TLDR: For some, Marrakech can feel a little touristy, for others, it’s a little rowdy. For me, there are few places that are warm, deeply interesting, very different to my hometown and offer an amazing kaleidoscope of sensory activation like it, just 3 hours flight away. It’s been a few years since my last visit, so I went back and took the time to journal how to spend 3 days in Marrakech.
Taking a new travel buddy for the ride (Fran); I thought I could give you a perspective from a female traveller’s viewpoint too. If you’re looking to visit as a couple or even just on your own as a solo traveller, I have tried to capture what we did and why, to help you plan your own visit.
Jump to: Why trust us | Where to stay | What to budget | The itinerary | Safety & FAQs
Highlights
- We started by avoiding buzzkill taxi rip-offs and pre-booked a budget airport transfer to the town centre for less than $10/£8.
- Found our bearings around the Medina labyrinthe on the first morning with a cheap guided tour
- Embraced the chaos of the city and stayed in a stunning Riad as we can do hotels anywhere in the world.
- Watched sunset transform Jemaa el-Fnaa from rooftop cafes like Taj’in Darna and L’ancien café.
- We spent at least one day on a desert experience – you should do too.
Author experience
Quick insight: This guide (written in December 2025) is based on my 4th trip to Morocco, 3rd to Marrakech and 1st riding a camel.
Our guides are based on real visits by real people and so it’s great fun when I get to write about my own trip and not one of my lovely writing team doing the honours. I’ve written about my longer 3 week backpacking trip around Morocco before, but this guide is all about how I made the most of 3 days in Marrakech, and how you could do it too.
Its easy to list a bunch of ideas of things to do in a city but often those lists lack realities on the ground. So, I’ve tried to explain why I did the things below and in the order I chose. This might help frame things for you. And if nothing else help you discover the best way to spend 3 days in Marrakech.
About Marrakech (Marrakesh)
- Population: Approx 1 million
- City Name: When not called the Red City, is also referred to as Morocco City in some parts of the world. This is because Marrakech is the term used by Persian and Urdu speakers for the whole of the country. Showing the importance of the city more widely.
Marrakech is not the largest city in Morocco, it’s actually the 4th largest, but it doesn’t just outshine it’s larger national peers, like Casablanca, Rabat and Fes; it does a pretty good job of being amongst the biggest names in the entire continent of Africa.
A growing city, it attracts millions of visitors a year and while it is seeing significant investment it still retains that link to the past which makes it so irresistable to visitors.
I read online a description of Jemaa Al-fnaa (the main square in Marrakech) that remarked it was:
“a bridge between the past and the present“. And for me this is what makes the city so fascinating. It has that feeling all across it.
The Red City as it is also called, due to the ochre colour buildings and desert edges, is steeped in Moroccan Dynastic history, from the 1000s right through to the modern age. It has long been a Sufi Pilgrimage destination, as it’s the resting place of a number of Sufi Patron Saint tombs, and was the centre of the French Protectorate during their later Colonial era.
This means there’s everything from exquisitely maintained tombs and forts to beautiful mosaics, living history, and plenty to keep you entertained over a short trip of just a few days. In more recent decades, it was part of the Hippie Trail — a route favoured by bohemian travellers looking to wander a little off the beaten track. It was where wannabe Beatles (and the Beatles themselves) would go to “find themselves” while sipping mint tea. Think of it as the pre–Ayahuasca Guatemalan silent retreat for East London types.
Editor David’s note: I can’t begin to describe the historic back story of Marrakech in any way that will do it justice. Just suffice to say, that there’s a lot to see, learn and gawp about here and having got back 4 days ago, I already feel I didn’t stay long enough.
Where to sleep in Marrakech
If you’re only in Marrakech for a few days, then I would suggest enjoying it for what it is. Stay in a Riad in the chaos of the Medina. That includes a verdict for solo travellers and couples.
Now, the Medina. This can feel overwhelming at times. and I say this with experience doing it in a couple but also thinking from what it’s like if you’re on your own.
I remember the first time I stayed here 20 years ago, before Google Maps. I was hot, sweaty, laiden with bags very likely (100% was) bickering with my equally as tired girlfriend and we must have looked like an easy target for tip earning, Souk maze touring locals, to get you to your accommodation.
