Jon and I just got back from my (belated) birthday trip to Marrakech, Morocco. The first thing I have to say about this trip is that it’s definitely a “trip” and not a “vacation.” I think we both came back far more tired than when we left, but it was also such an amazing experience.
I have acquired so much content from this trip – it’s so busy and beautiful, I was snapping pictures and taking notes like crazy – so I’ve decided to break up my Marrakech guides. This way they should be a little more digestible. This first one, I’m going to focus on the most exciting part – Things to Do in Marrakech.
There are still some things we didn’t have time or the opportunity to do, so let me know if you have any additional recommendations or thoughts on the below. I’m definitely going to have to go back someday!
Xx, Kelsey
THINGS I RECOMMEND TO DO IN MARRAKECH
Shop the Souks – One of the first things we did when we arrived was to walk through the souks to get our bearings. It’s a total maze, but after a while you a) find your way around and b) realize many of the shops sell similar (if not the exact same) items. I definitely recommend just looking on your first day and then going back to actually purchase a few days later. This helps you see what’s out there and get an idea of a reasonable price.
Le Jardin Secret – This quite garden happened to be quite close to our riad, so we stopped in on our first day. It was a totally welcome respite from the craziness of the Medina, especially on our first day when we felt a little overwhelmed. Plus they have great wifi!
Get an OJ in Jemaa el-Fna – The OJ here is AMAZING and ADDICTING. They add a ton of sugar to it, but it’s so good. Ask for it fresh squeezed, otherwise you’ll get it poured from a jug. Still good, but not the same. The OJ costs 4 dirham (about .40 EUR) so I had at least one or two each day.
Sunset Dinner at Nomad – Nomad’s food wasn’t the best I had in Morocco, although still quite good. But make a reservation at sunset and get a spot on the top terrace. It was gorgeous watching the sun go down while drinking mint tea after our meal. Totally worth the slightly higher prices.
Admire the Tile Work at Bahia Palace – This 19th century palace and gardens was intended to be the greatest palace of all time when it was built. It’s now just a series of empty rooms and gardens that you can walk through, but the tile work is amazing. Entire courtyard floors and walls are covered in intricate patterns. It’s every Instagrammer’s dream (and you’ll see a lot of them there shooting pictures).
Grab Breakfast at Le Jardin Majorelle – I’d done a lot of research prior to this trip and learned that Jardin Majorelle gets super crowded with tourists and tour groups. We got there just after it opened and got about a half hour to walk around the garden without too many other people around. It’s not a huge garden, so you don’t need that much time. We stopped in for breakfast at the cafe, and it was so good. Very peaceful. They made great eggs and a mean americano. By the time we left around 10:30am, the place was swarming with tour groups, school field trips, and influencers hogging spaces to take photos.
Visit La Mamounia to Get the Best Instagrams – You can’t get into this incredible hotel if you’re not a guest, but we emailed the spa ahead of time and got day passes for the pool and fitness area for about 60 EUR. You can also get in if you make a dinner or spa reservation. If you want to get a picture at the incredible indoor pool that you see all over the gram, get the day pass. We spent the day working out, laying by the outdoor pool and taking pictures everywhere we could. It was one of my favorite things to do in Marrakech because it was so amazing to see and a nice relaxing day away from the Medina.
Book a Bike Tour (if you’re adventurous) – Jon’s brother booked us a culinary bike tour as a birthday gift for Jon. It was super fun, but also scary at times as we biked through the streets next to donkeys, speeding motorbikes, and cars. We ate at a lot of sketchy local places, but it was totally cool to see the favorite local spots. My favorite was the barbecue sardines (weird I know), but I was a little worried we’d get sick later (we didn’t). If you’re up for it, this tour is a great way to see the old and new city and to experience a little more authentic version of Marrakech.
Book a Day Trip – We booked a day trip to Ouzoud Falls, and it was Jon’s favorite thing we did on the trip. We had to suffer through a pretty hot three hour bus ride with a bunch of strangers to get there, but for 25 EUR it was worth it. The falls were absolutely gorgeous, and you get to climb all the way down to the bottom to get stunning pictures. The rush of the water is incredible. These trips are pretty easy to book. You can chat with the manager of your riad when you arrive and they will book the night before you decide to go.
THINGS I WOULDN’T RECOMMEND TO DO IN MARRAKECH
Koutoubia Mosque – This mosque stands over the Medina. It’s very pretty, but as non-Muslims you won’t be allowed inside. While it’s neat to walk up and see, it takes about 5-10 minutes before you’re good and ready to move on to the next thing. I’d recommend just taking it in from a distance and know you aren’t missing anything.
