1. Spend an evening on Place Jemaa-el-Fna
If you are looking for what to do in Marrakech in the evening, Place Jemaa el-Fna is for you! As of nightfall, the main square of Marrakech becomes a place teeming with life! The merchants mingle with visitors and ... animals! We thus meet many snake charmers or trainers accompanied by their little monkey. The whole is very touristy, but the atmosphere that emerges is really unique.
We advise you to arrive at the square at the end of the day, at sunset. The place will then start to come alive and the colors of the buildings will be magnified by the last light of day.
You will easily find something to eat. The square is indeed surrounded by restaurants with terraces. Some of these terraces are located high up, which allows you to have a beautiful view of the whole square and its animation, without necessarily mixing with the crowd. It is also possible to taste various dishes cooked on site and offered in small stands.
2. Go on an excursion around Marrakech
The surroundings of Marrakech are full of natural sites, each one more beautiful than the other. In less than 3 hours of driving, you can discover the Atlas mountains and its Berber villages, the Ourika valley or even the magnificent Ouzoud waterfalls!
To discover the surroundings of Marrakech, there are two solutions. If you plan to do a road trip in Morocco, you just need to rent your own vehicle for several days and provide accommodation in the different sites you want to visit. This is what we did on our first trip and we really liked it. However, this option is recommended for drivers with a minimum of experience (some roads are stony and traffic is sometimes heavy in cities, with a traffic code not always respected).
If you prefer to stay in Marrakech or have limited time, you can also opt for day trips. In this case, a driver-guide will pick you up at your hotel before returning you there at the end of the day. There are many formulas, over one or more days, in a group or with a private driver. The prices are generally very low and it is probably the easiest way to visit the surroundings of Marrakech. We tested 2 excursions during a second stay in Marrakech and found the formula interesting (see links below)
3. Admire the Koutoubia Mosque
The Koutoubia mosque was built in the 12th century, in the heart of the Medina. With its 77 meter high minaret and its sober but elegant architecture, it is today considered as the symbol of Marrakech. It has impressive dimensions and can accommodate up to 20,000 worshipers in the large prayer hall.
The mosque is located near Jemaa-el-Fna square. You can therefore easily discover these two sites on the same outing. Please note, it is not possible to visit the interior of the building, its access being exclusively reserved for the faithful. You will therefore have to content yourself with admiring its beauty from the outside, respecting local customs. Many believers indeed come to the foot of the mosque during prayer, and it is therefore advisable not to be disturbing.
4. Visit the Saadian tombs
his site houses the graves of many Saadians, an Arab dynasty that ruled Morocco more than 350 years ago. These tombs date from the end of the 16th century, but they were only discovered in 1917! The site is admirably preserved and regularly dazzled visitors by its beauty and the richness of its architecture.
The tombs are located near other major sites such as Jemaa-el-Fna Square, the Koutoubia Mosque or the Bahia Palace. Do not miss their visit, especially since the entrance costs only € 7!
5. Walk in the Medina and the souks
The Medina constitutes the historic heart of Marrakech. Established almost 1000 years ago, you can see the oldest and most beautiful buildings in the city. The Medina is surrounded by huge walls, and there are riads (traditional houses), palaces and many monuments. This is also where you can walk in the souks!
There are all kinds of souks in the Medina: souk of spices, crafts, leather, etc. These places are definitely worth a visit, just for the atmosphere! Be careful, if you don't like being accosted, the souks may not be for you! The merchants are very friendly but can sometimes be a little too pushy ...
If you want to get information about the history of the city, you can opt for a guided tour of the historic center. The prices for these tours are low, even for private tours, and usually include tickets to the various monuments. Impossible to give an opinion on these tours, we did not participate (we prefer to walk freely during our trips). We have nevertheless selected those which seem to us the most interesting.
The historic center of Marrakech can be easily visited on foot. To circulate, you can borrow taxis while thinking of negotiating the prices (otherwise you will be entitled to the special tourist price!). You can also book a hop-on hop-off bus tour. These buses have an open roof to offer a panoramic view of the street and the monuments. They offer tourist circuits with possible stops at the main tourist sites, especially at the Medina. It is an effective and practical solution to visit Marrakech and discover its monuments at a rather low price.
Prices of activities & Reservation in French: Bus tour with stops
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