Marrakech Bucket List
Marrakech is the very essence of organized chaos at its most beautiful. The ancient city is a maze of narrow alleys that suddenly give way to beautiful courtyards where artisans can be seen hammering copper by hand and the scent of cedar and spices hangs in the air. Behind unassuming doors, beautiful and intricate riads with pools and gardens that could belong in a fairytale await discovery.
Why Marrakech belongs on your bucket list
Marrakech is a city that should be experienced with all the senses. The ancient city, a UNESCO heritage site, is one of the largest in Morocco. It is a maze of ancient souks where artisans can be seen practicing ancient crafts that have been around for centuries. There are tanners working with leather in ancient stone pits, metalworkers hammering intricate designs onto lanterns, and weavers making beautiful Berber rugs on ancient wooden looms. The food is also exceptional, with delicious tagines cooked over charcoal fires, freshly baked bread cooked in communal ovens, and the delicious pastilla—a pigeon pie with a layer of sugar on top that defies description. Staying in a traditional riad—a traditional courtyard house—will give the full experience as one sleeps in a beautiful room with intricate carvings on the ceiling and wakes up to the songs of birds in the beautiful garden.
When to go
The best time to visit Marrakech is in the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when the weather is warm but not hot. The summers (June to August) are scorchingly hot with temperatures soaring to over 40 degrees Celsius. Wandering the ancient city in the heat would be a miserable experience after 10 a.m. Winters (December to February) are pleasant in the daytime but chilly at night in riads that don't have air conditioning. The Marrakech Film Festival in November and the Gnaoua World Music Festival in June in nearby Essaouira are worth planning a trip around.
Must-visit places in Marrakech
Jemaa el-Fnaa
The central square is the beating heart of Marrakech, during the day a marketplace of orange juice vendors, snake charmers, and henna artists, while at night it transforms into a vast outdoor food market where the air is filled with the smoke of dozens of grills. Just find a seat at any food stall, indicate what you want to eat, and dig in with your hands. The cafe terraces of the cafes above, such as Cafe de France or Le Grand Balcon, offer a bird's-eye view of the action below. Come early evening for the most dramatic effect.
Majorelle Garden
This beautiful garden, designed by French painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent, is a splash of cobalt blue and tropical green in the heart of the city. Cacti, bougainvillea, and bamboo forests surround the reflecting pools in a scene reminiscent of a living painting. The Berber Museum here is also excellent but small, so be sure to arrive at the very early opening time of 8 a.m. to ensure entry.
Bahia Palace
This palace, dating from the 19th century, was commissioned by a grand vizier for his four wives and 24 concubines. The scale of the zellige tilework, the carved cedar ceilings, and the painted stucco is simply staggering, as craftsmen were imported from Fez to create what is still the very best of Morocco's decorative architecture. The palace gardens are also lovely, but don't worry about the crowds, as entry is very cheap and the palace itself rarely gets crowded, even when the medina outside is heaving.
Medersa Ben Youssef
This Islamic college from the 14th century was once the largest theological school in North Africa. The courtyard is one of the most beautiful in Morocco, with a rectangle of marble surrounded by intricately carved stucco work and colorful zellige tiles. The student cells are tiny and simple in the cells above the courtyard, in stark contrast to the elaborate decoration in the public areas. It is now reopened after renovation and is even more breathtaking than before. The best photos are in the morning when the sun shines through the courtyard tiles.
The Souks
The souks in Marrakech are divided according to profession, as they were in the Middle Ages. The leather souk is full of the smell of dye and leather, the carpet souk is a gallery of Berber textiles, and the spice souk is a colorful array of turmeric, saffron, and ras el hanout. Getting lost is unavoidable but also the idea. Use the Koutoubia minaret as your guide (you can see it from the rooftops), and don't take the over-zealous salesmen too seriously – "la shukran" (no thank you) is the polite way to deal with them.
Le Jardin Secret
This beautiful palace garden is tucked away behind an unassuming door in the northern medina. Restored to its former glory in the 16th century, it is a peaceful haven from the madness that is Marrakech. There are two gardens – Islamic and exotic – that enclose a traditional riad with a tower that has great views over the medina from the roof. There is also a café that serves delicious Moroccan mint tea. A great place to take a break in the middle of the day when the heat and intensity of the souks are too much to bear.
Koutoubia Mosque
The 12th-century Koutoubia's minaret is Marrakech's skyline – a 77-meter tower that is visible from almost anywhere in Marrakech's medina. Non-Muslims are not permitted inside, but its exterior and surrounding gardens are lovely, especially when lit up in the evening. The mosque's architecture is said to have inspired Seville's Giralda tower. It's a great landmark for you – if you can see the Koutoubia, you can get back to Jemaa el-Fnaa.
Nomad Restaurant
Moroccan food with a modern twist on a rooftop terrace with a view of Marrakech's spice souk – Nomad is a restaurant that represents a new kind of Marrakech food. Traditional dishes of tagines and couscous are now made with a modern twist in terms of preparation and presentation. The rooftop view of the medina's rooftops, satellite dishes, and Koutoubia's tower skyline is classic Marrakech. Bookings are a must if you plan to have dinner here. The lunch menu is available at a lower price and is easier to book.
El Fenn Rooftop
The rooftop bar of this boutique hotel is one of Marrakech's best secrets – accessible even if you are not a resident of this stylish hotel. It has a 360-degree view of the Atlas Mountains, Koutoubia's famous minaret, and medina rooftops. It serves cocktails and tapas. It is a great place to watch the sunset – the sky will turn different shades of orange and pink while you listen to the call to prayer of different mosques ringing out at the same time. The hotel itself is a design lover's dream – even if you are not a resident, it is worth a look inside.
Saadian Tombs
Sealed and hidden for centuries until their rediscovery in 1917, these 16th-century royal tombs are some of Morocco's best Islamic funerary architecture. The Hall of Twelve Columns, with its Carrara marble and cedar muqarnas (honeycomb) ceiling, is stunning. The small garden with roses and orange trees is peaceful. It's best to go in the morning, as the tombs are small and queues will form quickly. It's an efficient half-day out if you include the nearby Bahia Palace.
Marrakech insider tips
- Haggling: In the souks, the first offer is always higher than the vendor will eventually sell for, so start at 30-40% of the final price and haggle upwards from there. It's expected, enjoyable, and part of the local culture. Be willing to walk away if you don't like the price, as this will often prompt a counteroffer.
- Riads: Consider staying in a riad, which is a traditional house around a central courtyard, instead of a hotel. Some of them are architectural treasures, have plunge pools, and even offer roof terraces. They range from budget to luxury but offer an experience that hotels simply cannot match, even at the budget end.
- Guides: The medina is very confusing, so a guide for your first day can be very helpful in getting your bearings and avoiding the touts who will try to accompany you around the souks. After that, however, getting lost is all part of the adventure, and Google Maps is unexpectedly reliable in the main streets of the medina.
- Cash: Most shops and restaurants in the medina are cash-only, but ATMs are easily found around Jemaa el-Fnaa and in the Gueliz district of the new town.
- Mint tea: It's a cultural requirement to drink the mint tea offered in shops, riads, and sometimes from passers-by, but be aware that the amount of sugar in this tea is extreme, though the offer itself is genuine, unlike in the souks where tea is also offered but also used as a pressure tactic to make sales.
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