50 things you need to know about Marrakech
The city of Marrakech in Morocco is truly among the most bewitching Middle Eastern metropolitan areas that I have visited so far. Once you arrive in this beautiful exotic Moroccan city , you will soon find plenty of reasons to stay for several days or weeks . From its friendly locals, mouth - watering local cuisines, breathtaking palaces , mosques and madrasas to the wide selection of products and goodies offered in the famous souks of the city, Marrakech is indeed a major destination for travelers who want to experience a unique and fun getaway trip.
Now, if you 're staying in this exciting Moroccan city , but have little information about the city , I have listed below 50 things you need to know about Marrakech that can help you in your preparations and plans travel .
history
1 . The city of Marrakech in Morocco is also widely regarded as the "Red City " or " Al Hamra ".
2 . It is located in the southwest region of Morocco , just below the Atlas .
3 . The name of the city is said to have originated the Berber word "Wall " and " akuch " , which means " Land of God " .
4 . Like other cities in the Middle East , Marrakech also has two major divisions: the old town , also known as the old and the modern city, which has two main districts namely Gueliz (modern European district of the city ) and Hivernage .
5. The medina of the city has 27 neighborhood while the modern city 11.
6 . Marrakech, founded around 1060 by the Berber Almoravids , is one of the four imperial cities. It became the capital of an Islamic empire that existed in the center of Spain to West Africa .
7 . During the reign of Moulay Ismail , the city was the capital of Morocco . However, the capital was reduced to Marrakech Meknes by the grand-son of Ismail .
8 . Although Marrakech is known to be an Islamic city, in a male-dominated society, it is still one of the most liberal in the Middle East Muslim cities .
9 . The early French influences of the city are visible in the Art Deco shopping center which is located in the modern part of Marrakech. The most important French heritage is the use of educated Moroccan inhabitants of the French language .
10 . More than two million people in the city of Marrakech is mainly original Beber .
Getting there
11 . Note that the Marrakech-Menara International Airport is about four miles southwest of the city. Casablanca , another Moroccan city also has a number of direct international flights to Marrakech.
12 . In the airport, various facilities , including ATMs , snack bars , restaurants , general stores, duty free shops, and tourist information offices are available to meet the needs of travelers.
13. City transport is also available. Remember that bus 11 will go directly to the city of Medina . The program of the bus , however, is quite unpredictable . You can try using phones taxi found in the departure and arrival lounges, or you can take taxis near the area of the bus stop.
14. Before each trip , it is best to go on an agreed price with the driver because there are many con taxi drivers who benefit foreigners.
15 . Do not expect to turn a happy , hassle in the city of Marrakech roads are characterized by heavy traffic and label the bad road most taxi riders .
16. The city also has no self general troubleshooting .
17. Most rental cars , however, details of emergency on board troubleshooting .
18 . One of the best options for you to travel through most beautiful cities in Morocco riding the railway ONCF State. Despite limited railway services , it is strongly recommended to travelers for its safety, convenience and affordable rates .
19. You can also visit the city of Grand taxis are old Mercedes cars that can accommodate up to six passengers . They are faster transport modes in relation to city bus . Specific routes to the bus station from the Jemaa el- Fna Square and the train station to the city of La Poste Gueliz . Another alternative to the bus is the moped or bicycle. While cycling in the city can be fun, it can also be dangerous because of the horrible traffic and road etiquette drive some taxi drivers .
20 . Also note that most of the city roads are too narrow for cars. If you intend to rent a car , it is advisable to park the car in a safe place inside the city.
accommodation
21. District of the medina of Marrakech offers great variations fine hotels , motels discount, riads and small inns .
22. Most expensive hotels found in the medina offer excellent facilities, first-class restaurants , and other hosting services installation .
23. In the modern city, however, the environment is quiet and most hotels offer services such as mid-range packages breakfast , showers, etc.
24 . If you are an adventurous hiker with a limited travel budget , the newly opened Backpackers Hostel, which is only a few minutes walk from the town square , is the best accommodation option for you to consider . The place offers a fantastic roof terrace, hot showers, and guest kitchens.
