Marrakech, Morocco

If Morocco isn’t on your bucket list, add it ASAP. This beautiful country stole my heart and I cannot wait to return. I spent 3 days in Marrakech, exploring the souk, the cuisine, and the city’s famous landmarks! Here are a few of my favorite things about Marrakech.

1. Riads

If you plan to come to Morocco, skip the hotel and stay in a riad! A riad is a traditional Moroccan home with a garden or courtyard in the center. Today, many of these riads have been transformed into boutique hotels and are places where travelers can stay! I stayed at Riad BE and it was phenomenal. The staff were amazing and gave me all the resources I needed to explore the city. And not to mention the riad itself was BREATHTAKING! There were two main areas of the riad connected by the rooftop. Each were equipped with beautiful pools in the center and areas to lounge and dine.

2. Moroccan Mint Tea

This stuff is addicting (and free depending on where you go!) I had mint tea at my riad every morning and even enjoyed it in the souk (marketplace)! When I bought my first Moroccan rug, the vendor and I had mint tea to celebrate. If you’re ever in Morocco, you won’t want to pass this stuff up.

3. Bartering

All the blog posts I read before this trip said that bartering was their least favorite thing about Marrakech. I completely disagree! For me, it was slightly addicting. In Morocco, the price that vendors give is NOT the actual price (it is usually much lower) and you have to negotiate your way to the lower price! What I found is that you have to be a very good actor/actress to in order to attain the lowest price possible. At times this would mean pretending the price was way too high and fake walking away (reverse psychology). They usually want your business and if you make it seem like the price they gave was too high, I found they were more likely to go lower in the end. Depending on what you’re purchasing, you’ll want to settle at about half of the asking price, or lower!

4. Jemma El Fna at Sunset

My favorite moment of my entire trip was watching the sun set over the main square of Marrakech – Jemma El Fna. During the day, snake charmers, monkey handlers, musicians, and magicians cram into the square but when dusk comes, they all make way for the nighttime food vendors to set up shop. It was so amazing watching this transition as the sun was setting behind the Koutoubia Mosque. The best place to see the sun set is Café de France right off the square. Just walk up to the top, order a coffee or tea, sit back, and watch the sun go down.

5. Bahia Palace

I could’ve explored this place for hours. It was breathtaking, filled with beautiful architecture and intricate tile-work that is all HAND-LAID! It is a must see if you are in Marrakech.

6. CATZZZ

I am allergic and definitely a dog person, but it was fun seeing these cute little felines around every corner.