Marrakech Medina: A Guide for Slow Travellers

Last Updated on 27th January 2026 by Jessie

An honest take on Marrakech medina: what to expect and whether it’s worth the hype. Plus recommendations on what to do, where to eat and where to stay. 

I always to and fro on recommending Marrakech to friends and family. I’m awed by the historic integrity, and I think the chaos of the medina is a novelty worth experiencing. But it’s also very tourist-oriented, super overwhelming and not an accurate representation of the side of Morocco that I’m so drawn to. 

I’m aware that a lot of people visit Marrakech only, find it a bit much, and write off Morocco (and the people) completely. But if you can handle crowds, commotion and the grittier sides of life, I think Marrakech is worth experiencing at least once. As long as it’s only one stop on your Moroccan sojourn. 

Here’s a little guide to Marrakech for my kin and others alike. Those who may not necessarily have bulging pockets, and who prefer a slower-paced, more experiential kind of travel.  

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What is Marrakech Like

I’ve only spent a bit of time in the suburbs outside of the medina, so I can’t speak much of broader Marrakech. It’s much like other Moroccan cities, with pockets of wealth and areas far less developed. There are plenty of swanky hotels and restaurants and boutique stores, and if nightclubs are high on your agenda, that’s where you’ll find them.

Those things tend not to interest my friends much, so I always advise them to stick to the medina. For a short stay, there’s plenty to do and see within the walled city to keep you occupied. It’s small enough that you can walk everywhere fairly easily. And you can find everything they sell in the boujee stores for a fraction of the price. 

The medina is the tourist hub of Marrakech (and Morocco), so you’re not really getting an accurate depiction of everyday life in the city. But I doubt that side of Marrakech would interest the majority of travellers anyhow. Plus, it’s the most historically significant area of Marrakech. And despite the usual hamming up of things to appeal to foreigners (see: tourist traps), there’s still a fair degree of authenticity. 

A quick Google search just told me that the ancient walled city was founded in the year 1070. That’s fucking insane. Whilst I’m sure the vendors of that era weren’t yelling out, ‘Shakira Shakira’ to foreign women passing by, or hawking throw pillows with ‘Habibi’ and ‘Home’ embroidered on them, the communal buzz gives you a sense of life in the ancient marketplace of centuries past.

And while there are a bunch of modern shops and cafes scattered about, much of what you see as you wander through the labyrinth of alleyways appears unchanged. For one, the butchers don’t seem to have made huge strides in their refrigeration methods. 

You’ll see lamb carcasses hung from the eaves, eyeing you as you pass. Live chickens bound by their feet, holding onto their last scerick of hope for another day. And an array of unidentifiable innards and gizzards laid out for your perusal. 

Turn a few corners, and you’ll find shoemakers and leatherworkers holed up in dark little cubbies, hammering away at their crafts. Or the unfathomable precision and patience of men whittling away at a chess set, one wood shaving at a time. 

In a hi-fi world, it’s heartening to see so many things still made by hand. And a continuation of the same traditional methods passed down through generations.

On another note, there’s a lot of competition between vendors selling the same things, which leads to a high-pressure shopping environment. It’s near impossible to window shop without the shopkeepers trying to rope you in. So, if a bit of hassling stresses you out too much, you might be better off shopping somewhere like Essaouira instead. 

Otherwise, get comfortable with a polite but firm ‘La, shukran‘ (no, thank you). 

See my Guide to Essaouira. 

How Much Time Should You Spend in Marrakech 

I recommend spending two full days in Marrakech. If you’re based in the medina, you can do and see plenty in one day. But if your schedule allows it, I think it’s preferable to be able to leisurely dip in and out of the chaos over a couple of days. That way, the overstimulation settles a little, and you can get a proper sense of the place – and appreciate it more. 

If you’re shopping, it’s also nice to have a few days to wander, peruse different shops and compare prices. Otherwise, you’re likely to feel pressured into overpaying for things you don’t need. 

Flights into Marrakech tend to be cheaper than other Moroccan cities, so it’s a good place to start or end your trip. If you’ve got your eye on a Moroccan rug or other treasures, it’s wise to save the shopping for the last few days before you fly home. 

If you’re not a seasoned traveller and you find all the quirks of life in a lesser-developed foreign country a bit disorientating, you might prefer to skip Marrakech completely. Or go with a friend who has their bearings, or book some sort of tour or guide. 

What to Do in the Marrakech Medina

In my experience, there are three ways to pass your time in Marrakech: shop, eat and wander. Usually repeated in a rotating itinerary throughout the day. 

