Marrakesh, Morocco Travel Guide
Marrakesh is one of the four Imperial Cities of Morocco and an absolute must visit when traveling to Morocco. The city is alive with color and history at every turn. It is also a bit overwhelming until you get the hang of navigating the busy souks. In this guide I’ll talk about the best things to do and see in Marrakech, where to stay, how to haggle for a good price in the markets and more!
How many days to spend in marrakesh
If you have the time, I would recommend spending 4-5 days in Marrakech but you could still do a lot in just 3 days.
Where to Stay
I think staying in the Medina is the best choice for your first time to Marrakech. The Medina is where you’ll find the souks, traditional Riads, narrow alleys and the famous Jemaa el-Fna square. You’ll be close to everything but it’s also very busy. If you prefer not to be in the hustle and bustle of the Medina, then the Guilez neighborhood would be another great choice. It’s a colonial-era district with wide avenues, contemporary art galleries, chic cafes, upscale restaurants, and modern amenities.
Hotels vs Riads
Stay in a riad! A riad is a traditional Moroccan house or palace built around a central, open-air courtyard or garden. riads are everywhere in Marrakech so you have quite the variety of options to choose from. Whether you want to stay in the heart of the Medina or outside of the craziness of the souks, you can find a reasonably priced but good riad anywhere in Marrakech. Forewarning, some riads can get noisy depending on how spaced out the rooms are. There are quiet hours and the managers of the riads will enforce that if people are being too loud which I did experience a couple times. However, I would highly recommend choosing a riad over a hotel.
riad – The Bohemian Jungle
I stayed in The Bohemian Jungle for 2 nights and loved it! It was absolutely stunning with the pinks, teals, tilework, & flowers. The breakfast that’s included was my favorite breakfast I had of the 4 different riads I stayed at. There are only 4 rooms in this riad so make sure to book early if you want to snag a room here. You can hear conversations and noise pretty easily in this riad but beyond that, I LOVED this place and would try to stay here again in the future!
riad – riad 64 Maison D’hotes & spa
I also stayed at Riad 64 Maison D’hotes & Spa for 2 nights. This riad was much bigger and the location was a bit outside of the craziness of the souks which I enjoyed for the end of my trip to be in a bit of a calmer environment!
Hotel – La Sultana
If you really prefer a hotel, and you have money to spend, then I would recommend staying at La Sultana. I did not stay here but I did get lunch at La Table du Souk and then walked around the hotel afterwards and it was GORGEOUS! The hospitality was amazing which I guess should be expected for a 5-star luxury hotel.
Getting around Marrakesh
I walked everywhere in Marrakesh and would suggest doing that. Do NOT rent a car. Driving is crazy in Marrakesh and chances of you being able to park a car close to where you’re staying are slim due to the way the city is built. Your riad or hotel can call you cabs if you are going somewhere that is further away but I was able to walk to everything.
The only time I took a cab was from the airport, which your riad or hotel will set up for you and I’d suggest taking them up on that offer as finding some riads is pretty difficult. I read a lot about people saying how hard it is to find riads in the middle of the city and didn’t think it would be that bad because I’m great with directions however, it’s hard to explain until you get to Marrakech and understand how confusing it is so I’m happy my riads offered to set up transportation. They will then also help carry your luggage if you go this route. It would be cheaper to just grab a random cab at the airport, closer to $5 versus $15 or $20 but the peace of mind was worth the extra money for me.
Currency
The currency in Morocco is the Dirham (MAD). You can exchange cash at the airport but I would suggest only exchanging some money to pay for a cab and a meal or two and then exchanging the rest in the city where the exchange rates are better.
How to pay
You’ll need cash when shopping in the souks. Most restaurants accepted credit cards. I only had a couple that said it would be a pretty big fee to use a credit card so then I opted to pay cash.
Also, some riads don’t charge you until the end of the stay so you could also pay in cash for that. And if you’re like me and leave wherever you’re staying without checking out, just make sure you’ve already paid!
Things to Do in Marrakesh
#1 – Shop and Explore the Souks
Go get lost in the souks and find some great souvenirs! You will literally get lost, so make sure you either pay attention to exactly where you’re walking or do what I did and download offline maps to be able to follow directions to wherever I wanted to go after wandering. My suggestion is to hold off buying anything the first day if you’re planning on exploring multiple days because you’ll see so many things you want and might find something better or are able to negotiate a better price somewhere else.
#2 – Spice Market
The Spice Market was my favorite area of the souks. The colors are gorgeous, smells are strong, and I learned a ton about spices, tea, crystals and more. Make sure to visit Ibnsina. They do demonstrations and are hilarious! I ended up getting some spices and eucalyptus crystals from here but almost bought everything they had.
