11 Best Things To Do in Marrakech

Traffic floods the streets of Marrakech, where pedestrians, vehicles and animals form a uniform mass, while the sound of the horn mixes with the voices of passers-by and the call to prayer. Planning your trip? Here are 10 of the city's must-see sights.

I don't know if anyone has ever visited Marrakech without visiting this square. Located inside the Medina of Marrakesh, the historic area considered the centre of the city, it is surrounded by a wall.

The huge square of Yamaa el-Fna is the heart of Marrakesh and the reference point for orientation on any walk or sightseeing tour. If you have to choose a first place to go when you arrive in Marrakech, I recommend you book a tour of the medina of Marrakech and start in this square.

In few cities would I recommend shopping as a must-do, but in Marrakech booking a guided tour of the souk in Marrakech is a whole new experience.

The souk market is a plan in itself where it's less about what to buy and less about what to buy:

• Seeing how the vendors communicate with the tourists (whatever your language, you are sure to hear them address you in it).
• Appreciate the handicrafts (the artisans are usually at the back of the souk past a covered alleyway).
• Taste the street-side sweets (they don't look very hygienic, but they are part of the local experience).

Be especially careful with your belongings during your stroll through the souk is one of the basic safety tips in Marrakech.

When you go to the Majorelle Garden the first thing that will catch your eye, even before you reach the gate, is the Ville Nouvelle area in which it is located. Just by taking a taxi from the Medina you seem to have arrived in a completely different city with tall buildings and manicured pavements.

Indeed, this is the rich part of the city and yes, it is also part of Morocco. If you want more information on how to get here, have a look at the post on how to get around Marrakech. Personally, I think that booking a tour of the Majorelle Gardens and the Marrakech Palm Grove is one of the best things to do in the city, if not the best.

The image you will find when you walk through the gates of this garden, which is open 365 days a year, has nothing to do with what is associated with the Arab world. It was built in the 1920s and 1930s and is decorated with exotic plant species, and the taste of the buildings and streets is exquisite. I recommend that before your visit you consult the post what to see and do in the Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech.

It may sound like a cliché to go to Morocco and ride a camel, but it's one of the best things to do in Marrakech. Camel rides not only allow you to use the camel as a means of transport, but also to see the deserts around Marrakech and the Berber villages scattered across them.

Contrary to what many people think, you don't have to go to the Sahara Desert to enjoy a camel ride in Marrakech.

You can take camel treks to various spots around Marrakesh, including the famous Marrakesh Palm Grove, which can last anywhere from a few hours to a whole day. Tip: if you're going to Marrakech with children, don't miss out on this activity.

There are many ways to visit a city. Here are a few tips for you to consider before you travel to Marrakech, but the best way to really get to know the city is to book a guided tour of Marrakech and have a local guide explain what lies beyond the tourist's point of view.

You can choose from several options of tours and excursions from Marrakech where a local guide will show you the most unknown corners, tell you the history of its main emblems and tell you interesting stories about the way of life of its inhabitants and the gastronomy of Morocco.

Take the opportunity to ask your guide for restaurant recommendations in Marrakech; he or she will be delighted to help you. And if you are looking for the most original way to get to know the city, consider taking a balloon ride in Marrakesh.

My ultimate plan in Marrakech is to relax in a traditional hammam. An experience that lasts approximately two hours, where you'll try the exfoliating eucalyptus baths, saunas and relaxing argan oil massages.

If you book a bath and massage in a traditional hammam, you'll be treated by expert therapists. You'll also enjoy a traditional fresh mint drink.

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in Morocco, while experiencing the local and cultural tradition of skin care. And don't worry about how to get there, as you can book a round-trip experience.

Marrakech is a city with plenty to enjoy, but the hustle and bustle of its streets makes it a welcome escape from the centre for a day in a more relaxed part of Morocco. A visit to the fishing town of Essaouira is a great way to do just that.

Before booking an excursion to Essaouira, bear in mind that it is located three hours from Marrakech and there are different excursions to and from Essaouira in the same day; in any case, here is a post on how to get from Marrakech to Essaouira.

Its main attraction is the tranquillity of its streets, the sea views and, of course, the cheap, quality fish that you can eat in the port area. If you want to spend a few days more you can go hiking or visit its mountain resorts.

There are countries where no one would think of going without visiting their landscapes. However, many tourists who travel to Marrakech stay in the city because they are unaware of the natural wealth of the surrounding area.

To avoid this, just look for pictures of the Atlas Mountains (see how to get to the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech), the Ourika Valley, the Ouzoud waterfalls or the village of Ban Haddou. If your main reaction is "but is this near Marrakech?", you can read more about all the day trips organised from Marrakech here.

Marrakech desert excursions: a must-do

Of all the excursions you can do from Marrakech, Morocco's desert excur sions are undoubtedly the most popular. The first thing you should know is that from Marrakech you can visit several deserts:

• The desert of Merzouga.
• The Zagora desert.
• The Agafay desert.

Although you can see the desert of Marrakech in one day, my recommendation is that you spend the night in the desert, as the experience is unique.

I also recommend that to get to the desert from Marrakech, you book a desert tour from Marrakech, as it is not worth doing it on your own as the activities you can do in the desert are mostly organised by those who run the tours.

Also known as the "Palace of the Beautiful" as it is the Arabic translation of Bahia. It was by this nickname that the favourite of the vizier Ahmed ben Moussa, who commissioned the construction of this palace which took 14 years to complete, was known.

The highlight of the place is the lavish ornamentation that covers the entire building (and if you're wondering, the mosaic tiles were laid one by one).

Near the Bahia Palace are the Sa'didi tombs. Although they are also open until 4.30pm, it is best to visit them early in the morning to avoid crowds due to their small size.

Inside you will find famous tombs and ostentatious stucco and marble decoration worthy of the glory of the most notable sultans of the 6th century. By the type of decoration of each tomb and mausoleum you will guess the purchasing power of each of the notables buried there.

If you've been to the Alhambra in Granada or the Alcazar in Seville, the setting of this mosque will be familiar to you. If the Palace of the Bay was already a symbol of the greatness of men, this temple is a symbol of the greatness of Allah, and it is incredible.

It is one of the few churches in the country where non-Muslims are allowed to enter, so make the most of the opportunity (although you will find it closed during religious festivals). Its strong point is the courtyard: marble floors, delicate tones, ornamental art, sculpted calligraphy, latticed balconies, mosaics and other elements make it a work of art.

If you are wondering when to travel to Marrakech, both visiting Marrakech in summer and winter have their advantages. Each month of the year offers a number of attractions which you can check out in this list:

• Marrakech in January.
• Marrakech in February.
• Marrakech in March.
• Marrakech in April.
• Marrakech in May.
• Marrakech in June.
• Marrakech in July.
• Marrakech in August.
• Marrakech in September.
• Marrakech in October.
• Marrakech in November.
• Marrakech in December.

Also, if you are still not sure how many days to spend in the Moroccan city, here is another list of itineraries depending on how many days your trip lasts. Enjoy!

• What to see and do in Marrakech in 1 day.
• What tosee and do in Marrakech in 2 days.
• What tosee and do in Marrakech in 3 days.
• What tosee and do in Marrakech in 4 days.
• What tosee and do in Marrakech in 5 days.
• What tosee and do in Marrakech in 7 days.