They mean no harm and they don’t exist in the same way anymore, but you’d find that locals who try to earn a few dirhams will ask to help you with your bags or guide to your digs. The secret was just say no politely and if you need to, grab a coffee somewhere and take a moment. Then get back on your way.
Well, the Medina is still chaotic but we have Google Maps which makes things a lot easier. So, now I’ve made it sound awful – I’m going to explain why you should stay there.
You can stay in a soulless hotel whenever you like, but Marrakech is about the mayhem, the markets, the old and the new, the Arabian nights fantasy, history and the melting pot that is the UNESCO world heritage Medina. Stay here.
Everything is in walking distance, and there are a lot of tourists around to make yourself feel at home if you need to. But, and this is the best bit…not so many tourists. It still feels like there is a lid on things. And this could be as a Brit, because most of the tourists aren’t British, which is a rarity when you’re only flying a few hours from the UK.
The Medina, is the old part of the city, and where you will find the stunning Riads you see on Instagram. Those that look like this inside:
Where else?
Okay if you want to bend my arm and make me name somewhere else, I would suggest the Kasbah for similar historic reasons and it’s close to the Medina and Square. But it doesn’t tend to have the authentic Riads that the Medina has. Palmeraie has some lovely hotels, but it just renders you needing taxis all the time, which can become a headache in itself and if I’m only in a city for 3 days, I usually steer clear.
Solo Travellers? You may want, for your own peace of mind to stay in Palmeraie and lean on taxis to get you in and out. However, it’s a 20 minute drive back into town and some of the best places to eat and drink are tucked away in the Medina. So you may regret the lack of proximity after a day exploring. There are some lovely things to do, like horseriding up here, it just feels like you’re missing out.
Couples? Stick to the Medina (or the Kasbah if availability is low). The cute restaurants and nightspots are closest to the Medina and most Riads are only a few minutes from taxi drop off points. Our own, was approximately 2 minutes walk from one.
Want some inspo on where to stay in Marrakech? Check out our top picks for solo travellers and couples with a range of budgets.
Best Places to Stay in Marrakech
Riad Glatt
📍 Medina – Marrakech
Premium
Riad Jennah Rouge
📍 Dar Al Bacha – Marrakech
Mid-Range
Stork Marrakech Hostel
📍 Kasbah – Marrakech
Affordable
Riad Paradis Blanc
📍 Medina – Marrakech
Premium
Riad El Hara
📍 Riad, Gueliz – Marrakech
Premium
The Central House
📍 Hostel, Medina – Marrakech
Higher Mid-Range
To and from Marrakech
Marrakech has a well connected international airport, known as Marrakech Menara (MAD). The airport services direct routes from London, Paris, Milan, Istanbul, Madrid, Dublin, Leeds, Manchester, New York and many more major European hubs. This means getting there is no real hardship. Flights tend to be quite affordable (I paid £120 for return flights from London Gatwick in November) and the terminals are modern.
It means if you’re travelling around Europe, it’s pretty easy to hop on a cheap flight and check out a bit of North Africa while you’re at it; before heading back to your main trip.
It’s not the only way to get to Marrakech, the city is well serviced by train and coach connections, from Rabat, Fes, Casablanca and Tangiers. Meaning, it’s entirely possible to travel overland from Europe to the Red City.
Get cheap train tickets to Marrakech: Search here >>
Travel tip – The final mile
Once you have landed at Marrakech airport, there are plenty of taxi services available, but my personal tip is to either use the transfer service which most Riads in the Medina offer, or do as we did, which was book a £6/$9 per person private taxi on Getyourguide. There is nothing worse than getting caught up in a taxi rip off, the moment you land, as it’s one surefire way to start your trip on a bad note.
This is what we used and I recommend it highly: Private Transfer Service – you even get a guy meeting you with a sign with your name on. I missed it however as I found Jamal’s car and sent him a Whatsapp instead.
Here’s me by the car 😂
Travel tip
Depending on how trusting you are and how much cash you have on you, you can haggle with rideshare drivers in Bucharest. Once they turn up to collect you, they’ll be keen to ‘cancel’ the trip via Uber and offer you a better cash price, which is usually super cheap. More profit for them and less in Uber’s pocket, which suited me fine.
