What you should know for your trip to Marrakech
Moroccan languages: Arabic, French and Berber languages.
Official currency: Moroccan Dirham (dh), 1 USD is equivalent to 9.60 DH.
In its original language Marrakech means “Land of God”, is one of the most important cities in Morocco and was the capital of the Islamic Empire.
This city was founded in 1062 by Youssef Ibn Tachfin, who was the first emir of the Berber dynasty of the Almoravids.
Travel to Marrakech and surroundings
His dominions covered all of Morocco, however, many years later, Marrakech was destroyed by his rivals, the Almohads, who later rebuilt it creating impressive works of architecture.
Marrakech and all of Morocco was later ruled by the Benimerines and 2 centuries later by the Saadis, then by Arabs, until it finally fell into the hands of the French. It was not until 1956 that Morocco gained its independence.
Today Marrakech is a city that lives mainly from tourism, has the largest traditional market in the country and one of the most visited places by tourists. Morocco tours 8 days
Places to visit in Marrakech
This imperial city is divided into 2 parts, one is the Medina (old city) and Ville Nouvelle, built during the French colonization.
Medina
It is a World Heritage Site, among its buildings you can see palaces, markets, mosques, domes and alleys, is a walled city, also as a general rule the exterior of its buildings should have a red-ochre, which is why it is also called “red city”.
The Yamaa el Fna Square
It is considered the heart of the city, is a huge market full of souvenir stores, food stalls, street vendors, musicians, jugglers, bars, etc.. You can visit this square at any time of the day as it constantly has a transformation.
The souk of Marrakech
It is located north of the Jamaa el Fna Square, is a kind of mall that forms a maze of alleys where you can find food stalls, clothing, jewelry, handicrafts and typical Moroccan products. Bargaining is allowed!
Ben Youssef Madrasa
For a time it served as a theological school, very important at the time, had a capacity for 900 students, also had 130 rooms for those students who were not local.
Today it is an important historical site whose interiors are carefully decorated with marble, cedar and presents important art collections. The highlight is the inner courtyard with swimming pool and decorated with mosaics.
Kutubia Mosque
It’s the most important mosque in Marrakech, is located inside the Medina, is famous for its square-based miranete and the highest in the city of Marrakech, at the top has 2 speakers where the call is made for Muslims to pray. Access is not allowed for non-Muslims.
Badi Palace
In its time it was a very luxurious palace, full of gold, precious stones and marble walls, however some time later it was sacked by the new sultan, who moved all that to the new capital of Morocco, Meknes.
Palace of the Bay
This great palace has more than 150 rooms, its decoration presents a traditional style with carved wood. In the palace there is a part reserved for the 24 concubines of the vizier and at the death of the latter, the sultan decided to empty the place.
Museum of Marrakech
It is located in the former palace of Sultan Mulay Mehdi Hassan, located next to the Madrasa of Ben Youssef.
The beautiful building presents various objects representative of Moroccan history, such as ceramics, weapons, coins, clothing, historical documents, among other important collections.
Majorelle Gardens
Property of Yves Saint Laurent, this French stylist did recover the garden, here you can see cactus, orange trees, palm trees, rose bushes and various plants, is also full of ponds and streams.
Saadi Tombs
It is a place very visited by tourists, here rest the bodies of the Saadian dynasty and their servants, are decorated with a variety of mosaics.
What to do in Marrakech
You can ride a camel visiting the Marrakech Palm Grove, a beautiful place created during the Almoravid dynasty, is a place of luxury where you can see residences, hotels and golf courses.
Visit and refresh yourself in a Hammam, which is a traditional Arab bath where you can take cleansing baths through exfoliation and steam, are extremely relaxing.
Take short excursions to the Sahara Desert, which is sometimes called the “Marrakech desert” as it is often the main starting point. Rutas Por Marruecos
The most important areas of the Sahara are Merzouga and Zagora, the latter being the most arid and with fewer dunes, besides being very close to Marrakech.
Visit the Ouzoud Waterfalls, which are the most impressive in North Africa, are located in the Atlas Mountains. There is a lot of vegetation and fauna, which you will see on your walk to this place. By the way, there are also several restaurants overlooking the waterfalls.
You can go to Ouarzazate, a city considered as the gateway to the desert, in this place were filmed several movies like “The Mummy”, “Cleopatra”, “The 10 Commandments”, among others.
Where and what to eat in Marrakech
In Morocco the gastronomy is very varied, being the most internationally known couscous and tajines.
Couscous is lamb or chicken meat, combined with wheat semolina grains and vegetables.
The tajines, are containers of large diameter and little bottom, made of clay, its lid keeps the heat even after cooking, here are usually simmered stews, are very varied and common in the Mediterranean diet. Tour del Marocco
Also famous are its honey sweets, crepes and mint tea, which is widely consumed by its inhabitants.
In the stalls of the Jamaa el Fna Square you can find different options to taste the Moroccan gastronomy.
There are options of moderate economy:
Barometre Marrakech,
L’envers,
Naranj,
Dar Cherifa,
Corner Café,
La Cantine Des Gazelles,
Roti D’or, among others. According to Tripadvisor alternatives.
On the other hand, there are also elegant restaurants where you can taste Moroccan food:
La Table Du Riad
Dar Zellij
Azar
Comptoir Darna Marrakech
La Table Du Pais, among others.
And the Lonely Planet options: Amal Center, Al Fassia, Dar Anika, Henna Café, Café Clock, Azar.
