Top Things To-Do for a Perfect Trip to Marrakech

Marrakech

Marrakech what a unique beautiful amazing city! I fell in love instantly with the Moroccan culture and its appreciation for detail, design, relaxation, and personal connection. Stay in a traditional riad that will act as your oasis in the hustle and bustle, eat at hidden restaurants, indulge in Moroccan massages and Hammams and get lost wandering the souks that are a feast for your senses. My husband Shane and I came to Morocco for our honeymoon because it provided us with adventure, luxury at affordable prices, relaxation, and expanding our world view all in one place!

Where to stay

Picking a Riad is one of the most fun parts of planning a trip to Marrakech! Spoiled by choice it is hard to decide. I did a lot of research and chose Demeures d'Orient Riad & Spa Marrakech because of it’s stunning courtyard and huge suite! We were so thrilled with our stay, and dinner one night in the riad is a must (we stayed in twice because it was pure magic!). Picture flowering trees, candles everywhere, Moroccan music, a bottle of wine and fabulous food! We had an excellent massage and tried a Hammam which is a long standing tradition of steam and salt scrubs. We loved coming back to the riad for a dip in the pool after exploring the city. A huge spread for breakfast is included every morning too, can’t recommend enough!

Where to stay: The undisputed top accommodation in Marrakech is the Royal Mansour Marrakech. If you can swing the splurge it is well worth it for one of the top hotels in the world, commissioned by the King of Morocco himself King Mohammed VI! The location is right in the heart of the city, but you would never know it after stepping onto the property. There are 50+ private riads where you will have a plunge pool and roof terrace all to yourself, get ready to be treated like royalty here!

What to Do

Explore the Souks: The first thing once you drop your bags in your riad and have some mint tea, is to go out and wander the streets of Marrakech. The Medina is a walled ancient part of the city, where winding alleyways are filled with shops and restaurants that people have been walking for centuries. There are so many tiny alleys and tunnels that maps aren’t totally accurate here so just budget in some time to get lost - which is part of the fun! Smell your way through the spice souks, if you left room in your suitcase the rugs and poufs are gorgeous, the woven baskets are easy souvenirs, and the leather goods are super affordable. People will call out to you to stop and look at their shop relentlessly at times, but nothing malicious they just are trying to make a living too!

Jemaa el-Fna Square: This huge square is where the souk streets lead to. It is worth seeing so I still included it on my list, but in our experience we did not want to spend a lot of time here. I didn’t like people walking straight up to us trying to put a chained monkey on my shoulder just for a picture so I would pay them. It all felt like a pushy tourist trap with snake charmers (drugged snakes) and fortune tellers all trying to get you to pay them. I really wanted to take it all in but the constant hassling was too much! Instead we kept moving towards the mosque which was much more peaceful and we could really see it (from the outside, tourists cannot go in). I will say too in photos I saw beforehand - the square looked MUCH fuller and lively then what we experienced, so it could be that tourism is still recovering and it’s not how the square “normally” is. Traveling isn’t always perfect is it!

Dar El Bacha: I really loved this historic palace and was so happy someone suggested we went here! When you walk in you are treated to a beautiful courtyard full of orange trees surrounded by stunning tile and pillars representing one of the most beautiful riads in the medina! There are several exhibits on each side of the courtyard and it is really a stunning place. It gets even better though! Inside the courtyard is a little treasure, Bacha Coffee Café! Come prepared for some caffeine and the food menu is great too if you want a bite to eat or a desert. The café itself is stunning and very art deco, I just loved it!

Jardin Majorelle: This place is outside of the Medina walls, and a beautiful restored estate done so by Yves Saint Lauren himself! I loved the gardens and use of vibrant blue and yellow color. There is a YSL museum as well to check out next door, as well as a little museum about the Berber culture! A fact I loved from the museum is that Berber’s walked beside Romans and Phoenicians, but are the only ones still standing - pretty remarkable. There are a lot of people here taking photos since the backdrops are beautiful, so come early if you want a little more privacy!

Ben Youssef Madrasa: This is a historic Islamic college that is beautifully maintained and now opened to the public as a historical site. Created in 1331 in the heart of the city, students learned a variety of subjects and the school was an essential part of Marrakech. This is a great spot to really admire Islamic architecture and it is a place of serenity.

Where to Eat

Cade des Epices: This location can ‘t be beat because it is in the heart of the souks and right off the square, making it a perfect place to people watch without people coaxing you to their stores! The rooftop is shaded and with lovely views and the food was pretty good. I love a good rooftop restaurant and was very pleased to find this place!

Dar Charifa: This was my favorite restaurant in Marrakech! Walk through an unassuming door that lets you in to speakeasy-esk hidden restaurant! The space was stunning with natural light pouring onto vaulted ceilings and the vibe was so cool. The food was equally impressive - the tagine here is a must!!

Riad Demeures d'Orient Restaurant: As mentioned above, this riad is so beautiful and the food is phenomenal. Even if you don’t stay here, it is well worth dining at for the ambiance and romantic candlelit dinner. Call for reservations in advanced and they will take your dinner order because the food is slow cooked for hours!

Hire a photographer: This is a little bonus thing to do, because my husband and I booked Lyes and we are obsessed with our photos to always remember our honeymoon, Marrakech can be a bit overwhelming which adds to the excitement for sure, but it was nice walking around with a trusted expert who loves photography, knows all the streets and was incredibly kind! Can’t recommend him enough, he was well worth the price and I mean look at these photos - we are inside artwork!

What to Pack

Hope you enjoyed this post on Marrakech!