Stay in a Riad:
First of all, what is a riad? A riad (which means garden in Arabic) is a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an internal courtyard or garden. Typically found in Moroccan medinas, they are now mainly reserved for tourists and visitors, often owned by foreigners (especially the French). However, staying in a riad is a wonderful experience and likely constitutes half of the entire trip to Marrakech—hence its top position on our list. Moreover, rooms in riads are available across a wide price range, so with some planning, you can find something that suits all your criteria. You can also take the tour di 3 giorni da Marrakech al deserto di Merzouga.
We booked our riad—Dar Nael—on Airbnb, and we were immediately thrilled with the choice we made in advance. Bright yet not overwhelming in terms of decor, with a beautiful rooftop terrace—it was everything we could have hoped for. Additionally, it is very close to the Maison de la Photographie and the Medersa Ben Youssef (see below).
Souk:
What is a souk? A souk is a traditional market or bazaar found in Middle Eastern and North African cities, where vendors sell goods like spices, textiles, and handicrafts.
Frankly, I smile when I see souks listed among the things to do in Marrakech because you don’t really have a choice—the Medina di Marrakech, the old town, is essentially a massive souk. Aesthetic, beautiful, and incredibly photogenic—but at the same time stressful, as vendors aren’t always pleased about being photographed all day. But can you blame them? (More details in our first article on Marrakech).
Shopping in the souk is also a must, which is why I left Morocco with a beautiful banana-shaped leather bag (negotiation included!).
Maison de la Photographie:
As photographers, we couldn’t miss the Maison de la Photographie (House of Photography), but you don’t need to be a photography enthusiast to appreciate this beautiful place. Beyond the incredible photographic heritage (with some incredibly old 19th-century photos!), it’s also a perfect place to learn about and admire Morocco’s anthropological diversity.
Additionally, the riad housing the museum is a stunning location, complete with a rooftop terrace. Among all the points of interest we visited, this one tops the list.
Saadian Tombs:
The Saadian Tombs were the first tourist attraction we visited in Marrakech on our first day. A delightful and relaxing break for our minds, exhausted after a whirlwind introduction to the frenetic pace of Marrakech. Guides describe this place as an oasis of peace, and that’s exactly how it felt, especially since we arrived shortly before closing time. The Saadian Tombs are the mausoleum of Saadian Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour ed-Dahbi and nearly two hundred of his close associates. The site is magnificent, and its calming nature cannot be overstated.
After visiting the Saadian Tombs, the only thing we could do was collapse onto the cushioned bench at the nearby Café Zeitoun and rehydrate with two enormous smoothies. Our heads were buzzing, and our energy was drained—not a bad outcome for the first day in Marrakech. This city is intense, even by Moroccan standards.
Moroccan Food:
One of the things we were most looking forward to during our getaway to Marrakech was the food. Naturally.
As devoted foodies, we spent weeks dreaming about the delights we would discover in Morocco.
Unfortunately, We Were Somewhat Disappointed.
Okay, I’m willing to believe that we didn’t find the right places or that we fell into tourist traps, but here’s the thing: we worked hard to find delicious restaurants or cafés, and there are only two I can wholeheartedly recommend: Terrasse Bakchich and Café Snack Ben Mansour.
We expected an explosion of flavors, spices, and textures, but strangely, despite the mountains of spices everywhere in the souks, almost everything we ate was quite plain. Since meat is a rare occurrence in our diet, our first disappointment was the vegetable tagine and couscous—plain, unsalted boiled vegetables. Some meat tagines we tried were much better, but again, it’s not something we’re happy to consume daily. As I mentioned, I feel we’re partly to blame for our poor restaurant choices, but honestly, bad food selection isn’t typically an issue for us.
