Wow…what a city! I fell in love with Marrakesh the second I arrived and it did not disappoint! It was everything I had hoped for and more. Initially I had my concerns as I know it can be a very busy city, especially within the souks (the local markets) and I have heard horror stories of people being massively hassled and shop owners not letting them out until they buy something. I am very well travelled and have been in many different situations but from my experience, I don’t cope well with too many people- especially if they are hassling me. So naturally I was a little nervous! There is also the clothing issue- we had been told that you need to cover up and not show anything so I made sure I had packed my long skirts, scarfs and sleeved t-shirts- I was prepared for what Marrakesh would throw at me.
Quickly we realised that Marrakesh was a very busy and bussling city with thousands of people, cars, crazy motor bikes and even crazier people on push bikes. The main thing we learnt was to stay calm, walk in a straight line and do not panic. One of the friends I went with had not travelled very much so to her it was a HUGE culture shock- it took her a while to settle in so if this is your first major trip please just bear this in mind. After a while she settled down and relaxed enough to enjoy everything Marrakesh.
We stayed in a beautiful little riad down a very narrow and out of the way side street. We were picked up from the airport and our driver walked us to our riad which was a major godsend otherwise I don’t think we would have ever of found it. At first I was a little concerned as I had no idea where he was taking us but as soon as we walked into the riad it was like a whole new world. If you are visiting Marrakesh, PLEASE make sure you stay in a riad. There are so many of them, in different shapes and sizes but it really does give you a wonderful insight into their culture and 100% better than staying in a normal hotel.
We were greeted by a lovely French lady who spoke perfect English and we were given mint tea which is one of the locals favourite drinks- it is poured into small glasses from a large hight to ensure that you get as many bubbles as possible- it tastes better this way. We gave it a go and it is very difficult to keep the tea pot high whilst still getting the tea in the glass- better off leaving it to the professionals!! It was a wonderful welcome! We quickly realised our riad was in a wonderful location in the Medina, giving us easy access to the main square and the souks- which is very important.
Must do’s in Marrakesh
Main square
The main square is where the hustle and bustle in Marrakesh is. In the day, there are a few market stools around along with a few snake charmers- which is definitely an interesting site.However, as interesting as the main square is in the day, in the evening it is when it comes alive. The square gets flooded with people, market stools and places to eat. It is perfect for buying souvenirs and a great place to eat some local food.
Souks
The souks are my favourite place in Marrakesh! It is like my dream destination- I am a huge sucker for buying souvenirs to decorate my house with interesting things from all around the world. The souks are such an interesting place as it is like a maze! You have to try and navigate your way around to get from place to place. To help us get around we started naming areas such as ‘brass land’ and ‘shoe kingdom’! Although even by us naming the places, we still ended up wondering around in circles most of the time.
When in the souks you MUST be prepared to barter. It is the culture in the markets and they expect you to haggle with them! At first it feels quite uncomfortable but the more you do it, the more natural it feels. They will give you a price, you then have to go in super low and then you can start haggling. Try and aim to have a price in your head that you are prepared to pay and if they don’t agree, then be prepared to walk away. A couple of times they even came running after us. The one thing I struggled to get my head around was feeling like I had ripped them off, however, I had to remind myself that they would not agree to the price if they weren’t happy to sell it. Enjoy the experience as it is definitely a fun one- plus you come away with some amazing goodies.
Jardin Majorelle
The Jardin Marjorelle is one of the most visited sites in Marrakesh and took a huge 40 years to complete. It was gifted to Marrakesh by Yves Saint Laurent and is also home to the Berber Museum. The garden is filled with over 300 species of plants from five continents. There are lots of beautiful pools filled with water and to top it off, the colours are stunning- particularly the very royal blue that very famously claims the gardens. They are beautiful and they are definitely worth a visit in Marrakesh.
Get a Hammam
You must have a hammam! This is a local bath where you are pampered and scrubbed and come out feeling revived and relaxed. We chose to have our hammam at La Maison Arabe as we read it was the best! Our bodies were lathered with creams and oils and our skin felt as good as new! After our experience we spent 20 minutes relaxing at the spa drinking our mint tea. The three of us went in together but we agreed to this before we knew that all we would have on was a piece of fabric that nearly covered anything down below. It was all worth it!
