Oh Marrakesh! How happy we were to see you. Not only because you are in Africa and therefore a new continent, but especially because of all the beautiful pictures we have seen of you before.
Marrakesh is a very special place, beautiful and stressful at the same time. About a visit to a completely different world.
Marrakesh is hot! In summer, the temperatures sometimes even go above 40 degrees. Always carry enough water with you.
Marrakesh is divided into two parts. The old Marrakesh with the Medina and its souks and the modern Marrakesh, with all the shopping and numerous office buildings.
Everything costs in Marrakesh. Asking random people on the street for directions has its price. Unfortunately, people often help you out of financial interest rather than out of hospitality.
Be sure to download a maps app for the trip. Unless you want to tip more than you spend on your food.
Taking photos of strangers is not welcome. Please always ask beforehand if it is allowed and if a tip is required for it. Should actually be handled in every country and everywhere so.
Tourism is an important source of local income. Therefore, always, really always negotiate down the initially too high price.
Even and especially with cab drivers. During the day a cab ride should not cost more than 50 Dirham, after sunset a maximum of 100 Dirham is necessary.
There are countless cabs in Marrakesh, say your maximum price and move on if you don’t agree. Most of the time they buckle then. It is unfortunately necessary to deal with cab drivers in this way.
You don’t need to have a bad conscience, they still earn above average through tourists.
Throughout Morocco you pay in Moroccan Dirham, these have a ratio of about 10:1. Knowing that 10 Dirham is $1, the prices are of course easier to negotiate. It is best to change your money directly after arrival in Marrakesh at the airport.
An import is prohibited and with the good exchange rate on the spot also not really necessary.
The arrival in Marrakesh is at the same time the immersion in a completely different world. Before Morocco we have already seen and experienced a lot and yet here on the spot we had a real culture shock.
Marrakesh is another world!
Still at the airport we bought a SIM card with a credit of 5 GB for just under 70 Dirham, so about $7, just to be more free and independent on the spot. Although it can be very nice to travel without a permanent internet connection, it is recommended to have some in Marakkesh.
Why? Because in the medina, the many alleys are complicated and it resembles a maze. You don’t want to get lost there.
And because as soon as you look around you a bit lost, you will immediately be approached by some enterprising young people who want to offer you their “help”.
That nothing is free of charge has to be mentioned here. Unfortunately.
In the heart of the medina numerous cars drive without a real system, at least it looks like it. Everyone takes his right of way, even if he may not be entitled to it.
Pedestrian crossings serve only as decoration, because without a red light nobody stops here. During our stay of almost a week it happened once. One single time.
In general, it can be said for the famous places in Marrakesh that they are also relatively heavily visited. Some more, some less.
At some we were surprised how many people are there, at others we were amazed how easy it was to take a photo without someone constantly running into the picture. It is of great advantage to be there very early, or shortly before closing time.
No one likes to get up too early and shortly before the end of the day most tour groups have already moved on.
The best way to experience authentic Marrakesh is to simply lose yourself in the so-called souks, stroll through the alleys and soak up the hectic life around you.
This is Marrakesh!
You don’t need to look for a special place to experience the souks. No matter where you go, sooner or later you will be in the middle of it all.
The souks are great for getting into fun and also interesting conversations with some of the older locals and learning about them and their life in Morocco.
If you are already in the process of experiencing authentic Marrakesh, we can only recommend you to stay in a riad.
A riad is a typical residential house with a beautiful terrace, a larger courtyard and often a pool. Everything is kept in a very oriental style.
This style of living is so Moroccan that even locals are pleased when you tell them that you are staying in a riad instead of a regular hotel.
The marketplace Djemaa el Fna is just awesome! During the day still relatively inconspicuous, you can buy in the prevailing heat in the numerous restaurants something delicious to eat or simply treat yourself to a refreshing drink.
There are also a lot of small stores where you can buy all kinds of oriental souvenirs. During dusk, street musicians drum up the night and suddenly countless market stalls burst out of the ground, offering visitors a variety of delicacies.
Our tip is to visit the Le Grand Balcon Cafe Glacier, it is the perfect place for a beautiful view of the market.