Shop

You can find anything and everything for sale in the Marrakech medina. There are different sections dedicated to different wares: 

• Souk Semmarine: The central hub that sells a bit of everything. 
• Souk Habbadine: Metalwork like lanterns, door knobs and mirrors. 
• Souk Zrabi: Rugs, poufs and textiles. 
• Souk El Atterine: Perfumes, spices and apothecary. 
• Souk Smata: Traditional leather slippers.
• Souk Chouari: Carpentry, such as carved boxes, chess sets, and ornaments. 
• Souk des Bijoutiers: Jewellery, silver and vintage pieces. 
• Souk Cherratine: Leather bags, belts and shoes. 
• Rahba Kedima: An open-air square with stalls selling herbs, spices and woven/rattan baskets. 

I don’t have too many specific shop recommendations, but I do love this jewellery shop. They use a lot of coloured glass in their pieces. It’s inexpensive but decent quality. 

If there’s something specific you have in mind, like a carpet or a leather bag, I recommend taking your time to visit a number of different shops before committing to a purchase. 

It’s good to get a reference for how much things are worth, and to show the vendor that you’re not desperate. Bartering is expected in the medina, and the shopkeepers will definitely try to overcharge you. As a rough guide, offer a third of the initial price they give you. Usually, they’ll settle for something around 10-30% higher than that. 

If you’re not happy with that price, you can go elsewhere. But remember to always be kind and respectful. They’re just trying to earn a living in a less privileged country. And the prices they suggest are probably far less than what you’d pay for the same item back home. 

For buying carpets, I much prefer the mellower atmosphere of Essaouira. See Guide to Buying Rugs in Essaouira. 

Eat

I’ll cover the best places to eat below. But I suggest considering your meal times as activities in themselves. Book accommodation that includes a good breakfast served on the rooftop or garden terrace. 

For lunch, find somewhere calm, comfy and shaded in amongst the hubbub of the medina. That way, you get a bit of a reprieve from the action, whilst still soaking it all in. Cafe des Épices isn’t my top rec for food, but they’ve got a real nice rooftop that overlooks Rahba Kedima (the spice square).

Then go all in on a proper Moroccan feast for dinner. Tagines, couscous, pastilla – all the things that you won’t eat again until the next time you’re in Morocco. After all, food has got to be one of the country’s most prized commodities. My absolute favourite dinner spot is Chez Brahim.

Wander

For those on a budget, I reckon an aimless wander through the medina is just as mesmerising as any paid attraction or tour you could find. Even if you’re not buying anything, it’s well worth taking a look at all the handcrafted goods. Watching a shoe made from scratch, or a whole chess set meticulously carved by hand – it’s mind-blowing. 

Be mindful, though, that these are real people just trying to make a living. Treat them as such, and don’t take photos of people without their permission. Often, shops will have signs prohibiting photography. I guess there’s cases of people using the photos to copy the designs and replicate them elsewhere. Or maybe it’s just annoying to be considered an exhibit rather than an actual shop. 

Best Marrakech Museums

There are a few great museums in the medina if you’ve got a few bucks to spare. I’ve heard great things about House of Photography. They showcase rotating exhibitions of vintage and contemporary Moroccan photography. It’s like an archive of Morocco. Tickets cost 80dh (€8) and children under 15 can visit for free. 

Le MAP (Monde des Arts de la Parure) is a beautiful little museum featuring traditional jewellery, adornments and ceremonial garments from over 50 countries. Tickets are 100dh (€10), 50dh (€5) for people under 25, and you can book online. 

Tourists line up for yonks to visit Dar El Bacha. Largely because they want to visit the highly Instagrammable Bacha Coffee, and you can’t do so without entering the museum. Very savvy business move there. But the museum itself is incredible. Set in an intricately carved palace, it houses a bunch of vintage Moroccan artefacts. Tickets are 70dh (€7) and 30dh (€3) for kids under 12. 

I visited Jardin Marjorelle and didn’t love it. It’s a beautiful property with an epic bright blue Cubist-style villa, and a garden designed by the French artist Jacques Marjorelle. In the 1980s, it was bought by Yves Saint Laurent, and opened to the public in unison with the nearby YSL museum. It was cool to see, in the same way that looking at dream homes on Pinterest is. But lining up for 20 minutes and wandering around the garden with a bunch of other sheeple didn’t feel worth the 170dh (€17). 

If you’re into lavish gardens, you might be better off checking out Le Jardin Secret. It’s located in the centre of the medina, offering a quiet little reprieve from the outside noise. There are heaps of spots to sit and relish in the quietude, and a boujee little cafe for a snack. Tickets are 100dh (€10), half price for under 25s, and free for kids 12 and under. 

Jemaa El Fnaa

This is the main square in the Marrakech medina and historically, the central marketplace. Nowadays, it’s a bit of a circus. In the centre, you’ll find rows of juice stalls and restaurants with vendors calling out whatever they can to get your attention. If you’re a woman, it’s a great spot for a bit of an ego boost. 

