Marrakech travel guide
Morocco
Red walls, riad courtyards and souks that reward getting lost. Marrakech is loud and generous, and far easier with someone who knows it.
Essentials
- Language
- Moroccan Arabic (Darija) and Berber languages; French is widely spoken, English increasingly in tourist areas
- Currency
- Moroccan dirham (MAD)
- Plugs
- Types C and E, 220 V
- Emergency number
- 19 for police, 15 for fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Expected: around 10 percent in restaurants, and small change for guides, porters and anyone who helps you.
Rough daily budget
Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:
- Backpacker: $30-50, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
- Mid-range: $80-140, with a private room and restaurant meals.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Where to stay in Marrakech
- Medina: the old walled city, its souks and the Jemaa el-Fnaa square.
- Gueliz: the modern district: cafés, galleries and wider streets.
- Kasbah: near the Saadian Tombs, a calmer part of the old city.
Getting around Marrakech
Walk the medina and use petit taxis beyond it. Agree the fare or ask for the meter before getting in.
Best time to visit Marrakech
March to May and October to November; summer is very hot.
Top things to do in Marrakech
- Visit the Bahia Palace for its tiled courtyards and painted cedar ceilings
- See the carved stucco and courtyard of the Ben Youssef Madrasa, a former Quranic school
- Walk the blue-painted Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum next door
- Spend an hour in a hammam, either a local one or a riad spa
- Haggle for leather, lamps or rugs in the souks north of Jemaa el-Fnaa
What to eat in Marrakech
- Tagine: meat or vegetables slow-cooked in a conical clay pot
- Tanjia: a Marrakech dish of beef or lamb slow-cooked for hours in a clay urn
- Harira: a tomato, lentil and chickpea soup
- Mint tea: green tea with fresh mint and plenty of sugar, poured from a height
Day trips from Marrakech
- Ourika Valley: riverside villages and waterfalls in the Atlas foothills, about an hour away
- Imlil: a trekking village below Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak, about 90 minutes by road
- Essaouira: a breezy walled port on the Atlantic, about three hours by bus
Local etiquette
Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, and ask before photographing people; performers in the square expect payment. Most mosques are closed to non-Muslims, and in Ramadan it is courteous not to eat or drink in public during the day.
Staying connected
Prepaid SIMs from Maroc Telecom, Orange and inwi are cheap and sold with a passport at the airport and in phone shops, and riads usually have Wi-Fi.
Staying safe
Expect persistent touts and self-appointed guides who offer directions and then ask for money; a polite 'non merci' and walking on usually works. Mind your pockets in the crowds of Jemaa el-Fnaa, and watch for motorbikes in the narrow souk lanes.
A local tip
Watch Jemaa el-Fnaa fill with food stalls at dusk from a rooftop café.
Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.
Meet people in Marrakech on Waypacker
Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Marrakech for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Marrakech, you could be one of the first hosts.
Questions about Marrakech
- What currency is used in Marrakech?
- Marrakech uses the Moroccan dirham (MAD).
- What is the emergency number in Marrakech?
- In Marrakech, call 19 for police, 15 for fire and ambulance.
- When is the best time to visit Marrakech?
- March to May and October to November; summer is very hot.
- How much does a day in Marrakech cost?
- Roughly $30-50 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $80-140 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
- Is Waypacker free to use in Marrakech?
- Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
- Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?
- Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
- Can I meet locals in Marrakech without staying with anyone?
- Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
- Will anyone see my exact location?
- No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.