Marrakech travel guide and things to do in magical Marrakech weather
Marrakech travel guide and things to do in magical Marrakech weather
The name Marrakech originates from the Amazigh (Berber) words amur (n) kush, which means "Land of God." It is the third largest city in Morocco, after Casablanca and Fez, and lies near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. It is a few hours from the foot of the Sahara Desert. Its location and contrasting landscape has made it an enviable destination in Morocco.
The city is divided into two distinct parts: the Medina, the historical city, and the new European modern district called Gueliz or Ville Nouvelle. The Medina is full of intertwining narrow passageways and local shops full of character. In contrast, Gueliz plays host to modern restaurants, fast food chains and big brand stores.
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.
Marrakech has a hot semi-arid climate with the Atlas Mountains protecting it from the Sahara Desert. Temperature-wise Marrakech's climate resembles the one found in the interior of Andalusia in southern Spain, but precipitation-wise the city has far less rainfall, averaging around 280 milimeters (11 inches) annually. Summers are long and hot with virtually zero rainfall and temperatures in July are usually well above 35°C (95°F) during the day but cool to around 20°C (68°F) during the night. That's why the city really comes alive after sunset.
Transportation in Marrakech
Once in the medina, everything can be seen on foot, though you'll be doing a lot of walking. GPS is invaluable if you do not want to constantly rely on the help of locals to find your way. For exploring more of the city, buses and petits taxis are plentiful. Almost all buses stop at Djemaa El-Fna and Place Youssef Ben Tachfine and fares range from Dh 2-5 depending on the distance. An alternative and romantic way to travel is by caleche -- pronounced kutchee -- a small horse-drawn carriage. They can be hired at Square de Foucauld (the small park at the bottom of Djemaa El-Fna). Also you can use the Taxi.
Wandering in Marrakech
The main square in the Medina is Djemaa El-Fna. It is surrounded by endless labyrinths of souks (bazaars) and alleyways covering all of the Medina. Djemma El-Fna is a must as there is always something to see there day and night whether it be snake charmers, acrobats, sooth-sayers, or the musicians and food stalls (some overcharging heavily). At night the square really comes to life as people navigate toward the exotic aromas and the entertaining sights. As the evening darkens, the hustle and bustle rages on. The exotic music appears louder and more hypnotic.
Directly south of the Djemaa El-Fna is Rue Bab Agnaou. A five-minute walk takes you straight to the famous Bab Agnaou entrance to the Kasbah district of the Medina. The Bab Agnaou entrance, through the ramparts, is by far the most impressive of all Medina rampart entrances. The Kasbah, in comparison to the Derbs (streets) surrounding the Djemaa El-Fna, portrays a calmer, less abrasive atmosphere. It is home to the Royal Palace, the former El-Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs. This naturally creates better security, cleaner streets and a hint of being a special place in the Medina. The Kasbah has its own little bazaars (souikas), food stalls, restaurants, hotels and riads for travelers to enjoy.
A Riad is a Moroccan house with an internal courtyard. Most windows are inward facing towards the central atrium. This design of property suits Islamic tradition as there is no obvious wealth statement being made externally, no windows to peer through. Entering a Riad is like discovering an Aladdin’s Cave in comparison to its non-descript exterior. They are great places to stay and offer an intimate and relaxing retreat.
Due to its rich history, there are many spectacular Riads in the Medina of Marrakesh. Many of them have been decaying for years. In the 1980th and 1990th, some of them were bought and renovated, mostly by foreigners. The current king, Mohammed VI, who acceded to the throne on 23 July 1999 opened up the country to foreign investors. This unleashed a buying frenzy and by now many riads are in foreign hands and, fortunately, most of them are nicely restored. Many of theses riads are renovated with traditional Moroccan construction methods. The decoration of these riads (lamps, furniture, mirrors, bedspreads, curtains, etc.) are often crafted by Moroccan artisans, some of them still living in the Medina of Marrakesh.
Many Hammams can be found in Marrakech such as Les Bains de Marrakech, Hammam Dar el-Bacha, Hammam Bab Doukkala and Thai marrakech among others. There is much to see and do in Marrakech. An entire day can be dedicated to wandering around the souks and seeking out the best bargains. The city offers several historical and architectural sites as well as some interesting museums.
Palmeraie is the green lung of Marrakech. It is a real oasis on the outskirts of the city. La Palmeraie covers 13,000ha and has about 150,000 palm trees and some hotels. It is the perfect place to take a nomadic space of a few hours during a camel ride. The square of Djemaa El-Fna is the highlight of any Marrakech night. Musicians, dancers, and story tellers pack this square at the heart of the medina, filling it with a cacophony of drum beats and excited shouts.
The Souks (suuqs), or markets of Marrakech, just adjacent to Place Djemaa El-Fna, are where you can buy almost anything. From spices to shoes, jellabas to kaftans, tea pots to tagines and much, much more. Visiting the Tanneries can be an interesting experience. Even if some people tell you the area is only for locals, it is possible to visit the Tanneries without paying a youngster. After finding a Tannery, ask one of the workers if you can visit it and take pictures. The tanneries are at the east end of Avenue Bab El Dabbagh.
Koutoubia Mosque, right besides Djemaa El-Fna, is named after the booksellers market that used to be here. It is said that the minaret of the Koutoubia mosque is to Marrakech as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. The minaret is visible from Gueliz which is connected to the Medina by Avenue Mohammed V. Saadian Tombs were not discovered until the beginning of the 20th century. They have been preserved just like they were during the glory days of the Saadian rulers. Unlike the El Badi Palace, they were not destroyed, probably for superstitious reasons. The entrance was blocked so they remained untouched for hundreds of years.