Food tour
We took part in an amazing food tour whilst in Marrakesh! Now, I’m not a foodie (YES, I know I’m strange) but this was an incredible experience. Our guide game to meet us at our riad around 4pm and took us on this magical tour! We started off eating at a small food stall where a lady made us some sort of savory pancake that I believe had olives in. It tasted amazing and to wash it down, we had some more mint tea- of course!
We then proceeded to wonder through the streets where we visited a local bread oven and the place where they heat the water for the hammams, however, they use the ash and heat from the fire to heat up their tangiers- basically a ceramic container that locals but all kinds of meat, couscous and spices in to create a yummy meal. It basically acts as a slow cooker.
We then wondered through the souks where we passed some of the food stalls, where we collected nuts, olives and other local delicacies before sitting down at a small restaurant to eat what we had picked up whilst ordering and trying a tangier.
After all that I was getting super full, however, the night was definitely not over yet! Our guide then walked us into the local square where we tried snails- this took a lot of convincing on my part. I am quite fussy when it comes to food but I promised my friend that I would try everything! I am proud to say I kept my promise.
We were then taken over to a soup stall where we all each had our own bowl of soup! I was starting to really struggle to fit everything in. Our final stop was sitting down at one of the local food stalls int he square. Our guide then ordered so many different kinds of dishes for us to try! There was so much food! We were so full but we ate as much as we could.
It was an incredible evening and it opened my eyes to all kinds of different foods and flavours!
Palace Bahia
The palace is beautiful and is definitely worth a visit whilst in Marrakesh. The architecture is stunning and there are so many different areas to explore, including different rooms of the palace as well as the gardens. There are some amazing colours around the palace, particularly some of the ceilings so you can get some great pictures!
Ben Youssef Madrasa
This is an old Islamic colleague which you can now explore and learn about. It was so interesting to learn about the students way of life and see and hear about the way they live. The architecture is incredible and I was obsessed with all the detailed markings in the wall arches- there must have been so much work going into them.
Sunset drinks on a rooftop bar
I don’t think this one needs much explaining! Get yourself up on top of any rooftop terrance to enjoy the beautiful views of Marrakesh! They can get particularly busy just before sunset as everyone wants to watch the beautiful colours appear over the square. Get your spot early, grab a drink and enjoy the sunset!
Safety in Marrakesh
Like all places in the world, you need to have your witts about you. Just because you are on holiday it doesn’t mean that you can forget your common sense back home. I think the main thing to remember is to remain relaxed and confident and don’t carry too many valuables around with you- this will just make you an easy target. When I went out for the day, I took a small bag and all I had on me was my phone and whatever money I needed for that day- and of course some hand sanitiser and suncream! I kept my bag in front and around me at all times- limiting the possibility of anything happening to it.
As much as I hate to admit it, as a woman travelling with two others there is always the thought ‘is it safe?’. And the answer to that is YES but again, just make sure that common sense is packed and with you at all times. I was very shocked to see women and young girls walking around Marrakesh with very short shorts on as well as all kinds of other body parts on show. Now, this is fine but for your own sanity and self respect please cover yourself. It is a muslim country and as a sign of respect it is decent to cover up- and when I say cover up, I mainly mean your chest, your bum and the majority of your legs. I found myself wearing a scarf most of the time and this made me feel a lot more confident. We got a lot of attention and comments anyway and I feel that if I had been less covered up then I would have felt very uncomfortable.
Useful tips
Language- French or Arabic- English is not widely spoken but it is still possible to get by.
Currency- Moroccan Dirham (although annoyingly they do not accept Dirham at Marrakesh airport!!)
Getting around- If you are located centrally, in Marrakesh walking around the medina to the main square and the souks is definitely possible, however if you want to travel further afield then taxis are easily available from the street, if you are uncomfortable then ask your accommodation to help you.
Overall Marrakesh is a fantastic city, with culture, food, history, shopping and spas its a great place for a long weekend!
HAPPY TRAVELLING!