25 . Travelers on a budget can also find excellent choice of accommodation in the alleys and streets of the Jemaa El Fna , for they are packed with comfortable and clean hotels that offer reasonable room rate .
26. Top cheap hotels in the city are Smara Hotel, Essaouira Hotel Imouzzer .
27. Apart from hotels and youth hostels beautiful city , Marrakech is also home to many housing Riad .
28. Riads are large old houses in the city converted into hotels , inns and restaurants.
29. While rates are more expensive riads are wonderful places to stay to get a better idea of life in Marrakech.
30 . Remember that it is always better to be early accommodation reservations. Great hotels in Marrakech are usually full , especially during the high season.
Attractions and Food
31. Marrakech offers medrassas beautiful , mosques, zaouïas , synagogues, museums, city walls , the souk districts , gardens , parks , palaces and squares.
32. The famous Jemaa El Fna is usually the main highlight of the city. At night , the place is packed with dancers, musicians and storytellers who never fail to entertain travelers and locals alike.
33. Souk district of the city, which is near the place is a paradise for bargain shoppers . In this market, you can find and buy almost anything from tea pots , jalabas , shoes, bags , clothes, fabrics caftans .
34. Once on the market , make sure to negotiate for some goodies that you plan to buy , trading is expected to souks. Also remember that prices vary on an hourly or daily basis , depending on the number of products sold in the day or in the period of hours .
35. Must-see attractions in the city include the Majorelle Gardens, Museum Dar Si Said Youssef Madrasa , the Palais El Bahia and El Badi Palace , and of course, the Koutoubia Mosque.
36. Besides the activities of yoga, you can also try Steam . In Marrakech, there are two types of Steam : Steam is one of tourism, where you can enjoy being cleaned and pampered by a Hammam experienced staff , and the other is the popular hammam, where the inhabitants of Marrakech budget travelers usually go.
37. As for food , Town Square offers lines of food stalls offering delicious local dishes and attractive . It is a common misconception , however, that stands on the site are there to serve tourists. The food stalls in Marrakech were established long before the city was transformed into a popular destination.
38. While local dishes in the food stalls are usually edible and delicious, some specialties , including local snails and goat heads , perhaps too extreme for Western tastes . You should also watch out for salad dishes , for they can still cause diarrhea for those with weak stomachs .
39 . Food prices offered in the pits also vary. You can spend 10 dirhams for small portions still delicious and about 100 dirhams for three courses .
40 . Never miss the tea offered food stalls and restaurants in Marrakech. Ginseng , ginger , cinnamon and tea are the most welcoming and delicious, among other variants of tea.
Travel Tips
41. The best time to go to Marrakech in spring and late autumn . You must understand that the weather in Morocco is quite extreme, especially the summer season from July to August
42. The duration of your stay in Marrakech depends on things you want to do when you get to the city. Three to four days is sufficient if you do want to visit the city, but one or two weeks is recommended if you plan explorations and excursions.
43 . If your trip is during the summer , do not forget to bring a hat or umbrella when you go around the city. Also do not forget to book a room that has air conditioning.
44 . Once you are in Marrakech , you will see how friendly with tourists most Moroccans , especially store owners .
45 . However, there are still locals who like to take advantage of travelers visiting the city.
46. In the souk districts of the city, note that some sellers may be too aggressive on their pricing.
47. Do not buy a product or property without negotiating a lower price.
48 . Note that the majority of sellers souk able to speak several languages , so do not be surprised if you hear locals converse in French , Spanish, Arabic and English.
49. Never trust hobos offering city guides . Most of these city guides are unnecessary and will simply annoying require a lot of money on your part.
50 . If you're on your first trip to Marrakech, go directly to the medina and start exploring the city. Just like any other tourist first-timer , you will surely get lost . If you do however get lost , do not panic. Take your time familiarizing inside the city and just politely ask for directions. It's just how it goes for first time travelers to explore the city.
