Don’t believe Instagram. In the past couple of years, the sprawling souks, pastel pink alleys and marble-carpeted hammams of the Red City might have been snapped from every angle imaginable but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of Marrakesh left for you to discover. The crown jewel and former capital of the Kingdom of Morocco has a thousand-year story to tell – one of Berber roots and Yves Saint Laurent’s heritage, lush olive groves and Almoravid-era palmeraies, towering minarets and Moorish Art Deco hotels, magnificent rulers with palaces and resting places to match, endless stone deserts and jagged mountain ranges, invasions of French colonists, hippies and the Rolling Stones… All you have to do is listen – and smell and look and feel and taste – and take in this enormous, enchanting, eclectic city one chapter at a time.
A kaleidoscope of sounds, smells and sights
The capital city of Morocco’s tourist-favourite Marrakesh-Safi region, Marrakesh has been inhabited since the New Stone Age. Yet, it wasn’t officially founded until the mid-11th century, when Yusuf ibn Tashfin of the Almoravid Dynasty came along and claimed it as their capital. It was then that many of Marrakesh’s trademark red sandstone buildings were erected, earning it its "Red City" sobriquet. The Almohads took over Marrakesh in 1147 and made themselves at home, having added a fortified kasbah, lavish gardens, covered markets and a triumphal gate to the cityscape. Morocco’s on-again, off-again capital reached its golden age under the Saadians. Quite literally: Ahmed el-Mansour Eddahbi (the Victorious and Golden) plated both his home and tomb with copious amounts of gold. Under French rule, villes nouvelles (new towns) mushroomed outside the walled Medina, blending European modernism with Islamic traditions into one gigantic puzzle of cultures and shapes that begs to be discovered.
Go for the gold
As Morocco’s symbol and capital city under four different dynasties between the 11th and 17th century, Marrakesh packs a major cultural punch. Travel back in time and relive the Red City’s golden age under the Saadians. The powerful and glamorous Arab Moroccan rulers made history uniting Morocco in the 16th century and left behind some of Marrakesh’s most spectacular sights. Spend a day in the life of Ahmad al-Mansur, avid gold collector and the most famous Saadi of them all, among the evocative ruins of the El Badi Palace. The 360-room “Palace of Wonder” was built as a display of the sultan’s lavish taste and enormous wealth, using the most expensive materials of the time, such as gold and onyx. If you think that’s some way to live just wait until you see where he’s buried. The Hall of Twelve Columns, the most opulent of the sepulchres and mausoleums of the Saadian Tombs, was made from Italian Carrara marble and richly decorated with (what else?) gold. Make sure that you don’t skip school – at least not the 14th-century Ben Youssef Madrasa, Morocco’s largest and most spectacular Islamic college. “You who enter my door, may your highest hopes be exceeded,” an entryway inscription informed students for centuries but rings just as true for today’s visitors. Listen to the muezzin as he calls the adhan from the 12th-century, 75-metre Koutoubia Mosque, the epitome of Moorish artistry and Amazigh architecture. Next, marvel at the 19th-century Bahia Palace. What it lacks in age, it makes up for in splendidness, with sumptuous gardens, carved stucco-embellished rooms and the 1,500-square-metre, marble-tiled Cour d'Honneur. At the heart of Marrakesh, in every possible sense of the word, is and has always been Jemaa el-Fnaa. Day and night, the city’s main square is brimming with shoppers and sellers, acrobats and onlookers, musicians and dancers, all adding to the inimitable ambience of Marrakesh.
Hit the high pots
Eating your way through Marrakesh is a daunting task but a rewarding one, too. Trying tajine (also spelled tagine) is the all-important first step. Originally a Maghrebi dish named after the cone-shaped pot in which it is cooked, the Marrakesh variety is a slow-cooked savoury stew made with sliced meat (usually lamb), vegetables or fruit, plus spices, such as ginger, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and saffron. Veggie-based tajines are quite common and generously seasoned with paprika and chili. Couscous is a well-known cornerstone of local cuisine, as is fresh bread, typically in the form of khobz, the oven-baked, flat-ish variety. No utensils? No problem: use a piece of bread to scoop up whatever you feel like scooping up from your plate. On the soup front, there’s harira, a rich, satisfying affair made with lentils, chickpeas and tomatoes, occasionally punched up with beef, lamb, chicken or eggs. Rue Talâa’s tiny Terrasse Bakchich is a widely praised option for giving tajine a go, boasting a menu with over a dozen kinds and rooftop seating with a gorgeous view. Sampling what the food stalls of Jemaa el-Fnaa have to offer is an absolute must. Come 5 p.m., the square is teeming with vendors selling fresh produce, grilled meat, fried fish, snail soup, sheep brains and what have you. Which stall to choose is impossible to tell but dining locals are always a good sign. One thing’s for sure: Morocco’s oranges make for the best orange juice you’ve ever tasted so don’t forget to squeeze some in (pun intended). For a real class act, book a table at Al Fassia. Famed for its all-female staff and authentic Moroccan fare, this cosy eatery has been a staple of the local gastro scene for decades. Visit the one in the hip Gueliz neighbourhood or its spinoff in Aguedal.
