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
 
Marrakech Tourist Attractions
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 Search for Marrakech City Breaks
 
Marrakech Opening Hours
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.
 
Marrakech Food and Drink
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.
 
Tipping & Etiquette in Marrakech
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.

French Phrases For Tourists  
Hello
Bonjour
  Do you speak English?
Parlez vous Anglais?
Goodbye
Au revoir   Excuse me Excusez moi
Good Evening
Bonsoir 
 
How much is it? 
Ça coûte combien? 
 Yes
Oui
  Where is...?
Ou est …?
No Non  
Hotel
L'hotel
Please S'il vous plait   The bill pease L’addition s’il vous plait
Thank you very much Merci beaucoup   Beer Une Biere
How are you? Comment allez vous?   Coffee Un café

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  
 
 
 
Marrakech Useful Numbers
• 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           
 
Disabled Access in Marrakech

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

Moroccan Embassies
• 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

city breaks in Marrakech Marrakech City Breaks
getting around in Marrakech Getting Around Marrakech
Marrakech things to do Things To Do In Marrakech
weather in Marrakech Marrakech Weather