The city of Marrakech in Morocco is truly among the most bewitching Middle Eastern metropolitan areas that I have visited so far. Once you arrive in this beautiful exotic Moroccan city , you will soon find plenty of reasons to stay for several days or weeks . From its friendly locals, mouth - watering local cuisines, breathtaking palaces , mosques and madrasas to the wide selection of products and goodies offered in the famous souks of the city, Marrakech is indeed a major destination for travelers who want to experience a unique and fun getaway trip.
Now, if you 're staying in this exciting Moroccan city , but have little information about the city , I have listed below 50 things you need to know about Marrakech that can help you in your preparations and plans travel .
history
1 . The city of Marrakech in Morocco is also widely regarded as the "Red City " or " Al Hamra ".
2 . It is located in the southwest region of Morocco , just below the Atlas .
3 . The name of the city is said to have originated the Berber word "Wall " and " akuch " , which means " Land of God " .
4 . Like other cities in the Middle East , Marrakech also has two major divisions: the old town , also known as the old and the modern city, which has two main districts namely Gueliz (modern European district of the city ) and Hivernage .
5. The medina of the city has 27 neighborhood while the modern city 11.
6 . Marrakech, founded around 1060 by the Berber Almoravids , is one of the four imperial cities. It became the capital of an Islamic empire that existed in the center of Spain to West Africa .
7 . During the reign of Moulay Ismail , the city was the capital of Morocco . However, the capital was reduced to Marrakech Meknes by the grand-son of Ismail .
8 . Although Marrakech is known to be an Islamic city, in a male-dominated society, it is still one of the most liberal in the Middle East Muslim cities .
9 . The early French influences of the city are visible in the Art Deco shopping center which is located in the modern part of Marrakech. The most important French heritage is the use of educated Moroccan inhabitants of the French language .
10 . More than two million people in the city of Marrakech is mainly original Beber .
Getting there
11 . Note that the Marrakech-Menara International Airport is about four miles southwest of the city. Casablanca , another Moroccan city also has a number of direct international flights to Marrakech.
12 . In the airport, various facilities , including ATMs , snack bars , restaurants , general stores, duty free shops, and tourist information offices are available to meet the needs of travelers.
13. City transport is also available. Remember that bus 11 will go directly to the city of Medina . The program of the bus , however, is quite unpredictable . You can try using phones taxi found in the departure and arrival lounges, or you can take taxis near the area of the bus stop.
14. Before each trip , it is best to go on an agreed price with the driver because there are many con taxi drivers who benefit foreigners.
15 . Do not expect to turn a happy , hassle in the city of Marrakech roads are characterized by heavy traffic and label the bad road most taxi riders .
16. The city also has no self general troubleshooting .
17. Most rental cars , however, details of emergency on board troubleshooting .
18 . One of the best options for you to travel through most beautiful cities in Morocco riding the railway ONCF State. Despite limited railway services , it is strongly recommended to travelers for its safety, convenience and affordable rates .
19. You can also visit the city of Grand taxis are old Mercedes cars that can accommodate up to six passengers . They are faster transport modes in relation to city bus . Specific routes to the bus station from the Jemaa el- Fna Square and the train station to the city of La Poste Gueliz . Another alternative to the bus is the moped or bicycle. While cycling in the city can be fun, it can also be dangerous because of the horrible traffic and road etiquette drive some taxi drivers .
20 . Also note that most of the city roads are too narrow for cars. If you intend to rent a car , it is advisable to park the car in a safe place inside the city.
accommodation
21. District of the medina of Marrakech offers great variations fine hotels , motels discount, riads and small inns .
22. Most expensive hotels found in the medina offer excellent facilities, first-class restaurants , and other hosting services installation .
23. In the modern city, however, the environment is quiet and most hotels offer services such as mid-range packages breakfast , showers, etc.
24 . If you are an adventurous hiker with a limited travel budget , the newly opened Backpackers Hostel, which is only a few minutes walk from the town square , is the best accommodation option for you to consider . The place offers a fantastic roof terrace, hot showers, and guest kitchens.
