What you should know before visiting Marrakech
- Adriana Daoust Mariette
- May 30, 2019
- 8 min read
You've seen the photos of the charming markets and you can practically taste the fresh mint tea and savory tajine. There's no denying the allure of Marrakech. The unique energy that Marrakech radiates will leave all of your senses tingling. But, if you’re not mentally prepared for the onslaught of stimuli, it can be overwhelming and uncomfortable. Here, is what to expect and what you should know before visiting Marrakech.
THE CULTURE
Morocco is an Arabic country in North Africa that is influenced by its close proximity to Europe and the Mediterranean. Their religion, Islam, shapes the atmosphere of Marrakech. You can feel it in the kindness of the people and hear it in the call to prayer that cries out over the city. While visiting a Muslim country, there are some special etiquettes to keep in mind.
How to dress
The local men and women wear long, light-weight tunics or burqas with pants underneath. While visiting Marrakech you do not need to dress in the local style, but it is wise to be considerate of their culture. Women, especially, need to be conscious of what they wear. Muslim women are expected to cover everything except their hands and faces. Marrakech is a touristic city that welcomes people from all around the world, so visitors are not expected to cover themselves to the same extent. Regardless, keep in mind that wearing tight-fitted clothing, short shorts/skirts/dresses, or shirts with thin straps or plunging necklines will get stares and unwanted attention. An easy rule-of-thumb is to not expose shoulders or knees.
Be a respectful photographer
Walking around in Marrakech you will see new and beautiful things that will make you want to take out your camera to save the memory. While in Morocco, keep in mind that in the Islam religion taking or making pictures is forbidden. Marrakech is a big city so they are used to tourists going snap happy, but pause a moment before taking a shot with people in it. Many locals are uncomfortable with the camera’s eye on them and some may react unkindly or demand money in exchange.
The local language
Marrakech is a mix of French and Arabic languages. Though all of the vendors know a good level of English, we noticed that we were treated differently once we started speaking French with them. Practice phrases, like:
“How much does this cost?” = “Combien ça coûte ?”
“Hello” = “Bonjour” (French), “Assalamualaikum” (Arabic greeting) “Mualaikumsalam” (Arabic greeting response)
“Goodbye” = “Au revoir”
“Please” = “Si’l vous plait”
“Thank you” = “Merci”
THE SCAMS
Every city has its downside, and in busy cities like Marrakech, the common problem is scammers and tourist traps.
Pushy vendors
The way they hook tourists walking by is forcibly beginning an interaction. They will ask you a question, jump in front of you, walk next to you, shout their latest “exclusive” deal, or physically put an item or product on you. It is best to simply ignore them. Responding in any way opens an opportunity to connect with you and that is all they need. Do not respond but also be alert. We had an incident where a friend was grabbed by the hand and a woman instantly began a henna design on it without asking. In the end, we felt obliged to give the woman something.
Pickpockets
Marrakech is a bustling city and in the souks (markets) it is especially crowded. Take the usual precautions: keep important items close to your body, wear a bag that zips shut, don’t put your phone/wallet in your back pocket, be alert, ect.
Currency exchange
The local currency is Moroccan dirham which you can get at the multiple currency exchanges or ATMs around the city. If you choose to go to a currency exchange post, note the exchange rate for your currency and calculate yourself how much you should expect in return. We had an incident where they “mistook” the Euro exchange rate for the Dollar (which was much lower at the time). We would not have caught this if we did not do the math beforehand.
THE CLIMATE/VIBE
Beautiful Chaos
Marrakech is a whirlwind of stimulation that many are not accustomed to, and it can be quite overwhelming. It is crowded due to the number of people, bikes, scooters, and donkey-pulled carts trying to make their way through the small alleys of Marrakech. There are strong smells both pleasant and unpleasant. During the day, it is hot and dusty. There will be carcasses, or limbs, of cows hanging in alleys. If you mentally prepare yourself for the chaos, you will be able to look past the small details to see the bigger, more beautiful, picture.
Bargaining
In the souks, all prices are negotiable. When you find something you want to purchase, decide ahead of time what price you are willing to pay. The vendors will be pushing the price up, so if you want to get a more appropriate deal, you will have to work for it. Here are some basic bargaining tips: carry small bills in order to pay with exact change, first propose a price below what you are willing to pay and work your way up, or pull out the amount of dirhams you are willing to pay. The visual increases a person’s desire to accept the offer.
temperature
Marrakech is sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert. Through the course of the day, the temperature swings drastically. When we went in late January, it was 40°F / 5°C at night and 65°F / 18°C in the day. We wanted our sweaters and jeans in the morning, but by lunchtime, we wished we had worn a t-shirt. Pack outfits that you can layer.
