Marrakech: A guide for your first time
Marrakech. A busting, colourful city in Moroccan with the magnificent backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. Are you prepared for a multi-sensory experience? You’ve come to the right place. Here’s all you need to know for your first ever first trip to Marrakech!
The best time to visit
Marrakech welcomes an increasing number of tourists all year round, but the best time to go is any time from September to June, avoiding the the hot Summer months which often exceed 37°C.
I went in the end of December and the temperature reached a pleasant 20°C by the afternoons, but the mornings and evenings can get chilly. Remember to bring some layers if you’re visiting during the winter months, especially if you’re planning on any desert trips!
Arriving in Marrakech
If you want to hit the ground running, consider having an E-Sim installed on your phone, ready for when you land. Download an Airlo Sim Card here.
Otherwise, pick up a Sim Card at the Airport, which are usually given out for free (INWI and Maroc Telecom). Topping them up with data and minutes is inexpensive and can be done in shops displaying the network logos on their shop front.
Taxis to and from Marrakech Menara Airport will be around 120-150MAD (£10-13). Prebook it here and save yourself the haggling at the airport.
Where to stay
When visiting Marrakech, you won’t be short of beautiful hotels and riads to choose from and prices cater to all kinds of budgets! Really, accommodation in Marrakech is super affordable!
You’ll find that many of the resorts won’t be located directly in the centre and old medina of Marrakech, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you prioritise your peace and quiet. Just consider that you will need to factor in taxi fares into your costs when getting into the city and back.
However, for a more traditional experience, I recommend staying in a riad, a traditional style Moroccan home with an inner courtyard. Marrakech is full of them and they are the oases you need between the hustle and bustle of Marrakech’s busy streets. Check out this pretty in pink riad, Riad 117, I stay in, nestled in the old medina for only £50 a night!
Where to eat and drink
The Marrakech food scene is definitely worth the hype! If you love good food along with a buzzing atmosphere and beautiful surroundings, Marrakech will not let you down! Here are some places I ate at and loved:
L’Mida (Rooftop) – Delicious brunch, lunch and vegetarian options.
La Trattoria – The best pasta and stunning courtyard settings! Come on, there’s not many Trattorias that have a pool in their centre – this place is pretty unique!
Dar Dar (rooftop) – Stunning place to get dinner, drinks and catch the famous Marrakech sunset.
Bacha Coffee – If you’re visiting El Bacha Museum, don’t forget to sign yourself up for a table at its elegant coffee shop. They specialise in 100% pure Arabica Coffee, but it’s beautiful interior and history of the coffee shop that makes it worth the social media hype…and the up to 2 hour waiting list!
Places to visit
The souks (markets) of the Old Medina.
Jemaa El-Fnaa – The famous square and market place in Marrakesh’s medina quarter (old city). Full of food, markets, live music and more.
Le Jardin Secret – palace complex with traditional Islamic gardens, plus a shop & cafe.
Le Jardin Marjorelle – The typical thing to do in Marrakech is visit the Yves St Lauren Museum.
Badii Palace – A must in Marrakech! El Badii Palace is of great cultural and historical importance in Morocco: it was built in 1578.
Ben Youssef Madrassa – A stunning former Islamic school.
Koutoubia Mosque – The most famous mosque in Marrakech with beautiful gardens.
Agafay Desert – You can book the exact sunset dinner & stars activity I booked here. There was tradition native Moroccan “Amazigh” music, entertainment and even a tour of an Argan Oil Women’s Cooperative.
You need to know this in Marrakech
Be prepared for your senses to be awakened…then calmed repeatedly throughout the day – Many find Marrakech’s old Medina to be overwhelming and chaotic, with stall owners calling out to them with… interesting nicknames, from “Beyonce” to “Shakira” to “Fatima”. Please don’t take it personally, its their way of getting your attention and custom! There’s always so much happening in the Medina, but then you’ll walk into Badii Palace or one of the many gardens, museums or coffee shops and feel the calmness of these oases. Be prepared and take each experience as it comes!
Avoid taxi scams: you need to look out for start with taxi drivers overcharging unsuspecting tourists – make sure you download the app InDrive for an idea of what the starting rates for taxis might look like. A 20 minute drive on InDrive, Marrakech’s Uber equivalent, will cost you around 25-30MAD (£2-3). If you choose a yellow taxi (petit taxi) – make sure to agree the price before getting in.
Avoid looking lost or accepting unsolicited help from locals who try to show you the way to your accommodation or anywhere else – it won’t be free. They will help you out then ask for payment. I don’t recommend following any stranger insisting on helping you inside Marrakech’s old Medina and Jemaa El Fna. Google maps works just fine around Marrakech, so you’ll be better off using that – just be sure to download offline maps in case you don’t have internet data!
Animal shows in Jma El Fna are not free and tips are expected – even if you snap a picture or two. The hustle is real.
Haggle away! – Expect market sellers to give you the highest price possible when you first ask. Many will usually double the average price. Now, over to you to try and get it down as much as possible – happy shopping!
Basic words and phrases you should know
Yes, English, French and Spanish is spoken in Marrakech for tourists, but Moroccans always appreciate it when foreigners take interest in their language and culture. Darija (Moroccan Arabic) is widely spoken in Marrakech so here are a few words you should know:
As-salamu alaykum – Hello (literally, peace be upon you)
Shokran – Thank you
Afak – Please
Ah – Yes
La, bezaf – No, that’s too much/expensive (when haggling)
La, shokran – No thank you (also useful when being hassled to buy something)
What to wear
I’ve read a few blogs advising to cover up or else, but in reality you’ll see many local Marrakech ladies dressing as we do in the West. Marrakech is a blend of modest and modern: you’ll see some people in revealing clothing and others covered up. The general norm in Morocco is conservative dress.
As a British-Moroccan having spent weeks to months in Morocco at a time since I was about 6 months old, I’d advise dressing according to your comfort zone, whilst being mindful of the fact that cat-calling does exist and you may need to cover up when visiting any religious sites. Remember, conservative dress doesn’t mean you’ll be ditching style but quite the opposite! I went for light and flowy and combined abayas with ribbed dresses or tops and flowy wide-leg trousers – I felt like a princess in the abayas, I must admit!
Day trips from Marrakech
If you’re staying in Marrakech more than 3 days, why not delve into other parts of Morocco as a day trip Morocco is such a diverse country and what you see in Marrakech will be completely different to the vibes in other parts! There are many to choose from including; Agafay Desert, the Atlas Mountains, Ouzoud Waterfalls, the coastal town of Essaouira, Casablanca city, and Aït Ben Haddou. Check them out here.
If you’re short on time and need to choose one , I’d especially recommend visiting the Agafay desert and Atlas Mountains and learning more about the native Amazigh culture and people, which is so important to the identity of Moroccans and North Africans!
Whether you’re travelling around Morocco or only visiting Marrakech, it the perfect blend of culture, history and modernity – you’ve made a great choice!
Let me know in the comments what you’re looking forward to the most. Or if you’ve already been, what did you love the most?
Check out my Instagram reels and stories for more Marrakech tips and inspiration: @sarasidyll
