What to see and do in Marrakech - our top 12 tips

Here is a post on tips for things to see and do in Marrakech. We will soon be travelling to Morocco again - for the third time! This time we are travelling to Agadir and it will be interesting, because we have never been there before. However, we have been to Marrakech twice. We've written a lot about this colourful and exciting city before, but we've never put it all in one place. So here it is: 12 things to see and do in Marrakech!

Things to see and do in Marrakech

Marrakech is a vibrant and intense city filled with colours, smells and sounds. The noise of engines mixes with donkey carts and calls to prayer. Just wandering around this intense city is an experience in itself, but if you want more tips and advice on things to do in Marrakech, here they are!

1. stay in a riad in the medina

A riad is a Moroccan house, or palace, with a courtyard. A traditional Moroccan riad usually has two or more floors, around a courtyard where there is often a fountain. A riad used to be the residence of the wealthy residents, but today many of these have been converted into hotels. The last time we visited Marrakech we stayed at a place called Riad Chorfa, a beautiful riad decorated with pillars, balconies and colourful mosaics.

2. Djema el Fna Square

Djema el Fna is the square in Marrakech where everything happens. There are vendors, acrobats, snake charmers, mops, donkeys, shoeshine boys and beggars - all at the same time. In the evening, food stalls are also brought out, filling the square with aromas and interesting dishes to try.

There are also plenty of restaurants around the square where you can eat traditional Moroccan food. The spelling varies, by the way, and sometimes you see the square as Jemaa el Fna, or perhaps Jemaa el Fnaa.

3. Marrakech medina

The old city of Marrakech, the medina, is surrounded by a wall and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Walking around here you almost feel like you're in the middle of a film, and it's easy to get lost.

The male vendors wear long robes and sell everything from leather sashes to spices. They like to grab you, put the goods in your hands, and assure you of their excellent quality. Of course you have to buy his leather goods or his spices! As you try to listen to the vendor, people stream past from all directions, you hear loud voices in Arabic and behind you a donkey or cart tries to push its way through.

4. Shopping in Marrakech

Inside the medina is the souk, or market. Here you will find traditional crafts such as ceramic bowls, leather bags and slippers in bright colours, but also sneakers and food. Whatever you're looking for, it's important to haggle! If you want to avoid haggling, you can visit the Crafts complex - The same type of goods are available here at fixed prices, and you can browse at your leisure. It is not more expensive either ...

5. the Bahia Palace

The Palais de la Bahia is located in the northern part of the Jewish Quarter. Built in the late 19th century, the palace is constructed in traditional Moroccan style with courtyards and fantastically ornate ceilings. The palace was built for the Vizier Ba Ahmed Ben Moussa, who was Grand Vizier to the Sultan. The vizier needed a large house for himself, his four wives and his 24 concubines.

6. Jardin Majorelle

Yves Saint Laurent, who lived partly in Marrakech and drew much of his inspiration from here, bought the garden. Jardin Majorelle 1980. He died in 2008, and his memorial grove is now located here in the garden. A visit to the Jardin Majorelle is a peaceful break from the Moroccan chaos outside. There are lots of green plants, some buildings with cobalt blue colours and strong contrasts, and a small museum.

7. Moroccan food

When in Morocco, you should of course try Moroccan food! One of the most common dishes is tagine, which is food served in a clay pot. The stew can contain, for example, lamb or chicken, perhaps together with some kind of vegetables.

Another common dish is couscous, often served with cooked vegetables and perhaps chickpeas. In addition to the two restaurants mentioned below, we were recommended the restaurant Dar Cherifa, located in one of the oldest houses in Marrakech's old town.

8. restaurant Dar Moha

There are some places where you can get an extra special restaurant experience, and Dar Moha is one of them. When you walk down the dirty alleys, it's hard to believe that you will find a restaurant that Dar Moha behind one of the doors.

Here you are greeted by a beautiful environment with chairs covered in red velvet, a large pool and winding green plants. Here we were also served a fantastic dinner that started with them setting out bread and lots of small bowls with different sauces and salsas. Soooo good!

9. restaurant Ksar El Hamra

We can also recommend the restaurant Ksar El Hamra, where we tried a really luxurious meal. Here you enter a courtyard with lush orange trees before entering the beautiful restaurant.

A group of musicians played native festive songs, and the Moroccan families at the neighbouring tables sang and danced excitedly. We had bread along with several tasty mixes before the main course, followed by tagine with chicken and a traditional dessert of fruit and almonds.

10. quad bike ride

There are plenty of excursions to book around Marrakech, and one of the many things you can try is to driving a quad bike. The first time we were in Marrakech, we made an excursion to a place just outside the city called Palmerie, and here we got a brief introduction before heading out into the semi-desert. It was a high speed tour, over hills and pits while the mud was spraying.

11. Atlas Mountains

When in Marrakech, take the opportunity to make an exciting excursion to the surrounding area. Atlas Mountains. As you drive up into the mountains, you'll notice that it's getting colder all the time, which is perhaps not surprising given that the highest peak in the range is more than 4000 metres above sea level. Here you can peek into Berber villages, buy local handicrafts and see waterfalls.

12. Moroccan crafts

If you are interested in Moroccan crafts there is plenty to see and do in and around Marrakech. Common crafts include hand-knotted carpets, ceramics and argan oil.

The oil is made from argan fruit and is used in various cosmetic products for hair, skin and nails, or for cooking. In some places, including around the Atlas Mountains, you can visit sales points, where you may also be able to see the production.

See more during your trip to Morocco?

If you have the opportunity to see more of Morocco during your trip, you should definitely do so! We recommend a visit to the coastal city Agadir and a trip to Sahara desert. Also Taroudant, sometimes called "Little Marrakech" is worth a visit.