Is Marrakech Worth Visiting? What I Loved and Hated
Morocco is an incredible country in so many ways. Marrakech is the fourth largest city in the country and the main tourist hub. But is Marrakech worth visiting? Yes! It’s a great place for travelers, as the bustling city offers so much to see and do!
The city is divided into the “Old Town” and the “New Town” – the old part is where tourism thrives. Locals call it the “Medina”, an Arab word for the centers found in many older cities of Northern Africa.
You’ll also hear the word “souk”, which means a marketplace or bazaar, and ‘riad’, which refers to a small hotel or guest house in Morocco with an inner courtyard. In Marrakech, many of the opulent riads, and attractions sit around the souk.
Eleanor in in the main courtyard at Bahia Palace
Many travelers have mixed feelings around their trip to Marrakech. Like most destinations, there are always things we appreciate more than others. Here’s what I loved and hated in Marrakech.
What I Loved in Marrakech
- The Incredible Hospitality
Marrakech is known for its hospitality and I felt welcome everywhere I went. Staff at the riads were extremely helpful and actively assisted me with everything I needed from offering snacks, carrying my bags, to describing the Medina map.
- The Delicious Mint Tea
Part of the impressive hospitality is the high-quality mint tea. When arriving at riads and resorts across Morocco, guests are treated to a welcome tea. I didn’t realize this when I first arrived and was really impressed by the service offered to me. The yuumy tea may be worth visiting Marrakech for alone!
- The Delectable Food
The food in Morocco is delicious. Tagine, a stew of spiced meat and vegetables prepared by slow-cooking is typically served for lunch and dinner. Tagines are commonly made with chicken, beef, lamb, or only veggie options. Most restaurants will offer a handful of options.
Barbecued food, like beef skewers, are also commonly found around Marrakech.
Before lunch and dinner, a slew of small plates, including diced vegetables and dips, are served with fresh bread. This is my favorite part of the meal!
After the meal, expect dessert, as well as mint tea.
For breakfast, riads will serve a selection of small plates with omelets, Moroccan pancakes, olives, cheese, pastries, and different types of bread. Riads will also serve fresh orange juice, coffee, and mint tea, of course!
- The Entertainment
At Restaurant Dar Essalam we were treated to an unbelievable dinner and a show. I can not recommend it enough! Throughout the meal, we enjoyed traditional Moroccan music played with a variety of native instruments, singing, candle balancers, and belly dancers.
We shared the lamb tagine and the chicken with couscous. The couscous was my favorite! Meals also came with a plethora of appetizer small plates and fresh bread. Though we did not partake, the restaurants serves alcohol.
You have no shortage of things to do in Marrakech at night, like sunsets, food tours, stargazing, and more live music.
- The Vibes
Marrakech is a vibrant, happening city. My friends and I found two open-air rooftop bars with fantastic vibes all around! And though most native Moroccans don’t consume alcohol, it’s available to tourists at select establishments.
Kabana is a chic, high-end rooftop restaurant and lounge. It was extremely crowded and tough to get a table. Though, great vibes all around. If you’re looking for nightlife of Marrakech, you’ll find it here!
DarDar Bar & Restaurant was much more our style – we went twice. Luckily for us, it was just a few steps up the alley from our riad. This spot has a gorgeous rooftop with lanterns, and an indoor section, as well. DarDar sells fantastic wine by the glass and the bottle, in addition to cocktails. Though we went a night both times, we heard that this is a great sunset spot. Highly recommend!
- The Beautiful Riads
The outstanding riads of Marrakech is what most travelers have seen on their Instagram feeds while planning their trip. Many riads boast incredible architecture with delicately placed, intricate tiles throughout. Water fountains and small gardens are also typically found in the open-air riad lobby. It’s no surprise that the term “riad” means “garden” in Arabic.
Riads can come in all shapes and sizes, though most have less than 10 rooms. Many in Marrakech have beautiful rooftops where guests are treated to meals, while others even have pools and hot tubs.
Where to Stay: 📍Riad Nesma Suites & Spa / 📍Riad Saba / 📍Riad Bensaid
Book ahead, as riads have very few rooms!
- The Amazing Architecture
Marrakech is known for its incredible architecture, as well as the widespread Moroccan tile patterns. The most notable building in the city is the tall Koutoubia Mosque, which you can use to help find your way around the outside of the medina.
Seeing the beautiful architectural patterns and intricate, colorful tile detail is worth the trip to Marrakech.