25 . Travelers on a budget can also find excellent choice of accommodation in the alleys and streets of the Jemaa El Fna , for they are packed with comfortable and clean hotels that offer reasonable room rate .
26. Top cheap hotels in the city are Smara Hotel, Essaouira Hotel Imouzzer .
27. Apart from hotels and youth hostels beautiful city , Marrakech is also home to many housing Riad .
28. Riads are large old houses in the city converted into hotels , inns and restaurants.
29. While rates are more expensive riads are wonderful places to stay to get a better idea of life in Marrakech.
30 . Remember that it is always better to be early accommodation reservations. Great hotels in Marrakech are usually full , especially during the high season.
Attractions and Food
31. Marrakech offers medrassas beautiful , mosques, zaouïas , synagogues, museums, city walls , the souk districts , gardens , parks , palaces and squares.
32. The famous Jemaa El Fna is usually the main highlight of the city. At night , the place is packed with dancers, musicians and storytellers who never fail to entertain travelers and locals alike.
33. Souk district of the city, which is near the place is a paradise for bargain shoppers . In this market, you can find and buy almost anything from tea pots , jalabas , shoes, bags , clothes, fabrics caftans .
34. Once on the market , make sure to negotiate for some goodies that you plan to buy , trading is expected to souks. Also remember that prices vary on an hourly or daily basis , depending on the number of products sold in the day or in the period of hours .
35. Must-see attractions in the city include the Majorelle Gardens, Museum Dar Si Said Youssef Madrasa , the Palais El Bahia and El Badi Palace , and of course, the Koutoubia Mosque.
36. Besides the activities of yoga, you can also try Steam . In Marrakech, there are two types of Steam : Steam is one of tourism, where you can enjoy being cleaned and pampered by a Hammam experienced staff , and the other is the popular hammam, where the inhabitants of Marrakech budget travelers usually go.
37. As for food , Town Square offers lines of food stalls offering delicious local dishes and attractive . It is a common misconception , however, that stands on the site are there to serve tourists. The food stalls in Marrakech were established long before the city was transformed into a popular destination.
38. While local dishes in the food stalls are usually edible and delicious, some specialties , including local snails and goat heads , perhaps too extreme for Western tastes . You should also watch out for salad dishes , for they can still cause diarrhea for those with weak stomachs .
39 . Food prices offered in the pits also vary. You can spend 10 dirhams for small portions still delicious and about 100 dirhams for three courses .
40 . Never miss the tea offered food stalls and restaurants in Marrakech. Ginseng , ginger , cinnamon and tea are the most welcoming and delicious, among other variants of tea.
Travel Tips
41. The best time to go to Marrakech in spring and late autumn . You must understand that the weather in Morocco is quite extreme, especially the summer season from July to August
42. The duration of your stay in Marrakech depends on things you want to do when you get to the city. Three to four days is sufficient if you do want to visit the city, but one or two weeks is recommended if you plan explorations and excursions.
43 . If your trip is during the summer , do not forget to bring a hat or umbrella when you go around the city. Also do not forget to book a room that has air conditioning.
44 . Once you are in Marrakech , you will see how friendly with tourists most Moroccans , especially store owners .
45 . However, there are still locals who like to take advantage of travelers visiting the city.
46. In the souk districts of the city, note that some sellers may be too aggressive on their pricing.
47. Do not buy a product or property without negotiating a lower price.
48 . Note that the majority of sellers souk able to speak several languages , so do not be surprised if you hear locals converse in French , Spanish, Arabic and English.
49. Never trust hobos offering city guides . Most of these city guides are unnecessary and will simply annoying require a lot of money on your part.
50 . If you're on your first trip to Marrakech, go directly to the medina and start exploring the city. Just like any other tourist first-timer , you will surely get lost . If you do however get lost , do not panic. Take your time familiarizing inside the city and just politely ask for directions. It's just how it goes for first time travelers to explore the city.
