In January of 2015, I arrived to Marrakech for the first time and was amazed by everything that I saw. The moment I stepped off the plane, the air smelled of spices and there was this feeling of being in a place that has so much history untouched. Having gone with almost no money the first time, I wanted to go again with a bigger budget, so I returned in October 2016 to revisit this beautiful town and experience more of what it had to offer. It’s a place that I think everyone should visit if they want a taste of North African culture. A four-day trip is the perfect amount of time to spend in this beautiful city in Morocco.
ARRIVING
Getting to Marrakech from Europe is incredibly cheap. With many budget airlines flying there, you can find an awesome deal at any time of the year. You’ll arrive at Marrakesh Menara Airport and instantly feel the difference between anywhere you’ve ever been. It’s not a huge airport (although they are currently working on a bigger terminal), so it’s a short distance from immigration to walking out into the arrivals area. If you’ve arranged for your place of accommodation to pick you up, the driver should be there waiting for you. If you need to take a taxi, be aware that the drivers will try to scam you into paying more than you should. It should only be 100DH ~ $10 for the short ride into the city. They’ll try to make you pay 100DH for each passenger, but tell them no and offer the set price. If you’re trying to save money and don’t mind taking a bit longer, there’s an airport bus that has a stop right outside near the taxi stand. It’s the number 19 bus and it’s only 30DH and will take you straight to Place Jemaa el Fna in the medina, which is most likely where you’ll be staying.
WHERE TO STAY
HOSTEL WAKA WAKA
The nice thing about accommodation in Marrakech is that whether you spend a bit more, or stick to budget hostels, it won’t be expensive. For solo travelers or a small group of friends, I suggest Hostel Waka Waka. I stayed here my first time, and although it can be a bit tough to find, it was incredibly cheap (less than $5/night), the staff was very nice, there was free breakfast and you could pay a little extra to smoke hookah. It has a cool vibe and you’ll meet lots of fellow travelers there.
HOTEL CECIL
If you’re traveling as a couple or want something slightly nicer and private, we stayed in Hotel Cecil for only $25/night. It’s literally in the best location, right off the main square so it’s very easy to find and a perfect central location for anything you might want to do. They provide breakfast and the room is air-conditioned (which is a major plus for the hotter months). Despite its location, it’s very quiet and the staff is very relaxed and helpful.
WHAT TO DO
Marrakech is a city of many, many sites. Four days there, is just enough time to enjoy many aspects of the town.
Jamaa el Fna
The Souks
Ben Youssef Madrasa
Bahia Palace
Spice Market
WHERE & WHAT TO EAT
CHEZ AICHA
My favorite place to eat when in Marrakech is the night market at Jamaa El-Fna. In the evening, you’ll see the carts roll in to set up the many small restaurants that make up the food stalls. While all of them have basically the same food, I am a loyal customer of Number 1, Chez Aicha. While other establishments practically grab you in, the servers at Chez Aicha are very kind and professional and I never feel annoyed with them. They’re probably the most popular dinner stall, and I’m guessing that’s the reason.
COUCOUS, TAJINE & KEBOBS
These are the main staples of the Moroccan food menu and pretty much all eateries around the city have them, so you can’t go wrong ordering this for your meal.
ORANGE JUICE & COFFEE
There’s 4DH freshly pressed orange juice at all the stalls in the square, so get a cup and I promise it will be some of the best orange juice you’ve ever tasted. You won’t easily find coffee to go in the medina, so go sit in a cafe and enjoy a cappuccino that will be made in a European fashion and people-watch.
EXCURSIONS TO TAKE
Because you have a few days in the city, there’s definitely time to take a day trip outside Marrakech without losing any time seeing things. Around the city you’ll find different vendors trying to sell you excursions and realistically there’s no certain one you should buy from. However, you should haggle and try to get the excursion to around 200-300DH, because that’s really what the trip is worth.
Ait Ben Haddou
Ouarzazate
Atlas Mountains
Essaouira
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