Marrakech Travel Guide
First Time in Marrakech
What a first-timer needs to know before landing in Marrakech: the closed dirham, tipping, bargaining, faux guides and common scams, how to dress, current travel advisories, the earthquake recovery, petit taxis and finding your riad.
Marrakech is one of the most exciting cities in the world for a first visit and, for some travelers, one of the most overwhelming. It throws a lot at you at once: crowded lanes, motorbikes, persistent sellers, unfamiliar customs and the effort of finding your way through a maze. A little preparation turns that intensity into pleasure. Here is what is worth knowing before you land.
The city in three parts. The Medina is the walled old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Jemaa el-Fna, the souks, the Koutoubia, the palaces and most riads; the Kasbah, its calmer southern district, holds the Saadian Tombs and the Royal Palace, and the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, lies beside it. Outside the walls, Gueliz is the modern center, laid out in the French protectorate era, with cafes, galleries, shops and the Jardin Majorelle nearby, and Hivernage is the district of resort hotels, restaurants and nightlife. Further out, the Palmeraie to the north is a palm grove of villas and resorts.
Money. The currency is the Moroccan dirham, a closed currency: you generally cannot buy it before you travel or take large amounts out of the country, so withdraw cash from ATMs on arrival, which are plentiful in Gueliz and around the Medina, and keep receipts if you want to change dirhams back when you leave. Cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and some shops, but the souks, taxis, food stalls and tips run on cash, so carry small notes and coins. Always decline offers to charge your card in your home currency. Hotels add a per-person nightly tourist tax to the bill. Tipping is customary: around ten percent in restaurants, small coins for porters, musicians you photograph and people who help you, and a more generous tip for guides and drivers.
Bargaining. In the souks, prices are not fixed and negotiation is expected. Have an idea of what you are willing to pay, counter well below the first offer and meet in the middle, with good humor. Do not haggle for fun over something you will not buy. The fixed-price Ensemble Artisanal near the Koutoubia is a useful place to check fair prices first.
Faux guides and common scams. The classic hustle in Marrakech is the friendly stranger who tells you the road ahead is closed, that the square is the other way, that the tanneries or a Berber market are only open today, or that a monument is shut for prayer. They are steering you to a shop, a tannery or a fee. Thank them, keep walking and trust your map; official guides carry a license and can be booked through your riad. In Jemaa el-Fna, agree prices before henna, photos with performers or meals, check your bill and be wary of pickpockets in the evening crowds. Petit taxis should use the meter; if a driver refuses, agree the fare before getting in or take the next one.
How to dress and behave. Morocco is a Muslim country, and modest dress is respectful and makes life easier: shoulders and knees covered for both men and women in the Medina, with lighter clothes fine by hotel pools. Women may face comments or attention in the lanes; dressing modestly, walking with purpose and ignoring remarks usually works, and a firm no thank you is enough. Ask before photographing people, especially women and older people, and accept a refusal. Non-Muslims cannot enter working mosques, including the Koutoubia. Alcohol is served in licensed hotels, bars and some restaurants but not in the food stalls or most cafes in the Medina, and public drunkenness is frowned upon.
Safety and travel advice. Marrakech is generally safe for visitors, with a visible police presence in tourist areas, and the main risks are petty theft, scams and traffic. Governments advise caution about terrorism across the region: the United States keeps Morocco at Level 2, exercise increased caution, in an advisory reissued on 4 September 2026, and the UK reviewed its Morocco advice in August 2026, adding notes on adventure activities, quad biking and hot-air balloons. Check your own government's advice before you travel, buy insurance that covers your activities, and choose licensed operators for balloon flights and desert excursions.
The earthquake, three years on. The earthquake of 8 September 2023, centered in the Al Haouz province of the High Atlas, killed nearly three thousand people. In Marrakech itself damage was limited to older buildings and some monuments, and the city has been fully open since. Restoration continues at monuments including the Saadian Tombs and El Badi Palace, and in the mountain villages recovery is uneven, with reconstruction still under way. Visiting the Atlas with local guides is one of the best ways to help.
Ramadan and holidays. During the holy month, which falls in late winter in 2027, the city slows by day and comes alive after sunset. Sights stay open, often with shorter hours, and restaurants for visitors keep serving, but avoid eating, drinking or smoking conspicuously in public during daylight. Religious holidays such as Eid can close some shops and change opening hours.
Getting around. The Medina is best on foot, and cars cannot enter most lanes, so riads send porters to meet arriving guests. Beige petit taxis carry up to three passengers within the city; ask for the meter. Ride-hailing exists but is less established than in many cities, so hotels and riads remain the most reliable way to book drivers. Download offline maps, and learn the route from your riad to Jemaa el-Fna on your first day. Many nationalities can visit Morocco without a visa for a stay of up to ninety days, but rules vary, so check before you go.