The Best Things to do in Marrakech

People have been travelling to Marrakech, Morocco’s red city for millennia, but the original travellers came to trade. Today, most of Marrakech’s visitors are tourists come to sample this unique culture. So, let’s jump on Crosby, Stills and Nash’s, “Marrakech Express” and check out the 10 best things to do in Marrakech.

Visit Jemaa el-Fnaa – 10 Best Things to do in Marrakech

Marrakech’s largest square, Jemaa el-Fnaa, is the beating heart of this extraordinary city. During the day, it’s a chaotic, exciting place filled with snake charmers, fruit juice sellers, and hawkers. At one time, you could buy human teeth here to make dentures. Fortunately, that practice seems to have stopped.

As vibrant as it is during the day, the true Jemaa el-Fnaa experience doesn’t kick in until night falls. Darkness brings musicians, traders and a renowned street food market.

Berber drumming rhythms assault your eardrums and the smell of grilling meat fills your nostrils. Hawkers set up on the ground selling colourful lamps and the souks are still open around the square.
It truly is a magical place, and you can’t say you’ve been to Marrakech without experiencing it.

Soar over the Desert in a Hot-Air Balloon

Soar over the desert and the Palmeraie oasis in the basket of a colourful hot-air balloon.

Hot coffee and croissants in a Berber tent will stave off the pre-dawn desert chill. The whoosh of the gas burners and the sight of giant balloons inflating will wash away the fatigue from the early start.
The feeling of slowly rising from the ground with the heat from the burners scorching your hair is sublime. When your balloon floats upwards, you become part of the wind. There’s no feeling of movement as you are in a hundred foot plus coloured cloud.

Around you, a kaleidoscope of balloons share the air. Anywhere between thirty and a hundred balloons will take off from the same area. Slowly, the sun rises over the horizon, painting the desert with the ochre of Marrakech’s walls.

The forty-minute flights end with a hearty Berber breakfast and, of course, mint tea.

Bargain Hunt in the Souks -10 Best Things to do in Marrakech

Trade has been Marrakech’s reason for existing for the past 1000 years. The Souks give an insight into this tradition. Narrow streets packed with shops selling everything from crafts to jewellery to spices.

Some shops offer craft demonstrations, showing the traditional techniques still used to make the goods for sale today.

Haggling is the name of the game, and the initial price is simply a starting point. Unless a sign says ‘Pris Fixe’, the merchant expects you to bargain with him. Offer about a third of the original price, and after some hand waving and dramatics, you’ll probably settle at about half. Don’t like the price? It’s fine to walk away.

Visit Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens

The Koutoubia Mosque is Marrakech’s largest, with a beautiful minaret towering 250 feet high. This important example of Islamic architecture served as inspiration for Spain’s Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower of Rabat.

Construction of the original mosque began in 1147. Unfortunately, a misalignment with Mecca meant it had to be torn down and replaced soon after (1158).

Although access into the mosque by non-Muslims is forbidden, it’s an impressive site worth visiting from the outside. It also features pleasant gardens which are accessible.

Take a tour of Morocco’s Food – 10 Best Things to do in Marrakech

The food in Morocco is fantastic. Carnivores and vegetarians will both find food heaven here. Whether your tastes run to traditional tagines, spicy soups, or pigeon pastilla, Marrakech has something for you.

Compared with similar ‘tourist cities’, eating in Marrakech is cheap. Despite this, the city’s restaurants range from chic to basic, suiting every taste and wallet.

Many restaurants have rooftop terrace dining which allows you to savour a wonderful view of the city while enjoying a delicious meal.
Alternatively, get a crash course in Moroccan cuisine on a food tour. These introduce visitors to the spices and flavours used in Moroccan cooking with significant amounts of tasting of local treats. Once acclimatised, the guide will take you into the hubbub of the Street Food market in the main Jemaa el-Fnaa square.

Another option, if you want to get your hands dirty, is to take a Moroccan cookery course. A local will take you shopping to the market for ingredients, then guide you through the process of preparing traditional Moroccan dishes. There will, of course, be some eating involved.

Marvel at the Bahia Palace

Built in the 19th century to house the Sultan’s High Visier and his four wives, the Bahia Palace is a beautiful example of Moroccan architecture and style.

