7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Marrakech
It’s March 25, 2026, and I’m on a direct United flight from Marrakech to Newark. I'm starting this blog on my phone because I have a lot to capture while it’s fresh in my mind.
After six days in the Medina, the living, breathing, 1,000-year-old city center surrounded by 19 km of walls, I’m ready to return to the comforts of New Jersey. I know… it sounds uncultured, but it’s true.
I chose Marrakech for a two-girl trip because it checked all my boxes: warm winter destination (or so I thought), roughly equidistant for my best friend flying from Germany, and rich in culture. We both have African roots, a shared love for the continent, and wanted a new destination, which for two people who have collectively covered over 90 countries is not easy.
Marrakech, with its architecture, culture, and history, seemed perfect, but there were a few things I didn’t anticipate. If you’re planning a trip to Marrakech here are 7 things I wish I knew before we visited, and if you’re curious about where we stayed, what we ate, and what we did, check out my full Google Maps Itinerary and my Instagram Morocco highlights linked at the end.
1. Be Clear on the Type of Vacation You Want
If you’re dreaming of a relaxing, slow, luxe getaway… Marrakech might not be that. Everyone recommends staying in a riad—and I agree. Riads are stunning: traditional Moroccan homes with interior courtyards, greenery, and terraces that feel like a hidden oasis. But there are trade-offs. Because many riads are centuries old:
Plumbing can be inconsistent, like the water in the shower taking a little too long to drain
Rooms can feel dark or slightly musty with a smell you can’t quite place
Layouts are designed to keep heat out, which can make interiors feel enclosed and even chilly
And then there’s the Medina itself. At roughly 1600 acres, it’s a completely car-free network of maze-like streets about twice the size of Central Park, packed with over 200,000 residents and a constant flow of tourists. Navigating it means:
Walking narrow alleyways with locals frequently attempting to direct or engage you
Motorcycles speeding past you and barely missing your elbows
Steering through crowds, animals, and unfortunately… litter
It’s vibrant, awe inspiring, and beautiful, but the feeling of always needing to be alert made it not so relaxing.
Lesson: If I did it again, I’d do 2–3 days in a riad in the Medina and 2–3 days in a hotel outside (for a more relaxed, resort-style experience. If you’re coming from the US you can also take a flight with a layover (e.g. TAP) and spend some time in Lisbon before going to Marrakech. That option is actually significantly cheaper than the direct flight from Newark to Marrakech on United, but I didn’t want to be away from home for too long.
2. Don’t Go Too Early in Shoulder Season
It only rains 25 days a year in Marrakech with the rainy season being November through March. We visited March 20–25, expecting the end of the rainy season to mean perfect weather, not too hot, not too cold. Instead, we got a little rain every day, which was enough to turn the streets muddy and increase your chances of getting splashed.
Temperatures also ranged from 50–75°F, which meant we needed to layer (see next section for what to wear)
Lesson: If I was to do it again I would skip March and go in April or May instead, which doesn’t make Marrakech such a good winter getaway, huh? Also, avoid Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. We arrived on March 20th, which is when Eid fell this year, and many shops and restaurants were closed for that and the following day.
3. What to Wear
Before going, we saw general guidance for women to cover shoulders and knees, and to bring a scarf for visiting religious sites. Once we arrived, we noticed many tourists wearing shorter or more revealing outfits and not standing out much—but to be respectful, we chose to stick to the more modest approach.
What you wear also depends heavily on when you visit. Since we went at the end of March, layering was key. Think breathable, longer pants or skirts paired with short-sleeve tops and a light, packable cardigan or button-down, not exactly effortless vacation dressing.
Lessons:
Stick to pants or skirts that hit at the ankle or higher—anything longer will drag on the ground (and get dirty fast, especially after rain)
Opt for dark, wipeable, closed-toe shoes—the streets can be murky and sandals weren’t practical
Choose comfortable shoes for walking on uneven, cobblestone streets
If you do go during shoulder season, bring a small packable umbrella
Dressing for Marrakech is really about balancing respect, comfort, and practicality—and in shoulder season, being prepared for a little bit of everything weather-wise.
