Marrakech for the First Time: What You Need to Know and See

Marrakech is a major city in Morocco, the most important of the four imperial cities, and as a major tourist destination is likely to be your first impression of Morocco.

Marrakech is far from the hippie mecca of the 1960s, but it still charms and offers some of the best travel experiences in Morocco.

The tourism industry here is quite developed and affordable for a budget tourist. Known as the Red City of Morocco for its pink and ochre fortress walls, Marrakech is equally alluring, energetic, colorful, and stunning. Here’s a list of things to do in Marrakech, Morocco.

What to see in Marrakech?

To enjoy Marrakech to the maximum, we recommend spending at least three or four days here before traveling to other cities.

Marrakech has a dry and sunny climate, close to the desert and the Atlas Mountains. In addition, Marrakech is very easy to reach from European capitals, and there is a new airport here.

Several highways link Marrakech with Casablanca, Fez, and Essaouira, making it easily accessible.

Stroll through the old streets

Getting your bearings in Marrakech is worth taking a local Tours in Morocco. Marrakech is a bustling city with heavy traffic, so getting lost here is easy. A guided tour with a transfer from your hotel will give you a good idea of the main sights and how to navigate the medina.

Jamaa el-Fna

Jamaa el-Fna is a large square on the outskirts of the medina and the cultural heart of Marrakech.

When you emerge from the narrow, covered alleyways, Jamaa el-Fna appears as a grand and lively central square.

Around 1050 A.D. public executions were held there and the name means “Gathering of the Dead”.

Since then, everything has been going on at Jamaa el-Fna: street theater, gnawa musicians, snake charmers, and food vendors will entertain and perhaps overwhelm you.

Up until the 1980s, Jamaa el-Fna was home to a bus station where travelers came and went at all hours of the day. After the bus station closed, the square became quieter and more organized.

In 2001, Jamaa el-Fna was named a UNESCO World Heritage Masterpiece. It paints a complete picture of Moroccan life and culture: you can see street theater and Gnawa musicians in their colorful costumes.

Water vendors in fringed hats attract attention with their colorful clothing and brassware.

These days they are more fond of being photographed and ask for a small fee, but if you manage to get a good picture, it will be a vivid illustration of modern Moroccan life. Gnawa musicians and snake charmers will do the same, and quite insistently.

Jamaa el Fna is a must-see in Marrakech, but it is also a prime spot for all kinds of crooks and pickpockets, so you need to be very careful when walking here.

A quieter way to enjoy the activities on Jamaa el-Fna is from above. There are many rooftop restaurants with great views, we recommend having a drink or dinner while watching the night gradually cover the square.

Many people start the 4 Dias desde Marrakech al Desierto Merzouga

Medina

The medina, also known as “suok,” is a maze of narrow streets and small squares filled with stalls and stores selling all kinds of goods.

The medina is a UNESCO heritage site. In our opinion, Marrakech has the most vibrant, colorful, and rich markets.

The size and quantity of goods are incredible, the market is a fantastic showcase of all Moroccan craftsmanship.

Although the medina of Marrakech is very touristy, it is also a place of work and real life.

Amidst the bright colors of tourist goods, the medina is full of locals going about their business, buying groceries, carrying goods, and trading.

As you enter the medina and walk through the narrow alleys, you may get scared and expect to get lost at some point…

Don’t worry, that’s part of the experience, you can discover some great places as you walk. If you use a local SIM card, Google maps and a map of the city will help.

However, if you need advice from a local, it’s best to go into a store and ask someone.

We don’t recommend trusting random people on the street too much, they may want to act as a guide for a while and steer you in the wrong direction.

If you are staying in Marrakech for a few days, staying within the medina can be a great way to get your bearings.

Majorelle Garden

The Majorelle Garden is one of the most visited places in Morocco and the main attraction of Marrakech.

Located in the “new town” (ville nouvelle) and created by the French orientalist painter Jacques Majorelle, it is a charming garden in the heart of Marrakech. Jacques lived here from 1923 to the 1950s and created a beautiful botanical garden full of trees, exotic plants, bubbling streams, and pools filled with water lilies and lotus flowers.

At Majorelle’s request, French architect Paul Sinoir built a Cubist villa here in the 1930s.

In the 1980s the villa and garden were bought by the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé. The place, which had fallen into disrepair, was completely restored.

Saint Laurent discovered Marrakech in the 1960s, when it became a “hippie mecca.” It became Saint Laurent’s main place of work and inspiration, and after his death in 2008, his ashes were scattered in the garden.

Today, the Majorelle Garden is an unrivaled landmark in Marrakech. The garden is a bird’s paradise and the combination of colors adorning the buildings makes for stunning photos.

There is a café, the Berber Museum, and the Yves Saint Laurent memorial. The museum’s bookstore has very good books, and the Majorelle boutique has beautiful (and expensive) pieces that feel inspired by Saint Laurent.

The Majorelle Garden is beautiful and inspiring, but it is also a victim of its success, it is completely crowded with tourist buses and it is quite difficult to take photos without strangers. The entrance fee is 70 dirhams per adult, it’s not cheap, and it can get pretty crowded.

All in all, Marrakech is a great place to start the desert tour to ride a camel and do the camping.

Related CTN News:

‘Sawasdee By AoT’ App To Add E-payment Feature Soon

TAT To Invest 1.9 Billion In Tourism Marketing Campaigns

Officials Predict 12 Million Tourists To Visit Phuket This Year