Marrakech Essentials

Marrakech Essentials & Tourist Information

Currency	Moroccan Dirham MAD
Exchange Rate	Aprox £1 = €14.61 MAD
Flight Time	UK 3 Hour aprox
Time Zone	Morocco is the same as GMT
Language	Berber, Arabic, French
Voltage	220 V (European two-pin plugs)

National Holidays In Marrakech

Public holidays are a mix of Secular, and religious. The dates of the Islamic festivals vary from year to year, as they are dependent on sightings of the moon.

January 1st	New Year’s Day
January 11th -	Manifesto of Independence
March 9th -	Prophet's Birthday
May 1st -	Labour Day
July 30th -	Feast of the Throne
August 14th -	Oued Eddahab Allegiance Day
August 20th -	Anniversary of the King and the People’s Revolution
August 21st -	King Mohammed's Birthday
October 2nd -	Aïd al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
November 6th -	Anniversary of the Green March
November 18th -	Independence Day
December 9th -	Feast of the Sacrifice
December 29th -	Muslim New Year

 

Taxis can be hired for tours of the city and day excursions. It is also fun to hire a calèche (horse drawn carriage). For both modes of transport the price should be negotiated in advance. Artist Jacques Majorelle’s landscaped garden bought by Yves St Laurent is open every day of the year and the entrance fee is 3 Euros (30dh). It also houses the personal Islamic art collection of Pierre Bergé and YSL. Entrance to the Islamic Art Museum is 1.5 Euros.

 Search for Marrakech City Breaks

 

Opening hours are fairly irregular due to the call to prayer. In Guéliz shops mostly open from 9am to 1pm then from 3pm to 7pm and in the medina. The souks are open daily 9am to 7pm, except Friday mornings.

 

Moroccan cuisine is famed for mezze-platters and its tagines; delicious stews of meat, chicken or fish with vegetables. Moroccans and tourists alike enjoy the honey-drenched pastries of the creamy cornes de gazelles. Since Morocco is a Muslim country, the locals tend not to drink alcohol, but wine and spirits are nonetheless available in bars and restaurants. The local fig firewater is called Mahia la Gazelle. The unique Moroccan mint tea is made from green tea, fresh mint and sugar. It is customary to be offered this in the souks as a sign of hospitality by the owner during the friendly haggling process.

 

Friendly bargaining in the souks and bazaars of Medina is acceptable and for this you can expect to save around 10% on the price advertised. Tipping is expected in most restaurants and taxis. Payment of a few small coins will be insisted on for photographing or even watching any performance in the main square of Jemaa el Fna.

Arabic/Moroccan Arabic Phrases For Tourists  

Hello	Assalam alikoum		How are you?	Labass!
Good bye	Besslama		I'm fine	Labass! It’s the same as the question
Good morning	Sabbah elkhir		Yes	Na'am
Thank you	Choukran		No	La
Please	Afak

 

• The UK to Morocco 00 + 212 + Area Code + Tel

• Morocco to the UK: 00 + 44 + Area Code + Tel

• City police: dial 19

• Royal Military Police: dial 177

• Fire / Ambulance: dial 15

• Emergencies: contact the Red Cross on Place Djemmaa el Fna +212 431 47           

 

Detailed information can be found on the Directgov website: 
• www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/TravelHolidaysAndBreaks 

• British Honorary Consulate, 55 Boulevard Zerktouni, Residence Taib, Marrakech (212) (44) 435095

• Morocco Embassy, 49 Queen’s Gate Garden, London, SW7 5NE, tel: 020 7581 5001/4

Marrakech City Breaks  Getting Around Marrakech

Things To Do In Marrakech  Marrakech Weather