4. Be Cautious as a Woman (Especially at Night)
During the day, most areas in the Medina felt relatively safe. At night, I felt very different.
On our last evening, around 10 PM, we got lost walking back to our riad. Our maps stopped working, and a man offered to guide us. After a few minutes, he demanded money—and then aggressively pushed for more. What started as “help” turned into a scary pressure situation. We were able to walk away safely, but it was unsettling. A local later told us this is common. I felt uneasy even with my bestie right there, I wouldn’t personally recommend Marrakech for solo female travel.
Lesson: Avoid walking at night when possible and don’t accept unsolicited “help” with directions, just say “thank you” or “shukran” and keep walking if approached. Download offline maps ahead of time as the networks get spotty when you’re in the heart of the Medina and always walk in groups.
5. Make Reservations
One of the biggest misses of our trip? Jardin Majorelle. It’s one of the most iconic spots in Marrakech (you’ve definitely seen it on Instagram), and tickets were sold out for two days straight when we tried to go. We had to skip it entirely.
Reservations were also needed for all the popular restaurants like: Comptoir Darna, Sahbi Sahbi, and Otto. I’d recommend reserving even for lunch as these spots get super crowded quick.
Lesson: Book reservations for everything and don’t assume you can “figure it out when you’re there. Details for attractions and links are in the Google Maps at the bottom of this blog.
6. Keep an Open Mind About the Food
This trip forced me to confront something about myself…I might be a picky eater. If you don’t love gamey flavors or mixing sweet and savory (think chicken with raisins), Moroccan cuisine can be hit or miss.
Even at fusion or international restaurants, many dishes still incorporate traditional flavor profiles - as they should. That said, here are some standout meals, I had (and everything is linked in the Google maps itinerary at the end):
Octopus at Otto
Beef shank tajina at Sahbi Sahbi
Sea bass at Villa Aaron
Risotto at L’mida
7. Don’t Assume It Will Be Cheap
Yes, the exchange rate works in your favor (roughly 10 dirhams = $1 USD), but costs add up quickly. We averaged:
~700 dirhams ($70) per meal for two at nicer restaurants
~100 dirhams ($10) for a 10-minute taxi ride
~100 dirhams ($ 10) average entry to attractions like le Jardin Secret, Maddrassa Ben Youssef, or Photography Museum
~ $800 for 5 nights in a newly renovated riad (Riad Habouba)
~$300 cash for shops and smaller restaurants (Even though they say Morocco is a closed currency ie you can only get it in Morocco, I was able to get cash at Newark airport by the Terminal C exchange; most restaurants and larger establishments also accepted cards)
And yes, you’ll need to haggle at the shops and for taxis. We often didn’t haggle with the taxis, simply because negotiating at night, which is the only time we took a cab, wasn’t worth the energy.
Lesson: Overall for 6-days, 5-nights we spent about $900 per person to cover mid-level accommodations, good food, very light shopping and light sight seeing, and this did not include our flights. If you want to do more shopping or more higher end accommodations you will definitely need to plan to spend more.
Final Thoughts
Marrakech is beautiful, rich in culture, history, and architecture, but doesn’t make for the most relaxing trip even while it makes for absolutely stunning experiences and content, so do your research on more than just Instagram. While I wouldn’t change going, I wish I had known what I know now.
Of course one of the most sought after destinations in Marrakech is the souks, the stunning leather, fabric, and ceramics craftsmanship is undisputable. I got a pair of traditional raffia sandals matching the OOOasis travel toiletry bag :) and a linen shirt for my baby from Little Marrakech, but shopping was not a big part of our itinerary. We focused on sight seeing and catching up over good food. For where we stayed, ate, and what we saw, check out our Google Maps Itinerary with notes here and for footage of the whole experience check out the Morocco Highlights on Instagram @oooasistravel.
I hope this helps you get the most out of your Marrakech trip and as always if you have any questions or thoughts, drop them below.