#3 – Le Jardin Secret
Le Jardin Secret is a tranquil oasis tucked within the bustling medina, showcasing beautifully restored Islamic and exotic gardens rooted in centuries-old traditions. Surrounded by historic architecture and flowing water features, it offers a peaceful glimpse into Morocco’s cultural and botanical heritage.
*I got here right when they opened and there was only one small tour group there. Probably 30 minutes later the place was pretty crowded.
#4 – Madrasa Ben Youssef
Madrasa Ben Youssef is a stunning 14th-century Islamic college renowned for its intricate zellij tilework, carved cedar wood, and serene central courtyard. Once one of North Africa’s largest centers of learning, it stands today as a powerful testament to Morocco’s artistic and scholarly heritage.
*I got here 30 minutes after opening and about 30 minutes later the place was packed with tour groups. It’s not very big so if you’re trying to get pictures without a ton of people in them, make sure to get there right at opening.
#5 – Bahia Palace
Bahia Palace is a magnificent 19th-century complex designed to showcase the finest Moroccan craftsmanship, with ornate courtyards, carved stucco, and colorful zellij tiles. Wandering through its airy rooms and gardens reveals the grandeur and ambition of Morocco’s royal past.
*I didn’t visit Bahia Palace until noon and it was the busiest of all the tourist attractions that I went to. Honestly, I found it to be a bit overrated and when I was there (November 2025) a lot of it was under construction so I didn’t even get to see quite a bit of it.
#6 – El Badi Palace
I LOVED El Badi Palace! It’s a vast 16th-century ruin built by Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, once famed for its opulence and gold-adorned halls. Today, its sunken gardens and towering walls evoke the scale and ambition of a palace that rivaled the greatest monuments of its time.
*I got here about 20 minutes after it opened and it was just me and one other person. I stayed for about an hour and very few people were there. If you only have time to do El Badi Palace OR Bahia Palace, I would recommend El Badi Palace.
#7 – The Mellah
The Mellah is the historic Jewish Quarter, established in 1558, known for its distinct architecture, vibrant markets, synagogues, and the large Miaâra Jewish cemetery. I explored this area towards the end of my trip and it was a nice relief from the craziness of the souks. The Tinsmiths Square was some of my favorite parts to check out because it was A. Not confusing because it was very open, B. Had lots of fun restaurants, spice markets, and more local feeling markets.
#8 – Jemaa El Fna Square
Jemaa el-Fnaa is the famous main square in Marrakesh. It’s known as the heart of the city with tons of markets and a great night scene.
*Honestly, I did not enjoy this area very much and would skip it next time. I travelled alone and experienced the worst harassment here that I started walking with a tour group so that I’d be left alone. This is also where the snake charmers and monkeys are but please do not engage with this. The animals are clearly not well taken care of. The monkeys were on leashes and looked like they were in pain.
#9 – Koutoubia Mosque
The Koutoubia Mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakesh. Don’t make the mistake I did and miss the large gardens. I walked from Jemaa El Fna Square to see it. Viewed it from what I thought was the front and didn’t realize there was a huge plaza with gardens and a fountain until I read more about it online.
Things I’d do next time!
Restaurant Recommendations
Les Jardins Du Lotus
The vibrant colors of Les Jardins Du Lotus is what drew me in. I went for a light lunch and would recommend the ceviche! At night I know they have a DJ that plays music and it turns into a bit of club vibe.
Café Des Epices
In the heart of the Spice Market is Café Des Epices. I would recommend sitting on the second floor that overlooks the market. The food was great and one of the few places that had decent coffee.
Kosybar Rooftop
Kosybar offers great views of Tinsmith Square and great food! I was there on a Friday night and there was a live band playing and singing classic songs like “Say A Little Prayer For You”. It felt like a little piece of home but with great Moroccan food.
Le Salama
The best tagine I had on my whole trip was at La Salama! It was beef and dates and had so much flavor. I went during golden hour which gave a gorgeous view of Jemaa El Fna Square. I ended up staying until 9pm when their famous belly dancers come and do a show! They only do a few songs so the entire show lasts about 15 minutes but it was really good and a traditional Moroccan experience I was excited I got to do!
La Table du Souk
La Table du Souk is located in La Sultana hotel and was the best meal I had on my trip. The hotel is stunning and the restaurant is on the rooftop. While waiting for my food I explored the roof area and every corner was beautiful. I ordered the seafood pastilla and it was great! I didn’t try pastilla until the last day of my trip and wish I would have discovered it sooner because it was so much better than tagine.
Other Restaurants I was recommended
coffee shops
Atay Café
I only had coffee here but I loved the vibe of this place. I went right when they opened and no one else was there for the first hour.
Kosybar Rooftop
After eating dinner here I ended up going back the next day for some coffee because they have a full coffee bar on the main floor. This was the only place I found decent iced coffee in Marrakesh and if you go during the morning/day there is tons of seating options. I love how the whole place is decorated or you could choose to sit on one of the terraces that overlooks the Square.