Marrakech is one of the 4 imperial cities of Morocco and is considered the most dynamic. It is the city most visited by travelers for its streets, history, commerce and gastronomy. Like Fez, although today it is not the capital, it is considered one of the most important and several kingdoms have selected it as the capital.
Throughout history, various empires have passed through here and Marrakesh is the perfect place to see each piece of history as there are several buildings that are now considered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Today Marrakech has the largest traditional market in the country and one of the largest and busiest squares in the world: Jamaa El F’na
How to move in the city
As in all of Morocco, I recommend that you always do business with taxi drivers (generally with everyone) before getting on or accepting. Although it was not my case, I think that the vast majority of you will come directly to this city if you are going to visit Morocco. So here is how to get from the airport to the Medina (I advise you to stay here)
- Private Tours: If you are going to take a tour around Morocco, I recommend that you do it with the agency Corazon de Marruecos. By doing your itinerary with them, they will pick you up from the airport and take care of you moving you around all the cities. The only thing you have to worry about is to relax and enjoy.
- Likewise, if you are only going to move around Marrakech, the vast majority of Riads and hotels can help you with a Shuttle service. It can be useful if you are late or do not want to negotiate or wait.
- Bus: Upon arrival you have the option of taking two buses. You can take the one from the airport (Line 19) which costs 30 MAD (3USD) or the public. This one you have to take it outside the airport (Line 11) and this costs 5 MAD (0.5 USD), both routes will take you to Jamaa El-F’na, the main square of the city. From there you can easily reach your hostel. I advise you to be patient, the schedules are not fixed and everyone will try to tell you that the buses are not working so you can go with them.
- Taxi: If you ask me, I would not take a taxi but it is still a viable option. I really hate having to negotiate, several drivers get angry and I simply prefer or pay a little more (the difference is not much) and take a private service or ride a bus.
Being inside the city and in the Medina, getting around is very easy and the best thing you can do is get lost in its small streets and bazaars. Discover the city by moving without a map and letting yourself go. The vast majority of the Medina is a pedestrian area and you will not find cars although it is possible that you will be run over by a couple of motorcycles.
What to do in the city
If your thing is not getting lost out there and you always like to travel with your places to visit marked on a map, these are my recommendations for you to get to the best of Marrakesh:
Jamaa El F’na
This is the main square and the main market in Marrakesh and one of the most visited places by tourists. This is the center of commerce so it is always full of people, vendors, artists, musicians and animals … you can find absolutely everything here.
Something you cannot miss is a sunset in one of the cafes. If you like a good tea or take some snacks, this is a perfect plan and in each place you will find incredible terraces.
As I mentioned everyone who followed the trip on Instagram (if you do not follow me, follow me to see the next adventures) and as I mentioned here, in this square you can find everything, this includes many monkeys, snakes, birds and other animals. I ask you to make a conscious trip and not take photos with these animals. You will see them chained and very sad.
Jami’ al-Koutoubia Mosque
Very close to Jamaa El-F’na Square is the largest mosque in Marrakesh. It was founded in 1147 when the city was conquered by the Almoravids. It was an element that inspired other great buildings and mosques around the world. Its name comes from the Arabic word Kutubiyyin (Book Seller).
El-Badii Palace
A former royal palace, it was built in 1593 by the sultan to display its richness. Materials from many different countries were used and it was an emblematic place of the city. Sadly it was abandoned by the successor who discarded it and decided to create another royal palace. Much of it was destroyed to bring marble and other materials to the construction of other palaces around Morocco.
Bahia Palace
Very close to the El-Badii Palace you can find this other palace. It was built in the late 19th century and was planned to be the largest palace of its time. It is a perfect representation of Moroccan and Islamic architecture. A place that you should visit if you have the possibility. Sadly, I didn’t have much time and I had to continue touring the city.
Majorell Gardens
It was the former residence of the famous artist Jacques Majorelle who was a fan of the city of Marrakesh. After his divorce, the house was abandoned until Yves-Saint Laurent bought it and today it is a museum and a botanical garden. A colorful place where you can learn about the Berber culture.
Walk through the souks of the city
Marrakech is a giant market. Walking through its souks and discovering wonders in these small street markets is priceless. If you don’t know how to negotiate and bargain, this is the perfect place and if you know how to do it, it will be very useful here. Everything in this city can be negotiated!
Cyber Park
Next to the artisan market in Marrakech, we foundd this park by chance. A perfect place to get out of the chaos of the city, relax and even have a picnic. It is full of incredible trees that protect you from the sun giving you a little shade and perfect for resting.
Where to stay
My recommendation for this city is that you stay inside the Medina, everywhere you go you will find spectacular Riads and Dars, these are typical Moroccan buildings where you find a central garden and the rooms are around it. They are usually luxurious and very good places to rest.
In our case, we decided to stay at MonRiad a very comfortable Riad, a perfect oasis to get away from the chaos of the city. 5 minutes walk from Jamaa El F’na and a few steps from El-Badii Palace.
Where to eat
Marrakech is the perfect place to try Moroccan cuisine. If you dare to try everything, the streets of this city will be perfect for you. Full of spices in every corner and new flavors, here you will be dazzled trying new things. Each corner has different flavors and you will delight in each food stall.
Here are some recommendations:
- Jamaa El-F’na: The first thing I warn you about is be patient. When they see you enter the square they will attack you so you go and sit at their stall. The vast majority have a similar menus, so choose one that looks nice and clean and sit down. Here you will get a lot of typical food and at a good price. It is not highly recommended for people with a sensitive stomach.
- Natural Juice in Jamaa El-F’na: In the main square you will find many cars full of fruits, do not hesitate to ask for one. Coming from Colombia I am a fan of fruits and I must confess that these were very good.
- Le Marrakhi: One of the rooftops in Jamaa El-F’na square, it is a very nice place to watch the sunset, have a few beers, smoke some shisha and eat.
- Riad El Kennaria: We came to this place looking for a place to smoke shisha but the truth is that it surprised us. It is a great atmosphere with a good terrace and good food.
- El Maghreb: A small restaurant just outside the Medina where you can eat cheap and enjoy a good view of the Jami ‘al-Koutoubia mosque.
