Last year I headed to Morocco for the first time and I spent 3 days in Marrakech. I’ve wanted to visit Morocco for years and so was very excited to finally be going! Marrakech is Morocco’s most visited city, with over 600,000 people a year travelling from the UK. I was staying during Ramadan, so tourist numbers were lower than usual, but it was still a full flight from London.
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Three Days In Marrakech
I would recommend staying at least 3 days in Marrakech, and longer if you can to explore further afield.
Day 1 in Marrakech
Allow a day to wander the Medina, shopping in the souks and absorbing the bustling atmosphere. Surrounding Djemaa el Fnaa, the souks sell clothes, furniture and jewellery, while further north are the food and leather markets.
Day 2 in Marrakech
In the new town is Jardin Majorelle – a gorgeous garden once owned by Yves San Lauren. It’s a complete contrast to the Medina and very peaceful. I recommend heading here first thing in the morning and spending an hour or so wandering the gardens. It opens at 8am (except for during Ramadan when it opens at 9am).
Enjoy lunch near Jardin Majorelle (there is a cafe inside the gardens or some nice cafes nearby). Then take a taxi back to the Medina to Ben Youssef Madrasa. This beautiful building was once an Islamic college. It is named after the Almoravid sultan Ali ibn Yusuf.
The Photography Museum is close to Ben Youssef and displays some great photographs of Marrakech 100 years ago, as well as some old footage. It also has a lovely roof terrace with great views of the Medina rooftops.
Day 3 in Marrakech
If you’re a food fan, you can take a cooking course while in the city. The Sansoucci Collection offers a one day course that includes a trip to the souk to buy ingredients, followed by a class with one of their head chefs on Moroccan cuisine.
Save some time to relax by the pool. Many riads have their own pool, but if not, you can often pay a fee to visit one of the other hotels. I had a day at the Mandarin Oriental, which was lovely.
More Than 3 Days In Marrakech?
If you have time, there are plenty of great day trips from Marrakech. The Atlas Mountains are about an hour and a half drive and there are lots of companies offering tours. Many also incorporate a trip to Aït Benhaddou, which has been the set of numerous films including Gladiator and Kingdom Of Heaven. If you have one week in Morocco, then I also recommend adding Essaouira and Fes to your itinerary.
Where to Stay in Marrakech
Most travellers head to the Medina – Marrakech’s iconic walled town in the centre of the city. This Unesco World Heritage site is a maze of winding streets and souks (markets) centred around the famous Djemaa el Fnaa – the main square.
Within the Medina, there are numerous riad hotels. Riads are traditional Moroccan houses with a courtyard in the centre. I would definitely recommend staying in a riad to get a more Moroccan experience. Many are locally owned and run and they are a peaceful escape from the bustling Medina.
I stayed at Riad Kheirredine, which was fantastic. It’s a gorgeous place with lovely staff, who offer to walk you to and from the riad so you don’t get lost in the Medina! Read more about Riad Khierredine here.
If you are spending more than 3 days in Marrakech and fancy something a little bigger for a bit of relaxation time, there are some excellent resorts on the outskirts of the city, such as The Mandarin Oriental, which is incredibly beautiful, with landscaped gardens, lakes and an amazing pool.
Find accommodation in Marrakech
Where to Eat in Marrakech
Djemaa El Fnaa is the central square in Marrakech and is full of stalls selling local food at very reasonable prices. They will all try and get you to eat at their stall, claiming it’s the best, but I think the quality is pretty similar at all of them. It’s a very fun and friendly atmosphere and the food was pretty good – a great selection of couscous, salads, and tagines.
Another nice spot, in particular for lunch is the Marrakech Henna Art Café. This is just off the main square and serves some great Moroccan-style dishes, with lots of veggie and healthy options. They also have very talented henna artists, so you can get a tattoo after your meal!
If you want something a bit more upmarket, then Salt at Dar Las Cigognes is excellent. They do a 6-course tasting menu and often have visiting chefs who create their own menus for a limited period. The food was delicious and it’s a beautiful setting in a riad next to the Royal Palace.
How to Get There/Getting Around
There is plenty to see and do in Marrakech, and it’s easy to walk around the Medina. If you can’t take the heat for too long there are lots of cheap taxis. North West of the Medina is the new town, which is around a half an hour walk, or 10 minutes in a taxi. The airport is located South West of the Medina and there are daily flights from London with BA, Ryanair and Easyjet. From here you can take local buses for 30 Dirhams into the Medina, or alternatively, most hotels offer a transfer service. There is also a taxi rank outside the airport, but it’s worth negotiating your fare before you get in.
What to Pack for a Trip to Marrakech
Morocco is a Muslim country, so make sure you pack long sleeves and long skirts for wandering the public areas (many people don’t, but it’s more respectful to the locals if you do and they will appreciate it). I bought a couple of maxi skirts and blouses from Primark, which were perfect for the trip. And there are plenty of harem pants to buy in the Souks too.
I enjoyed my long weekend in Marrakech, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. Visiting during Ramadan meant that a few places were closed but it was also good in other ways as the souks were quieter than usual and more relaxed. The trip has definitely inspired me to see more of Morocco and I’ve added Essaouira, Chefchouen and Fes to the bucket list!
Travelling to Marrakech? Check out our hotel review of Riad Kheirredine.
4 comments
Wow, amazing experience, we love you post, laso your amazing pictures. Thank you so much for sharing your great experience in Morocco with us,we enjoy it.
Thank you. It’s such a beautiful country.
So interesting, thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome!