We present: the highlights of Marrakesh that you should not miss and that will make your vacation unforgettable: Riads, roof terraces, palaces, gardens and the souks in the medina.
Marrakesh embodies the oriental dream par excellence with its lively souk, luxurious riads, exotic gardens and cultural and historical treasures.
Nowhere else is the magic of the Orient more authentic and easier to experience than here. The red city has been captivating visitors for almost 1000 years and the mix of old and new is exciting and thrilling.
The highlights presented here are an essential part of a successful vacation in Marrakesh, they embody the essence of the city, so to speak.
Although these highlights of Marrakesh are on every visitor’s must-see list, they are typical of the city’s attitude to life.
- What you absolutely must experience in Marrakesh
- 1. getting lost in the winding alleyways of the medina
- 2. go shopping and trading in the souk
- 3. experience the Jemaa el Fna at sunset
- 4. spend the night in a riad
- 5. eat on a roof terrace
- 6. discover the famous blue in the Jardin Majorelle
- 7. visit an old palace
- 8. ride a camel
- 9. eat tagine
- 10. relax in the hammam
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What you absolutely must experience in Marrakesh
1. getting lost in the winding alleyways of the medina
Getting lost in the medina of Marrakesh is an experience you should definitely enjoy, as it will be unavoidable on your first visit.
Therefore, if you are venturing into the medina for the first time, you should not be under any time pressure, but simply let yourself drift.
The medina is the absolute highlight among the experiences in Marrakesh and is unique.
The old town of Marrakesh is so big that you can easily spend a whole week strolling from store to store and looking at the myriad of goods on offer here.
Enjoy the oriental atmosphere, sniff the foreign spices and haggle with the traders instead of concentrating on where you are. The best way to explore the medina is not to look for directions, but to embark on the adventure of completely losing your bearings.
A good indicator that you are really far off the beaten track is always when there are no more stores and no more mopeds coming towards you. Then you should perhaps return to the last busy corner and take a different route. Quite a few quiet alleyways end up as dead ends after several hundred meters.
Sooner or later you will pass a café or restaurant somewhere, where you can take a short break, drink a mint tea and ask Google where you have actually ended up. Now you can still think about where and how to continue.
If you don’t feel like drifting around on the first day, we recommend taking a guided tour with a local guide* and only then setting off on your own. Then you’ll have gotten used to the hustle and bustle and will usually be braver and venture out on your own.
2. go shopping and trading in the souk
In the winding alleyways of the medina, there is such an abundance of stores, craftsmen and mobile stalls that there is only one word to describe it: complete sensory overload.
After the initial culture shock, the eye begins to notice the things that particularly appeal to you:
This store here has woven leather handbags, over there they have the chic green ceramics and the dark walnut wooden boards would look good at home too…
In addition to Moroccan handicrafts such as leather bags, lamps and ceramics, the souk also sells clothing, art objects and — most importantly — carpets in all shapes and colors. In addition to the obvious tourist stores, there are also high-priced antique stores or time-honored caftan tailors. In between, there are always small kiosks selling food and drinks, mobile stalls selling fresh fruit or pastries and the ubiquitous mopeds.
For some years now, there have also been many small designer boutiques, trendy jewelry stores and hip cafés, especially in the neighborhood around our Riad Selouane.
Shopping in the souk is fun and one of the highlights of a visit to Marrakesh. There are really beautiful things and you can discover real treasures if you take the time to look closely at the goods, compare the quality and look for something special.
The vendors in the souk have an incredible knowledge of human nature and will usually speak to you with a few words of your language and you are already in conversation, which naturally ends with the presentation of a product. Many visitors quickly feel pressured by the traders, but if you politely decline or ask for more time, every trader will accept this.
If you are interested in, let’s say, a scarf and have looked at and tried a few scarves, then the haggling begins. Haggling is part of the sales culture and is an experience that is simply part of a Moroccan vacation. You have to take your time, you rarely get a quick price quote and if you don’t haggle, you will be met with a complete lack of understanding from the traders.
If you don’t want to venture into the hustle and bustle alone and take a look at the artisans’ workshops, we can recommend a private shopping tour through the souks* . If you are looking for something very special, an extended private shopping tour to the artisans* may be just the thing for you.
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3. experience the Jemaa el Fna at sunset
The Jemaa el Fna is the heart of the city.
Actually just a large, empty space, this constantly changing square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Not much has changed here for almost 1000 years.
Early in the morning the square is empty and large, then it fills up with traders, strollers and jugglers.
Soon you’ll be swarming with souvenir sellers, henna women and pickpockets. So be careful not to lose your cell phone in the hustle and bustle!
One or two hours before sunset, the magical transformation of the Jemaa el Fna begins: the barbecue stalls are set up anew every evening.
Suddenly, billows of smoke drift across the square, the smell of barbecue fills the air and the storytellers make their grand entrance.
The spectacle is best enjoyed from one of the surrounding roof terraces. Culinary quality is not to be expected here, it is all about observing the well-orchestrated process of transformation.
After work, the locals flood the square to eat, chat, pass the time and meet up with friends.
The hustle and bustle is incredible and not for the faint-hearted. Here, everyone will find their own personal experience that will remain in their memories.
With a guided street food tour*, anyone can venture into the hustle and bustle of Jemaa el Fna and feast their way through the street stalls.
4. spend the night in a riad
The real treasure of Marrakesh are the riads.
For hundreds of years, the houses have been built around an inner courtyard, which offers an oasis of calm in contrast to the bustling alleyways.
From the outside, the houses are forbidding, leaning against the neighboring house wall to wall. Inside, the real magic unfolds: the mostly green inner courtyard, the so-called riad, which gave the buildings their name.
In the medina of Marrakesh, there are a few thousand riads that have been converted into guesthouses. Most of them only have a few rooms, which gives the houses their family charm. You won’t find any large hotel chains in the medina.
A stay in a riad is the best way to experience the city authentically. Here, the hospitality of the Moroccans is experienced on a daily basis and creates lasting memories.
Our beautiful Riad Selouane scores with friendly staff, a great roof terrace and a top location on the edge of the souks. The highlight for our guests is breakfast on our beautiful terrace.
5. eat on a roof terrace
Alongside the riads, the roof terraces are the absolute jewels of the medina.
There are countless restaurants with stylish rooftop terraces from which you have great views over the intricate houses of the old town.
You can find everything from simple Moroccan restaurants with rickety plastic chairs to modern gourmet temples.
The view sweeps over the maze of houses to the large mosques and on to the High Atlas, behind which the sun is setting.
You can find more information about the best rooftop terraces in the medina in our blog article about the best restaurants in Marrakesh.
6. discover the famous blue in the Jardin Majorelle
The Jardin Majorelle is the biggest visitor magnet in the whole of Morocco and clearly one of the highlights of Marrakesh.
The garden, which once belonged to Jacques Majorelle and then Yves Saint Laurent, is one of the most beautiful in the world.
Tickets must be ordered online* in advance with a fixed entry time. Although the garden is often overcrowded, it is one of the highlights of a visit to Marrakesh.
In our article about the Jardin Majorelle, you can also find out what the famous Majorelle blue is all about
Are you looking for a hotel in Marrakesh?
Our charming Riad Selouane in the Medina offers the best ratings, breakfast on the roof terrace and first-class service!
7. visit an old palace
At first glance, the city’s cultural-historical monuments are not visible at all because, like the riads, they are completely inconspicuous from the outside.
Inside, however, all the oriental splendor unfolds and makes it clear why Moroccan handicrafts are something very special worldwide.
Tile mosaics, finely crafted stucco elements and lush gardens can be discovered in our article on the most important historical monuments of Marrakesh.
Even if you are not interested in art history, you should at least visit one of the palaces to marvel at the Islamic arts and crafts. It’s definitely worth it!
A guided tour through the souks* with a visit to the old Koran school Ben Youssef Madrasa and the “secret garden” is definitely worthwhile.
8. ride a camel
For newcomers to Morocco, a camel ride is simply a must, if only for the souvenir photos.
The rocking back and forth of the large animals is a very peculiar feeling for the rider.
A camel ride is certainly one of the most memorable highlights, especially for families.
There are several opportunities to ride a camel in Marrakesh: in the Palmeraie* not far from the city, rides are offered in the palm oasis, as well as in the Agafay stone desert, usually in combination with a dinner spectacle*.
Half an hour to an hour is absolutely enough to get that desert ship feeling.
Important to know: hold on tight! The camel lies down when you get on. As soon as you sit down, the animal rises up with its hindquarters and you are thrown forward. Many a rider has been thrown headfirst. Then it goes backwards and you’re about to make the exit via the backhand. As soon as you’re on top, everything is fine and the adventure can begin.
Here we reveal more about the best day trips from Marrakesh.
9. eat tagine
Moroccan cuisine is one of the best cuisines in the world.
The finely balanced use of oriental spices in the famous tagines, the casseroles with the conical lids, is unparalleled anywhere in the world.
Tagines are everyday meals and the combination of spices determines the taste. The traditional recipes are passed down from generation to generation in families.
Tagines are offered in almost every restaurant and many small street stalls offer their own specialty.
Every region in Morocco has its own recipes, but the most popular tagine is certainly chicken with green olives and preserved lemon.
But vegetarians will also be really happy with a tagine made from market-fresh, seasonal vegetables.
If you have acquired a taste for tagine and would like to know how to prepare it, you can learn the traditional way at a cooking course*. Vegetarian and vegan cooking courses* are also offered.
10. relax in the hammam
It is normal for every Moroccan to go to a hammam once a week.
This washing ritual not only cleanses the body, it also relaxes the soul.
Each district of the city has its own hammam, which is divided into a section for women and one for men. Entry costs just a few dirhams and you wash yourself and go through various stations.
For foreign visitors, there are many hammams* in the medina and new town where you can be thoroughly cleaned and scrubbed from head to toe. Afterwards, you can treat yourself to a massage.
We love to go to the hammam on the day we arrive, wash off the travel grime and really arrive mentally at Marrakesh.
As most hammams cannot accommodate so many guests at once, it is usually better to book in advance online. But you will also find what you are looking for if you stroll through the medina.
Your hotel can also help with a reservation. Many riads even have in-house hammams that offer good service and massages. The advantage is that you can relax on the roof terrace afterwards.
These highlights make a visit to Marrakech unforgettable and are the quintessence of a successful vacation in the red city.
Looking for more information about Marrakesh?
Visit our travel guide to learn more about the sights of Marrakesh and Morocco!