This is the part of the medina that feels the most tourist-trappy. And is probably the spot where you’re most likely to get scammed or pick-pocketed. There’s a lot of ethically questionable debauchery going on, like monkeys in clothes with chains around their ankles, and makeshift snake-charming performances. Don’t stop to take photos, because they’ll ask for money in return. And the less encouragement, the better. 

I’d recommend a lap of Jemaa El Fnaa in the evening to suss it all out. But I’d avoid eating there; you can find far better, cheaper Moroccan cuisine deeper in the medina.

Where to Eat in the Marrakech Medina

I’ve shared my in-depth recommendations on Where to Eat in the Marrakech Medina, but here’s a handful of my top picks:

• Best Coffee: Simple Specialty Coffee or Kesh Cup
• Best Breakfast: Café et Pâtisserie Nawal
• Best Lunch: Sabich or Foundouk Gargaa
• Best Dinner: Chez Brahim or Dar L’Hrissa

Where to Stay in the Marrakech Medina

Accommodation in Marrakech tends to be a fair bit more expensive, for lesser value, than other regions in Morocco. I’ve tried a few places at the bottom end of the budget spectrum that I wouldn’t recommend. 

Here are the best places that I’ve stayed, and the places I’d choose if I had a bit more cash:

• Best Hostels: Equity Point or Central House
• Best for Couples: Riad Dar Aida or Dar Sara
• Best Higher-End: Riad Anya, The Little Hara or Riad Melhoun 

Tours from Marrakech

Marrakech is a good central base for a number of nearby scenic destinations. It’s only an hour and a half drive to Imlil – the starting point for hiking Mount Toubkal. 

If summits aren’t your thing, there are loads of mellower hiking trails throughout the High Atlas Mountains. It’s recommended that you visit with a guide. I’ve had my eye on this 3-Day Berber Villages tour. 

I recently did a trip to Ouarzazate and Aït Benhaddou from Marrakech, and I highly recommend it. Whilst I feel most at home on Morocco’s coast, it was cool to see the ancient villages – more akin to the Morocco you conjure up in your mind’s eye as a child. 

Check out How to Get to Ouarzazate or Aït Benhaddou. Or check out the tours available through GetYourGuide. 

A few hours south of Ouarzazate is Merzouga – the gateway to the Sahara Desert. For the full Moroccan experience, I’d suggest a tour that incorporates the High Atlas Mountains, Aït Benhaddou and the desert all in one. This 3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga tour would be my top pick. 

Things to Note

• Accessibility
  The streets and alleyways in the medina are narrow, so you need to walk most places. It can get very crowded, so it may not be ideal for wheelchairs or those who have trouble walking. Similarly, parents with infants are probably best opting for carriers rather than prams. 
• Maps
  The density of the medina can throw off Google Maps. It’s very common to get lost in the alleyways, even if using your GPS. Maps.me can be a little more reliable. But I recommend leaving a good buffer whenever you need to be anywhere with a deadline (e.g. bus or plane). 
• Taxis
  I’ve found Marrakech to be one of the worst places for price hikes. Don’t be afraid to barter with taxi drivers. They’ll often suggest at least double what the fare should be. Or try the app InDrive. 
• Drinking Water
  Avoid drinking tap water in Morocco. I recommend bringing a portable water filter/bottle. Otherwise, you’ll need to buy bottled water. 
• Toilets
  The plumbing system in Marrakech is pretty worn out. Get into the habit of putting toilet paper in the bin rather than flushing it. I also recommend keeping a little pack of tissues or some such in your bag, as often toilets in cheaper local restaurants are ill-equipped. 
• Cash
  Most businesses in the medina only accept cash, so make sure you have plenty. There are a few ATMs around, but I recommend the two Al Barid Bank ones near Jemaa El Fnaa. They have decent exchange rates, lower fees, and are most reliable. 
• Tipping
  You’re not obliged to tip in Morocco, as in places like the US. But I recommend it – particularly when supporting small, locally owned businesses. A bit of good karma doesn’t go astray. 
• Travel Insurance
  Food poisoning (or just a kinda funky belly) is unfortunately common in Morocco. Make sure you’ve got travel insurance with solid health coverage. I recommend SafetyWing. 

For a mellower Moroccan experience, I suggest checking out the coastal villages:

• Essential Moroccan Travel Tips
• Tamraght Village Guide
• Taghazout Village Guide
• Aourir Village Guide 
• Mirleft Village Guide

For more Maroc info and a little less of my own opinions, I’ve created a travel wisdom-sharing hub over on Reddit. Join the group here.