Morocco was never high on my list of places I needed to see in my lifetime. I ended up visiting the city of Marrakech because a friend wanted to go, and she promised it would be sunny and warm in the middle of January. That's appealing enough in itself.
That said, I think it's good to visit places for which you have little to no expectations. In my experience, these destinations tend to be the most rewarding. I left feeling utterly enamored with the city.
I'll be making a return trip for sure. Here are five reasons you, too, should consider making a plan to visit Marrakech.
Table of Contents
Why Visit Marrakech
Learn To Haggle in the Souq
I learned to haggle while living in Doha and was excited about the opportunity to strengthen this particular skill in Marrakech. In the souqs, you can get just about anything—food, artwork, jewelry, clothing, and traditional Moroccan lamps.
As a rule of thumb, I tend to take the seller's price and counter with a third of that particular number. That way, you're far more likely to strike a deal with the figure you initially wished to pay. With practice, haggling becomes a fun game you'll never tire of, as long as you have plenty of time!
Chill Out in the Jardin Majorelle
The Majorelle Gardens are a peaceful oasis in the middle of a hectic city. They're named after the French artist Jacques Majorelle, who was captivated by the city of Marrakech and moved there for good around 1919.
He purchased the plot of land, and the gardens became his artist's studio and sanctuary. In 1961, the artist was forced to sell a portion of the garden and studio due to a severe car accident and subsequent medical bills. He died the following year in Paris.
The garden fell further into disarray until it was purchased by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1966. The two painstakingly restored it, keeping it as close as possible to Majorelle's initial vision.
Upon Saint Laurent's death in 2008, the site was opened to the public and remains a popular destination for visitors to Marrakech today. The entrance to the garden is 70 Moroccan Dirhams, with an additional 30 if you wish to enter the on-site museum.
Eat Your Body Weight in Tajine and Other Delicious Foods
Food always plays a big part in my travels, and Moroccan cuisine did not disappoint. I enjoyed everything that passed over my lips, from traditional tajines and couscous to more daring concoctions such as pigeon pie.
I challenge you to journey to Marrakech and not become addicted to Moroccan mint tea. Avert your eyes if you ever witness someone brewing the tea—that is, if you want to remain blissfully ignorant of how much sugar is packed into this beverage.
See also: Planning Your First Backpacking Trip
Explore the Atlas Mountains
The nearby Atlas Mountains are accessible from Marrakech and are easily covered on a day trip. We organized ours through our Riad housemistress, who hired a private driver to take us there and back in a few hours.
From there, you can visit a Berber village to see how the Indigenous people of North Africa live. We were also given a tour of a factory that produced Afghan Oil and climbed a mountain to see a waterfall for the hell of it.
There's no denying that the Atlas Mountains are beautiful, and it's interesting to get even a faint glimpse of how Indigenous communities live.
It's the Gateway To the Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert is the sole reason I plan on venturing back to Marrakech in the future. I was gutted that we were unable to fit it into our itinerary. Unfortunately, it was a tour that included an overnight stay, and we just didn't have enough time to do it justice.
Everyone I know who has seen the Sahara raves endlessly about it. It's bucket list material, for sure. If you're planning a trip, consider the Morocco Sahara tour for an unforgettable overnight desert experience.
I recommend visiting Morocco's fourth-largest city in the winter. January was a particularly good month for me.
This is a fool-proof plan if you live in a country prone to bleak weather at this time of year. For the handful of days we were there, we enjoyed sunny days and mid-seventies (the twenties in Celsius) weather.
A small taste of Morocco, but I'm hooked. I can't wait to have a second helping.