Budgeting for 72 hours in Marrakech
Compared to the cities that many of the tourists who visit Marrakech come from (Think London, NYC, Paris, Madrid and Milan), the Red City will feel like a refreshing break financially.
Accommodation is considerably more affordable and food and drink costs are a lot lower too. Sure, there’s definitely ways to splurge, but if you are trying to keep costs down, its very doable here.
To give you a rough idea…
Accommodation
Put most of your budget here – and expect to spend around £200/$260 per person for 3 nights.
Our 9+ Booking rated Riad was £380 for two people for 3 nights, so essentially 4 days. £190 each therefore. And…it was a beautiful place, which came with breakfast too.
Transport
If you’re in the Medina then transport costs will be next to zero. Any tours and excursions you jump on, will include pick ups, so really you’ve only got to think about travel to and from the airport. For us, this was £12/$15/€13.50 per person each-way.
We didn’t need any other transport. We were in the Medina, so the Kasbah, Souks, great restaurants or the Saadi Tombs, were all reachable on foot. When we went out to the desert, the transfers were included in the price.
Food and drink
Water and soft drink prices are around 20-30 dirhams in bars/restaurants, which is about $2 or £1.70. The little vendors on the roadside, sell large bottles of bottled water for about 80p. Beer including the domestically brewed Casablanca or Special Flag are around 40 Dirhams a bottle (33cl) This is about £3.20 in GBP and $4 in USD. Pretty standard for a bar. Casablanca is a nice lager, with a brilliant label. Looks like the a poster from the film.
Foodwise, if you’re grabbing street vendor food in the Square (Jemaa) then the prices are fantastic, and the food is good. But if you’re wanting something a little more restaurant like, you can expect to pay around £10-12/$13-18 for a main meal in a slightly above average restaurant. Locally focused eateries, will offer something much more budget friendly (£5-7/$7-9 price range for a Tagine), and if I had time, I’d have sought out a few more of those.
We had dinner in both Kabana and MK Rooftop, with Kabana being a little pricier by around 20%. The amazing lamb shank tagine in MK Rooftop was £10.
If you eat out lunch and dinner each day, expect to budget for £100/$130 per person across the period. This accommodates a pricier dinner and a more budget lunch, with your breakfast likely covered already. Add another £50/$70 USD for alcohol per person if you fancy some cocktails after dinner too.
Activities/entertainment
The big local attractions, such as Secret Garden, YSL Museum, Saadi Tombs etc are all pay on entry. With prices around £4-£10/$5-$13 per attraction. Saadi Tombs for example was 50 Dirhams per adult.
We took a trip to the desert with an overnight stay in a luxury tent, camel rides, dinner and breakfast that came in at £120 per person.
There is so much to see here in Marrakech in a 3 day span, that you can spend very little actually and still feel massively satiated. I love just sitting on the rooftop suntraps of a Riad for hours at a time. That’s free. But, if you can set aside £200/$250 per person for activities, you are going to have a good bit of money left over that you didn’t spend.
Total estimated budget for 3 days in Marrakech
(Prices established as of 2025)
- £200 accommodation
- £15 transport to and from the airport
- £10 for Argana’s famous ice cream and coffee on the Square
- £30 for traditional tagine, or cous-cous composed lunches
- £100 to visit the desert, ride a camel and have dinner
- £20 for guided walk around the Souks/Kasbah
- £15 for entry to two attractions
- £70 for evening dinners
That comes in at £460 total per person, not including whatever you decide to spend on drinks. If you can pick up a flight for under a £100/$100 you’re getting a memorable lifetime experience for around £550-$650.
And yes you can spend less. I advised this budget based on someone who likes a few luxuries – me!
3 days in Marrakech itinerary
Day 1: Rooftop dinner & finding our bearings | Day 2: Tour of the Madrassa & Souks – Excursion to Agafay Desert for camel riding and glamping under the stars | Day 3: Berber breakfast – Trip to the Saadian Tombs and around the Kasbah – Food tour of Djemma El-Fna Square and sunset dinner at Kabana
Jump to: Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3
Marrakech embodies nearly everything I love about Morocco. It’s wild, kind, handsome, rough around the edges, new everytime and an experience that can send you back in time mentally. Maybe this phrase does it better justice.
