Marrakech Travel Guide

Marrakech allows you to live a lot of unusual experiences and offers possibilities for any type of tourist or visitor. The city has a cosmopolitan and an international energy and it surprises with its walls, gardens and the sumptuous palaces of the golden age of the imperial city. Just immerse yourself in the markets and in the main square “Jamaa El Fna”, enjoying the good tapas or simply tagine the traditional Moroccan walking by you. Do not miss the shopping spree along the main streets and bazaars and let yourself go and enjoy the many locals that are located in the city. The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.

Marcel Proust

The old town and new town, or better the nouvelle (new) villas have more or less the same size. To reach the center of the new city “Djemaa el-Fna Square” it takes about 30 minutes on foot. The two main areas of the new city are the “Guéliz” and th “Hivernage” in the first are you can find the restaurants, the cafes and the shops, while in the second one, are located the best and most elegant hotels in the city.

Mohammed the V Avenue

Ave Mohammed the V is the main artery. The station is located south-west of Guéliz while the main bus station is located near Bab Doukkala, one of the best entrances of the city. Hotels are quite cheap in the narrow streets to the east and south-east of Djemaa el-Fna. The souqs and the most important tourist attractions are located in the north and the palaces to the south. To the south-west is the minaret of the Mosque of Koutoubia, one of the most important in the city.

Bab Agnaou

Bab is one of the twenty city gates of Agnaou dating from the twelfth century. It is called literally “Port of gnaoua”, named after the sub-Saharan slave service of the sultan. The port is one of the oldest monuments in the city and it was built of stone. It is assumed that the blueish-green-gold color of its Guéliz stone, changes color depending on the time of day, the temperature and the mood of the city.

Jemaa el Fna

At night the square of Jemaa el Fna is transformed into a magical atmosphere of fun with its impromptu concerts and the street performers. For centuries, this square captivates its audience with its energy until the early hours of the morning. The square is at the heart of Marrakech and is the best place to start your tour of the city. In the evening we suggest you to take a drink in one of the terraces in order to admire the spectacle of the light and life.

Dar Cherifa cafe

The Cafe of Dar Cherif is the oldest house in Medina and now has become a unique cultural center. The Dar Cherif cafe allows to you to live the life-size art thanks to its exhibitions of paintings and sculptures.

Cyberpark

The Cyberpark is a park or mainly a beautiful garden, where you can walk right in relaxed without thinking about anything. With an extension of more than eight acres, it was built around 1700 in addition to maintain all the spirit of that time. The owners were also able to modernize it by adding a free wireless of all its magnitude. The many paths that lie inside are surrounded by palm trees and orange trees. Admission to the public is open from 9 to 19 every day.

Dar Si Said

Dar Si Said is a true monument of the of Morocco, or of the masters that built. It highlights the architects of the riad in Marrakech, although it is actually adorned to the craftsmen of Fez who created the double rooms and sculptures.

Hammam Ritual

It was practiced for centuries, the hammam treatment provides a moment of tranquility and serenity that will awaken all your senses. The course lasts longer than 2 hours, you can pass in rooms increasingly hot that are scented with essences eucalyptus. You can wash up with black soap and brush the body with a horsehair glove in order to remove the dead cells. It ends with deep oil massages Argan is also an excellent anti-wrinkle.

Jardin Majorelle

This beautiful park was created by Jacques Majorelle in 1924 and later Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge bought it as a gift to the city of Marrakech. The Art Deco-style villa which is located within the park is now home to the Museum of Islamic Arts. Within its complex there was opened a cafe offering the most exceptional views.

Jardin El Harti

One of the main destinations in Morocco for fans of the sport is the Jardin Harti. It is based on a football field and there is also an outdoor amphitheater where there are free performances. It is also a meeting place for school children.

Maison Tiskiwin

If you come from Timbuktu do not miss the parts of the private art collection of the Dutch anthropologist Bert Flint, where each room is represents different regions of Morocco.

Matisse Art Gallery

The Matisse Art Gallery houses the works of the contemporary art as well as Moroccan henna paintings such as the organic shapes of Farid Belkahia who is famous for inspiring and convinced the blessings of Berber and ancient formations of the landscape, as well as the most famous artist in the city, Mahi Binebine.

Mellah

Mellah can be found in the ancient Jewish quarter of Marrakesh which is where the highest rise of mud brick buildings of the city is. We suggest you to visit the Synagogue and the Jewish Cemetery Miaâra, the entry is permitted only with a donation. In order to see the artisans and merchants of spices mellah you have to go on the Place des Ferblantiers, Grand Bijouterie and the market of Mellah. Some doors are decorated with six-pointed stars and menorah.

Koutoubia Mosque

The minaret of Koutoubia is overlooking the Djemaa el Fna and it is 70 meters high and dates from the twelfth century. The minaret is an example of the Moorish-style decor with vaulted arches and deep battlements. Five times a day the muezzin from the top of the minaret of the mosque shouts above the voices of the street vendors in the medina of Marrakech in order to call the faithful prayers to pray. The mosque is not accessible to tourists but you can visit the surrounding gardens that are well kept.

Badi Palace

The legend of theis palace starts in the sixteenth century when the Sultan Ahmed el-Mansour faces the paved with gold, turquoise and crystal and one day the court jester said to him: “It will be a magnificent ruin.” Perhaps by chance or perhaps because the jester brought bad luck, the fact is that just 75 years later the building was ransacked. Today it is hard to imagine that the past of the courtyard is now totally empty. From the bastions you can enjoy a great view though.

Bahia Palace

late nineteenth century with over 14 years of construction the building was created with the elaboration and decorations like: zellij, tile mosaics, paintings and carved wooden ceilings to create fantastic lighting effects. No architect in the world is still able to match or exceed such a work. Unfortunately after the death of Grand Vizier, enemies and wives stripped the palace’s best furniture. The entrance of the building is near the Place des Ferblantiers.

Minbar

Minbar dates from the twelfth century and it is a pulpit of the Mosque of Koutoubia, with steps that are carved in cedar wood and adorned with gold, silver and ivory. Minbar is a testament to the skills of the craftsmen that were employed at the court of Cordova and maalem Aziz of Morocco. Minibar is located inside the Palais Badi and in order to to access it you must pay an additional ticket of 10 DH.

The Saadians Tombs

Only the Kasbah Mosque is the area of the tombs Saadi, since it was the burial place of the privileged descendants and Prophet, Muhammad. The tombs of Moulay Ismail escaped the raids; he said that because he was superstitious and preferred to respect the places of burial, that’s why the doors were sealed and this action was only discovered the early twentieth century.