(Another place with great architecture is Casco Viejo in Panama City.)
- The Gorgeous Bahia Palace
Bahia Palace is an awe inspiring place and a must-see in Marrakech. This is a palace from the 19th century adorned with remarkable stuccos, captivating paintings, and intricate tile mosaics. The structure boasts exquisite courtyards and enchanting gardens that further enhance its beauty. Expect bright blues, yellows, oranges, and greens.
Although we hired a guide for an in-depth tour, you can also walk around the palace on your own and take in the impressive style and majestic feel of the place.
It’s best to hear all about this stunning palace from a guide, so you can appreciate the history behind it all. This half-day city highlights tour includes the Saadian Tombs, the Koutoubia Mosque, and Bahia Palace.
It’s best to soak in the palace and other sites but if you’re low on time, this trip visits the main attractions of the city quickly.
- The Luscious Majorelle Gardens
The Majorelle Gardens should also be on your bucket list in Marrakech. Spread across a vast expanse of two acres, these breathtaking gardens are meticulously well-kept, surrounding a tranquil pond, an inviting museum, and a charming café. They were created by French artists Jacques Majorelle after he moved to Morocco to rest after health challenges.
Unless you take a tour, you’ll have to take a taxi there from the Medina. You’ll have to queue before the exact time on your ticket. The lines are long.
This combo ticket includes multiple gardens, and because the taxi situation was more of a headache than it was worth, I definitely recommend a tour with pickup if you can spare the cash.
- The Relaxing Hammam Experience
Finally, visitors to Morocco must experience a traditional Hammam. A Hammam is a traditional public bath.
I sought out one of the top-rated Hammams in Marrakech – the gorgeous Mythic Oriental Spa. It was an incredible experience! I opted for the Mythic Oriental Signature package (850 DHS, equivalent of $84 at time of publishing). It started with a full body scrub, about 15 minutes in the steam room, and then a 1 hour, 15 minute argan oil aromatherapy massage.
Throughout my experience at the Mythic Oriental Spa, the service was impeccable. It felt weird to me, though, to be scrubbed down naked on a wet bench and then moved to lay naked in a sauna with a bunch of strangers. I also didn’t love the bucket of water that was dumped over my head. Nonetheless, I had an outstanding massage and then delicious snacks on the rooftop. It was the perfect experience for my final day in Morocco!
For an affordable, yet luxurious spa experience, I’d say Marrakech is worth visiting.
What I Was Neutral About
- The Winding Medina / Souks
The medina is a labyrinth of roads connecting souks with different areas of the city. The layout just doesn’t make sense! This is where Google Maps will be your best friend. The Riad also gave us a paper map and marked exactly how to get to the main attractions.
The challenge with the medina is that there are no sidewalks. The alleyways are both the street and the walkway. Scooters whiz their way around the medina, often coming way too close for comfort.
Also, keep in mind that some of the less visited alleyways are very dark at night. We didn’t know this and the first Riad we stayed in was tougher to get to. Riad Nesma is right on a main strip though, and a straight shot to the main square.
The medina was certainly an experience to see, as I’d never been anywhere like this before.
Explore the souks with a guide to learn more about the shops and history.
- The Plentiful Shopping
The souks have incredible leather, lamps, and other art goods. You’ll also find great spices and olives as well as plenty of cheap tourist souvenirs. I don’t typically buy items while traveling, so I was fine to take a quick look in stores as I walked by but kept it moving.
What I Hated in Marrakech
- The Uncomfortable Heat is what I hated most ini Marrakech
Morocco is hot all year long with temperatures reaching uncomfortable heights May through September. I traveled in May, and while not quite summer, I visited during a very hot week with temperatures in the high 90s.
Walking around anywhere in that kind of heat is not easy, and there was no breeze. Luckily, many areas have shade from the sun, and most Riads and upscale restaurants have air conditioning.
- The Chaotic Main Square
Jemaa el-Fnaa main square is the focal point of Marrakech. It is insanely chaotic, overwhelming and extremely crowded anytime but in the morning.
This is the main area where locals try to take advantage of tourists the most. You cannot make it even a few steps into the square without someone yelling at you to buy something. Locals will try to get you to take a paid photo with their animals, usually snakes, monkeys, and women will try to sell you henna art. Don’t participate in any of this!
The square is a good place to enjoy dinner and people-watch, especially from a balcony.
- The Unethical Taxi Drivers
Transportation via taxi is a headache in Marrakech. I suggest you avoid it if you can.
