10 Great Things in Marrakech

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Marrakech seems to be the dream for so many people. It has the North African feel that people are looking for but still close enough to Europe for people to feel secure enough. But there is so much more to Marrakech than Instagram photos. It is a city with a rich history and a rich culture and is absolutely worth the visit. While you can spend days just wandering around and observing the city, here are a few things you can see in a weekend trip to Marrakech.

10. Jadin Majorelle: when you see Instagram pictures of Marrakech, this is what you're seeing. With brilliant blue walls, plenty of cacti, and just a quiet calm outside the city center, this garden is stunning. The downfall is that it is quite pricey for Marrakech and isn't right in the city center, but it is worth the trip. So head here for stunning sights, beautiful photos, and maybe a new profile picture.

9. Bahia Palace: built in the 1800s, this palace makes for a great visit. With every room beautifully decorated and that picturesque tiling and architecture that we all love about Morocco, this palace is recommended by tourists and locals. 

8. Koutoubia Mosque: Marrakech is known for its mosques, named after the seven saints of the city. Each mosque is meant to represent each one of those saints. The Koutoubia Mosque is the largest of them all. While non-Muslims are not allowed inside the mosques, it is still great to go and visit the area around it and admire the beauty of the mosque. 

7. Hammam: this spa experience is very traditional in North Africa. The great thing about going to a a Hammam in Marrakech is that every building is absolutely beautiful. Even those little huts on top of the riads have their own charm. What is nice about Hammams in Marrakech is that you can choose your own adventure. You can have small private Hammams in the riad you are staying in, you can go to a spa and have a luxurious experience, or you can go the traditional route and go where the locals go. This scrub down might be intimidating at first, but it leaves your skin feeling refreshed and your body feeling relaxed.

6. Souks: although these can be quite intimidating, there is something wonderful about wandering around and admiring the craftsmanship of the locals. They sell everything, from home decor, to leatherwork, to jewelry. Although many will try to convince you to come to their shop and buy something, it is still worth wandering around. There is some real beauty in the souks of Marrakech. 

5. Le Jardin Secret: this garden in the center of Medina (the city center) is a great pause from the busy city center. These gardens are a great place to sit down and relax while enjoying the beauty of the city. They cost a bit to get into, but the mixture of the nice plants and the beautiful architecture is worth the price tag.

4. El Badi Palace: this ancient palace is a great escape from the bustling city. Right near all the main attractions of the tourists, this palace shows you what life used to be like. There is plenty to be discovered, but climbing to the top of the place gives a great view of the city. 

3. Saadian Tombs: These tombs are relatively new in the sense that they were discovered in the 20th Century. The locals did not know about them until a plane flew over one day and saw something interesting. So to this day, they are continuously adapting it for tourism and excavating new locations. But these tombs are a must visit for the architecture. Everything is perfectly tiled and absolutely stunning!

2. Jemaa el-Fnaa: this huge square is popular with tourists and locals alike. During the day there are plenty of people trying to sell juice, smoothies, and souvenirs. There are also entertainers trying to catch tourists' attention with snake charmers or dancing monkeys. While this can feel a bit sketchy because they demand money if you stop and watch and it is not the most ethical form of entertainment as it exploits animals, you can't help but stop and watch ... at a distance. But what makes this place so interesting is that at night it becomes a market. There are always plenty of pop up stops that sell Moroccan delicacies at night, giving you a unique taste of the country. It is a great place for dinner.

1. Ben Youssef Madersa: this once used to be a university and is absolutely stunning. I don't know how the men got any studying done in this beautiful building because it seems like there is always something to be admired. With the beautiful architecture and the lovely tiling, this university is a must visit.