We're going to Marrakech!" That sounds so damn oriental and ... it is! This city formed the start and end of our great tour through Morocco. Find out here our tips and Marrakech sights that you should include in your planning!

Why Marrakech should be on every travel list

 

The city of Marrakech has experienced a real tourism boom in recent years, and not without good reason. The Moroccan city with its oriental flair and the confusing old town - the famous medina - is only 3-5 hours by plane from Germany.

More and more travel enthusiasts are interested in the culture of Morocco, are looking for the contrast between modern and ancient or love the abundance of Instagram spots. Viajes al Desierto Marruecos

The food of the Moroccans is really a dream! We looked forward to the tagines, the tea and the orange juice every day.

Palaces, parks, squares, Koran schools and much more are among the sights of Marrakech. And everything is relatively close together! You can reach most of the spots on foot, so that a long weekend is a good idea to explore.

Marrakech landmarks

Stroll through the alleys of the medina

They're twisted, my god they're twisted. The old town, the medina of Marrakech has it all. It's huge, built like a maze and everything looks somehow the same.

From the Djemaa el Fna there are several alleys that lead you into countless small markets. From leather to lamps, argan oil to jewelry and shoes, everything you could hope for from a visit to Marrakech can be found here.

You pass many beautiful old archways, doors and antique details. But be careful, if you let yourself drift, you can quickly lose your orientation, so we strongly recommend a GPS-enabled cell phone and the HereWeGo app , which has helped us the best here.

And: NEVER, NEVER ask for directions, there are countless guides on the left who want to be paid for their services! If someone wants to take a tour, thank them nicely and try your luck yourself or otherwise speak to a shop owner yourself .

So that you can really soak up the flair of the medina, I definitely recommend booking a riad right in the middle of it. We had our accommodation just a few meters from the Great Market Square and the flair was already unique!

 

Try as many tagines as you can

The typical Moroccan dish: The tagine is a pointed clay pot that is used for gentle cooking. So that nothing burns, the dishes are prepared in this bowl, which resembles a pointed cap.

In every restaurant you can get tajines with meat (lamb, beef or chicken) in countless ways. The spices used are reminiscent of Christmas and the mix with dried fruits is exotic for the European palate.

U ur favorites are clearly lamb with figs or tagine Brania with eggplant. And there are also a lot of vegetarian options. The price of the tagines in Marrakech is between 30 and 80 dirhams (2.70 - 7.50 euros), depending on the restaurant class.

➳We have prepared a packing list especially for Morocco: What you mustn't forget - your packing list for Morocco

 

 

Watch the spectacle on the Jemaa el Fna

What would the Marrakech sights be without him? The flute of the snake charmers resounds over the entire Djemaa el Fna and is still in our ears. In all travel guides you can read the old Moroccan proverb:

To classify the place under “Insider tips for Marrakech” is unfortunately impossible, as the hustle and bustle on this place can hardly be put into words. At every corner you can see jugglers, water carriers, erect cobras, little monkeys on leashes, you can hear drums and smell freshly squeezed orange juice. You have to try this !!

The carriages rushing past and the enticing cookshop owners increase the sensory overload. In Marrakech, too, we paid almost everything in cash with Moroccan dirhams. You do not need to exchange this beforehand, you can get it with the card at any ATM (including at the airport) with your credit card.

But be careful: Here too, the holiday experience can be clouded by sellers who are after your money. Always ask for the price beforehand and for dinner we would not recommend the mobile stalls in the middle of the square.

The bills there can cost five times what you pay in the restaurants around it. Check out our post here: Marrakech Desert Tips

Relax in the beautiful parks

 

Marrakech shines with its many and very well-kept parks. Unexpectedly, we wandered through the cyber park on the way from the medina to the new town . A super well-kept park in which we saw several gardeners who keep it in good shape.

Many Moroccans use the shade of the trees in the midday heat to meet, read and study together. If the exhaust fumes from mopeds get on your nerves too much, you can experience a wonderfully fresh and calm change here.

Visit mosques, palaces, and Koran schools

 

When we were in Marrakech, we unfortunately had a bit of bad luck, as many things were being renovated at the time and were therefore closed. According to our research, these are often the side effects of Ramadan. However, if your trip is outside of the fasting month, then don't miss the following Marrakech sights.

 

Koutoubia mosque

You will certainly not be able to miss it. The 77 meter high tower of the Koutoubia Mosque can be seen from almost every corner of the city. The mosque is a landmark for Marrakech and a model example of Moroccan architecture! 

It can accommodate over 20,000 people. You can find it on the edge of the old town (medina), a few hundred meters from Djemaa el Fna square. After you have walked past various horse-drawn carriages, you can marvel at the over 12 meter high minaret, which is even illuminated in the dark.

Entry is not permitted for tourists, but you shouldn't miss the outer facade and the attached garden. We went here several times when walking from the old town to the new town.

Bahia Palace

 

The Bahia Palace could still be visited during our visit, despite Ramadan. The palace was named after the favorite wife of the vizier Ba Ahmed Ben Moussa. 160 impressive rooms form a labyrinth in which one room is more beautiful than the other. 

50 picturesque cedar ceilings are waiting for you, teeming with decorations. This palace seems to be an absolute must-do, especially for photographers and Instagram lovers. The idyllic garden and the mosaic stones are simply good photo motifs!

