If you've always wanted to visit Africa but don't know where to start, Morocco is the perfect gateway.
Marrakech, in particular, has a lot to offer curious adventurers from the UK and Ireland.
This colourful, thriving city in the West of the country will have you buzzing to see and do as much as possible.
Adobe Free Stock / Maurizio De Mattei
The Best Things to Do in Marrakech
Between the snake charmers and the labyrinth of alleyways that would make Google Maps throw in the towel, this place is absolutely bonkers. In the best possible way, that is.
So, here are some of the best things to do in Marrakech to help you make the most of your visit to this Moroccan gem.
Things to do in Marrakech, Morocco
1. Experience the Energy of Jemaa el-Fnaa
Every city needs a bustling focal point. And in Marrakech, this takes the form of its busy main square.
By day, Jemaa el-Fnaa is filled with fresh juice stalls and traditional water sellers in vibrant clothes and hats. By night, the square transforms into a lively hotspot.
Adobe Free Stock / JUAN CARLOS MUNOZ
Here, you'll find snake charmers, storytellers and street performers alongside food stalls peddling tempting local delicacies.
But a word to the wise. The square operates on its own special brand of organised chaos.
My advice? Embrace the madness. This is Marrakech's soul on full display. And it's an absolutely glorious place to kick off your North-African getaway.
Adobe Free Stock / Gianmaria
2. Wander Through the Majorelle Garden
After the sensory overload of Jemaa el-Fnaa, Majorelle Garden offers some welcome relief.
This botanical haven was created by French painter Jacques Majorelle over 100 years ago.
With its signature cobalt blue structures, exotic plants and tranquil pathways, it's like hitting pause on urban chaos.
Adobe Free Stock / rudiernst
Restored by the famous designer Yves Saint Laurent in the 1980s, Majorelle Garden should be on your list of things to do in Marrakech.
It also houses the Berber Museum, which showcases Morocco's indigenous culture - well worth a visit.
3. Explore the Bahia Palace
Built in the late 19th century, Bahia Palace is an impressive example of Moroccan craftsmanship at its finest.
Its stunning zellige tilework, carved cedar ceilings and calming courtyards offer an insight into the lives of the royals who once resided there.
Each room reveals a new detail. From delicate stucco work and painted wooden doors to geometric patterns that draw your eye in every direction.
Pro tip: Hire a guide to help you fully appreciate the palace and experience its magnificance to the max.
4. Immerse Yourself in Moroccan Music at Musée de Mouassine
Housed in a historic 16th-century building, the Musée de Mouassine offers an intimate look into Morocco's musical heritage.
Robert Prazeres, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
With exhibitions featuring traditional instruments, it also hosts live performances three times a week.
What better way to experience the rhythms that have shaped Moroccan culture?
These musical evenings are less 'stuffy concert hall' and more 'magical night under the stars'.
5. Witness the Art of Shikhat
Nothing will make you question your dance moves quite like watching professional Shikhat dancers.
It's a bit like belly dancing, which I'm sure we've all tried, admittedly or not. But this Moroccan dance is best left to the professionals.
Adobe Free Stock / klazing
These hypnotic performances are usually paired with dinner. They feature musicians playing instruments such as the darbuka, oud and qraqeb.
So, you can feel thoroughly in awe while stuffing your face with delicious Moroccan food. Perfect combo if you ask me.
Venues such as Azar Restaurant offer performances that show off the elegance and energy of this traditional dance.
6. Delve into History at the House of Photography
For those moments when you need a break from taking terrible photos of your own, pop into the House of Photography.
Its collection includes photographs from the 1870s to the 1950s, capturing eighty years of Moroccan life in stunning detail. And not a selfie stick in sight.
DRAGANCESTIC, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The panoramic view from the rooftop is worth the visit alone.
Nursing a mint tea while watching the sunset over the red city isn't the worst way to end a day.
7. Relax By a Refreshing Pool
Marrakech's heat can make you feel like you're starring in your own desert survival movie.
Thankfully, many of the city's swanky hotels offer day passes to their pools.
Adobe Free Stock / goodluz
El Fenn's rooftop pool provides stunning views of Marrakech's skyline, while the Fairmont Royal Palm offers a vast 2,000-square-meter pool with Atlas Mountain scenery.
These spots combine luxury with some well-needed relaxation.
Perfect for a leisurely day escaping the city bustle in favour of soaking up the African sun.