Majorelle Gardens in Gueliz has an entrance fee of MAD70 and is more expensive than other attractions. It is somewhat overpriced for a modestly sized attraction that you can see in half an hour. However, it provides an excellent respite from the hustle and bustle of the city streets. Inside the gardens is also the very small Berber Museum, for which an additional entrance fee of MAD30 is charged. Dar Si Saïd Museum, on Rue Riad Zitoun Jdid has an entrance fee of Dh 25, is a museum 5 mins away from Djemaa El-Fna. Set in an old palace, it houses many different artifacts from Morocco through the ages, such as wood carvings, musical instruments, and weapons.
Ben Youssef Madrassa is one of the largest Madrassas in the North Africa. It is a school attached to the Ben Youssef Mosque and is home to beautiful art and architecture. Admission is MAD20. El Bahia Palace is an ornate and beautiful palace, popular with guided tours and stray cats. The palace is well worth a visit and gives a great impression of what it must have been like to be a 19th century nobleman in Morocco. El Badi Palace is now in ruins and inhabited by storks and stray cats. There are some underground passageways to explore.
The Menara gardens, which are west of the city, and consist of a mixture of orchards and olive groves surrounding a central pavilion which is a popular sight on tourist postcards. The pavilion was built during the 16th century Saadi dynasty and renovated in 1869. The Cyber Park, northwest of the Koutoubia mosque, following the Avenue Mohammed V. An ornamental garden open to the public. Frequented mostly by locals. Very beautiful and well maintained.
Food in Marrakech
Each night in the Djemaa El-Fna rows of street stalls are set up under giant white tents. These huts serve similar fare and have menus printed in French, Arabic and usually English. Everyone has tajine, couscous, brochette and soups. Some have specialties like offal, egg sandwiches or special tajines.
For more upscale eateries (and especially for non-Moroccan cuisine) you generally must go outside the Medina to Ville Nouvelle. However, Diaffa (Rue Jbel El Akhdar just off Av. Mohammed V, across from Club Med), is an upscale restaurant in one of the oldest buildings in the Medina, and offers excellent Moroccan cuisine in an ambiance that recalls the Orient at the height of its magic and glory. The food, building (whether the tables around the central courtyard and fountain or the second-level balcony), and tactful and tasteful entertainment are all not to be missed.
If you want to eat well in Marrakech, do what the locals do and eat at the food stalls in the square. It is a common misconception that these stalls are here for the tourists. Actually, they have been in existence long before Marrakech became a tourist destination. All of the stalls can be regarded as perfectly safe to eat at. They are strictly licensed and controlled by the government, especially now as it is a popular destination for tourists.
Accommodation in Marrakech
Marrakech has an amazing choice of places to stay ranging from tented camps outside Marrakech to cheap hostels and hotels that can be charming or seedy to luxurious kasbahs in luxurious gardens or the traditional riad (garden courtyard) hotels. Wherever you choose (or can afford) to stay it really is a must to visit one of the riad hotels to see this amazing style of architecture. Most riad managers will be happy to show you around provided that they are not too busy. In some riads you can book a lunch or dinner without being a resident provided that the riad is not privately rented. For example see Riad Cinnamon, Riad Laksiba and Riad Papillon.
There are three main zones to sleep: Medina, Guéliz (also known as Ville Nouvelle), and the surroundings of the city. The Medina has the highest concentration of very cheap hotels and riads (small palaces), while Guéliz is much more quiet and most of the hotels are mid-price (including showers in the room, breakfast service), but going to the Medina from the Guéliz by taxi costs about MAD10-15 and can take a long time at busy periods (evenings and weekends).
The surroundings have all the huge tourist hotels, the ones that usually come with what the travel agencies offer. They can be further away from the Medina and the rest of the city but have big swimming pools, restaurants, and many services. The Medina is packed with Riads and Dars (old grand houses converted into hotels and inns). Riads should have gardens; smaller Dars have open courtyards. However, the term Riad is used very loosely today to describe a house with an internal open-air center. These are wonderful places to stay to get a feel for life in Marrakech.
The budget conscious will have more luck in the streets and alleyways south of Djemaa El-Fna, which are packed with discount hotels offering singles from Dh 50. Derb Sidi Bouloukat is a good place to look, a quiet but safe alleyway packed with traditional-style hotels just a min from Djemaa El-Fna. Its entrance is easy to find, just a few steps away from Djemaa El-Fna.
A lot to see in Marrakech such as :
Jemaa el-Fnaa
Majorelle Garden
Bahia Palace
Koutoubia Mosque
Saadian Tombs
Menara gardens
El Badi Palace
Marrakech Museum
Medina of Marrakesh
Almoravid Koubba
Bab Agnaou
Agdal Gardens
Yves Saint Laurent Museum
Dar Si Said
House of Photography in Marrakech
Le Jardin Secret
Gueliz
Kasbah
Musée Bert-Flint
Ben Youssef Mosque
Dunes & Desert Quad Marrakech
Bab Doukkala
33 RUE MAJORELLE
Oasiria
Cyber Park
Ensemble Artisinal Marrakech
Mouassine
Henna Art Cafe
Palooza Land
Dar El Bacha
Musée Berbère Jardin Majorelle
Hammam De La Rose - Marrakech
Place des Ferblantiers
Rahba Kedima
Museum of mouassine Douiria Derb el Hammam
Palmeraie
Koutoubia Minaret
Slat Al Azama Synagogue
Casino de Marrakech
Jemaa el-Fna
Musee Boucharouite
MACAAL
CHABI CHIC
Souk Semmarine
Cooking Class - Marrakech
EDEN Palm grove
Royal Palace
Morocco Trekking
Grand Casino La Mamounia
( Marrakech - Morocco ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Marrakech . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Marrakech - Morocco
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