How to Have an Unforgettable Trip to Marrakesh Morocco

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Visiting Marrakesh, Morocco was definitely on the list of places to see for us. This is to date the most memorable trip that we have had together.

Where to Stay in Marrakesh, Morocco

Stay at a Riad in the Medina if you want to be in the middle of all the action.

Budget Friendly: Riad Moullaoud had the perfect location, a warm and welcoming staff, a nice rooftop pool, and incredible decor. This is the Riad where we stayed during our trip.

Mid–Range: Riad Monceau also had a nice rooftop bar and a restaurant by the pool. We found ourselves visiting this one just for the bar!

Treat Yourself: Riad El Finn was definitely on the higher end and the fanciest of all of the Riads that we visited. The rooftop bar is very serene and peaceful after visiting and touring around the hectic city all day.

Don’t forget your travel insurance! Make sure to have coverage that includes medical expenses, trip cancellations, and coverage for your belongings from theft or damage. If needed, you may also want to include car rental insurance as well.

Taxi To Marrakesh, Morocco

Once you arrive at the airport, make sure to convert your money to Moroccan dirham. You will definitely need it in the city of Marrakesh. Call your Riad to ask how much the cab fare should be to wherever you are staying. Tell the taxi driver at the airport how much you can pay before leaving so that you don’t overpay. We paid 15 dirham and tipped 5.

Day 1: Tea, Souks, and The Square

Our taxi driver took us to the Medina and we were definitely in culture shock. We got out and had no idea which way the Riad was and didn’t see signs anywhere. A lovely man came to our rescue as he could immediately sense our deer in headlight faces and foreigner appearances. He guided us to our Riad and we went through this huge wooden door, where we we’re whisked away with the Riad’s hospitality. The Riad was this serene place with fountains and Moroccan decor everywhere. It was just insanely different from anywhere that we had ever stayed before! We were guided upstairs to this cozy garden terrace by the pool for a mint tea.

Once we were settled into the hotel, we headed out to the Souks. The souks were really crazy busy and all I can say is the hustle is in the air. The colors and sights are intense, therefore it’s a sensory overload for sure.

Motorbikes are whizzing through the streets and the smell of petroleum filled the air. While visiting Morocco, we used the Globe Convert app to help us convert money. Make sure to have a little fun and negotiate with the locals to see what kind of bargains you can get!

After souk site seeing, it was time to explore and eat. Honestly I was nervous about where and what to eat after hearing from a friend in Paris that she had become sick after visiting. We took the safe route and drank bottled water and primarily ate only cooked foods.

Jemaa al-Fnaa Square

We started off at Jemaa al- Fnaa square with a traditional vegetable tagine and mint tea. Jemaa al Fnaa is the main square where you will see the many food stalls and snake charmers. Don’t be alarmed if you feel someone grab your arm for henna or place a monkey on your head and then demand money from you. It’s all part of being in Marrakesh. I would recommend not getting henna from just anyone off the street if you have sensitive skin. Ask your host at the Riad for a reputable henna location. After dinner, be prepared to get lost in the Medina. It will happen. Don’t worry the locals will always help you back if you give them a tip or just find your own way out of the maze.We definitely got lost several times, but it was fun now that I look back at it.

Marrakesh Morocco Restaurant Recommendations:

Terrasse Des Epices: If you want to feel like Aladdin and Jasmin on a magic carpet ride in the sky, check out this one!

Cafe Arabe is a nice restaurant with a bar and a rooftop and a cozy red Moroccan room.

Beats Burger had a nice small rooftop patio and a vegan burger option.

Day 2: Bus Tour and Rooftops

The Riad will provide you with a great breakfast and then you will be off to see more of Marrakesh. We recommend the Hop on Hop Off Bus, which usually isn’t our way of touring, but it turned out to be the best way to see Marrakesh outside of the Medina, especially if you aren’t renting a vehicle. You will see camels and how much the city changes outside of the city center.

Two of the major tourist attractions, Jardin Majorelle and Bahia Palace are on the green line of the Hop on Hop Off Bus route. We definitely recommend the bus ride if you visit Marrakesh without a rental car. They also provide you with an audio guide so that you know what you are seeing and discuss a lot of their cultural values and traditions.

Depart the hop on hop off bus at the main square to see all of the food stalls in action. They have amazing fresh squeezed juices. After touring the souks some more, we ended the day with a few beverages of choice at the one of the Riads mentioned above and had a nice relaxing dinner on a rooftop. I’ve mentioned our favorite spots above. Oh and you will get lost in the Medina’s maze again!

Day 3: Rug Shopping

We spent our last day touring the souks and shopping for souvenirs. Don’t leave without buying a Moroccan rug! It was an experience within itself. We walked into one of the small rug shops and we were just browsing. The owner asked us if we had a few minutes and we said,”sure.”

Well before I could say cats… we were walking several blocks away into an alley with a man into this huge warehouse of rugs and cats. Cats everywhere! You could see other foreigners there just sitting around sipping tea and they looked as if they had been there for a few hours. Our flight time was approaching quickly, so we were definitely not relaxed and drinking tea. We knew that we wanted to buy a rug with the currency that we had leftover. So we were ready to spend and spend quickly! The men were so helpful and showed us several colorful rugs. Of course we found our perfect rug and signed some type of contract that looked really formal and kind of scary….? It kind of felt like we were buying a home again.

Visiting the Hammams is on our bucket list for the next trip. Have you been to Marrakesh, Morocco? If so, what should we see next time?

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