Artistically, the complex features many styles of traditional decorations. These include carved wooden lintels, zellij, (mosaic tile work), and zouak (a style of wood painting exclusive to Morocco). Unusually, the palace also features stained glass windows, thought to be the first example in North Africa.

The self-guided tour leads visitors around the palace. Each stop highlights different aspects of the life of a high-ranking official.

Relax in a Moroccan Hammam – 10 Best Things to do in Marrakech

A relaxing hammam session is the perfect end to a hard day’s sightseeing.

Historically, hammams were public baths attached to mosques so the faithful could cleanse before prayers. These public baths still exist and offer a more hardcore hammam experience. Visitors to the public hammam are expected to bring their own kese (rough glove for scrubbing skin), savon beldi (Morrocan black soap) and shower shoes, towel, swimsuit, etc.

Public hammams are segregated by sex, so couples may prefer a private hammam session. Typically, more expensive, these are closer to Western spa days offering massages and treatments.

Study Madrassa Ben Yousef

Buried deep in the Medina, the Madrassa Ben Yousef is a gem worth finding. Madrasas are Islamic seats of learning, and students studied have here for 400 years.

The architecture and decorations are incredible. Huge carved cedar wood doors surrounded by plaster sculpted into complex geometric designs. This is important, as Islam doesn’t allow the depiction of people or animals.

Upstairs, tiny cells give an insight into student life.

Stay in a Riad – 10 Best Things to do in Marrakech

Riads are traditional Moroccan houses built around a courtyard. Often located in the Medina’s narrowest streets, they offer an excellent introduction to this extraordinary place.

The outside walls are thick, plain, and with no windows. This combats the heat of the desert sun and also preserves the Islamic concept of modesty, displaying no public wealth. The walls also keep the noise and chaos of the Medina at bay, giving the riads a sense of peace.
Inside, riads are characterised by beautiful decoration, often with a small fountain or pool in the central courtyard. “Zellij” complex mosaics will decorate the inner walls.

Today, many riads have been turned into bed-and-breakfast establishments offering a variety of services. Many have dining rooms on the rooftop terrace, giving views over the Medina. Facilities and luxury vary between riads. Some offer a ‘hammam’ service which, alongside a traditional, albeit private hammam experience, offers other treatments which more closely resemble international spas. The following are riads I’ve stayed in and can personally recommend.

Visit Marrakech’s Gardens

“Water is life” and nothing is more important to a desert city than its water supply. The Khettaras water system built to feed the fledgling city of Marrakech in the 10th century is an engineering miracle. Engineers built a series of vertical wells linked to sloping tunnels which allow the groundwater to flow into the city.

Gardens in a desert environment are the ultimate bling, and Marrakech has two examples which are worth visiting.

Majorelle Gardens

French painter Jacques Majorelle created the Majorelle Gardens, which opened to the public in 1947. The world famous fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent has since acquired and renovated it. The vibrant blue of the architecture and fountains was inspired by the colour regularly seen in Berber life. These gardens include a Berber museum and another, dedicated to Yves Saint Laurent, can be found nearby.

Le Jardin Secret

Le Jardin Secret lies in the Medina, near the Madrassa Ben Yousef. The history of the complex of buildings surrounding the garden date back four hundred years. It was rebuilt in the 19th century after the original palace was destroyed in the late 17th century. The current garden dates from its refurbishment in 2008.

Unlike the Jardin Majorelle, the ticket to the garden allows reentry all day. This makes it an ideal retreat from exploring the chaos of the Souks which surround it. Take the opportunity for coffee or lunch in the excellent terrace cafe.

Conclusion

Barely further than southern Spain, Morocco is a world away.

The sights, smells, and sounds of North Africa will explode over you the second you arrive.

Perhaps it’s the dizzying chaos of Jemaa el-Fnaa or the haunting call to prayer of the Muezzin. Maybe it’s the tranquility of a beautifully decorated Riad, or the peace of riding a hot-air balloon over the desert. The taste of a tagine or the thrill of haggling over handmade leather goods may enchant you. Whatever calls to you, Marrakech is a destination you’ll never forget.

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