As a local, I see travelers every day. I see the ones who are just visiting, and I see the ones who are truly experiencing it. The difference? Knowing where to find the magic.
As a local, I see travelers every day. I see the ones who are just visiting, and I see the ones who are truly experiencing it. The difference? Knowing where to find the magic.
Bismillah. Let’s go.
⭐ The 10 Must-Do Activities in Marrakech
1. Watch the Jemaa el-Fna Explode at Night
This is the heart of the world. By day, Jemaa el-Fna is a vast, open square. But as the sun begins to set, the real show begins. Storytellers shout, musicians play, and 100 food stalls are built from scratch, sending a plume of delicious smoke into the twilight. It is theatre, history, and a culinary spectacle all at once.
Local Tip: Don’t watch from the ground. Head to a rooftop terrace like Le Grand Balcon du Café de France. Order a mint tea just before sunset. You will pay a few dirhams for the drink, but the view and the call to prayer echoing as the square transforms… that is priceless.
2. Get Truly, Hopelessly Lost in the Souks
This is not a suggestion; it’s a requirement. The Marrakech Souks are a labyrinth of commerce and craft. You will follow the scent of cumin from the spice souk (Souk el Attarine) into the sound of hammering from the lamp souk (Souk Haddadine). You will get lost. You will feel a tiny flicker of panic. And then you’ll turn a corner and discover a hidden courtyard or the perfect leather bag.
Local Tip: Haggling is a conversation, not a fight. Start at 50% of the offered price, but do it with a smile. The goal is a fair price where you both walk away happy. And if you hear “Balak! Balak!”, press yourself against the wall—a donkey or a cart is coming through!
3. Stay in a Riad
This is the most important advice I can give you. Do not stay in a big, generic hotel in the new city. A Riad is a traditional Moroccan home built around a central, open-air courtyard. It is an oasis. The moment you step from a chaotic, dusty alley through a heavy wooden door into a silent, fountain-filled garden, you will understand Marrakech.
Local Tip: For a first-timer, stay in the Kasbah or Medina neighborhoods. They are historic, authentic, and central to everything.
4. Experience a Real Hammam (And Be Reborn)
A traditional hammam is not a fluffy-robe-and-cucumber-water spa. It is a ritual. It is a public steam room, a tub of savon beldi (black soap), and a vigorous, no-nonsense scrub-down with a kessa (exfoliating glove) that will remove layers of skin you didn’t know you had. You will emerge feeling steamed, scrubbed, and cleaner than you have ever been in your life.
Local Tip: A “public” hammam is an intense local experience. For a first-timer, I recommend a private, more luxurious version like Les Bains de Marrakech or Hammam de la Rose to ease you into the tradition.
5. Find the “Majorelle Blue”
Yes, it’s popular. Yes, it’s crowded. Yes, it is 100% worth it. The Jardin Majorelle (the garden bought and restored by Yves Saint Laurent) is a botanical masterpiece. That electric, cobalt “Majorelle Blue,” set against the lush desert cacti and towering bamboo, is a jolt to the senses.
Local Tip (2025 ESSENTIAL): You must book your tickets online, weeks in advance. You can no longer just show up and buy a ticket. Go first thing in the morning (8:30 AM slot) to beat the crowds and the heat.
6. Gaze at the Ben Youssef Madrasa
This is, in my opinion, the single most beautiful building in Marrakech. It was a 14th-century Islamic college, and the craftsmanship will humble you. The central courtyard, with its reflective pool, carved stucco, and intricate zellij (mosaic) tile, is pure poetry.
Local Tip: Don’t just stay in the courtyard. Go upstairs and peek into the tiny, sparse student dorm rooms. It’s a powerful contrast to the opulence below.
7. Learn to Make the Magic (A Cooking Class)
A souvenir is nice. The ability to recreate a perfect Moroccan Tagine is forever. A cooking class here is a true cultural immersion. You’ll go to the souk to buy your spices and vegetables, then spend a morning with a dada (traditional cook) learning the secrets.
Local Tip: La Maison Arabe offers one of the most famous and professional workshops, but many local riads offer fantastic, intimate classes as well.
8. Hunt for Real Tanjia (The Foodie’s Quest)
You will all eat tagine and couscous. But a real Marrakchi eats Tanjia. This is a specialty of the city: meat (usually lamb or beef) packed into a clay urn with spices, preserved lemon, and smen (aged butter), then slow-cooked for hours in the embers of a public hammam’s furnace. It is rich, tender, and incredible.
Local Tip: Don’t order this in a fancy restaurant. Go to the alley near Jemaa el-Fna (like Chez Lamine) where you’ll see the urns lined up. This is the real deal.
9. Explore the Opulence of Bahia Palace
If you want to understand the life of a 19th-century vizier (and his harem), this is the place. The Bahia Palace means “The Brilliance.” It’s a sprawling complex of stunning courtyards, private apartments, and gardens. It isn’t a single “wow” moment; it’s 150 “wow” rooms in a row.
Local Tip: Go as soon as it opens at 9 AM. By 11 AM, the tour groups arrive, and the narrow, painted corridors become a bottleneck.
10. End Every Day on a Rooftop
This is the city’s daily ritual. Marrakech is flat, so the life is on the roofs. About an hour before sunset, find a rooftop. It could be in the Spice Square (Café Des Épices), overlooking the Kasbah, or a trendy spot in Gueliz (Kabana). Order a drink. Listen as the call to prayer begins to echo from a dozen minarets. This is the moment. This is the magic.
🚫 The 3 “Must-Do” Activities… That You Should Absolutely Skip
I’m telling you this as a friend. Your time is precious. Don’t waste it on these.
1. The Snake Charmers & Monkey Handlers
In Jemaa el-Fna, you will see men with snakes in boxes and monkeys on chains. This is not ancient magic; it’s a photo-op transaction, and it’s terrible for the animals. The “charmers” will be very aggressive, often putting a snake on your shoulders without asking and then demanding 100-200 dirhams ($10-$20) for a photo you never wanted. Avoid them completely.
2. The “Helpful” Guide in the Medina
You will be walking, you will look at your map, and a friendly young man will approach you. “It’s closed,” he’ll say (it’s not). “The tanneries are only open today!” (they aren’t). “I’ll show you the way, no problem!” This is a classic scam to lead you on a “tour” and then demand a high fee. The solution? A polite, firm, and smiling “La, shukran” (“No, thank you”) and keep walking.
3. The Tannery “Guided Tour”
Following on from #2, this is the main destination for that scam. You’ll be led to the tanneries, handed a sprig of mint (because the smell is… potent), and given a 2-minute “tour” from a ledge. Then, you’ll be aggressively funneled into a leather shop and pressured to buy a “high-quality” bag (it’s not) at a wildly inflated price to pay for your “free” tour. You can visit the tanneries, but go on your own terms or with an official, paid guide.
This is my city. I know its magic and I know its tricks. Now, you do too.
Go with an open heart, a firm “no, thank you,” and a good pair of shoes. The magic will do the rest.
Now it’s your turn. Of all the real must-do activities on this list, which is the one you are most excited to experience? Let me know in the comments below!
