Marrakech is a beautiful city in Morocco, the 3rd largest after Casablanca and Fez. It’s known for its bustling network of souks and red clay buildings which earn it the title of “The Red City.”
How long do I need in Marrakech?
I’d recommend spending 2 days in Marrakech. This is plenty of time to see all the highlights during the day, whilst the city comes alive at night. As the sun goes down, street performers descend on Jemaa el-Fnaa, the main square, and food markets serve local cuisine.
The new city of Gueliz and nightlife district Hivernage offer plenty of bars, restaurants and nightclubs to keep you entertained all night long.
Before you spend 2 days in Marrakech, I’d recommend reading Ten things to know before visiting Marrakech as some parts can be a bit of a shock when you first arrive.
There are also many different excursions you can take from the city, making it an excellent base for a week in Morocco. We used it as a base for our 3-day desert tour and 2 days hiking in the Atlas Mountains, before spending a weekend there.
Where to stay in Marrakech
In between our excursions, we stayed in cheap hostels for less than £8 a night. This is a great budget option if you are a solo backpacker.
After the excursions, we spent the weekend in Marrakech in Riad Dar Benbrahim: a beautiful, affordable, centrally located riad with a rooftop terrace. Riads are traditional Moroccan guesthouses characterised by an indoor garden or courtyard and rooftop terrace, often found hidden within the walls of the Medina. I’d recommend staying in one for the full Marrakech experience!
It was a great base for exploring Marrakech whilst providing a relaxed area to escape the heat and crowds of the city.
Where to eat in Marrakech
For cheap but delicious food in the Medina, I’d highly recommend iRaki Shawarma Ahbas. We had a pizza for 20 dirhams (£1.57) and a falafel wrap with fries for 25 dirhams (1.96). The food was very tasty and convenient after a long morning navigating the souks! Upstairs, they have an airconditioned seating area with Wi-Fi, and the staff are very friendly.
For all-you-can-eat traditional Moroccan cuisine, go for the buffet at Kui Zin, a delightful rooftop restaurant with live music in the Medina. We ate here on our first night and it was incredible. The dishes were so fresh and absolutely delicious, plus you also get a selection of desserts. I’d recommend arriving as soon as the buffet begins at 7pm. It was about £14 but it was absolutely worth it.
For indulgent, authentic Italian food, try Limoni, a beautiful Italian restaurant in the Medina. The pizza here was incredible, served in a beautifully decorated restaurant and cost 80-100 dirham (£6.30). Book this one in advance as it’s very popular – there was a queue outside when we arrived before opening time!
If you’re looking to escape the crowds of the Medina or find delicious, authentic Moroccan food, I’d highly recommend Chez Mmina, a lovely, quiet restaurant in Gueliz serving traditional Moroccan cuisine. We were given free Moroccan soup with bread to start, followed by vegetable tagine for 45 dirhams (£3.57) and vegetable couscous for just 40 dirhams (£3.17).
5 best things to do in Marrakech
1. Explore the Medina. The Medina is a maze of cobblestone streets lined with markets (known as souks) selling everything from spices to clothes, jewellery to toys, street food to rooftop restaurants. You can spend a whole morning browsing and find yourself some bargains.
Just remember to negotiate and haggle! Learn more about this in Ten things to know before visiting Marrakech.
2. Visit Jemaa el-Fnaa. This is the main square in Marrakech, bustling with market stalls, restaurants and bars. The square comes alive at night as exciting street performers descend on the streets to entertain vast crowds. Go to the square at night when it’s significantly cooler and there is a great vibe.
A word of warning: during the day, there are snake charmers and monkeys in chains being dragged around the square for tourists – please do not engage with this horrific animal abuse. Read more about animal abuse in Marrakech.
3. Admire Koutoubia Mosque and stroll it’s beautiful gardens. From the square, walk just 5 minutes to the main landmark in Marrakech, Koutoubia Mosque, which proudly towers above the city.
This is the largest mosque in Marrakech and during Ramadan, we saw hundreds of people lined up outside every evening to pray. Non-Muslims are not allowed inside the Mosque; however, you can enjoy strolling around the shady gardens and admiring the beautiful architecture. It’s a lovely spot to relax.
Just be careful of street scammers targeting tourists here and never accept anything for free, even if they seem genuine.
4. Learn about the Saadian Tombs
About 15-minute walk from Koutoubia Mosque, you can visit The Saadian Tombs which contain the tombs of the Saadian dynasty. They’re open every day from 9-4 and cost 60 dirham to visit. You can buy tickets on the door but be prepared to queue!
Read about the history of the Saadian Tombs
5. Stroll to Gueliz for great food and cocktails. The new district of Gueliz is definitely worth a visit during your time in Marrakech. It’s a very pleasant 20–30 minute stroll from Jemaa El-Fnaa along wide, palm-tree lined pavements, past terracotta buildings and ornate fountains.
It’s a welcome break from the narrow, polluted streets of the Medina. Here you’ll find great cocktail bars, modern shopping centres and fancy restaurants. It’s a great place to go in the evening for dinner and drinks.
When in Gueliz, head over to Barometre, an incredible speakeasy-inspired cocktail lounge serving delicious, original and unique cocktails.
Overall, Marrakech is an affordable, interesting and popular destination with a lot to offer; I’d highly recommend visiting the Red City!