Marrakech, a teeming city with lots to see and experience. This post is all about how to spend 48 hours; seeing and appreciating the best food, architecture and culture that it has to offer. Are you planning a trip here sometime soon? Have a read of the below!
HOW TO GET TO MARRAKECH:
- Flight: If you’re looking for the quickest option coming from another part of Europe, flying is the best choice. As we were coming from Turkey we opted for this and booked through Skyscanner a few months prior.
- Ferry: An option if coming from South of Spain! However you’ll also need to either fly or bus from your arrival at Tangier or one of the other coastal towns to get to Marrakech.
- Bus / Train: This is all dependant on where you are coming from and if you’re wanting to make any stops to Morocco and Marrakech. If you’re looking for options within Europe, check out Omio. They have flight, bus and train choices.
TRANSPORT WITHIN MOROCCO:
Bus: If you’re coming from anywhere inside of Morocco the bus is definitely an affordable option. Some of the rides are quite bumpy so be wary if you get motion sickness!
We waited until we got to Fes to book. You are able to book online but it’s much easier to book in person. To do this, head to your closest train station (your accomodation will be able to direct you) and schedule it with the CTM office. There are plenty of times to choose from, just make sure in order to get a seat book at least a day in advance otherwise you might miss out.
Train: There are a few train options from some of the metropolitan parts of Morocco but it’s not an extensive network. Check out the ONCF website for all timetables and destinations.
TRANSPORT WITHIN MARRAKECH
Unless you’re planning on going outside of old town medina, walking is your best form of transport within Marrakech. Taxis are also available but if booking accomodation within the centre, getting to souks, restaurants, etc, is all close and easy to get to!
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Either spring (mid-March to May) or Autumn (September and October) are the best times to visit Morocco as temperature wise it isn’t too hot or cold. We found mid-October was perfect when planning a trip for the end of the year. Still a bit hot at times with a couple days of rain but otherwise zero complaints!
WHERE TO STAY
A riad or dar are the most traditional form of accomodation in Morocco. Built around a central courtyard, the difference between a riad and a dar is that a riad has a central fountain with four planting beds and a dar is decorated otherwise.
While in Marrakech we stayed at Dar Alif. There is a pool in the central courtyard for those hot days after wandering the medina, great service and a rooftop to share a few drinks in the evening.
WHAT TO WEAR
Morocco is a conservative country when it comes to clothing. Unlike most of Europe you do have to think about how to dress appropriately. As a rule I always made sure to have my knees and shoulders covered, unless it was a travel day. In which case I occasionally wore a skirt that came up just above the knee but still with my shoulders covered. For this trip my luggage staples were:
- Long skirts and dresses that sat below the knee
- Tights
- Plain t-shirts
- Light, long sleeve shirts that could be worn over singlets or spaghetti strap tops
- Converse, slip on shoes and jandals
With a month of travelling I had to keep my suitcase weight to a minimum. Being able to mix and match items together meant that I didn’t feel like I was wearing the same thing over and over again.
ITINERARY – DAY ONE
Start your day off by having a chill breakfast at your riad or dar before stepping out onto the busy streets of Marrakech! Eating breakfast at our dar every morning meant we got to dig into some tasty, traditional food without any additional costs. The quality of breakfast differed from place to place but we found most provided an amazing spread! If you’re a foodie and picky about your breakfast remember that booking.com have ratings on the breakfast so you can make sure you’ll only have the best!
Once fuelled for the day, explore and shop the souks! After breakfast we spent a few hours shopping and bartering. It’s easy to get lost, but I feel that is a part of the charm.
Lunch at Cafe Bistro Laksour is a great option as they have both traditional and non-traditional meals. We dug into the burgers and toasted sandwiches, all of which was tasty! Located close to the medina, you can’t go wrong.
After a great meal, walk it off through Jemaa el-Fnaa Square. During the day this area is quite calm. But something to keep in mind is that there is a lot of animal cruelty here, so make sure if you’re buying anything you are aware of what you are supporting.
If only in Marrakech for a couple days I would recommend spending some time at your riad or dar. Take some time to relax in the beautiful courtyard or up on the terrace. A wine or beer in hand is always preferable.
Before sunset, head to Plaza Jemaa El-Fnaa for a spectacular view from one of the restaurants located around the square. It is an amazing sight and alongside people watching it makes for a nice evening.
If you dare, walk through Jemaa El-Fnaa at night. This was a little overwhelming for me but definitely an experience. We were here on a Wednesday and couldn’t go two steps without someone trying to get us to buy something or eat at their restaurant. There are also a few musical acts and games to be played so even though very very full on, it’s still a bit of fun!
Finish off your night with a drink at Kosybar. The cocktails are delicious and is a perfect way to end an eventful day!
ITINERARY – DAY TWO
After enjoying an early breakfast head to Yve Saint Laurent Majorelle Gardens. These gardens are stunning and definitely worth the visit! Get here at opening time (8AM) so you’re free to roam without the hustle and bustle. We arrived at 8:30 and found the gardens relatively empty till 9. It’s 70 dirhams for entry per person and allow some time to look through the Berber Museum (an additional 30 dirhams) for some Moroccan history!
From the gardens I would recommend to make your way to Palais de la Bahia. We walked here and arrived around 10. An impressive palace with intricate details etched into the ceiling and stunning garden to boot! Make sure to come early if you’re wanting to see it without the crowds as it was already busy by the time we arrived.
On trips like this I always like to have a unique activity planned. This time, ours was quad biking with Quad Evasion Tours. This will set you back €45.00 per person. An afternoon full of adrenaline and is perfect for any level. You come back covered in dust but pretty bloody happy too.
Spend the afternoon and evening either having a relaxing drink at your riad or dar or exploring more of the city. We opted for the former, ending our trip in Marrakech in the best way.
HINTS AND TIPS
- Wanting to stay online while in Morocco? Check out ‘Telecom Maroc’ for a SIM card. For 10GB we paid €14 which would normally last a month! Stores should be easy to find as there are a few dotted around Marrakesh.
- When bartering go at least a third or fourth of the cost they offer. If they ask you for a price insist that they give their offer first. They bump up the prices significantly. This happened to me as I bought two pairs of earrings for 200 dirhams when the original cost was 1500!
- As mentioned above, dress appropriately, will save you a few odd glares.
- Marrakech, despite many beautiful qualities is quite dirty, there are a lot of unpleasant smells and rubbish that line the streets.
- Go early to see all of the tourist hot spots! And you can just nap it out in the arvo, it’s a win win.
- Most restaurants, especially based around Jemaa el-Fnaa Square don’t serve alcohol due to their religious beliefs. However, if you’re wanting to enjoy a drop I would recommend Kosybar which isn’t far from the main square! There are also a few other bars and restaurants that do the same – just double check with Google before you go.
- When being asked to buy something or look at a store / restaurant be polite when saying no the first time but be firm if they continue to hassle you. We were hassled a few times which does get a bit overwhelming.
- Saadian Tombs. A beautiful place, but we found it slightly underwhelming. This was mainly due to the wait time for the main tomb which was 35 minutes and only to see it for about 10 seconds.
The madness of Marrakech was an interesting experience. From the bustling souks to the enthusiastic people, this city has a uniqueness to it that is hard to fully describe. Despite there being some surprising aspects, it was definitely an adventure.