8. Master Moroccan Cuisine - Know Your Tagine from Your Tanjia
Engage in a hands-on culinary experience by enrolling in a traditional Moroccan cooking class.
Adobe Free Stock / M.studio
Programmes like those at La Maison Arabe guide participants through the process of creating iconic dishes such as tagine and couscous.
Ideal for food lovers seeking a deeper appreciation for the rich flavours of Moroccan cuisine.
9. Savor Sunset Views from Rooftop Bars
As the day draws to a close, head to a top-rated rooftop bar, such as La Pergola, for a 360-degree view of the city.
Nobu's Rooftop Garden boasts a sunset view that'll make your social media followers boil with envy.
Adobe Free Stock / luengo_ua
Watch the sky blaze while the Atlas Mountains pose dramatically in the background. Warning: This activity may cause existential contemplation.
10. Experience a Traditional Hammam
Get scrubbed within an inch of your life and indulge in a Moroccan hammam to rejuvenate both body and mind.
Les Bains de Marrakech offers a range of treatments in a serene environment.
Adobe Free Stock / Africa Studio
Here, visitors can experience traditional cleansing rituals that have been practised and passed down for centuries.
It's a bit like being adopted by an enthusiastic aunt who's determined to remove every dead skin cell you've ever had. And it feels amazing.
Places like the Baths of Marrakech offer various levels of pampering, from 'gentle relaxation' to 'was I just reborn?’
11. Learn the Art of Moroccan Baking
Bread holds a special place in Moroccan culture.
And taking a baking class is a great way to learn about traditional techniques and recipes.
Adobe Free Stock / 29birds
Not to mention, gain the skills to recreate the joy of Moroccan bread and pastries.
Try your hand at sweet treats, such as Ghriba, coconut biscuits, or kaab el ghazal, crescent-shaped cookies, at home.
Learning to make traditional breads like khubz, msemmen and harcha might awaken your inner Paul Hollywood.
Or confirm that your baking skills are best left to watching cooking shows.
Adobe Free Stock / PicsWay
Either way, you get to eat freshly baked goods - a solid win-win.
12. Support the Jarjeer Donkey and Mule Sanctuary
Located just outside Marrakech, the Jarjeer Sanctuary offers refuge to retired and rescued donkeys.
This well-respected sanctuary has captured the attention of the travel press and the BBC in recent years.
Adobe Free Stock / underworld
Visitors can learn about the sanctuary's efforts, interact with the animals and learn about its mission.
Supporting efforts to care for animals is an ideal way to give back to a local community when travelling.
These retired mules and donkeys now live their best lives posing for selfies with visitors.
13. Delight in Moroccan Cuisine at Top Restaurants
If you think Moroccan cuisine is pretty much just tagines and couscous, the city's modern dining scene is here to surprise you.
A new wave of Moroccan chefs are doing things with age-old recipes that would either make their grandmothers proud or absolutely horrified.
Adobe Free Stock / karepa
Take NOMAD, a restaurant turning traditional North African cuisine on its head.
Or there's the likes of Comptoir Darna, where the food is a masterclass in fusion.
Think pastilla, traditional meat pie, reimagined with seafood. And desserts that look like they've been designed by a sweet-toothed architect.
Adobe Free Stock / africa
After 10pm, belly dancers appear and suddenly you're part of the best dinner party in North Africa.
Hidden gem Ksar Essaoussan is a lavishly decorated 17th-century riad in the heart of a medina.
Its gourmet, multi-course menus and dishes such as pigeon pastilla are top-rated by locals and visitors alike.
14. Lose Yourself in Local Stories at Café Clock
Every Thursday at 7pm, Café Clock hosts storytelling nights. Here, English-speaking volunteers share tales passed down through generations.
Adobe Free Stock / luengo_ua
This 1,000-year-old Moroccan tradition offers a unique glimpse into the country's folklore and provides an engaging cultural experience in a cosy café setting.
Storytelling happens in the courtyard. You'll find yourself sitting among fellow travellers, expats and locals, clutching a mint tea and hanging on every word.
Not a bad way to spend an evening if you ask me.
Stay Connected with a Moroccan eSIM
Getting lost in Jemaa el-Fnaa square is only fun the first four or five times. After that, it just becomes frustrating.
That's where eSIMs for travel come in.
With a Morocco eSIM from Airalo, you can navigate medina mazes without eye-watering roaming charges or the quest to find a local SIM card.
Make sure your Marrakech adventure is as smooth all the mint tea you'll no doubt be sipping.
