Marrakesh

Marrakesh, imperial city

Marrakesh, imperial city, holy city with its seven marabouts (tomb of a venerated saint), opens the door to South Morocco.

It is a place of contrasts where the fashionable places, fancy restaurants and huge five-star hotel complexes mix with a medina which has kept its traditions and medieval atmosphere.

Tourist attractions are abundant – historical, cultural or festive. Palaces, museums, gardens and Riads (traditional Moroccan house with an interior garden) all contribute to surprise and charm the visitor.

Not to forget the colorful souks, where the various craft corporations are gathered by sectors, offering the work of the many craftsmen at the medina.

Jemaâ el Fna place, in the middle of the historical city, seduces by its human and theatrical effervescence. Here you can find the print of a recent past where story tellers brought fables, epopees and tales to life in the center of the towns.

Boarded by the souks, its perpetual swarming slowly turns out into an immense outdoor restaurant area. At the end of the afternoon until late at night, this is a must-see.

Koutoubia mosque dominates the imperial city from its 70 m.
The distant palm grove hosts a number of five-star hotels and restaurants.

The Ourika valley cascades, 70 km north in the High Atlas, is a popular resort of the inhabitants of Marrakesh during the summer furnace season. It is close to the Oukaïmeden, and snow covered tops create a major ski resort during the winter.

Marrakesh is rich in activities of all kinds, from golf, all kind of sports, spas or excursions to the High Atlas to name a few. Just two hours’ drive away from the ocean, Essaouira with its colors, charms and vivifying air opens its doors.

The Districts Through History

Medina

The first foundations of Marrakesh go back to 1062. Like a phoenix, the mythical city always rebuilds itself from the ashes. It radiates with invaluable monuments, palaces and riads, and vestiges of a rich and complex history.

The ramparts, built around 1162, surround the entire medina. Jemaa el Fna place and its surroundings souks are with the mellah (Jews’ district) and the Kasbah, the most visited places in Marrakesh.

Among the monuments to be visited in the medina is the Almovaride Koubba (mausoleum with a cupola), built in the XII century it was restored in the 1950’s, and is a unique remnant of the Almoravide architecture.

Just in front, the Medersa Ben Youssef erected in the XVI century by the Saadiens is a wonder of Arab-Andalusian architecture.

Both El Badi (XVI century) and Bahia palace (XIX century) give us an idea of the opulence and the magnificence of the now disappeared lifestyle of the sultans of Marrakesh.
Museums, caravanserais (stopover on the caravan roads) and riads, just to name a few examples, will fill you with wonder.

Gueliz

Outside the ramparts, Gueliz is the modern district of Marrakech. Apart from a few art nouveau buildings dating from the French protectorate and the famous Majorelle garden, it isn’t a tourist area.

Administrative buildings are present there among some really good restaurants, the peaceful quietness of the residential areas in this new district contrast with the boiling and permanent activity in the medina.

Hivernage

The Hivernage District contains the triangle made by the Mohammed V, Mohammed VI and Hassan II avenues. It hosts the five-star hotels, the casinos and high profile private residences.

For the pleasure of your tastebuds…

The number of quality restaurants in Marrakesh and their great diversity is every bit as good as the European metropolises. Of course the Moroccan art of cooking, with its diversity of tajines and couscous dominates.

From the simpler to the more refined dishes, it offers a vast range of culinary choices. The Moroccan cuisine can be tasted everywhere from the popular restaurants in the medina, the numerous ones in the Gueliz District and the more select ones in the Hivernage District.

Italian cuisine, pizzerias, Asian food and French gastronomy among with the local fast foods and the unavoidable Chawarma (kebab) are disseminated all over the city. It all contributes to make Marrakesh a city for all tastes. If you stay in a Riad you will surely end up with a delightful dish.

On the Jemaa el Fna place

A must-see. It isn’t just the price or quality of the food that gathers the onlookers around the tables installed there every late afternoon, but also the extremely convivial and nice atmosphere.

Going Out and Having a Drink

It is around midnight that the night life starts in Marrakesh. Clubs from Hivernage District, Gueliz district along the Mohammed V Avenue, the Marrakesh palm grove and other areas around the city compete to create an extraordinary animated night atmosphere appreciated by all Marrakshiens and tourists.

During the day one will find numerous coffee shops serving mint tea or fresh orange juice all around the city. If the idea of a fresh beer or aperitif pops into your mind, some bars have beers and spirits in the Gueliz District.

However, couples favor the bars in hotels or clubs. The mostly male customers in the public bars often create a rougher atmosphere.

Hammams and spas in Marrakesh

There is a great difference between the local Hammams and the luxurious spas.

The Hammams

Often located close to the mosques, they include three rooms at different prices. For a moderate price (often 8-10 Dh), the men living in the district come here to relax out of the rush of the city. Meanwhile, the women meet there in one rare moment of intimacy far away from the men.

Tourists are usually welcome. Whereas some hammams have two entries heading to two different areas, others only have one. Obviously unmixed, the hammams then share their time. The day would be for the women while morning and evening are reserved for men. Massages often provided for an additional 50-100 Dh.

Spas

Often in a sophisticated frame, spas have been hatching in Marrakesh lately. Beside the sauna and hammam, Oriental and Asian massages often including therapeutic oil are provided here. Their price range is more expensive than the traditional hammams.

Organized Tours Around the City

Most travel agencies have an office in Gueliz District, in or around Mohammed V Avenue. Most of the riads and hotels offer to organize excursions, either on their own or in relation with an agency. The seriousness of this excursion depends mostly on the relation between the service provider and his interlocutor.

The day tours usually bring you to Ouzoud cascades or Oukaïmeden and the Ourika Valley or even to Essaouira.

Excursions lasting several days would carry you to Ouarzazate and the Drâa valley, Dades and Todra valleys and, of course, spending a night in the desert around erg Chergaga or Merzouga dunes is another option.