Maria's guidebook - What to do in Marrakech

Maria
Maria's guidebook - What to do in Marrakech

Neighbourhoods

Riad Laarouss is one of the most beautiful quarters of the Marrakech medina in the north west part of the city and near most sights of the old town. It is also a 15-minute walk to Gueliz (the new town), with the Majorelle Gardens and the YSL museum, making this a really convenient location for exploring Marrakech and additionally, is very easily accessed by car and has parking. It is a really safe area with great shopping and a very pleasant main street, lovely shops and restaurants on the way and a very nice atmosphere.
21 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
Riad Laarous
21 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
Riad Laarouss is one of the most beautiful quarters of the Marrakech medina in the north west part of the city and near most sights of the old town. It is also a 15-minute walk to Gueliz (the new town), with the Majorelle Gardens and the YSL museum, making this a really convenient location for exploring Marrakech and additionally, is very easily accessed by car and has parking. It is a really safe area with great shopping and a very pleasant main street, lovely shops and restaurants on the way and a very nice atmosphere.

Sightseeing

A must-visit in Marrakech, this iconic botanical garden offers wonderful photo opportunities with its dramatic artistic plants with the blue villa as a background. The Berber Museum is located within the gardens and I highly recommend that you visit this too. You can get a combined ticket for the gardens and the Berber Museum at the door. I recommend that you visit early in the day to void the crowds. There is also a shop and a coffee shop if you feel like staying a little longer.
585 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
जार्डिन मजोरेल
Rue Yves Saint Laurent
585 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
A must-visit in Marrakech, this iconic botanical garden offers wonderful photo opportunities with its dramatic artistic plants with the blue villa as a background. The Berber Museum is located within the gardens and I highly recommend that you visit this too. You can get a combined ticket for the gardens and the Berber Museum at the door. I recommend that you visit early in the day to void the crowds. There is also a shop and a coffee shop if you feel like staying a little longer.
Build recently, this is a wonderful tribute to the master of fashion. You need at least 2 hours in here and you can combine this visit with the Majorelle Gardens next door. Tickets for both locations can be purchased here. The museum houses temporary exhibitions, but also pays tribute to the designer, with a permanent display of unique outfits and accessories, behind the schenes displays and an auditorium that shows documentaries focused on the designer and his work. The building itself is worth noting too.
126 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
ईव सेंट लोरेंट संग्रहालय
Rue Yves Saint Laurent
126 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
Build recently, this is a wonderful tribute to the master of fashion. You need at least 2 hours in here and you can combine this visit with the Majorelle Gardens next door. Tickets for both locations can be purchased here. The museum houses temporary exhibitions, but also pays tribute to the designer, with a permanent display of unique outfits and accessories, behind the schenes displays and an auditorium that shows documentaries focused on the designer and his work. The building itself is worth noting too.
The only monument that survived from the Almoravid dynasty, it was built in the 12th century. The dome (koubba) is beautifully decorated.
10 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
Almoravid Koubba
75 Derb Souk Cheria
10 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
The only monument that survived from the Almoravid dynasty, it was built in the 12th century. The dome (koubba) is beautifully decorated.
Otherwise known as the Ben Youssef Madrasa, it is finally open to the public after many years of restoration. It is a beautiful building and it used the be one of the biggest Islamist schools of its time.
273 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
योसेफ स्कूल का बेटा
Rue Assouel
273 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
Otherwise known as the Ben Youssef Madrasa, it is finally open to the public after many years of restoration. It is a beautiful building and it used the be one of the biggest Islamist schools of its time.
This is a beautiful "palace" on the south side of the Medina, build in the 19th century (a similar time as our Douiria) with a large number of rooms and gardens. I like this palace because it gives you a good idea of how the rich lived and how the people around them lived too - we see the rooms that they used for business purposes, the ones the wives and the concubines lived, where the children spend their time etc. It is worth going with a guide, who will explain the history and bring it to life.
354 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
बाहिया महल
Rue Riad Zitoun el Jdid
354 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
This is a beautiful "palace" on the south side of the Medina, build in the 19th century (a similar time as our Douiria) with a large number of rooms and gardens. I like this palace because it gives you a good idea of how the rich lived and how the people around them lived too - we see the rooms that they used for business purposes, the ones the wives and the concubines lived, where the children spend their time etc. It is worth going with a guide, who will explain the history and bring it to life.

