11 Best Things To Do in Marrakech

Traffic floods the streets of Marrakech, where pedestrians, vehicles and animals form a uniform mass, while the sound of the horn mixes with the voices of pedestrians and the call to prayer. Are you planning your trip? Here are 10 city plans you can't miss.

I do not know if there will be anyone who has visited Marrakech without passing through this square. Located inside the Medina of Marrakech, the historic area considered the center of the city, it is surrounded by a wall.

The huge square of Yamaa el-Fna is the heart of Marrakech and the reference point for orientation on any walk or sightseeing tour. If you have to choose a first place to go upon your arrival in Marrakech, I recommend you book a tour of the Marrakech medina and start with this square.

In few cities would I recommend shopping as a must, but in Marrakech booking a guided tour of the souk of Marrakech is a whole new experience.

The souk market is a plan in itself where it is less about what to buy or what to buy, but what to buy:

• Seeing how the vendors communicate with the tourists (whatever your language, you are sure to hear them address you in it).
• Appreciate the handicrafts (the artisans are usually at the back of the souk past a covered alley).
• Taste the sweets sold at street level (they don't look very hygienic, but tasting them is part of the local experience).

Of course, be especially careful with your belongings during your walk through the souk is one of the basic safety tips in Marrakech.

When you go to the Majorelle Garden the first thing that will catch your attention, even before you reach the gate, is the Ville Nouvelle area in which it is located. Just by taking a cab from the Medina you seem to have arrived in a completely different city with tall buildings and manicured sidewalks.

Indeed, this is the rich part of the city and yes: it is also part of Morocco. If you want more information on how to get here have a look at the post on how to get around Marrakech. Personally I think that booking a tour of the Majorelle Gardens and the Palm Grove of Marrakech is one of the best visits you can do in the city, if not the best.

The image you will find when you walk through the gates of this garden, open 365 days a year, has nothing to do with what is associated with the Arab world. It was built in the decades of the 20s and 30s of the last century and is decorated with exotic plant species and the taste of the buildings and streets that compose it is exquisite. I recommend that before your visit you consult the post what to see and do in the Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech.

It may seem a cliché to go to Morocco and ride a camel, but it is one of the best activities to do in Marrakech. Camel rides not only allow you to use this animal as a means of transportation, but also to know the deserts near Marrakech and the Berber villages scattered across them.

Contrary to what many people think, it is not necessary to go to the Sahara desert to enjoy a camel ride in Marrakech.

You can take different camel treks to various points in the surrounding area, including the famous Marrakech palm grove, which can last from a few hours to a whole day. Tip: if you go to Marrakech with children do not miss this activity.

There are many ways to visit a city. Here are some tips for you to consider before traveling to Marrakech, but the best way to really get to know the city is to book a guided tour of Marrakech and have a local guide explain what lies beyond the tourist's point of view.

You can choose from several options of tours and excursions from Marrakech in which a local guide will show you the most unknown corners, tell you the history of its main emblems and tell you interesting stories about the way of life of its inhabitants and the gastronomy of Morocco.

Take the opportunity and ask your guide for restaurant recommendations in Marrakech; he will be happy to help you. And if you are looking for the most original way to get to know the city, consider taking a balloon ride in Marrakech.

My quintessential plan in Marrakech is to relax in a traditional hammam. An experience that lasts approximately two hours, in which you will try the exfoliating eucalyptus baths, saunas and relaxing massages with argan oil.

If you book a bath and massage in a traditional hammam, you will be attended by expert therapists. In addition, you will taste a traditional fresh mint drink.

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in Morocco, while experiencing the local and cultural tradition of skin care. And don't worry about how to get there, as you can book an experience that includes a round-trip transfer.

Marrakech is a city with a lot to enjoy, but the hustle and bustle of its streets makes it grateful to be able to escape from the center for a day to enjoy a more relaxed area of Morocco. Visiting the fishing town of Essaouira is a perfect plan for this.

Before booking an excursion to Essaouira, keep in mind that it is located three hours from Marrakech and there are different excursions to go and return in the same day; in any case, here is a post about how to get from Marrakech to Essaouira.

Its main attraction is the tranquility of its streets, the sea views and, of course, the cheap and quality fish that you can eat in the port area. If you want to spend a few more days you can go hiking or visit its mountain resorts.

There are countries where no one would think of going without visiting their landscapes. However, many of the tourists who travel to Marrakech stay in the city because they don't know the natural wealth of its surroundings.

So that it doesn't happen to you, just look for pictures of the Atlas Mountains (take note of how to go to the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech), the Ourika Valley, the Ouzoud waterfalls or the village of Ban Haddou. If your main reaction is "but is this close to Marrakech?", you can read more about all the day trips organized from Marrakech here.

Marrakech desert excursions: a must-do

Of all the excursions that can be done from Marrakech, without a doubt, Morocco' s desert excursions are the most popular. The first thing you should know is that from Marrakech you can visit several deserts:

• Merzouga desert.
• The desert of Zagora.
• The Agafay desert.

Although you can see the desert of Marrakech in one day, my recommendation is to spend the night in the desert, as the experience is unique.

I also recommend that to get to the desert from Marrakech, you book a desert excursion from Marrakech, as it is not worth doing it on your own as the activities you can do in the desert are organized by those who do the excursions for the most part.

Also known as the "Palace of the Beautiful" as it is the Arabic translation of Bahia. It was by this nickname that was known to the favorite of the vizier Ahmed ben Moussa who commissioned the construction of this palace that took 14 years to complete.

The highlight of the place is a lavish ornamentation that completely covers the building (and if you're wondering, I'll tell you that the mosaic tiles were placed one by one).

Near the Bahia Palace are the Saadian tombs. Although they are also open until 4:30 pm, it is better to visit them early in the morning to avoid crowds due to their small size.

Inside you will find famous tombs and an ostentatious decoration of stucco and marble worthy of the glory of the most notable sultans of the sixth century. By the type of decoration of each tomb and mausoleum you will guess the purchasing power of each of the notables buried there.

If you have been to the Alhambra in Granada or the Alcazar in Seville, the setting of this mosque will be familiar to you. If the Bahia Palace was already a symbol of the greatness of men, this temple is a symbol of the greatness of Allah and it is incredible.

It is one of the few churches in the country where non-Muslims are allowed to enter, so take advantage of the occasion (yes, during religious holidays you will find it closed). Its strong point is the courtyard: marble floor, delicate tones, ornamental art, sculpted calligraphy, latticed balconies, mosaics and other elements make it a work of art.

If you are wondering when to travel to Marrakech, I will tell you that both visiting Marrakech in summer and visiting Marrakech in winter has its advantages. Each month of the year offers a series of attractions that you can check in this list:

• Marrakech in January.
• Marrakech in February.
• Marrakech in March.
• Marrakech in April.
• Marrakech in May.
• Marrakech in June.
• Marrakech in July.
• Marrakech in August.
• Marrakech in September.
• Marrakech in October.
• Marrakech in November.
• Marrakech in December.

Also, if you are still not sure how many days to spend in the Moroccan city, here is another list of itineraries depending on how many days your trip lasts. Enjoy!

• What to see and do in Marrakech in 1 day.
• What tosee and do in Marrakech in 2 days.
• What tosee and do in Marrakech in 3 days.
• What tosee and do in Marrakech in 4 days.
• What tosee and do in Marrakech in 5 days.
• What tosee and do in Marrakech in 7 days.