Marrakech is a WTAF place to visit. And, while 3 days doesn’t cover everything, it is a nice amount of time that will send you home feeling like you have unfinished business.
I can’t speak for you, but that feels like the best way to leave somewhere. A desire to tell all, and want to go back again. This is how we did it, and I think a good guide for anyone, wondering what’s the best way to spend 3 days in Marrakech.
Key things we did
- Rooftop dinner overlooking the city
- Guided tour of the Souks, Madrassa and Secret Garden
- 1 day/night trip to Agafay desert
- Exploring the Saadian tombs and Kasbah
- Riad rooftop sunbathing
- Drinking tea (eating ice cream) watching sunset fall over Djemma El-Fnaa square
- Nightime food tour around the Square
Day 1: Arrival – Afternoon
After a flight from Gatwick with BA, we landed at Marrkach Menara Airport, a modern and easy to navigate terminal that leads you out into the longed for warmth of North Africa. We left England on a cold and wet morning, so my trackies, coat and hoody combo wasn’t the best choice now, but quickly got away from the airport and headed off to the Medina.
The journey time from the airport to the Medina with our easy transfer was little more than 15 minutes and dropped us a few minutes walk from the door of our Riad.
If you’ve not been to Marrakech before, it’s worth knowing that the only vehicles that can drive through the ancient passageways are mopeds and donkey drawn carts, so you’ll find you need to do the last leg of your check-in journey on foot.
This can feel like a culture shock at first but once you find your accommodation, you can take a breather. This is why I love the Riad experience. These places are like havens of calm in a sea of insanity outside.
My advice here is to take a breather, have a mint tea and enjoy the hospitality of your accommodation and get on some more climate appropriate clothing. After this, brave the rabbit warren streets and enjoy the evening. We had booked a table at the highly rated MK Rooftop, to enjoy sunset and traditional food with a view of the world famous Djemma square.
We did nothing more than that on our first day as this trip was about relaxing as well as exploring.
Evening
Depending on the time of the year, sunset times will vary of course. For us in November, sunset was 6:30pm, which meant after losing track of time, we got to MK Rooftop a bit after 7pm, missing sunset but still finding a lively place to eat, with blankets to keep yourself warm in the cooler night air and a menu that included both traditional Tagines and camel burger.
I had my eye on the camel burger before I got here, but ended up being swayed by the lamb shank tagine. The service is great, food fantastic and the atmosphere a mixture of intimate and cosmopolitan. Best of all, are the stunning views across the evening cityscape, highlighted by the historic Koutobia Mosque.
This is where we ate – https://www.instagram.com/mk_rooftop_marrakech/
That’s it – that’s all we did. We wanted to get a good night’s sleep and be able to get up early for our first full day tomorrow.
What else could we have done?
If I was confident of my timing after landing and checking-in, I was going to jump on a guided evening food tour. Something a friend of mine had done and recommended I look out for, is a few hours touring around the Medina and the Square, trying local foods, shielded from pressure and insanity by your private guide. These don’t cost a lot (£35/$45 USD per person) and are really well reviewed. It’s something I’d wish he had done, so I’ll leave it here as a great suggestion if you land in good time.
Check their event page for more info: Medina Evening Food Tour
Day 2: Morning
Breakfast was served around 8-10am, and we booked to head on a guided tour of the souks in the Medina, for 9:30am. Breakfast in Morocco tends to be a beige banquet, but if you like multiple types of bread and coffee to start your day – you will be happy for it.
I’m trying to lose weight currently, so really struggled to say no to the array of pancakes etc. And it was even harder for me when I also ate my friend’s breakfast. I looked around to see if anyone else had left their breakfast for me to painfully consume, but alas…. 🙂 Clearly, I like my breakfast beige!
With plans to head to Agafay that afternoon, it felt like a good window of time to do some real exploring and learn about the local history from someone with a bit of expertise.