We walked a few minutes to Bahia Palace - it's a good kilometer from Djemaa el Fna. Unfortunately, we had to squeeze past many tour groups, so it is best to be here relatively early when the others are still at the breakfast buffet.

Opening times : 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 3 p.m. during Ramadan)
Admission: 10 dirhams (approx. 90 cents)

Medersa Ben Youssef

It is the largest and most important Koran school in Marrakech. The teaching facility was also a residence with over 130 rooms on the upper floor, mainly for rural students. 

The center of the sight is a large prayer room. The school was founded in the 14th century. Here, too, you will find a unique architecture: Lots of colored mosaics, cedar wood and carvings

At the turn of the millennium, the medersa was extensively renovated (and unfortunately also during our Morocco trip). The renovation work is expected to continue until 2020, so find out if it's open before you visit.

Opening hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission: 50 dirhams (4.50 euros)

El Badi Palace

If you have visited the Bahia Palace, you can jump straight to the next one. Once across the Place des Ferblantiers and you come to the ruins of the El Badi Palace. From the outside you will already see the old walls and the stork nests on its towers.

The palace was built by Saadian Sultan Ahmed el-Mansour at the end of the 16th century. One thing was a lot of pomp and imported materials, but today unfortunately only ruins and prison cells in the basement. The “Festival National des Arts Populaires” takes place here every year on the grounds of the palace . 

Opening times: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission: 10 dirhams (approx. 0.90 euros)

Shopping in the new town

To the northwest of the medina lies Marrakech's new town of Gueliz. A short walk along orange trees takes you into a completely different world.

Previously, you had experienced the spirit of 1001 Nights through dealers, oil lamps, leather goods and spices on every corner and you now stand in front of an H&M, Starbucks and even a Cafe Extrablatt.

It is immediately clear that this is where the money is sitting when you watch the Cayennes rush past you. Various designer shops and chic restaurants line up.

We used the good Carrefour supermarket here to get a lunch snack and sometimes looked sad when we discovered that the Café Extrablatt (known from Germany) was being renovated! After Ramadan ended, it was open again and we had a coffee there.

Make a detour to the Atlas Mountains

Atlas Mountains south of Marrakech

Mega! Only 70 km away from Marrakech is Mount Toubkal, the highest point in North Africa and the second highest mountain in all of Africa - one of our bucket list adventures !

So if you have more than two days in Marrakech, a detour to the beautiful mountain region is definitely worthwhile. For only 50 dirhams (approx. 5 euros) the shared bus goes to Imlil, which is the starting point for trekking tours. You only have to plan two days for climbing the summit , but day tours in the region are also highly recommended.  Viaje a Marruecos

Interested? Then click here for the post: 4167 vertical meters | Your guide for the Jebel Toubkal

 

Stay in a riad

Inner courtyard of the Riad Bibtia in Marrakech

Riad stands for "green inner courtyard" and refers to the houses in the Medina (old town) in Marrakech. These are designed so that they have a small garden in the middle of the building that all rooms face.

A clever solution in terms of space, as otherwise windows with a view would be rare with the narrow construction of the old town. We decided on the Riad Bibtia, which was ideal with its location in the middle of the media. Most riads have a roof terrace where you can enjoy the sweet, Moroccan breakfast.

➤In Marrakech, in addition to the hotel price, there is a tourist tax of approx. 2.50 euros per night per person. We were very satisfied with our riad and the central location. We paid around 20 euros a night.

Book Riad Bibtia

Learn about leather making

While strolling through the souks of the medina, it becomes clear that Moroccans have leather! Leather goods as far as the eye can see, bags, cases, shoes and jackets are offered in all imaginable leather colors. Leather production also takes place in the middle of the medina.

Tannery in Marrakech

The tannery is not exactly attractive because of its smell. You get sick from afar. When entering the facility, you get a few sprigs of mint that you can hold under your nose, the “Moroccan gas mask”, as our guide explains!

WICHITG: As everywhere in Morocco, fix the price for a guided tour before entering the sights, so before you get the sprigs of mint, otherwise it could be expensive afterwards!

➤Cost: Starting price around 100 dirhams, just under 10 euros (the rest is negotiating skills)
➤Where: Tannery Avenue Bab El Debbagh, Marrakech 40000

Enjoy mint tea on a roof terrace

"The a la menthe" is the name of the Moroccan drink. It is offered on every menu, the fresh mint tea, so it should actually be the number one travel tip.

Mint tea in Cafe de France

Classically, the ornate iron jug is held sooooo high when pouring into a mini glass that every European spills the entire table.

But the scent is fantastic and the taste makes for a refreshment in the hot country. We enjoyed it on several roof terraces and watched the goings on in the alleys. The Cafe de France offers an impressive view over the Djemaa el Fna.

 

➤Cost: 10-15 dirhams (20 dirhams in Cafe de France) 1-2 euros
➤Where: e.g. Rue des Banques, jamaa el-fnna 40000

More tips for Marrakech

As you have already read, there are a few stumbling blocks when visiting the city. Especially for Marrakech we have written a post on what you should pay attention to in order not to let your trip turn into a catastrophe. → All Marrkasch tips for your trip

To get some impressions in moving pictures, take a look at our video. (We would be happy if you leave us a like.)