The Buffet at La Mamounia – We made the mistake of eating at the buffet without asking how much it costs, so we were shocked when the bill came back and it was 75 EUR a person (plus 20 EUR each for one glass of wine). It’s a super luxe hotel, so it’s our bad for not asking first. I’d recommend getting the day pass and going right after you eat lunch. Then you can leave before dinner and not get sucked into an over-priced restaurant.
Massages at BLISS Riad Marrakech – We were surprised there were so many places with cheap massages in Marrakech, but we should have known better. Our 40 EUR massages were pretty weird (think more rubbing than deep massaging). The music went haywire halfway through and my masseuse kept pausing to write stuff down. They definitely weren’t properly trained. I’d look into getting one somewhere a little more high-end, or skip the massage all together.
Henna from the Ladies in Jemaa el-Fna – There are so many horror stories about the henna ladies in the square. Everything from people having their hand grabbed and a lady drawing henna on them without their permission and demanding payment to women using other weird chemicals. If you want to do henna, I’d recommend Henna Cafe. It’s a little further out, but it’s a non-profit that teaches education classes with the proceeds. I chose to sleep in my henna and wish I’d taken it off before bed. I ended up with spots inside my hand and a lot of smudging. If you want to keep your henna, get it done after you do a pool day at La Mamounia. The chlorine will take it right off.
THINGS I WISH WE’D BEEN ABLE TO DO IN MARRAKECH
Medersa Ben Youssef – Before our trip, I read so many incredible things about this former Islamic school that it was at the top of my list. Unfortunately it was closed for renovations, so it wasn’t even an option. I definitely hope I can go next time.
The YSL Museum – I was really hoping to go to the museum next to Jardin Majorelle, but it was closed for Ramadan. We left it until the last day, and totally didn’t realize it would be closed.
Ride a Camel at La Palmerie – Although this was something I originally really wanted to do, it came down to deciding either to go to Jardin Majorelle and Bahia Palace the last day or the camel rides. I chose to see the other two, but someday I’ll get on a camel. I’ve been dreaming about taking one of the tours in the Sahara where you get to ride camels over the sand dunes. Next time…
Overall, I loved Marrakech. I wasn’t sure about it for the first few days because I was so overwhelmed. It’s a busy place with people constantly yelling at you and trying to haggle. Once we got back to Amsterdam, I realized I sort of missed our routine of OJ in the morning and a mint tea after dinner. You definitely appreciate those little calming moments. I have a newfound appreciation for Morocco and hope to see more of it in the future!
OUTFIT DETAILS
A closer look at all the outfits I wore can be found in my Packing List for Marrakech
Outfit 1: Zara gold maxi dress (a little low-cut for Marrakech but worked well for La Mamounia) | Steve Madden sandals
Outfit 2: Zara black dress is from two years ago (similar styles here and here) | H&M straw hat (I’ve become so obsessed with this hat after this trip) | Steve Madden sandals
Outfit 3: H&M swimsuit isn’t online, but some other khaki styles I’m loving here and here
Outfit 4: Athleta leggings (they no longer have this pair with the lace up details, but similar pair here without the detail) | Similar Athleta grey tank | Nike Epic React sneakers (these are like walking on air!)
Outfit 4: Zara white cap-sleeve maxi dress (probably my favorite dress from this trip) | H&M straw hat | Steve Madden sandals
Outfit 5: Wood Wood tank (so soft!) | H&M high-waisted pants (I had to temporarily hem these to wear with flats because they run long) | Zara leopard scarf | H&M straw loafers (some of my favorite shoes)
Jewelry & Accessories: Cinco ginger necklace | Pandora love ring | Henri Bendel Miss Bendel bangle and Petal bangle | Similar black sunglasses | Catwalk Junkie heart eyes sunglasses | Green bag was purchased at a market in Italy
Great article! Just one thing – you can get into La Mamounia without being a guest or having reservations! We just walked right in to have a look, and then ended up having a tea in the garden 🙂
Ps. What kind of henna do they use at Henna cafe? the henna i’m familiar with stays on for at least a week!
Oh that’s so weird! When we went, they had security at the front gate and wouldn’t let anyone in without a reservation. We tried to go in to look around or get a drink, but were turned away 🙁 At Henna Cafe they use all natural, locally produced red henna. I know they don’t have any unnatural additives. I went in the pool shortly after, so the chlorine made it not last as long. It was still on for a week or so, but pretty faded. I’m sure it would last much longer if you didn’t go in the pool! Xx, Kelsey