The trip took us over to the Kasbah where we got to see the Ben Youssef Madrasa and their stunning tile mosaics too.
In total, we spent around £20 per person for the guided tour, taking us to midday and giving us plenty of time to pack for the desert trip and do grab some lunch near the Bahia Palace to watch the world go by.
The souks are the famous images you may have in your mind. Lots of stalls and miniature stores, selling everything from meat, to kitchenware, to ‘footmade’ chess sets and the days fresh fruit. My travel companion, referred to the experience as ‘overstimulating’ and it can feel like that. But travelling with a local guide, who helped us navigate the winding streets with the bare minimum of attention made this a lot more enjoyable.
And no…we didn’t get served up to a rug seller. Which I know is one of the old classic moves of tour guides in the past.
Everything about the market is visually engaging, even the roof covering.
The tour we took was booked with Getyourguide. Find it here >> It was £15 per person, and included the Secret Garden and local Madrassa too.
Day 2: Afternoon
After a quick pack of an overnight bag and some rooftop lazing, we made the 3 minute trip by foot to the Mohammed 5 School where we would be meeting our transfers to the desert, along with a host of other travellers.
The journey from Marrakech Medina to Agafey desert area, was about 45-60 minutes as we navigated through traffic. The ride was pleasant, air conditioned and with plenty of time before sunset, dropped us off in a little desert oasis, where I would tick off a personal bucket list item.
Camel riding!
I have long wanted to spend time in a desert, albeit under controlled circumstances and when planning my 3 days in Marrakech, I discovered a popular attraction online and thought – YES!
Agafey desert offers a number of desert accommodation areas. These are ostensibly glamping setups. While you can visit for a long day, do the evening dinner, camel rides etc, you miss out on sleeping under the starry skies, the relaxed Berber breakfast and time to swim in the pool, for not a lot more money. If budget is tight, then of course, go for the day stay, but if you can afford an extra 20-30 USD/GBP, stay the night.
It’s just cute.
After check-in and a quick pre-match beer in the bar area, we headed out to the front of the location to get fitted out for our camel riding attire. We opted for golden hour – so we could catch sunset on camelback.
The camels appeared well looked after and those that didn’t want to participate (the camels I mean), were kept back with their mates, so it didn’t appear any were unduly forced to work. Which was a nice thing to see.
You pay extra for the camel ride, it was around £10/$15 per person, and we spent around 45-60 minutes in the saddle. The whole experience is quite surreal (in a good way) and I can’t think of a better way to have spent the equivalent of a couple of beers in London.
Yes, I facetimed a friend mid ride!
Day 2: Evening
Whether you’re staying for the night or for dinner, you’ll get to experience a really fun (and tasty) traditional dinner and entertainment, that was nicely not cringe.
I’ve been on those trips in Asia where you get to see a ‘local event’ and it feels very false. The way the music and evening’s activities went in Agafay (which did include a conga at one stage), was fun, WAY more than it was contrived.
The food was about 4-5 courses, tagines, nice breads, couscous, the usual and after dinner, you could sit around campfires listening to music and watching the stars.
For the money, you really can’t knock it.
Loved it.
Day 3: Morning
For those of us who stayed in Agafay desert, we woke up to sunrise from the window of our tents. I’m gutted I didn’t take a picture, but the bed was too comfy. Sorrynotsorry.
…And I had had about 6 beers in the evening, so I wasn’t exactly on top form!
Between 8am and 10am, the hosts provide a traditional Berber breakfast, which was a more extensive beige bonanze than we had in our own riad. It included coffee on tap and homemade peanut butter, which was divine. Checkout was around 10:30-11 and after packing up our things, we made our way to the minibuses waiting to take us back to the city.
Journeys back from fun places are often tinged with a bit of sadness. This was very much NOT the case. A driver with a love for Spanish music and a bus load of Spaniards, meant we spent the 45 minute drive back dancing in our seats to the Macarena.
We got pulled over by the police, and as soon as we left their inspection, the driver promptly turned the music back up, and the singing continued. Adil. That was his name.
He was like the sweetest, funnest dad you ever met.
Around noon we rocked back into Marrakech and headed to the riad to unpack and decompress for a bit.
Was visiting Agafay worth it?
