Marrakech City
Marrakesh, a former imperial city in western Morocco, is a major economic center and home to mosques, palaces and gardens. The medina is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire, with mazelike alleys where thriving souks (marketplaces) sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewelry. A symbol of the city, and visible for miles, is the Moorish minaret of 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque.
Visit Majorelle Gardens
There is a fairly good chance that you want to visit the Majorelle gardens in Marrakech, and if you’re planning to do so, we can HIGHLY recommend to do this first thing in the morning. Really, get there before the gates open, so you’re one of the first people in. We were there only half an hour after opening, and it was already super busy! Still worth it, but the sooner you can get in, the better.
Ben Youssef Madrasa
Everyone will be impressed by the arches, tiles, and corridors of this place. The inscriptions are quotations from the Koran, the most common being its opening invocation: “In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful”.
Ben Youssef Medersa is also one of the few things that tourists can photograph because mosques are closed off from tourists’ eyes. I recommend going there semi-early (before 2 PM), as it gets busy in the afternoon and you might need to wait to enter.
Visit a Tannery
Traditional open-air tanneries can be found in several places in Morocco. I would consider a visit to the Marrakech tanneries, but only if you are not visiting Fes as the tannery there (the 11th century Chouara tanneries) is a much better place to visit in our opinions. The tannery in Marrakech is about a 15 minute walk from the souks. At the entrance to the tanneries, someone will inevitably offer to give you a guided tour of the tanneries, but be sure to agree on a tour price beforehand
MAISON DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE
Housed within this small building is the sort of street photography and portraiture that take our breath away, including some beautiful shots from over 150 years ago.
If you have even a passing interest in art or photography, or want a snapshot into Morocco’s traditions and people, this is somewhere you absolutely can’t miss (it may even turn out to be one of your favourite things to do in Marrakech). We spent hours here – and not simply to avoid the rain. Just don’t forget to make some time to enjoy a mint tea in the rooftop cafe, a spot with arguably one of the best views in town!
Visit the main square, Jemaa el Fna