Food scene

This is a great spot for good coffee and cakes (one of the few that offer good ice coffee!), delicious lunches and dinners. Very clean and with excellent service, reasonable prices and a top location, we highly recommend it.
The Moorish Kitchen & Coffee
N° 166 Rue Mouassine
This is a great spot for good coffee and cakes (one of the few that offer good ice coffee!), delicious lunches and dinners. Very clean and with excellent service, reasonable prices and a top location, we highly recommend it.
I love the green courtyard here and the menu if also good with great wines. Book in advance to ensure you have a table on the patio.
73 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
Riad Bazaar Café
Rue Sidi el Yamani
73 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
I love the green courtyard here and the menu if also good with great wines. Book in advance to ensure you have a table on the patio.
This is a gorgeous place, a hotel, that opens its door to EXTERNAL customers that want to have dinner or simply a drink on their beautiful terrace. I recommend that you visit for drinks at sunset, on their terrace... really special! They only take credit cards (no cash), so please keep this in mind. You need to book in advance for dinner and also for drinks if you are a big group.
17 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
El Fenn
17 स्थानीय लोगों का सुझाव
This is a gorgeous place, a hotel, that opens its door to EXTERNAL customers that want to have dinner or simply a drink on their beautiful terrace. I recommend that you visit for drinks at sunset, on their terrace... really special! They only take credit cards (no cash), so please keep this in mind. You need to book in advance for dinner and also for drinks if you are a big group.
This is a hotel located in the New Town (Gueliz) and around 25 minutes walk (or 5 mintues drive) from the Douria. I like their cocktail bar (take the lift to the reception floor), as it has live bands there almost every evening at around 9 pm. It is a great way to finish an evening and their restaurant is OK if you want a quick snack.
Radisson Blu Hotel, Marrakech Carre Eden
176 Bd Mohamed Zerktouni
This is a hotel located in the New Town (Gueliz) and around 25 minutes walk (or 5 mintues drive) from the Douria. I like their cocktail bar (take the lift to the reception floor), as it has live bands there almost every evening at around 9 pm. It is a great way to finish an evening and their restaurant is OK if you want a quick snack.

शहर से जुड़ी सलाह

रीति-रिवाज़ और संस्कृति

Food safety

To avoid getting a "sore tummy" while here in Marrakech, please stick to bottled water (the tap water is clean but has a different constitution of minerals, which can upset the tummy - it is safe to wash teeth or cook, though). Avoid ice cream from street shops (the restaurants and patisseries are OK) and avoid green salads from restaurants. Cooked salads are OK as well as the great majority of food in restaurants. Jemaa El Fnaa with its mobile restaurants is a great attraction and a lot of fun but be vigilant where you eat as sometimes the hygiene is not the best.
घूमना-फिरना

Huggling and taxis

The taxi drivers are supposed to use the meter, but the vast majority do not. You can choose to huggle in advance or you can tell the driver where you want to go and then pay him at the end what you think is fair. If you are going around the old town or from the medina to the new town, it will never be more than 20-40 Dhr (2-4 Euros). Taxis only take up to 3 passengers. Airport collection service (not taxi) to the medina is recommended as you will be safe and will pay a fair price with this option. The airport fare is around 15 euros (or more in the evening) - for up to 4 people.
चूकें नहीं

Hammam - Spa

Marrakech is known for its hammams and spas so if you enjoy pampering, this is an experience not to be missed. There are lots of hammams in town but we highly recommend "Heritage spa" - https://www.heritagespamarrakech.com/ They are not far from the Douiria and they offer great service with really good quality products (try the "Heritage Romance" with your partner). It is a small business, and they ensure that you leave there happy. I like to go there after lunch, maybe around 3pm.
सेव करने के तरीके

Try the Government shop before you "hit" the souks!

We love our souks/bazaars here in Marrakech and you are expected to huggle! It takes skill and time, a little theatrics and a poker face! But not everyone is good at this and even if you are, where do you start with the prices? This is why the Government shop is such a great place to start. It is called Ensemble Artisinal Marrakech and it is a gorgeous building with little shops that represent each craft. The prices are "fixed" so you are not expected to huggle and it gives you an idea of how much to pay in the souks. The coffee shop is basic but clean.
घूमना-फिरना

Try to walk everywhere

The medina of Marrakech is not that big and can be walked so I would try to walk places rather than take taxis.
जाने से पहले बुक करें

Airport collection and your first evening dinner

The safest, easiest and cheapest way to get from the airport to the Douiria is to book our airport collection service (or train station collection). This means that we will be waiting to meet you at the parking area, or that the driver will walk with you to our door. The street taxis will not be able to take you to the Douiria and you are likely to get lost the first time you arrive. It is also a good idea to book dinner at a restaurant for your first night, to give you time to discover at your own pace the rest of the evenings.
रीति-रिवाज़ और संस्कृति

Ramadan

If you are visiting during the Holy month of Ramadan (the month of fasting where local people do not eat or drink during daylight), please be aware that things are a little slower (people are dehydrated or exhausted) and it gets really quiet at sunset when everyone makes some special time to break their fast. Most restaurants and coffee shops are open as usual, so it does not affect your holiday and it is perfectly acceptable to eat and drink during the day. I recommend that you avoid eating or drinking on the street (out of courtesy to the people who fast).
रीति-रिवाज़ और संस्कृति

Tipping

Many guests ask us about tipping and rightly so, as this is a custom that not everyone is used to. Tipping in Morocco is part of everyday life and the Moroccans tip each other. What and who to tip? The restaurant, coffee shop, or bar that you visit may already add a service charge (very few do, but check it). If they do not, a tip of around 10% is the norm. Taxi drivers that use the meter would appreciate a tip of 10-20 Dhr. Cleaners, ladies at the spa, people who carry your bags etc should also be tipped with around 20-100 Dhr, depending on the duration and quality of service.