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First trip to Morocco: why start in Marrakech
Marrakech is an ideal gateway: good flight connections, an unforgettable medina, and the Atlas and the desert a few hours away.
For many travellers Marrakech is their first taste of Morocco, and it makes sense: it is easy to reach by air from many European cities, and much of what makes the country special lies within a few kilometres.
A medina to get lost in (calmly)
Jemaa el-Fna square changes rhythm through the day: orange juice in the morning, musicians and storytellers at dusk and food stalls at night. Around it spread the souks, organised by trade: dyers, blacksmiths, leatherworkers.
The first hours can feel intense. Take the medina slowly, stay in a riad to rest from the bustle and, if it is your first time, explore it with a local guide.
What not to miss
The Ben Youssef madrasa and its carved plaster and cedar wood.
The Majorelle gardens and their famous blue.
The Bahia palace and its courtyards.
A sunset from a terrace above the square.
A good starting point
From Marrakech the Atlas is a few hours away, and the Sahara dunes are a two- or three-day road trip. That is why many itineraries start here and continue south, or north to Fez and Chefchaouen.
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