Marrakech
Marrakech is located at the foot of the High Altas and is one of Morocco’s royal cities. The city is also nicknamed the “Pearl of the South” and was once an important caravan port in Morocco.
Marrakech is a destination that offers visitors a fascinating mix of historical heritage, cultural diversity and contemporary flair. Travelling to the city is not only a journey of discovery through Morocco’s history and culture, but also an unforgettable experience that appeals to all the senses.
The famous Djemaa el-Fna Square is the beating heart of the city. By day, it is home to a traditional market with snake charmers and jugglers. At night, the square transforms into a lively centre with street stalls offering delicious local food and loudly courting every customer. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an unforgettable experience that reflects the pulse of Moroccan culture.
The old town is well worth seeing. Winding and narrow alleyways, historic houses, gardens and the souk attract visitors. The souks are a labyrinth of narrow streets filled with artisans selling everything from handmade jewellery to richly decorated carpets. Shopping in these souks is an opportunity to find unique souvenirs.
Not forgetting the impressive historical sights, such as the Koutoubia Mosque and the Saadian Tombs, which provide an insight into Morocco’s rich history and architecture. The opulent palaces and gardens, such as the Bahia Palace and the Majorelle Gardens, offer an oasis of calm and beauty in the middle of the bustling city.
For those seeking a deeper insight into Moroccan culture, the riads, traditional Moroccan houses with courtyards, offer authentic and cosy accommodation. Many of these riads have been converted into charming hotels that combine modern comfort with traditional Moroccan hospitality.
Life in the city is loud, lively and vibrant. It is well worth taking a short trip to Marrakech.
City trip to Marrakech – our tips
Marrakech is one of the royal cities of Morocco. Here you can find relics from days gone by, such as the Bahia Palace and the El-Badi Palace. We visited both places and let us tell you this much - it is really impressive!
You can see the Koutoubia Mosque from almost every square in Marrakech. It is one of the main sights of the city and so we also walked past the mosque during a stroll through Marrakech.
We roam through the south medina of Marrakech and arrive at the Kasbah Mosque near the city gate Bab Agnaou. Here are the world-famous Saadian tombs, which we were eager to visit during our stay in the city.
We had read a lot about the medina of Marrakech before our trip to Morocco - not always positive, but many interesting facts that made us curious.
Crisscrossing the medina of Marrakech, our way led us until we finally reached the Maison de la Photographie de Marrakech. As already with our other ways by the Medina I was really glad that our navigation system on the cell phone functioned well. At some intersections we had to look then nevertheless, since we did…
Book an accommodation in Marrakech
Ari Boutique Hôtel – Adult Only
Park Hyatt Marrakech
The Oberoi Marrakech
Riad Nadalinn
Riad Dar Zaouia
Dar Andamaure
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Marrakech travel information
Arrival in Marrakech
By plane
Marrakech airport is located about 6 kilometers from the city center. Many European airlines fly to Marrakech.
From the airport, for example, you can take a petit taxi into the town for about €7 (70 MAD). There is a board with fixed prices, but the drivers like to haggle them up.
In front of the arrival terminal there is also a bus (hourly) to the city. The ride costs about 30 MAD per person. Supposedly, you can also pay in euros and thus avoid changing money at the airport.
We had a private driver pick us up. The advantage: a brand new air-conditioned car and a ride to the door of the riad.
By train
Barely 2 kilometers from the city center is the train station. From there trains run regularly to the north of Morocco. Train connections to the south do not exist.
By bus
There are buses from almost all major cities in Morocco to Marrakech. There are different providers with different standards.
By road
From the north of Morocco, Marrakech can be reached via the A7 highway, coming from Casablanca, or via the N7 from the Fes/Meknes area.
On the way in Marrakech
By taxi
Petit taxis are a good and cheap way to get around the city. The taxi drivers like to bargain and try to get a high price from the passengers. Most of the time, half of the asked price is realistic.
On foot
The medina can be discovered very well on foot. Beware of the many self-proclaimed “tour guides” who like to lead you through the city for a little money. Often you can only reach your destination with a detour.
All about money
The national currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD).
ATMs can be found at banks, in hotels and near the post office. The service language is Arabic, French and English. The service can be very different and often friendly people come to help, which one should then absolutely get rid of.
Attention: European cards are usually blocked for countries like Morocco for security reasons, you have to have them unblocked, but usually this can be done online at short notice.
Language
Many Moroccans speak French, likewise many inscriptions, references etc. are in French. In Marrakech, English is also often understood and sometimes spoken, as well as German.
Phone / Internet
In the arrival hall of the airport – directly after passport control – the mobile phone providers Inwi and Orange are represented. Here you can get SIM cards, which are also installed and activated on the spot.
Public toilets
Public toilets are available. They are mostly just squat toilets without toilet paper. Here you clean yourself traditionally with your left hand and the water from the tap next to it.
There are also sit-down toilets in museums and better restaurants. However, these are occasionally misused as squat toilets, as can be seen from the shoe prints on the toilet seat then. Not always there is toilet paper here, sometimes there is also a toilet woman who distributes toilet paper at the entrance.