Marrakesh Things to Do Tips by tini58de

nearby Atlas mountains

If you have a little spare time, do try to go out of Marrakesh into the Atlas mountains. There are various options: Ourika valley is one, or - as we did - go to Ouarzazate, which leads you all the way across the Atlas mountains, passing the Tichka pass and down again to the street of Kasbahs.

On our way to Ouarzazate we visited Ait ben Haddou - a Kasbah that has been named Unesco World Heritage site - and that is for a good reason! I had been fascinated by this place some twenty years ago and this fascination has not changed after all this time!

Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/309de/2057be/

Medina Medina Review

The medina is the old part of Marrakesh with narrow streets and pittoresque squares and sites! Unfortunately we did not have so much time - I would love to return one day to get a better feel for this part of the town!

Only look - no buy..... Souks Review

The suuq of Marrakesh is awesome!

Actually it should be the suuqs, because there are so many different neighborhoods there: the suuq of tanners, the suuq of metalworkers, the suuq of leather workers etc. It is not like a marketplace, but rather like a little village in itself!

And boy, can you get lost there....

I have gotten advice to take a guide from some people, others said: no, no need - well, we went on a guided tour through Marrakesh (including the suuqs) with a group and later went by ourselves.......

Much history but few flowers Menara Gardens Review

The Menara gardens are very well known - they are WAY old - the water basin is from the 12th century!!!

When we visited in January, the gardens were not very exciting: a long alley with palm trees and olive trees and then the bassin and the setup for the "sound and light show"..... hmmmmmm, not too exciting!

Well, but it might be different at other times of the year, so this is just my very personal impression from a January visit!

El Bahia Palace El Bahia Palace Review

What a beautiful palace:

you will find everything you imagine about a palace from 1001 nights:

sunlit courtyards, beautiful gardens with wells and fountains, stucco, colorful windows, mosaics, beautifully painted woodworks and many hidden corners and rooms!

I loved every step of the visit there! Maybe the few photos I posted here will give you an idea!

Entrance fee: 20 DH = 2 € (2006)

Saadian Tombs Saadian Tombs Review

The Saadian Tombs have been missing for hundreds of years and only been rediscovered a few years ago! There had been a wall built around it - since a graveyard could not be distroyed for ethical reasons!

The story around this place was the most fascinating part for me - the gravesite itself was not as spectacular as I had hoped it to be!

You get to see a graveyard and a couple of rooms with tombs in them.

Entrance fee is 10 DH = 1 € (2006)

Directions: in the old Medina

Fantastic landmark - Koutoubia mosque Koutoubia Minaret & Koutoubia Gardens Review

Well, you cannot go inside the mosque (see my local customs tip), but just the minaret of the Koutoubia mosque is a wonderful sight to see!

I have taken dozens of pictures just of this place - and I really love every one of them!

From most places in Marrakesh you can see the minaret - helpful and fascinating!

Simply magical Djamaa El Fna - Square Review

Djemaa el Fna is a UNESCO World Heritage site - not because of its architectural beauty, but because of the communicative and social aspects of this meeting place of people from all different cultures and languages.

Here you can find story tellers, snake charmers, acrobats, dancers and sellers, you can drink some freshly made orange juice, have your hands decorated with henna ornaments, enjoy some delicious food and drinks at one of the many food stalls or just linger around and observe all this!

It sure is breathtaking!