The Koutoubia Mosque is the landmark of Marrakesh. Built in a somewhat untypical style, this mosque is located in the immediate vicinity of the marketplace Djemaa el Fna and enchants with its external beauty.
Only Muslim visitors are allowed to see the inside.
Generally, in all of Morocco, as a non-Muslim, you are allowed into only two mosques. These are the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca and the Moulay Ismail Mosque in Meknes.
The Marrakesh Museum, or also known as the Dar-Si-Said Museum, is another place full of tranquility and beauty. The way there is sometimes a bit stressful, because you will be approached 100 times.
Once there, however, you enjoy wonderful peace and an unforgettably beautiful museum. For a mere 50 Dirham you are there.
Bahia Palace is one of the great highlights in Marrakesh! Its beauty is amazing. A true masterpiece. Even today, visits, concerts and art exhibitions are held here. A dream! For 70 Dirham you can admire this wonderful place live and in color.
Do you want to immerse yourself in a garden full of art? Then the Jardin Majorelle is the place for you. The garden was created by the French painter Jacques Majorelle and still reminds us of his work. For 70 Dirham you are already there.
In the immediate vicinity is also the museum of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, who incidentally also bought the garden in 1980. For an entrance to the museum of the fashion designer you have to put another 100 Dirham on the table.
The Secret Garden , nowadays no longer a real secret, is the oasis of tranquility itself. If you’ve had enough of the hustle and bustle of Marrakesh and want to treat yourself to some relaxation in the heart of Medina, you should definitely stop by here.
The garden was not open to the public until recently. 50 Dirham is the price to enter this beauty.
Other places worth visiting in Marrakesh include the former Koranic School Medersa Ben Youssef, the historic El Badi Palace or the spice market in the old Jewish quarter Mellah.
Don’t forget to try the typical Moroccan cuisine once you are there. The restaurants in Marrakesh are worth a visit and give you a nice insight into their hospitality.
If you are traveling in Marrakesh or Morocco in general, you should definitely try some of the local cuisine. Morocco offers something for every taste. Be it a typical Tajine or a delicious Couscous.
For dessert it may be with pleasure also Briouat or a marvelous Pastilla. In Morocco you will certainly not stay hungry. During the visit we found a few really cute, beautiful and also good restaurants that we can only recommend.
La Salama is located in the heart of the medina of Marrakesh in the immediate vicinity of the marketplace Djemaa el Fna and should be visited at least for a small drink.
The restaurant offers an incredible ambience, a variety of good food and in the evening sometimes a show with belly dancers. Only the shisha you should not smoke there in any case. Unfortunately, they have no idea about it.
Also near the marketplace is the Café de France. Although the ambience is not at all comparable with the first recommendation, the prices are somehow 2-3 times cheaper and the food is delicious.
Limoni is just brilliant. The restaurant is charming, the ambience beautiful, the service kind and the cuisine awesome. Highly recommended!
Dar Cherifa is a real secret tip. And we mean really secret, because the restaurant is very difficult to find. Many small alleys have to be crossed. You will partly wonder if you are still on the right way.
But believe us, as soon as you arrive, you’ll be glad you made the trip. The location is beautiful and the food very tasty.
We could show you here only the most beautiful sides of Marrakesh, so that you have as positive a picture of the place as possible. But this is about authentic travel and so it must be said that Marrakesh can sometimes be very exhausting.
You will be approached every day at every corner by someone who wants to show you the way or otherwise help you. In most cases it is not done out of genuine hospitality, but because financial interest is behind it, and no one is satisfied with only little money.
During our stay in Marrakesh, we met just as wonderful people who appreciated just chatting a bit with strangers and were able to tell their personal stories. Such moments remain after the trip in the best memory.
All the mainly younger and sometimes very strenuous “helpers”, on the other hand, one would like to quickly banish from memory. Interestingly, in Agadir we were not approached once by the young crowd.
Nevertheless, Marrakesh is a wonderful place with unforgettably beautiful places and people who quickly grow in your heart.
Prices are per person, except for the accommodation, which we rent for 2 people.
Accommodation: $25 / night
Restaurant: $6 – $9 / meal
Pleasure: $2 – $7 / event
Ticket: $4 – $7 / event