So yes! I can’t fault the trip we booked and it really gives you the perfect amount of mini desert experience with the least amount of hassle.
Don’t get me wrong, there are more desert wilderness things than this, and you will read a Sahara roadtrip on this website in the next year, but, I’m under no illusions how hard that might be. For anyone else, wanting a few days in the sun in November, and fancies spending 3 days in Marrakech, and are not wishing to die of thirst miles from civilisation, then this is a must do alternative.
Which desert trip did we take?
We went with an Agafay desert trip listed on Getyourguide as it 5000 reviews and averaged 4.9 rating. Seemed a logical choice! It set us back around £120 per person for the luxury accommodation option. I think because we booked it short notice, we got a good price. The tour is run by “Marrakech desert camp”. You can see it here >>
Day 3: Afternoon
Depending whether you’re visiting Marrakech for 3 days, or 3 nights, will impact how much time you have left, but we went with 3 nights, so our afternoon involved spending a little bit of time lazing on the riad’s rooftop listening to the Call to Prayer. At which point we headed out for lunch and a trip to the Saadian tombs.
From the Medina to the Kasbah, the walk to the tombs is about 20 minutes and is fairly easy to get to. There are small queues at the tombs, but nothing crazy. Entry is around 50 Dirhams per adult, so a couple of pounds, or a few dollars.
The compound is not vast, but is an important place of local and wider Sufi religious history. It’s a nice box tick to visit and gets you some of those very classic Marrakech shots. For content creators and photographers, it’s a lovely spot.
You can take tours to the Saadian tombs, but we opted to self guide. By day 3 of our trip, we felt sufficiently comfortable walking around Marrakech and a lot less overwhelmed by the myriad streets and cacophonic noise.
Want a top rated tour guide instead? Try this #1 selling choice for less than £15/$20 – A top selling tour of the tombs and Palace. Read reviews >>
Day 3: Evening
I wanted to revisit something I did many years ago in the Red City, which was sipping mint tea as the sun goes down overlooking Djemma El-Fna Square. So, after some time laying around in the riad, we raced out to capture sundown.
As the sun goes down, the square gets lively and the sounds of everything from street vendors promoting their wares, snake charmers, dice players and prayer fill the night. A UNESCO site, this square has seen centuries of life. It’s been an execution square, it’s been a place of uprising, tragedy and one of Africa’s most famous places of trade.
While I couldn’t find any snake charmers, I did eat an incredible ice cream at the place of a big tragedy nearly 15 years ago, the Argana cafe. This was where terrorists planted a bomb which killed and injured hundreds. Thankfully, terrorism fears are not what they were anymore and the visit capped off a beautiful 3 days in Marrakech.
From here, we grabbed dinner and drinks at the very popular and busy Kabana Rooftop Restaurant. A little pricier than other venues, but in large part as it’s a place to be seen and the standards are very high. Then, it was a short trip back to head to the riad, pack and sleep, ready for our flight home the next day.
Bye Marrakech, you were wonderful!
Other places to go from Marrakech
Marrakech is well connected to many other great stops in Morocco, so if you’re looking for some inspo on next stops. Here’s my recommendations.
Beach Bums
If beaches and the coast are your thing, then two places I highly recommend are:
- Oualidia – See tour options
- Essaouira – See tour options
Oualidia is a quaint coastal town, with lovely white washed buildings providing charming romantic accommodation, but is also home to great sand dunes for quad biking and is a premier spot for oysters.
Essaouira needs no introduction. It’s a good surf spot, has a hippie vibe as well as a lot of Morocco history. Formerly a French (and short time Portuguese) enclave, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a popular stop for backpackers, surfers and boho types.
Culture Vultures
If surfing and watersports aren’t your vibe, then head in to Berber country and visit the High Atlas Mountains, or check out the Imperial Cities. From Fes, Meknes, Casablanca to Chefchaouen and Tangier there is a vast array of cultural attractions and things to see in the country.
Top tips:
- Mount Toubkal – High Atlas Mountains – Day trip from Marrakech
- The Blue Walls of Chefchaouen Medina
- The deserts of Erg Chebbi and Sahara – including the film set worthy Kasbah of
Aït Benhaddou
Common Marrakech FAQs
Can you hear the call to prayer in Marrakech?
