Marrakech, nicknamed the “red city” due to the color of the defense walls that surround it under the patronage of UNESCO and all the constructions in its perimeter, can easily be called the capital of Moroccan tourism.
And although it is not the capital of the country, Marrakech has easily become the most visited city in Morocco.
It’s a vibrant city where from the moment you arrive until you leave you’ll be in a constant hustle and bustle, and where the oriental style chaos and disorder make you either love it or hate it.
You have to be prepared to feel good in Marrakech, to go beyond the everyday scene and accept it with its pluses and minuses.
That doesn’t mean you can’t have authentic experiences here. You will definitely discover well-preserved traditions, specific dishes, beautiful places and hospitable locals.
But, let’s see what you can do and what to see in Marrakech, specifically what would be the main tourist attractions of the fascinating Moroccan city.
1. Stay in a Riad
Riad’s in Morocco are like desert oases, and they’re really special because most are family-run and hundreds of years old. From the outside, it all seems bland and maybe even unpleasant for some of us. But the interior of a Riad will surely surprise you with a multitude of colors and textures.
2. Explore the Medina
Explore the Medina, the old part of Marrakech. The Medina is the salt and pepper of the visit to Marrakech, being the most picturesque area. The Medina is a universe of all kinds of aromas, colors, narrow and winding alleys, street vendors, spices, leather products and the aromatic mint used to prepare the delicious Moroccan tea.
3. Visit the Jardin Majorelle
One of the most beautiful places in Marrakech is, without a doubt, the famous Jardin Majorelle botanical garden. Located away from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech’s central square, Jardin Majorelle is like an oasis that welcomes you with lush vegetation and bright shades of blue.
After years of Gradina Majorelle falling into disrepair, French designer (born in Algeria) Yves Saint Laurent saved this 2.5 hectare paradise, buying it in 1962 with his partner, Pierre Bergé.
Currently Jardin Majorelle does not occupy an extremely large space, but here live more than 135 species of plants from several corners of the world, which are clearly worth seeing.
4. Djemaa El Fna Square
Nothing compares to this market in Marrakech. It is the symbol of the city and one of the most interesting cultural spaces in the world.
The square is surrounded by restaurants, stands and public buildings, with other stands and stalls in the middle. All kinds of commercial and entertainment activities take place here. You will encounter street food vendors, henna tattoo artists, fortune tellers, Berber musicians, snake charmers, Gnaoua dancers and the list goes on.
The recommendation is to arrive before sunset and catch the evening hours, when everything is amplified and becomes more and more vibrant.
5. Visit the Koutoubia Mosque
It is the largest mosque in Marrakech and its minaret measures 77 meters, which makes it visible from everywhere. It can be admired without restrictions from the outside, but the inside is accessible only to Muslims. The best point to see the Koutoubia mosque is the Lalla Hasna park opposite.
6. The Secret Garden
This is actually a 19th century palace, following the plan of the original 16th century palace built by Sultan Moulay Abd-Allah. This beauty of the garden and the restored complex that we can visit today is based on a relatively recent (2008) restoration initiative, after the place had fallen into ruin for more than 70 years.
7. Schedule a visit to the city of Fes
If time allows you can take the train and make a trip to Fes. It is true that it is a good few hours to walk and overnight accommodation is needed in Fez, but I assure you that you will not regret.
8. You cannot miss the Tanneries of Fes
The smell is not at all pleasant because at the entrance you come across the skins and furs freshly pulled from the animals, which are to be cleaned and dyed. And even if the impact at first glance is not very pleasant, it is still an interesting process. At the entrance you get a piece of mint from the locals to help you freshen up your smell.
9. Medina of Fes
It is the largest pedestrian center in the world. It is like a maze of short, narrow and winding streets. It has more than 900 streets inside so it is impossible not to get lost inside it, especially since some of the 300,000 people who live here admit that sometimes they get lost too.
The goods are transported in the medina with the help of donkeys, so you must always be careful and make room for this type of transport.
10. Abu el Hassan Mosque
You can’t visit it inside if you’re not Muslim, but it’s a good reference point especially when you want to get out of the medina and don’t know which direction to turn.
11. Other things to visit in Fes would be:
Mosquee el-Qaraouiyine – the largest in the city and which from 859 became the oldest Islamic university in the world.
The Royal Palace, which unfortunately cannot be visited inside, but from a distance you can see the 7 golden gates at the entrance, with the beautiful arabesques and mosaics.
The new center of Fes – it’s not very special but it has a lot of greenery, restaurants and luxury terraces that make you see better the contrasts between medieval and modern Fes.
So Morocco, and especially Marrakech or Fes, are a real experience, totally different from visiting another European country. And even if at first glance it seems that chaos prevails, they have a multitude of flavors and colors. Above all, they preserve very well their traditions, art, culture and value manual work more than mechanized equipment.
