If you’re wondering what destination to choose for your next weekend away, make sure to put Marrakech on your list. Morocco has definitely captured my heart and I’m sure this won’t be my last visit in this vibrant country. Marrakech is perfect to visit even if you only have 2 or 3 days to spare. The airport is a 15-minute drive from the city centre and you can visit most things by just walking around.
We visited Marrakech during Ramadan, so some of the attractions had different opening hours or were closed, but this didn’t stop us from having a great experience. If you happen to visit during the fasting, try and immerse yourself in the local culture! You can have the Iftar meal with locals in one of the many spots around Jemaa el-Fnaa Square or attend the evening prayer at Koutoubia Mosque (only from the outside). One of the most fun and authentic experiences was when we stopped at a random spot to have harira, the traditional Moroccan soup and part of the Iftar meal, and we were seated at a table with an old man who was having a smoke with his evening mint tea!
Here are my suggestions for what to do in Marrakech for a weekend!
VISIT THE SOUKS (MARKETS) OF THE OLD TOWN!
The Medina or Old Town is entirely walkable and it’s probably the most beautiful part of Marrakech. It’s very crowded, with narrow, maze-like streets, full of people, motorbikes and overall chaos! Keep that in mind if that’s something that really annoys you. The Old Town is basically a huge souk, a complex of markets where you can find any souvenir you can think of. My favorite souk area was the one between the dyers souk and the souk El Attarine, all the way down to souk Semmarine. Personally, I found that here you could find more authentic and less “fake” souvenirs, while if you keep going south towards Jemaa el-Fnaa square, it tends to get more touristy. Be prepared to bargain and negotiate EVERYTHING. Don’t be scared, but be aware of vendors putting things in your hand or directly on you (like scarves and hats). Be polite, but firm.
SOAK IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY IN ONE OF THE MANY PALACES OR GARDENS
Most attractions are also in the old town or reachable on foot. The only exception I think are the YSL Museum and the Jardin Majorelle. There are many palaces and museums that you can visit for as little as 5 bucks per person! Choose between El Badi Palace, El Bahia Palace or the Saadian Tombs, all south of the Medina. Or visit the Islamic college Ben Youssef Madrasa (one of my favorite spots). There are also many gardens where you can go to escape the Moroccan heat. If you go during Ramadan like I did, keep in mind that most places will close 2/3 hours earlier.
If you go northeast of the Medina, towards Bab Debbagh Gate, you can also visit the traditional tanneries. Be aware of the smell! You’ll most likely find someone that wants to be your guide, know they’ll end up asking you for money anyway. You can also end up in not-so-nice situations where you’re stuck in a shop or forced to buy something. So again, be polite, but be firm and be careful. We ended having to buy a 40$ belt just to be able to leave, because they were very insistent. Sadly, that kinda ruined the experience for me!
EAT, EAT, EAT!
You know that this is my favorite activity!! Moroccan food is delicious and has so many unique flavors! Tajine and cous cous are some of the most popular dishes, but there are so many kinds. My favorite tajine, a stew cooked in a clay pot, was probably the one with poulet au citron, chicken with preserved lemons, or the lamb with dried prunes (pictured below)!
There’s also a lot of dirt cheap street food that you can find. my favorite, which I’d never heard before, was probably msemen, a flaky flatbread, with mixte, a mix of meat and vegetables that’s cooked on the grill and wrapped in the bread. All for the high price of 1/1,5$. I know, I know. You can also find lots of briwats, similar to Indian samosas, and pastillas, a round flaky pie, my favorite is the one with chicken and cinnamon sugar on top. I know it may sound weird, but trust me!
Another shoutout has to go to Moroccan sweets, which also make for a great gift to bring back home! There are a lot of pastry shops where you can buy boxes for 7/8$. The one pictured below is called Al Jawda, but you can find many others if you go up or down the street, along with some other great street food options!
GO ON A TOUR OR DAY TRIP OUTSIDE THE CITY!
There are many half-day or day trips that you can go on just outside of Marrakech. Some of the most popular ones are in the Ourika Valley, up the Atlas Mountains or in the desert. We had only half a day, so picked the quad ride in the palm desert, which was around 20$ and definitely worth it!
