought it would be a long time before I made it back. Fast-forward to 2018 and we live in Spain. Africa is just a quick little jump away. How could we not make another visit? This time we went for different terrain, exploring Marrakech, Morocco.
If you enjoy travel that puts you totally out of your comfort zone and introduces you to a completely different way of life, I think you’ll like Marrakech. Everything from the layout of the city, to the food, to the people is unlike anything I’ve experienced.
We spent a long weekend in Marrakech and did a ton.
If you’re a first-timer planning a trip, here’s everything to make the most of your visit to Marrakech
Where to Stay in Marrakech
You can go super high-end or travel on a budget and still have an awesome stay. To get a real Moroccan experience, book a stay at a riad, a traditional Moroccan house built around a courtyard, typically with a pool int he middle.
Royal Mansour Marrakech: If you’re feeling really fancy with an endless budget, check out Royal Mansour. Rooms start at around $1,200 a night and I can see why. We wandered around the grounds and it’s beautiful. Supposedly this is where the celebrities and royals stay. It’s a set a bit away from the craziness of the Medina. This can be a good or bad thing, depending on your vacation style.
La Mamounia: This luxury palace hotel is also on the upscale side, but at a more reasonable price, with per night cost starting around $400. We also walked through this hotel and it’s gorgeous, complete with a variety of restaurants and a huge relaxing pool. This is also set a bit away from the Medina for a quieter and more spread out stay.
Le Riad Yasmine: Another very picturesque spot to stay, but this one more in the middle of the action. We didn’t get a chance to visit this riad but I’ve heard great things and the pictures have me wishing we stopped by.
Riad Dar El Masa: And this is where we stayed, a homey riad right in the Medina. If you look online there are hundreds of riads to stay at. We chose this one because of it’s good reviews, location and price. You get a real authentic experience staying here. The riad is owned by a french couple and there is always someone available to help you with directions, with recommendations or to make reservations for you. A lovely breakfast is included, as is tea and snacks throughout the day. There’s a nice rooftop to relax by and catch the sunset. It’s very unassuming from the outside (basically an unmarked door in a narrow street), but once you walk in you’ll feel at home.
Where to Eat
NOMAD: We visited Nomad for lunch. This cute multi-level spot offers great views, aim to sit up top. They serve a variety of Moroccan dishes and smoothies.
La Famille: This was my favorite meal of the trip. This little spot is located in a serene courtyard and serves up a very limited but tasty menu. There’s maybe 4 dishes made daily. I recommend going on the earlier side for lunch as they do run out of things (and make a reservation in advance!). We went here after visiting a hammam (more on that below) and this is the perfect post-spa place to refuel with things like detox water and couscous salad.
Food in the Main Square: You’ll have to get over your ideas of food sanitation if you eat here. At night in the middle of the square there are a bunch of food stands that set up shop. They serve grilled meat, seafood and vegetables that are pretty much just sitting out waiting to be ordered. I was apprehensive but we got some grilled chicken, it was really good, and we all lived to tell the tale.
What To See And Do
Explore the Medina: You can get lost for hours walking around the Medina, the main bustling streets of Marrakech. I have a bad sense of direction and I’m pretty sure if I had been traveling solo I never would have found my way back to our hotel, it’s really confusing! Be aware while walking as the narrow streets are full of motorbikes, bikes, donkeys, horses and who knows what else. They will not hesitate to run you over if you’re in their way.
Visit a Hammam: Spend a couple of hours at a traditional Turkish bath/spa. They are all a bit different, we visited Isis Spa (good spa, terrible name). Our experience involved getting your body scrubbed, getting rubbed with mud, having hot water thrown at you and then getting massaged. I’ve read about other experiences which seem to involve a lot more nakedness and pain. Soooo I’m pretty happy with our choice (we wore bathing suits). For the 2 hour experience it was only $35. Money well spent! I recommend doing this the last day of your trip as you’re going to be craving a massage after a ton of walking.
Haggle at the Souk: You might not need anything when you walk into the souk, but it’s so fun that you’ve got to buy something. Expect tons of bags, Turkish towels, wooden boxes, bowls, lamps and leather goods. I’m no expert, but whatever price they offer you initially, aim to pay about half. Start really low and when they say you’re crazy, start to walk out the store. They’ll chase you and probably accept your offer. Works (almost) every time. I bought a few little bowls for about $3 each and a bunch of straw bags, each about $12.
Visit the YSL Gardens & Museum: Walk about 30 minutes outside of the Medina and you’ll feel like you’re in a totally different world. The YSL Gardens and Museum are a quiet oasis from the craziness you may have experienced at the Souk andfFashion lovers and those who have never heard of YSL will both enjoy a visit. The gardens are beautiful and the museum is a quick but interesting stop worth making.
Explore the Palaces: Along your travels you might stumble upon a palace. Entry is around $1 and worth it to explore the beautiful scenery.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- Carry cash: Some places accept credit card, but many are cash only. If you plan to buy things in the market, you’ll definitely want cash on hand. The currency is dirhams.
- There isn’t much drinking: Alcohol isn’t super popular in Marrakech. Only certain restaurants serve it. If you’re looking for a vacation to skip drinking during, this is it! Instead, sip mint tea, a popular drink in Marrakech.
- Listen for the call to prayer: This is just something to be aware of. If you can get to a rooftop during one of the calls, it’s really interesting to hear the call spread slowly across the city.
- People will shout things at you, ignore them: This is super confusing and weird, but locals will offer you help or tell you where to go, or might even point in your direction and say that way is closed, even if it’s not. Just ignore everyone and keep walking. I know it feels rude, but if you stop and engage, they may walk you very far out of your way (possibly to a family members leather shop for example) and they’ll expect money from you for their “help”.
- Watch for snakes: In the main square there are legit snake charmers with snakes just like…hanging out. It freaked me out and I’m just telling you to be aware.
- You can’t always take pictures: There were so many beautiful shops that I so badly wanted to take pictures of but it’s frowned upon. If you want to take a picture of someone’s shop you’ll need to ask first. They may say no or they may ask you for money to take the picture. Same thing goes for taking pictures of people.
Marrakech is crazy, interesting and beautiful all at the same time. Have you been and if so, did you find it as unique and wild as I did?
