Top 9 things to do in Marrakech
With all its positive and negative sides, Marrakech is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating and unforgettable cities in Northern Africa. No matter how much time you are planning to spend here, there are some must-dos and must-sees that everyone should keep on their Marrakech list.
1) Chill and sweat in the traditional hammam.
Getting scrubbed by a stranger may not be your idea of a perfect relaxation, but traditional hammam is not a simple sauna or spa. In Moroccan culture, it is also a place to socialise, discuss other people’s affairs and have intellectual conversations while opening your mind and pores to the cleansing steams and natural argon oil. You can either find a tourist hammam which is more like a spa salon, or join the locals in their hammam and probably make some new friends. Of course, as a foreigner you will probably be the center of attention. Needless to mention that hammams are segregated.
2) Travel through the history and faces of Morocco at Maison de la Photographie and Musée Tiskiwin.
The fabulous Photography museum houses a great exposition of photographs from as far as the 19th century. As the founders state, the main purpose of this exhibition hall was to collect the portraits of Morocco and preserve them for future generations of the timeless city. From nomadic tribes of the desert to modern-day city dwellers, visual images of Morocco will guide you through the history of this country and its people. Tiskiwin museum focuses on the berber culture of he Sahara desert, all the way from Morocco to Mali, and showcases some amazing traditional artwork.
3) Contemplate the temple of Islamic knowledge – Ben Youssef Madrasa.
It is the biggest Islamic college in the whole of Morocco, founded in the 14th century and reconstructed 2 centuries later. it is a curious place to explore, to see the ornamental geometric patterns and inscriptions on the walls, visit the dormitories for students, tiny windowless claustrophobic cells to practice modesty and devote yourself to prayers. I wonder how anyone could ever study productively in this place, and thank higher powers for my own decent-sized student dorm room with a shared bathroom and natural sunlight.
4) Roam around the souks.
The souks is pure organized chaos like no other place on earth. You will spend half of the time marveling at the most exotic merchandise here, and the other half gazing at the human life boiling and bustling around you. Whether you are looking for aromatic spices and colourful clothing, or searching for a perfect gift to bring back home, the souks of Morocco can offer it all.
5) Visit the tanneries.
Breathe in the smell of real medieval Marrakech as it was. Who knows why in our perfectly industrial age the artisans of Marrakech still prefer to work animal hides like in good old days? Seeing the tanneries and watching the long and uneasy process of turning raw animal hide into material for shoes, musical instruments, furniture and other ordinary household objects will truly make you feel like you travelled back in time. Also, it smells.
6) Choose a riad over a hotel.
Experience the local life from within the walls of a traditional Moroccan house. Riad is a kind of Moroccan b&b, which allows you to stay in a local family house and share someone else’s life for a few days, eating breakfast together, sleeping in a room furnished with elegant sofas and Moroccan rugs and carpets, and having a sip of something cold in the inner courtyard.
7) Check out the Bahia palace.
A building constructed in the 19th century with the purpose to become the finest architectural ensemble in the world. The architects who would build the palace were brought all the way from Fez to create the most impressive and delicately decorated hallways and rooms, filled with mosaics and stained glass. The palace also has a large garden adjacent to it.
8) Get weirded out by street food.
Would you care for a snail? How about cooked sheep’s head? Might come with fried aubergines or cous-cous. Never miss your chance to drink a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and forget that everyone’s watching you struggling over that snail. Check out our Blog post on the best Street Food in Marrakesh.
9) Escape from the city to see the Atlas Mountains.
About 50 kilometers south of Marrakech lie the best spots to enjoy quad biking, camel riding, hiking among Berber villages, ballooning, and simply contemplating the sand dunes of the Sahara desert from Toubkal, the highest peak of Morocco.