Marrakech Things To Do

Djemma el Fna
Everyone’s favourite part of Marrakech merits repeated visits. This amazing, vast square is a memorable experience by day with plenty of traders offering breakfasts, juices and snacks. The cafes around the square are ideal places to relax and observe the scene. However the square is clearly at its best as the sun goes down, when it becomes a cosmopolitan meeting place for tourists and locals alike, and the stage for a truly astounding mix of fire eaters, snake charmers and street entertainers. The evocatively lit food stalls create a beautifully sensuous, exotic atmosphere.

Eating
A typical Marrakech weekend break is barely time to scratch the surface of the astonishing choice of food in Marrakech. Marrakech restaurants are high on atmosphere and romanticism, with some wonderful locations, of which the rooftop restaurants are perhaps the most memorable. A superb choice of remarkably stylish restaurants can be supplemented with endlessly fascinating, atmospheric food stalls in Djemm el Fna and mint tea and snacks in the evocative, colonial Art Deco cafes of the new town.

Shopping
Marrakech shopping is considered some of the best in Morocco and rarely contains a dull moment. The souks are labyrinthine street markets north of Djemma El Fna catering to the locals as much as tourists: a fascinating mix of local produce, handicrafts and the frankly bizarre that has to be seen to be believed. Specialist areas feature jewellery, metalwork, spices, carpets, dyed fabrics, clothing and lots more. Treat bargaining and hospitality as a nothing-to-lose fun experience rather than a threat. A guide is not necessary.

Gardens and Museums
Marrakech museums and gardens are excellent places to take a break from the sun and the sensory overload. One of the most accessible Marrakech attractions outside the Medina is the Majorelle Gardens, a beautiful haven of tranquillity in the new town. The gardens also contain the Museum of Islamic Art, which features fine traditional art, carpets, ceramics and jewellery.

Sightseeing
A longer Marrakech city break will have enough time to explore some of the best Marrakech monuments and historic buildings. The 16th century Saadian Tombs in the medina have superb mosaics and peaceful gardens. Walk the medina walls that date back to the 13th century. The tanneries near Bab ed-Debbagh gate provide an extraordinary insight into how things may have looked (and smelt!) in medieval times. Other top Marrakech attractions include the stunning Dar Si Said Palace with its Museum of Moroccan Arts, the superbly preserved 16th century  Ali ben Youssef Medersa and Mosque and the El Bahia royal palace.

Marrakech City Breaks  Getting Around Marrakech

Things To Do In Marrakech  Marrakech Weather