27/06/2015
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Welcome to Morocco. Welcome to Marrakech. Everything is good; yes?
We’re not sure what kind of traveller you are or how much planning you like to do, but if you’re here in Marrakech and wondering what the city has to offer, this little introduction to some of the sites of the city might help a little. It’s not everything, but it is some of the more popular destinations Marrakech has to offer.
The Medina, Place Jemaa el Fna, and the Souks
If you’ve only got a day to spend in Marrakech then get over to Jemaa El Fna, the main square and heart of Marrakech, and spend your day exploring the many souks (markets) that surround it and spread out through the medina. It really is the best way to get a feel for the old city. And if you can, visit the square during the day and in the evening, as it’s got a few different moods and keeps changing throughout the day and into the night. Maybe even have dinner there at one of the food stalls.
Sites :
If you’ve got more time then here are some of the top historical sites and other places of interest. As the most of them are in the medina you’ll get plenty of time to be in the square and explore the souks along the way.
La Koutoubia You can’t go in this mosque, or any in Marrakech actually, but it’s the biggest in the city, and apparently the third highest minaret in the world, so it’s worth a visit.Around the mosque are also the ruins of a much older building as well as some lovely gardens that are open for people to enjoy.
Bab Agnaou The medina has about 19km of wall with 19 main gates and around 200 towers. This gate, built in the 12th century, is one of the more ornate ones as it was the Royal entrance into the city.
Mosque de la Kasbah As its right by the Saadian Tombs this beautiful mosque makes for a great starting point for a walk that includes the tombs, two palaces, and a museum of moroccan art.
Saadian Tombs Nearby Palais el Badii, these tombs were built in the 16th century.
The mausoleum is the resting place for 60 members of the Saadian dynasty.
Palais el Badia These are the ruins of the royal palace built in the late 16th century during the Saadian dynasty. If you like wandering old ruins then this makes for a good trip. Keep an eye out for the storks nesting atop it’s walls.
Palais el Badia These are the ruins of the royal palace built in the late 16th century during the Saadian dynasty. If you like wandering old ruins then this makes for a good trip. Keep an eye out for the storks nesting atop it’s walls.
Palais el Bahia This palace and gardens were built in the 19th century by the grand vizier to the sultan, Si Moussa. The palace is in beautiful condition, and the gardens are a nice place to relax for a bit.
Dar si Said Museum This home from the 19th century has an architecture similar to the Palais el Bahia, and is now home to a museum of Moroccan art. It’s also worth seeing just for the building and it’s ornate decorations.
Musee Douiria Mouassine :
This museum is a restored guest house and gives a good view into a 16th century home. The larger home the guest house is connected to has also been purchased by the museum and restorations should begin soon.
Medersa Ben Youssef This college was founded in the 14th century and the current building dates from the 16th century. It is now a historical site, and you can purchase a combined ticket to visit it and the Musee du Marrakech.
Musee du Marrakech This used to be the Dar Menebhi Palace, and dates from the 19th century. This ornate building provides an excellent home for exhibits celebrating the history of Marrakech.
Mosque Ben Youssef This beautiful mosque is aligned with the nearby college that shares its name, and is thought to be the oldest mosque in Marrakech.
Almoravid Koubba The Almoravid were a Berber dynasty who reigned from the 11th-12th century and were responsible for the Ben Youssef medersa and mosque. The Koubba is the only remaining piece of Almoravid architecture in Marrakech and was originally a place for ablutions before prayer.
Tannery Morocco is known for it’s leather, and tanners here continue to use the old methods for preparing and dyeing hides. This tannery, northeast of the square provides an opportunity to learn about that process. A local guide on site may offer a tour and it is recommended to negotiate a price up front.
The Jardin Marjorelle Outside of the medina, these gardens were once home to designer Yves Saint Laurent and are worth the visit. Beautiful, and tranquil, they are a great place to relax and find some peace from the hectic pace of Marrakech.Other Gardens
A bit outside the medina is The Menara Garden which is quite beautiful. Then there are the royal gardens behind the Palais Royal, the Jardin Agdal. These enormous gardens are almost as long as the medina. While they are often open to the public if the royal family is in the city then they will most likely be closed.
Fantazia-Chez Ali During this wonderful evening you will enjoy your dinner in a Moroccan style. You will have a traditional Moroccan meal while listening Berber music performers. Acrobats an horse riders will show you the real culture of Moroccan people. Children can take a camel ride.
Quad Bike Enjoy a great taster adventure by quad bike in Marrakech! This is an activity for those who are seeking for an unusual activity close to Marrakech. This half day self-drive quad-biking excursion will take you into rural Morocco in order to reveal the beautiful and contrasting landscapes around the palm groves and the River Tensift. This is a truly and incredible experience, supervised and operated by a local company expert.
Camel ride The palm groves of Marrakech are the perfect place to get away and explore a unique and exceptional surrounding in the red city. Around Marrakech offers you a 2 hours ride on camels through green palm groves and the surrounding countryside in an authentic setting to help you discover the distinct beauty of these places.
During this adventure you will go through the nearby villages and you will dive into the lifestyle of local people whilst experiencing their traditions. Along the way you will enjoy a break that will allow you to enjoy a nice Moroccan tea in the heart of a charming natural setting.
Ouzoud waterfall In the Grand Atlas village of Tanaghmeilt, in the province of Azilal, 150 kilometer
At the northeast of Marrakech, you will find the 110 meters high waterfalls of Ouzoud which is one of the best things to see in and around Marrakech. The word Ouzoud comes from the Berber language and means « the act of grinding grain ».
Thanks to the help of your guide, you will access the bottom of the falls through a shaded path of olive trees. The small mills at the summit of the fall are still in use.
Because of its environment with green valleys, mills, orchards, and the superb circuit of the El Abid River (Arabic for ‘Slave’s river’), this is one of the most visited sites of the region. Many local and national associations lead projects to protect and preserve this site. You can’t miss this cheap guide tour!
Essaouira 175 km from Marrakesh on the Atlantic coast, the former Mogador is a city which has kept many traces of its past. It is still settled by Gnawa people.(descendants of black slaves from Sudan).
Its medina is surrounded by high walls, which protect it from wind and sea. Smaller than the medina of Marrakech, it offers a wide variety of traditional items from crafts, such as Thuja and silver jewellery.
Ourika valley is one of the best things to do in and around Marrakech. Ourika river is deep-rooted in the High Atlas at an average altitude of 4.000 meters. At the end of the Atlas, Ourika is no less than 1.070 meters and has drawn the nearby valleys with sharp slopes.
Ourika is supplied on both sides by many valleys and ravines and sometimes its slopes are very steep. Ourika river can have a particularly high flow during heavy rainfall.
This system is what makes the Ourika Valley well-known for its virgin and lush aspect.
By visiting the Ourika Valley you will be able to get pleased by the discovery of a surprising environment, combined with traditional mountain style.
At halfway, you can branch off to Oukaïmeden (a main ski resort in Morocco which reaches 3.200 m altitude) or continue to Setti Fatma, the last village before the waterfalls!
All the way through the Ourika Valley, you will have the opportunity to see traditional Berber villages, even if you are at no more than 30 or 70 kilometers from Marrakech. In fact, this place is one of the best things to discover in and around Marrakech.