Beware of common taxi scams:
- Most drivers will generally over-charge. Negotiate and feel empowered to walk away. I recommend hiring a transfer from your hotel.
- Drivers charge a different amount on arrival. Drivers will claim that the “meter broke”
- Drivers will also claim that they don’t have change to break larger bills in hopes of keeping the difference. Always keep small bills on you.
Taxi drivers will bypass locals in favor of picking up tourists because they can charge more than they should.
- The Aggressive Salespeople
Though I realize shop workers are just trying to make a living, it’s incredibly annoying to be yelled at to buy something over and over again, even when your body language indicates that you are not shopping.
- The Scammers
In addition to the taxi scams, there are many other common scammers out in Marrakech. Be suspicious of anyone who approaches you, even if they’re offering help.
Never accept help, even if you aren’t sure where you’re going. Two women I met in Marrakech told me that they had followed a man around to find their riad, only to realize that he had taken them in a circle, and then demanded money for his services.
Also don’t allow men to put your suitcase in a wheelbarrow to bring to your riad. Insist on rolling it yourself.
Be prepared for unethical salespeople who tell you about their poor families.
Finally, don’t allow restaurants to bring you items that you didn’t ask for. They will tack them onto the bill, even if you didn’t order them!
- The Absurdly Long Airport Lines
When you land in Marrakech, you’ll be in awe of the gorgeous new airport. However, it’s got a long way to go to compete with other international airports, especially organization-wise! Lines for check-in, baggage drop and security can be long, so make sure to arrive at least three hours ahead of time.
Is Marrakech Worth Visiting?: Travel Guide
Is it Marrakesh or Marrakech?
Marrakech (with a c) is the French spelling, while Marrakesh (with an s) is the English spelling. You’ll see it appear both ways but most commonly with a “c”.
Is Marrakech Safe?
Like in any major city, travelers should take precautions. I didn’t find Marrakech to be particularly unsafe. Although I traveled with a friend and a group most of the time I was there, I did walk around solo one day with no issues.
I also didn’t have any issues with cat-calling, and no one bothered me or made inappropriate comments.
How Long Should You Stay in Marrakech?
Marrakech is worth visiting for around three days. This amount of time will allow you to see the major sites and experience the city.
Marrakech can be a great destination for nomadic travelers, as well. Wifi connections are great and there is lots to do throughout the city all year round.
Extend your trip to see more of Morocco!
Where to Stay in Marrakech
Stay as close to the central medina as possible.
Riad Nesma was a perfect place to stay for a few reasons:
- It was on a main strip leading into the main square so everything was easily walkable and easy to navigate.
- That lighting on the main strip is good, and many people walk through at night.
- The Riad is just a few moments walk from a gate that opens up to the main street, which means it’s ideal for ground transportation.
- It’s a beautiful place to stay with fantastic service and a large rooftop with pool.
How to Get to Marrakech
Getting to Marrakech isn’t so easy since there are few direct flights into Marrakech International Airport (RAK). This means you will probably connect at CDG in Paris. There are also nonstop flights from other western European cities like Lisbon, Portugal and Madrid, Spain.
You can fly direct into Casablanca, which is more of a business hub. For instance, there is a nonstop flight from JFK to Casablanca. From here, travelers can move by ground transfer or train from major cities like Casablanca and Fes.
How to Get around Marrakech
Most city highlights are in the center of Marrakech, walkable within or on the outskirts of the Medina.
Arrange an airport transfer for ease and comfort.
If going to the Majorelle Gardens, take a taxi or a tour.
What to Wear in Marrakech
Morocco is a traditional Islamic country where many dress conservatively. To be utmost respectful, you should wear shirts with sleeves and a higher neckline, as well as skirts that will cover your knees.
Marrakech is the most progressive city of Morocco and I saw women wearing all sorts of things there, so don’t stress about it or purchase a new wardrobe.
The Best Time to Visit Marrakech
Marrakech is well worth visiting March to April and October to November.
Don’t trust weather forecasts – it can be much warmer than forecasts predict, like when I visited in May.
Top Things to Do
- Explore the medina
- Discover Bahia Palace
- Enjoy the Majorelle Gardens
- Eat tagine
- Experience a hammam
- Hot air balloons
Final Thoughts: Is Marrakech Worth Visiting?
Yes, Marrakech is worth visiting! There’s so many beautiful buildings to see, food to eat, and culture to experience in this vibrant city.
Thinking about heading to Marrakech?
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