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Discover Marrakesh through these top 10 amazing activities

Marrakesh is so unique and it has its own rhythm moving at a frenetic beat. The way I describe Marrakesh is a vibrant place that overwhelms your senses because of the mix of smells, sounds, and colors. It is a city where donkey carts, spice sellers, and storytellers intermingle with luxury spas, coffee shops, and tour buses.

The city contains a number of culturally and architecturally important sites. Marrakesh’s medina is labyrinthine, where you will get lost and find yourself again and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

The real experience starts when you try to cross the busy streets where the traffic never stops for pedestrians. You'll find yourself adventuring among the cars, the zip-zappy motorcycles and following the locals. They've mastered the skills to get from one side to the other without losing a body part.

Ideally, I would try to plan for at least 2- 3 days in Marrakesh to really explore the city and see all the main highlights.

In the first moment, I got confused and overwhelmed by the complexity of Marrakesh, but after a while, I knew that it was a city I would love to spend time and just wander around. Marrakesh is not for everyone, but it doesn't matter if you like or dislike this place, anybody who visits Marrakesh won't leave this city without an experience that will last a lifetime.

I have listed my top 10 best activities to do in Marrakesh and I hope you enjoy this city as much as I did.

1- Experience Jemaa el-Fnaa

Jemaa el-Fnaa is the main square/marketplace where stalls are set up selling a wide variety of crafts, food and daily necessities. During the day you will see cars, motorbikes, donkeys, and people crisscrossing the square in a well-choreographed dance.

People from different cities come to perform at night and show their skills such as playing instruments, dancing, and storytelling. I was a little overwhelmed when I first stepped into this place as the mix of colors, smells and different sounds all blend together making you wonder " where should I start?". After a while, you get used to and when you feel situated you just want to immerse yourself and start to explore the surroundings.

The history of this square goes back almost 1,000 years, and today you’ll find a mix of ancient customs and modern tourist experiences. It is also known for being the busiest square in all of Africa! Around the perimeter of the square, you’ll find a large number of shops, cafes, the post office, and an entrance to the souks, alleyways lined with shops and stalls.

Day & Night - The square changes from morning to evening so I definitely recommend walking through at different times of the day. The day is a bit less busy and the square is filled with orange juice stalls, local vendors and henna artists. In the evening, you see more musicians and dancers, storytellers, acrobats, magicians, and boxers. The food stalls also come to life as the evening approaches serving all kinds of hot food. It is a truly wondrous experience.

Pro Tip: Be aware that the vendors range from being polite to downright aggressive, so just be prepared for this before going into the square or walking through the souks. If for example a henna artist grabs your hand be prepared to firmly say “no” and walk away if you are not interested in buying anything. But on the other hand, if you are interested in buying something, make sure to negotiate the price upfront and you should pay about 50% of the original asking price.

2- Shop in the Souks

The souks are the traditional markets of central Marrakesh where a dizzying number of shops and stalls sell everything from rugs to lanterns and spices to shoes. You can enter the souks right off Jemaa el-Fnaa Square and they are a definite must-visit if you are in Marrakesh. They are amazing places to walk around and just get lost.

The souks can be a confusing labyrinth and a bit intimidating for first-time visitors. Just go in knowing you will inevitably be lost and rest assured you will make your way out eventually, but wandering around aimlessly is part of the experience.

Souks

3- Experience the amazing food

The food in Marrakesh is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! It is a perfect combination of fresh ingredients and an explosion of tastes from exotics local spices.

The number one dish in Marrakesh is Tangia. I recommend looking for a less touristy place, as you will have an amazing experience, as I did and I had one of the best meals of my life.

When you walk around you can smell aromas of piping hot couscous, grilled meats and simmering vegetables from the food stalls. Be prepared to try different flavors and fall in love with the local cuisine. www.moroccotripsahara.com