Preface : Marrakesh was an imperial city in western Morocco and has become an important city for palaces since then. As of now, the city is very hectic, and yet beautiful.
In my opinion;
Public transportation : ✪
Getting around on foot : ✪ ✪
Daytime safety : ✪ ✪ ✪
Nighttime safety : ✪ ✪
✪ = poor, ✪ ✪ = fair, ✪ ✪ ✪ = good, ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ = very good
Don’t forget to bring these; a hat or a cap and sun screen lotion for summer time
HOW TO SPEND 3 DAYS IN MARRAKESH
First of all, I would like to introduce you to 10 important tips that make your 3 days trip to Marrakesh more pleasant
Before you go
- Install Triposo or any other offline map e.g. Google Map
This app will be your best friend when you travel to Marrakesh, because the city was built like a maze and you will get a) very confused, b) be easily lost. And hence making your life easier, you can simply download an offline map. This map works perfectly well (with IPhone and Android) when you switch your phone to the airplane mode, because it can still track your phone’s location from GPS. - Consider an arrangement of airport transfer pick up with your hotel or riad
Because it’s really a hassle free, unless you want to experience an adventure or a challenge before you even enter the city. Besides, most hotels or riads offer kind of reasonable price for this service. At the end, it will save your time and energy. - Stay in a Moroccan riad for a change of atmosphere
This will make your trip even more memorable. It’s a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden or courtyard or a small swimming pool. - Stay in Kasbah for a first-timer
4.1 You, a first-timer will get a better orientation. It’s like a practice. Starting from a small step.
4.2 If your flight arrives late at night, your taxi or pick up service will still be able to drive through streets in Kasbah. And hence, you will not need to walk alone in a maze….AT NIGHT.
4.3 This part of the city is less hectic, still it’s very close to the heart of Marrakesh.
4.4 It’s packed with tourist attractions. - Prepare your outfits
Morocco is a Muslim country. It would be a smart idea to respect its culture and therefore dressing properly. - When to travel
Between late February to early June and late September to early December. During these months of the year, you will experience quite pleasant weather and temperature, because Summer in Marrakesh can be scorching hot. Still you need to bring a small bottle of sunscreen lotion with you.
In Marrakesh
7. Hygiene
- Drink only water from a sealed bottle
- Eat only well cooked food, which you can find easily on the streets of Marrakesh.
- Bring a small bottle of disinfection with you
A street food vendor
8. Be open minded to an exotic culture and way of life, because you will experience situations that totally different than your daily life, and also be careful when you walk on a street or alley. The Moroccan drive everywhere. This means, you will find people drive on a tiny alley with 1.50 m. width.
9. Don’t be naive when someone offers you a cleaning after he/she spills a water or color at you seemingly unintentionally. This is one of the ways that they distract you and can snatch your belongings. What you can do is…just simply walk away.
10. Make at least 2 days tour on foot…This is how magic begins
THE FIRST TO THE THIRD DAY
If you stay in Kasbah, this will be an easy route for you!
First, you just walk along the main street “Rue de La Kasbah” towards a big tower which is Moulay El Yazid Mosque. The plaza and steps surround the mosque is quite beautiful both day and night.
Moulay El Yazid Mosque (Kasbah Mosque)
After that you can walk towards Rue Ibn Rochd until you reach a cross road which is called Avenue Hommane Al Fatouaki.
From this point, you have 2 options :
To the right
You walk along the Avenue Hommane Al Fatouaki until you reach Place des Ferblantiers then turn right to the Rue de Berrima which situated parallel to the Place des Ferblantiers. At the end of this street is the entrace to El Badi Palace. The entrance fee is 20 Moroccan Dirham. El Badi Palace is a ruined palace. It was constructed between 1578 – 1593 during Saadian period.
El Badi Palace
Forecourt of El Badi Palace
After that you can walk back to Place des Ferblantiers and towards north to Rue Bahia Bab Mellah. This street will lead you to Bahia Palace. The palace was built in the late 19th century by Si Moussa for his personal use. It is indeed a must to visit, and your jaw will just drop by watching at those decorated columns.
A little tip along the way : if you are hungry, you will have a chance to stop at a local restaurant, located in the middle of Rue Bahia Bab Mellah. This restaurant offers deep fried and crispy fish. It’s quite delicious!
Decorated columns inside Bahia Palace
Now you can walk back to Place des Ferblantiers en route to the amazing Ben Youssef Madrasa.
From Place des Ferblantiers, you can walk to Rue Riad Zitoun Lakdim via the historic Jemaa el-Fnaa to Souk Semmarine. This route is where you can enjoy various kinds of shops, riads, street vendors. It is quite an experience. And here is where Triposo or your offline map comes in handy!
A shoes shop in Souk Semmarine
A beautiful door of a riad in Rue Zitoun Lakdim
A beautiful riad in Rue Zitoun Lakdim
Beautiful lamp shops in Souk Semmarine
At the end of Souk Semmarine, you just turn left to Rue Azbezt and walk for a few minute, and you can reach the amazing Ben Youssef Madrasa at no time. Ben Youssef Madrasa was an Islamic college. It consists of a gorgeous courtyard with the ablution pool, the three-dimensional plaster work of the Saadian period with protruding pine-cone and arabesque motifs.
Ben Youssef Madrasa’s main court
Ben Youssef Madrasa’s upper level : student rooms
The other option
To the left
You walk along the Avenue Hommane Al Fatouaki until you reach Avenue El Mouahidine. This is where you can see the famous Koutoubia Mosque and The minaret tower. The mosque is made of red stone and decorated with curved windows, a band of ceramic inlay, pointed merlons, and decorative arches. Next to the Koutoubia Mosque is a beautiful public park called “Parc Lalla Hasna” where you can enjoy the scenery and greenery while on a trip to Marrakesh.
Koutoubia Mosque
If you walk towards the end of the park and further to Bab Jdid, across the street to Rue Haroun Errachid, you will be able to enjoy a spectacular view of Marrakesh and its wall from a beautiful sky bar called “The Pearl”.
View from The Pearl to Koutoubia Mosque
From here, you can either walk back to the city or further towards Menara Gardens. If the sky is clear, you will see a spectacular view of Menara Pavilion standing in front of Atlas Mountain. It’s a postcard image! Unfortunately, I didn’t have that chance.
