“To visit Morocco is still like turning the pages of some illuminated Persian manuscript all embroidered with bright shapes and subtle lines.” – Edith Wharton
Koutoubia Mosque
As most of you know if you follow me on social media, my last escape was to beautiful Morocco. Hands down, I can say that this was probably the coolest place I have visited so far since being abroad.
Since living abroad I have traveled to some very exciting places, but I had yet to find somewhere that was literally “jaw-dropping.” From the moment I stepped out of the airport in Marrakech, I knew that Morocco was going to be different; and I loved everything about that concept.
Immediately stepping out of the airport, one will see many taxi drivers running towards you to make an offer on how much they will drive you into the city for. You will also see many people wearing the “djellaba,” a long sleeved robe made of wool that is a common article of clothing throughout the Berber world.
Five minutes into being outside of the airport and already drowning in culture shock, we (my friends & I) basically agreed to the price of the first taxi driver that approached us (which ended up being 200DH ~20€, a very fair price when compared to Europe).
Driving into the city, our taxi driver made us feel welcome by playing some traditional Arabic music and explained that seat belts aren’t necessary (rookie mistake on my part) and the normal rules of traffic are also not necessary as we created our own third lane in the middle of the highway while passing tuk tuks and motorbikes carrying three people.
At this point after an early flight from Madrid to Marrakech, I was already tired which made the new sensations that Morocco was throwing at me a little overwhelming, but definitely not in a bad way. Stepping out of the taxi we had arrived at the Medina; the Medina is the walled, old city in Marrakech filled with markets (souks), narrow, maze-like streets, small alleyways, and riads.
Probably the most overwhelming part upon arriving in Morocco was the attention that we got as tourists from the locals. Immediately stepping out of the taxi, we were surrounded by locals offering to carry our bags, show us to our riad, sell us something, etc.
Once again, completely lost and without phone data, we succumbed and let a young boy to help us to find our riad. We followed him as he led us through a maze of short streets as motorbikes and donkeys pull old wooden carts rushed passed us. As we finally reached our riad, we gave him a tip and got checked into our home for the next 5 days.
Typically when visiting Morocco it is customary to be greeted with Moroccan mint tea and pastries. 
Moroccan people are very hospitable. Every morning in our riad we were given fresh bread with jam, tea, and coffee and also offered mint tea at various times throughout the day up until night time.
As for what to do in Morocco, the list goes on and on.
Morocco offers a very different and specific kind of vacation. Don’t go here if you’re expecting the fanciness and comfort of Europe (unless of course, you pay to stay in a very nice hotel). If you’re wanting to experience the true Morocco, stay in a Riad, experience local cuisine, get lost in the Medina, and better yet, escape the craziness of the touristy spots of Marrakech by taking day trips to surrounding areas.
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE EXPERIENCES
Explore the Souks
The most appealing part of Morocco and what draws most people there are the souks (street-markets). The souks are nothing less than sensory overload. So many sights and smells. A walk through the souks wasn’t complete without a fresh fruit juice and a Moroccan Msemen (similar to a pancake for only 0.50€)…so yummy!
Take a Night Walk through Jemaa el-Fnaa
Jemaa el-Fnaa is the the main square in Marrakech and it was very impressive, especially at night. At night, it completely transforms into something out of an Arabian story. There are older men telling Arabic stories, snake-charmers, and traditional music & dancing. It is truly like taking a trip back in time.
Enjoy dinner at an outdoor food stand
If I haven’t sold you on Morocco yet, then know that’s worth going just for the food. The traditional Moroccan cuisine was absolutely amazing. So many spices and strong flavors, which is something that is generally lacking in Spanish food. When you go to the food stands, you will see what each one has to offer as it is all laid out right in front of your eyes, which also makes many question the safety of eating it. But I promise, it’s worth it.
I made sure to indulge in as much couscous, tajine, and fresh olives as possible. I definitely ate about six meals a day on this trip between traditional dinners, fruit juices, and msemen.
There are a large number of day trips and excursions to take from Marrakech. Unfortunately, we only had five days. If I could go back to Morocco, I would go for 2-3 weeks because there is so much to see! The two day trips that we opted for were Essaouira, and Setti Fatma (blog post coming soon on Setti Fatma & Ourika Valley).
Essaouira is a coastal village about 2 hours or so away from Marrakech. It was a fishing village that was full of colors, but very touristy. I think it would be more exciting in the summer as there wasn’t much to see in February. Read more about Essaouira here.
Not wanting to give away too much because I want to write another post on it; Setti Fatma was a great day escape to the Atlas Mountains and it was one of my favorite days of the trip.
However, if none of these appeal to you, there were so many more including: trips to the Sahara on camel rides, Ouarzazate + more! Ask your host and they will find an adventure that suits you.
Where to Stay:
We stayed in a riad that was booked through Airbnb, but there are many choose from and they have websites like hotels, so google and do your research to find one that suits you best. Like I said, there are hotels, but stay in a riad if you want the full experience. Riads are beautiful homes that are built around courtyards. Many have fountains, and even pools.
Cultural Differences:
Morocco is an Islamic country so naturally there will be some cultural differences that you will immediately notice. The people are very friendly and welcoming but be aware that they appreciate their privacy. If you take photos in the souks (or anywhere), ask before taking. Many locals don’t like being in strangers photos and understandably so. Be respectful of locals and understand that you aren’t in a super developed country.
My Tips for Morocco
-Take comfortable shoes
-The day/night temperatures are pretty drastic so a sweater/light jacket is recommended!
-Learn a little bit of French or Arabic before arriving. English is spoken, but not as commonly.
-Currency is Moroccan Dirhams
-Go with an open mind 🙂
I hope you enjoyed this post! ♥ Molly
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Stay posted for more on Morocco soon!
