SherryStay Destination Guide
Marrakech
Red City — labyrinthine medina, Jemaa el-Fnaa snake charmers, riad courtyards, Atlas Mountains 1h away.
About Marrakech
Marrakech assaults the senses and then wins you over completely. Behind the ochre walls of its UNESCO medina lies a labyrinth of souks — spices, lanterns, leather, carpets — that opens, at dusk, onto the great square of Jemaa el-Fnaa, itself honoured for its living heritage: as the light fades, food stalls flare into smoke and flame, storytellers and Gnaoua drummers draw their circles, and the whole city seems to gather. By day, cool your senses in the carved courtyards of the Bahia Palace, the cobalt paths of the Majorelle Garden and the YSL museum beside it, or the shade of a riad’s own patio. The Koutoubia minaret keeps watch over it all, and the snow-topped Atlas Mountains sit just an hour away for a day among Berber villages. Hot in high summer and glorious in spring and autumn, Marrakech is a city to haggle in, get lost in, and never quite forget.
Sleep in a real riad inside the medina for the courtyard-night experience, then maybe one night at a modern hotel in Hivernage for the pool. Skip the "new city" Gueliz hotels — they're just business chains.
Best For
Where to Stay
Medina (Old City)
Labyrinth alleys, riads, Jemaa el-Fnaa square, souks, Bahia Palace
Hivernage
Modern hotels, pools, restaurants, walking distance to medina
Gueliz
New city, cafés, art galleries, less character but easier to navigate
Palmeraie
Palm grove outskirts, luxury resorts with private grounds (need a taxi for everything)
Money-Saving Tips
- 1Bargain in the souks — start at 30% of the asking price, settle around 50%.
- 2Lunch tagines at a covered-market stall are 50–80 MAD (~$5–8); same dish at a tourist restaurant is 180 MAD.
- 3Hammam at a public bathhouse is 20–60 MAD; the riad luxury version costs 600–1200 MAD for similar treatment.
Getting Around
- 1Marrakech Menara airport (RAK) → medina: petit taxi ~100 MAD (~$10), 15 min. Bus 19 is 30 MAD.
- 2Within the medina, walking is the only way — streets are too narrow for cars and even small taxis.
- 3For the Atlas Mountains or Essaouira coast, hire a driver (~$80/day) — cheaper and easier than self-drive on mountain switchbacks.
Most Common Mistake
Booking a "modern hotel near the medina" — most are 15–25 min walk and you'll miss the riad atmosphere completely.
3–4 nights
- • Atlas Mountains / Imlil (1h 30m)
- • Essaouira coast (3h)
- • Ouzoud waterfalls (2h 30m)
- • Sahara from Merzouga (10h drive — fly to Errachidia instead)
Hotels Sherry Recommends
Useful Local Hotel Phrases
Moroccan Arabic (Darija)- Helloالسلام عليكمas-sa-LAAM a-lay-KUM
- Thank youشكراSHOK-ran
- Pleaseعافاكa-FAK
- YesنعمNA-am
- NoلاLAA
- HotelفندقFUN-duk
- Breakfastفطورfu-TOOR
- Wi-Fiواي فايwai-FAI
- TaxiطاكسيTAK-see
- Airportالمطارal-ma-TAAR
- How much?بشحالbash-HAAL
- Too expensiveغالي بزافGHA-li b-ZAF
- Where is...?فينFEEN
- Waterالماءal-MA
- Helpعاونيaw-NEE