Where to stay in Marrakech
You can book in riads, these were traditional Moroccan houses and nowadays have the function of being small hotels with inner courtyard, greenery and a fountain, a very cozy place, some have pools, terraces and even solarium.
Staying in a riad is a good opportunity to learn more about the architectural beauty of the place, these houses were designed to protect the inhabitants from the climate of the city and to maintain their privacy.
That’s why I’ll share with you the most popular and well-known places to stay:
Medina:
It is the historical area of the city, concentrates many of the tourist attractions that you must visit, which is why it is so popular among travelers.
Riad Al Ralia
Majorelle Hostel
Riad Safran et Cannelle & Spa
Farhan
Riad Jenan Adam
Les Jardins de la Koutoubia
Riad des remparts Marrakech
Kasbah:
Located south of the Medina, it is another tourist area and a little quieter than the northern part of the Medina.
Riad 46
Amira
Clefs d’Orient
Riad Palais Calipau
Les Borjs de la Kasbah
Villa Makassar
Mellah:
It is considered the old Jewish quarter and is a very good option to stay, there are also offers of riads.
Riad Jenan Adam
Dar Crystal
Bayti
Riad Azahar
Dar One
Les Cigognes by Sanssouci Collection
Gueliz:
It is the modern area of the city, unlike the other neighborhoods, this area has more modern accommodations for tourists, as well as night establishments. Generally the prices of the lodgings are higher.
Hôtel Ibn Batouta
Riad De Vinci & SPA
Hotel Almas
Riad Fayrouz
Radisson Blu Marrakech, Carré Eden
Movenpick Hotel Mansour Eddahbi Marrakech
Hivernage:
This is a more luxurious and exclusive neighborhood, it is also of interest to tourists because of its nightlife and fashionable establishments. It is located south of Gueliz.
Lawrence d’Arabie Hotel
Amani Hotel Suites & Spa
Kenzi Rose Garden
Red Hotel Marrakech
Savoy Le Grand Hotel Marrakech
Dar Rhizlane, Palais Table d’hôtes & SPA
Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial
Palmeraie:
Located on the outskirts of the city, it is a luxurious area full of resorts and hotels, so it is preferred by wealthy tourists. The neighborhood is an oasis which has remained green thanks to its irrigation system implemented in the twelfth century.
Riad Miski
Jenan Adam
Murano Resort Marrakech
Palais Ronsard Relais & Chateaux
Tigmiza Boutique Hotel & Spa
Agdal:
Known for the Agdal Gardens, considered a World Heritage Site. This neighborhood is full of luxury accommodations and the best nightclubs.
Kech Boutique Hotel & Spa
Sirayane Boutique Hotel & Spa Marrakech
Kenzi Menara Palace & Resort
Sirayane Boutique Hotel & Spa Marrakech
Getting around Marrakech
To get around you can do it on foot, there are many narrow streets so this is one of the most common options.
Another option is to use the buses, which are very cheap and in case you need a more private space, there are cabs, but make sure the meter is on and running to avoid any problems.
How to get to Marrakech
To make it a cheaper trip to get to Morocco, you can make a trip with stopovers such as:
-If you have a US visa: Lima – Miami – Madrid – CasaBlanca – Menara.
-With Canadian visa: Lima – Toronto – Paris – Menara
-Schengen Zone: Lima – Bogota – Barcelona – Casablanca – Menara
Besides being in Europe there are different airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet, Royal Air Maroc and Vueling.
Requirements to enter the Schengen area, please note that this is not a permit for all of Europe.
Best time to visit Marrakech
The best seasons to travel to Marrakech are spring and autumn, in case you do not want the sweltering heat of summer, when temperatures rise above 30 °, this is very important especially if you plan to make an excursion to the desert.
Always well hydrated and with plenty of sunscreen!
From December to February it is advisable to bring a coat and umbrella for the winter; from March to May the days are hot and the nights are cool, it is spring time. Summer is from June to August and autumn from September to November.
On the other hand, it should be taken into account the festival of Ramadan, which is when Muslims enter into fasting, the whole country is paralyzed; it occurs in the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, which is measured by the lunar calendar, so there is no fixed start date and lasts a whole month.
Ramadan is a period of purification through fasting and many people may not have the energy to be at their posts and therefore many businesses and activities will be closed. However at night everything changes, you can even find products that you do not find at other times of the year.
Visa for Morocco
As you know, the documentation required will depend on where you are coming from, so it could be passport and visa or just passport. You must take into account that the expiration date of your passport must be more than 6 months.
Some South American countries do not need a visa to go to Marrakech, among them Peru, as long as the stay is less than 90 days.
Precautions on your trip to Marrakech
As in any city full of tourists, there will always be someone out there who wants to make some extra money, so be careful with some stalls where they apparently do tattoos, as I have read sometimes they use chemicals that when in contact with the skin tend to generate an allergic reaction.
-Be cautious when asking for a certain place, as I said, there are people who will look for a way to get money out of you.
-Be very careful with buying something that you did not think, there are very good sellers in the place xD.
-Drink bottled water and avoid asking for ice in the stalls.
-The voltage is 220V, however, in some buildings it is 110v, so it is advisable to bring voltage adapter for your tablet, cell phone, camera, etc.. You should also know that the plugs are type C and E.
-It is important to be vaccinated against Hepatitis A and Tetanus.
