A few years back, I took an opportunity to make a weekend trip to Marrakech, Morocco while on a work-related assignment in Europe. Morocco had been on my list of places to visit and visiting Marrakech was a great experience. Morocco has a rich history with strong Arab and middle eastern cultural influence. Moroccan Arabic is the primary language of Morocco but French, English, and Spanish are also spoken in some major cities of the country.
Marrakech has extraordinary architecture that is prevalent all over the city in its mosques, riads, palaces, traditional building, etc. and is a primary attraction for tourists. The people I interacted with in Marrakech were hospitable, and friendly and Moroccan cuisine is truly unique and delicious. We definitely want to go back there as a family and explore many other parts of the country.
#1 Bahia Palace
The Bahia Palace was first built in the 1860s and then later expanded and improved towards the end of the century. What makes the Bahia Palace a special place to visit is its size, sophisticated architectural details, and magnificent colors. This palace was used as a royal residence after Morocco gained independence from France. Eventually, the custody of the place was turned over to the Moroccan Ministry of Culture and became a significant icon for tourism.
There is a lot to see and admire in this palace but the Grand Cour courtyard is spectacular and is made for Instagram-worthy pictures. The Grand Riad and the Petit Riad are also two major highlights of the Bahia Palace. This palace is a must-see in Marrakech.
#2 Koutoubia Mosque
The Koutoubia mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakech and a cultural icon for the city. This mosque was first constructed in 1147 but then entirely reconstructed in 1158 and it is this version that currently stands today. The minaret tower associated with the mosque is 253 ft high(the tallest structure in the city) and has geometric and sophisticated decorations. The mosque grounds also have access to beautiful gardens and water fountains that are worth exploring. The influence this mosque has had is apparent in other structures built in Morocco and even in Spain. This mosque is a must-see while in Marrakech.
#3 Jardin Majorelle
Jardin Majorelle is one of the most unique and beautiful gardens in the world. The creation of this garden started in 1923 with a French artist named Jacques Majorelle and took forty years to complete. There is a Cubist villa also featured in the garden that is aesthetically spectacular. What makes the garden stand out is the prevalence of a unique shade of blue paint(Majorelle Blue) that is featured on the walls, water fountains, and the villa. There are many exotic plants and trees on the garden grounds and many opportunities to capture incredible photos. Visiting Jardin Majorelle is highly recommended.
#4 Jemaa el-Fnaa
Jemma el-Fnaa is the largest square in Marrakech and has served as a gathering spot for different purposes for over a thousand years. Today it is a major attraction for tourism because of the wide range of activities that occur on its grounds. There are food vendors, fortune tellers, musicians, snake charmers, and entertainers of different types all in the same area to create a very frantic but at the same time vibrant and lively environment. There are also some excellent restaurants with rooftop patios where delicious food can be enjoyed while observing the activities on the square grounds from a birdseye view.
As mentioned, the square grounds can be quite frantic with large crowds and so much going on. To view the grounds in a less crowded setting, mornings are the best time to visit but understand that the types of activities that occur during the early hours of the day are different from the performers and food vendors that occupy the grounds in the late afternoon till past midnight.
The square also provides access to narrow covered streets that lead to the many souks(markets) in Marrakech. There are all types of goods sold in these souks ranging from beautiful ceramics, spices, leather products, jewelry, high-quality textiles, souvenirs, and much more. Many major tourist destinations have tourist trap markets for low-quality, highly-priced souvenir products but the souks in Marrakech have some fantastic and unique goods to take home at pretty reasonable prices. We highly recommend at least a walkthrough of some of these souks.
#5 Moroccan Food
Morrocan food is unique, flavorful, and delicious. Aside from the fresh juices and street food that can be tried in Marrakech, we highly recommend trying tajine, couscous, and Moroccan mint tea.
Tajine is actually named after the ceramic pot that the dish is prepared in. Tajine typically has slow-cooked beef, chicken, or fish along with vegetables or fruit, different types of spices and nuts/dried fruits are also featured in some variations. This is our favorite Moroccan entree and we recommend trying it at least once.
Although tajine is our personal favorite Moroccan dish, couscous is the national dish of Morocco. Couscous features semolina (grain of durum wheat) and is often served with meat and stewed vegetables. This is a delicious dish and a staple in Morrocan cuisine that is worth trying.
We enjoy Moroccan mint tea so much that I learned how to make it and we consume it on a regular basis at home. Moroccan mint tea has some variations but the most common and popular version includes green tea, sugar, and mint as ingredients. Locals drink this tea on a daily basis and if you enjoy warm drinks, Moroccan mint tea is a must try.
Tour recommendation: We often book guided tours in major cities and destinations we visit(especially where English is not widely spoken) as it is an efficient, safe, and organized way to see the major attractions of the city/destination. Click on the hyperlink below for a guided tour we highly recommend that covers many of our recommendations in this article.
This particular tour is very reputable and highly ranted. Book this tour when visiting Marrakech, Morocco: Marrakech City Tour.