Get lost in a souk and find real treasures
Having sat at the crossroads of historic trading routes, Marrakesh has always been a shopper’s Mecca. Just like today, people from all corners of the world came here to tout and bargain over a cup of mint tea in the city’s maze-like souks (market). Got a taste for Moroccan cuisine? Buy local spices in heaps at Souk Semmarine (Spice Market) but expect to be tempted by acres of rainbow-coloured lanterns, intricate mirrors and candlesticks and silver teapots along the way. Pointy slippers are your new thing? Souk Smata is calling your name then. Marrakesh’s official shoe souk awaits with walls of sequined babouches (Moroccan slippers). Need a new bag? Whether or not the answer is yes, make your way to Souk el Kebir and Souk Cherratin, the realm of all things leather, and stock up on purses and belts and wallets to match. Souking around all day can be intense but as luck would have it, there’s no need to move even an inch away from Jemaa el-Fnaa to wind down after your shopping spree. But if you do, move upwards. The Red City has no shortage of rooftop bars and restaurants with delish treats and gorgeous views over the bustling medina on the menu. The aptly named Kosybar awaits with international and Moroccan bites and relaxing lounge vibes above the Place des Ferblantiers. Need a little kick in your glass? Make your way to Rue Mouassine for Café Arabe, one of the few places around that serve alcohol, and say cheers to the sunset. Not ready to turn in just yet? Hit the bass-throbbing clubs, like Théatro, in the Ville Nouvelle, Hivernage and Guéliz neighbourhoods.
Ready for desert?
Unwind in Marrakesh’s green lung once the souk-fatigue has kicked in. Studded with some 100,000 palm trees, the 13,000-hectare Palm Grove (or Palmeraie) is a much-loved spot for locals and tourists alike to escape the humming Red City. Or recharge in Jardin Majorelle, a 9,000-square-metre botanical oasis created by the celebrated Orientalist painter, Jacques Majorelle. Do stop at the bold-coloured Art Deco-slash-Moorish villa that houses the Islamic Art Museum of Marrakesh, the Berber Museum and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. Fancy a real pulse-raiser? Grab your hiking gear and trek through the Berber villages, lush valleys and soaring peaks of the Atlas Mountains, including Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa at 4,167 metres. The vibrant port city of Essaouira makes for a perfect day trip for diehard Game of Thrones fans, having played Astapor and Yunkai in HBO’s hit series. For a quintessential Moroccan experience, tour the Agafay Desert, a vast stone desert 40 kilometres outside Marrakesh.
Marrakesh weather
Marrakesh’s climate is subtropical semi-desert so expect mild winters, scorching hot summers and significant temperature swings between night and day. Spring and autumn are said to be the best seasons to visit, especially in March and April and between late September and the first half of November. Summer temperatures often exceed 37°C, while winter months tend to bring some rainy days and chilly nights.
Marrakesh airport
Marrakesh Menara Airport is an international airport and major gateway to Marrakesh and the Marrakesh-Safi region. It has three terminals, with the recently renewed Terminal 1, and Terminal 2 housed in one building. Located 5 kilometres from Marrakesh city centre, the airport is easily accessible by bus no. 19, running between the airport and both the medina and the new town. Alternatively, car rental and taxi services are also available.
FAQs for booking flights to Marrakech
How to get cheap flights to to Marrakech?
Use FareFinder to compare fares and discover the cheapest Marrakech flights for the next 6 months, helping you to plan ahead and save. Frequent flyers can save even more by joining the Wizz Discount Club, which gives you and your companions access to an instant €10.00 discount on fares from €19.99 and further discounts on checked-in baggage purchased online.
When is the best time to visit Marrakech?
The ideal time to visit Marrakech is either spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November), when the weather is warm without extreme heat, and there is much less crowding. The spring comes with blooming flowers and ideal temperatures of around 25°C, hence making it the best time to enjoy the cultural sites and outdoor cafes of the city. Autumn offers mild temperatures, averaging 22°C, which provide perfect conditions to sightsee and experience the host of local festivals.
Winter is relatively mild, with some rainy days and chilly nights. This is also a quieter time to enjoy the winter sunshine. Marrakech is a year-round destination that offers rich history, bustling souks, and wonderful landscapes for travellers seeking both adventure and tranquillity.
How to get from Marrakech Airport to Medina?
Marrakech Menara Airport, the main international gateway to Marrakesh and the Marrakesh-Safi region, is just 5 kilometres from the city centre. To get to Medina from the airport, you have four options: the recommended and cheapest way is to take the line 19 Airport Shuttle Bus, and it takes about 14 minutes.
You can always take a taxi, which takes 9 minutes. A private transfer is the fastest option, which takes 8 minutes; however, it is a bit expensive. Alternatively, the shuttle bus departs every 10 minutes, making it an available and affordable choice.
How do I offset the carbon emissions of a Marrakech flight?
As part of our commitment to reduce carbon emissions, we've launched a carbon offsetting scheme. Input the details of your Marrakech flight into our travel footprint calculator to calculate your carbon emissions. You can choose to offset your emissions by making a payment supporting two verified carbon-reducing projects. You will receive a certificate in return, recognising the offset emissions.
