We visited Marrakech in March and although we had a fantastic time, there were several things that we wish we’d known before. To save you some of the shock we experienced on our first day, here are 10 things to know before visiting Marrakech.
1. Cash is king. Most places only accept cash, particularly taxis and souks in the Medina. There is a cash machine right by the exit of the airport and several more in the centre but be aware that most will charge a withdrawal fee. Always choose the option to pay in the local currency because you’ll get a better exchange rate.
2. From the airport, you can take a 15-minute bus to the central square, Jemaa El-Fnaa, for just 30 dirhams (£2.40). This ticket includes a return journey to the airport (within 2 weeks) so keep it safe. It’s cheaper and less stressful than haggling with a taxi!
3. When you arrive at Jemaa el Fnaa, be aware that during the daytime there are men with monkeys in chains and snake charmers. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to witness. They are there because they want tourists to take photos with the monkeys and snakes. We saw monkeys being dragged along the floor and clawing at the chains around their neck in clear distress. Do not take photos of or with them as this encourages the practise and you will be asked for money.
4. The treatment of animals can be hard to witness. We saw chickens being slammed against the pavement, sheep heads and hooves lined up on the streets (local delicacies), carcasses strung up on hooks, mules in terrible conditions and hundreds of stray cats. It was a big shock and I felt very overwhelmed on the first day. Unfortunately, all you can really do is not partake in any kind of animal exploitation or abuse and if you wish, donate to SPANA.
Read how SPANA is helping working animals in Morocco
5. Negotiate and haggle in the souks! The first price offered is never the price you should pay. You should be able to negotiate the price down to at least half. I negotiated a pair of sunglasses down from 240 dirhams (£19) to 120 dirhams (£9). Don’t feel pressured to pay more than you think the product is worth, you can always just say no thank you and walk away; most of the time they’ll call you back and accept your offer rather than see you take your business somewhere else. Have fun finding yourself some bargains in the souks but don’t feel pressured to spend more than you should!
6. Be careful of motorbikes and mopeds in the Medina – the streets are incredibly narrow and crowded, and there are constantly motorbikes and mopeds whizzing through. Don’t cross over without looking and stick to walking on the edges. The air is very polluted by black smoke, so you may wish to wear a mask and not spend extended periods of time there.
7. It gets incredibly hot and busy during the daytime. Even in early March, temperatures were around 35 degrees. Get your sightseeing done early in the morning to escape the heat and the crowds.
8. Alcohol can be expensive and hard to find. You won’t find any alcohol in the Medina and many Riads do not tolerate alcohol on the premises. During Ramadan, the supermarkets did not sell alcohol. Be prepared that alcohol in the bars is quite expensive (we paid around £12 each for a cocktail and £6 for a bottle of Casablanca beer). It’s a very religious place so be respectful and don’t drink alcohol in the streets or in your Riad if its not permitted.
9. Never accept anything for free, even if it feels genuine. We were strolling through Koutoubia Mosque gardens when a seemingly friendly man approached us and offered us a pastry each. We politely refused, and he said that he was giving them to us for free. Whilst not wanting to be scammed, we also didn’t want to be impolite, so we reluctantly took them. He then began demanding money. We felt pretty stupid and frustrated after this!
10. Agree a price with the taxi driver before you get in. We had a couple of instances where the driver tried to charge us more than the initially agreed price once we had arrived, which can be frustrating. As soon as you arrive, have the pre-agreed amount of cash ready and don’t ask for the price again. If they ask for more, you can just say that you don’t have any more cash. To be honest, we did a lot of walking because this was less stressful than haggling with a taxi!
I hope you found these things to know before visiting Marrakech helpful and I wish you safe and happy travels to the Red City!
