Stroll through the old Medina of Marrakech in Morocco, haggle with the shop keepers and enjoy the sights and sounds of the world’s largest square Djeema El Fna.
The Red City of Marrakech (meaning Land of God) is the third largest in Morocco and it is comprised of an old Medina along with the modern area.
Whether you go to the old stalls of the Medina or look for the fancier modern shops in the Gueliz, which is full of swanky restaurants, in Marrakech there is something to suit every consumer s taste.
The souk of Marrakech is the largest in Morocco and its square, Djeema El Fna, is the biggest in Africa and perhaps the world. Obviously these are prime destinations for the tourist who wants to find what makes this beautiful city tick. The Djeema El Fna is full of snake charmers, pet monkeys and women trying to sell henna tattoos. These are usually the only things to watch out for, though there are occasional muggings to keep an eye out for. Also be wary of anyone who wants to give you directions, they may well have an agenda and somewhere where they want you to spend money.
In the souk you are expected to bargain for goods such as tagines, kaftans and tea pots. Doing so could get you the desired item at half price even. As well as the main souk there are many smaller souks and bazaars where all sorts of clothes and dyes are purchased. Bargaining is quite at art form in Marrakech, if you don’t have any luck with the stall / object you are targeting move on – this will often have the effect of making the vendor renegotiate.
Going to the souk at night is quite an experience as the outdoor dining is both romantic and entertaining. If you want cheap, high quality food try Chez Chegrouni, Cafe Agrana or Chez El Bahia. Unlike the food in many neighbouring countries it is perfectly possible to eat hygienic and delicious food from the local stalls which surround the square. There is plenty of fresh orange juice available to wash it down with.
During the day all sorts of performers occupy the square such as dancers, jugglers and musicians. This is the lively heart of Marrakech and an unmissable experience.
More than one million people live in Marrakech which lies at the foot of the Atlas Mountains.
To orientate yourself in the city you should head to Koutoubia Mosque which has a towering minaret and is delightfully lit up at night. In terms of other sight seeing opportunities there are the Saadian Tombs, the Dar Si Saïd Museum which has local artifacts and the Majorelle Gardens which showcases Marrakech plant life. Majorelle Gardens is full of fascinating cacti and an oasis of calm amidst the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. Another place to cool out are the local hammams. Couples should go to the Les Bains de Marrakech which does the treatments in a private room.
Marrakech is a very crowded city, and there lots of markets where you can get bargains.
The traffic in Marrakech is crazy and you may wish to rent a chauffeur driven car. Having a guide is a good way to get around and see all that Marrakech has to offer.
Arriving into Marrakech you will most likely fly into the Marrakech Menara Airport which has lots of low cost flights from destinations across Europe with airlines such as Ryanair and Thomsonfly.
If you are hoping to make an inter Atlantic flight from Marrakech then you will need to change planes in Casablanca. Once you come out of the arrivals hall you will find ATM facilities as well as car hire offices. Car hire Marrakech is just about as cheap as everything else in Morocco.
For those who want to do tours of the surrounding area one recommended company is the Hostel Marrakech Adventures in Morocco. There are also firms which do hot air balloon tours of Marrakech, a wonderful way to see the snow capped Atlas Mountains.
If you are looking for discount accommodation in Marrakech it is plentiful. Riad Rahba, Hotel Smara, Hotel Essaouira, Hotel Central Palace, Hotel el Ward, Hotel Atlas Hotel Central Palace are all good value.
Author Resource:-
See Marrakech in comfort and style thanks to low cost car hire from http://www.rhinocarhire.com. Robert Frische is editorial manager for Rhino Car Hire and has written this article about Car hire Marrakech. The article serves as a practical guide to what to see and do in the ‘Red City’.
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