THE CUISINE
Food
Moroccan cuisine is Arabic/Berber dishes with a touch of Southern Spain and Mediterranean flavors. The extensive trading that the Arabs did for thousands of years brought the most delightful spices from all over the world to Morocco. The unique and savory seasonings come from the use of cinnamon, parsley, cumin, turmeric, ginger, mint, paprika, coriander, saffron, cloves, fennel, anise, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, and ras el hanout which is a blend of twenty-seven different spices. Other foods also used to flavor dishes are olives, pickled lemons, and dried fruits. Are you drooling yet? Beef, chicken, fish, and lamb are common meats consumed, but absolutely no pork due to religious reasons. The two typical dishes you will find everywhere are couscous and tajine. Couscous is fluffy semolina granules steamed with vegetables and sometimes meat. Tajine is a heartier dish with steamed potatoes, carrots, and olives with meat and spices. It comes served in a cone-shaped ceramic pot that is called a tajine. Don’t burn your tongue! It comes out piping hot.
Drinks
You cannot visit Morocco without having mint tea. They make their tea with green tea leaves, fresh mint, and loads of honey or sugar. It sounds simple, but wait until you try it for yourself. Tea is offered as a gesture of hospitality. The sweeter it is, the more you are welcome by the host. Another refreshment is fresh-pressed juice. Stands with piles of watermelons, lemons, pomegranates, oranges, limes, and grapefruits offer to juice them on the spot for you. If you are looking for something harder, alcohol is not always easy to come by. It is forbidden in Islam, so not all restaurants serve it. If this is an important element to your dining experience, check the restaurant’s menu beforehand.
GETTING AROUND
In Marrakech, there aren’t transportation luxuries like metro, tram, or Uber. Many locals take bikes or mopeds, but the traffic in Marrakech is not for the faint-hearted (not recommended). We saw a few buses, but we did not take them. The best way to get around Marrakech is either by foot or taxi.
By foot
It is so easy to get lost in the narrow, winding streets, and scammers take advantage of people who look like they cannot find their way. You will need Google Maps. Do not take out a physical paper map. Nothing screams, “I am a vulnerable, lost tourist” louder than a paper map. Set up your phone service with an international plan before visiting or take a SIM card at the airport. There, we got a SIM card with 10GB of data and 10 minutes of calls for €10 (this is potentially offered in other places other than the airport, but this felt trustworthy).
Taxis
Taxis are the most practical way to get across town to further destinations in Marrakech. Unfortunately, taxi drivers can easily get away with overcharging tourists, and it’s no fun to haggle for a decent price every time you need to take one. The best way to bypass this is to make a new friend! Once you find a taxi driver that you have bargained a fair price with, continue a conversation on the ride to your destination. If the energy is good, ask them for their card or phone number. They will be very happy to have secured future work. Already having an established a relationship with them (no matter how small) will incline them to give you a fair price for future rides without you having to haggle.
THE MUST DOs
The Souks
Probably the highlight that every tourist wishes to see in Marrakech is the street markets. They are small shops crammed to the brim with colorful specialty items like silk scarves, argan oil, steel lanterns, spices, leather bags, and ceramics. The rainbow of products adds to the special, vibrant energy of Marrakech.
The gardens
Escape the dusty streets of the city and plunge into the lush green gardens of Marrakech. There are a few hiding in the courtyards, or sahns, of the riads that are invisible from the street. Here were our favorites: Jardin Majorelle (cost = 70 dirham) the most Instagramable garden in Marrakech. It is very popular so ideally visit midweek or in the morning. It is outside the center, so plan to take a taxi here. Le Jardin Secret (cost = 50 dirham) a lesser-known but still lovely garden. There is a little cafe inside with a nice view of the garden. This one is centrally located and easy to get to by foot while seeing other popular sights of Marrakech. The Parc Lalla Hasna (cost = free) is just behind the towering Koutoubia Mosque, which makes it very easy to find. It is a publicly-accessible grove of orange trees in the middle of all the action. Benches are throughout the park for visitors to sit and enjoy.
Skip the tannery
After seeing the photos, reading horrific reviews on Google, and having it all reiterated by our local guide; we decided against visiting the tannery. People complain of pushy scammers everywhere and a nasty smell that accompanies a generally underwhelming experience. On top of all this, you will have to go out of your way to see it since it is far from all the other popular sights in Marrakech. In the end, I am glad that our local guide recommended we spend our time to see other things instead.
Enjoy a Hamman
To balance the excitement of the dusty chaos in Marrakech, I highly recommend taking a moment to unwind and detox. For Moroccans, the Hamman is regarded as not just a relaxing place but a medicinal one. There are many benefits to doing a sauna session. Treatments and prices vary by location and offer mud mask facials, argan oil treatments, and massages.
Now, you can take on Marrakech like a pro! Look out for future, more detailed articles on where to eat and what to pack. What other things do you want to know about traveling in Marrakech? If you have been, what would you add to this list to help first-timers?
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