You will hear the call to prayer fairly regularly when in the city and moreso if you are staying in the Medina or Kasbah. For me, it’s a beautiful almost enchanting sound, and I say that as a non-Moslem. It will go off while you’re sleeping in the hours before sunrise, but you learn to ignore it.
One fun fact about the pre-sunrise call to prayer, known as Fajr (which in Nov-Feb is more manageably around 6:15-6:50 am) is it recites the following statement: “Prayer is better than sleep”. Which lets you know that even theologians think about their marketing messaging.
Can you drink alcohol in Marrakech?
Don’t worry, you can wash your tagine down with a glass of vino!
While locals and practising muslims cannot/will not drink alcohol in Marrakech, beer, wine and cocktails are routinely served in local restaurants. There are two very well known national beers ‘Special Flag’ and ‘Casablanca’, which can be found on the drinks menus of pretty much every food venue in the city. What you won’t really find is ‘traditional’ western style bars, but you can go to Ibiza across the water for that!
Do I have to cover up as a female traveller in Marrakech?
Marrakech is a lot more relaxed than other parts of Morocco, which is in large part a forced tolerance through tourism. You are not expected to cover up in the same way you would do in Saudi Arabia, but if you value minimising your footprint on other country’s interesting cultures, you may want to ensure you cover your chest, shoulders and legs. Eg: don’t wear a short skirt and guys don’t walk around in a vest with your latest tattoo covered by clingfilm on display. Local women tend to fully cover, head scarf and arms/legs covered.
We talk a lot about carbon footprint, but I think we often neglect our social and cultural emissions too. We visit these cities and countries because of the charm of the outcome their culture has had on their part of the world. The best way to maintain that wonder for future generations, is treat it with a little reverence and personal conservatism.
My travel companion wore a relaxed maxi skirt on occasion, and never attracted any negative attention. In the day time, she felt comfortable wearing a capped sleeve top and jeans and again, had no issues. Ultimately dress like you’re about to visit a new partner’s elderly grandmother for the first time is a good rule. (For men as well too!)
Is it safe for solo female travellers in Marrakech?
I didn’t want to answer this in the same way all blogs do when they add in an FAQ. So I thought I’d just ask my female friend about her personal takeaway from the trip.
This is what she said:
“On the first day as we checked in and someone was hassling us to guide us to our riad, made me feel a little apprehensive. My view was that I probably wouldn’t have chosen to visit alone, but I did feel more comfortable by the end of the trip.”
Fran’s take: “I think probably being somewhere, where culturally the expectation on women is so vastly different to what you’re used to, it’s hard to anticipate the local perception of you when you’re clearly western. In hindsight, I possibly could have felt safer if I’d dressed differently. Also we tend to project. If we see youths in a dark alley in London, we assume danger – so you just assume the same everywhere.”
Question to Fran: “Would you feel safe with a female friend?”
Fran: “Probably not, but a group, yeah.”
Is Marrakech safe to visit?
Marrakech is considered generally very safe. While it can feel quite overwhelming, with all the noise and crowds in some areas, it is rare to hear of cases of crimes against tourists. Most crimes tend to be pickpocketing and scam related, and sexual or violent crimes can be punishable by death in the country.
Not quite related but to add a personal civic anecdote for you.
My card wallet, with banknotes sticking out, fell out of my pocket while walking through the market one afternoon. A street vendor came running after me to give it back. He touched his heart, smiled and bid me well on my way.
This wallet contained possibly a month’s salary for the vendor. This is not my first experience of Moroccan kindness in the years I have visited.
For more up to date safety advice, you can check out the Australian government travel guidance here >>
Where next?
Whether it’s Fes, Rabat, Casablanca or the dreamy Essaoura, there are lots of amazing places to explore beyond the Red City. Morocco is a country of extremes and a lot of experiential diversity. Make the most of it! Or head back home and plan your next 3 day adventure.
If you’re doing a longer trip around Morocco, and you enjoyed this 3 days in Marrakech guide, you may appreciate this piece next – or check out some of our blog’s sponsor multi day adventures below.
