Marrakech is one of Morocco’s most vibrant and diverse cities. It is not just a travel destination, but an experience that immerses you in a world full of colours, aromas, sounds and constant movement. So, we decided to share our own experience of spending 3 days in Marrakech, including everything we saw and did during our time in the city.
Where to Stay in Marrakech: Riad Nelia Marrakech
During our stay, we chose Riad Nelia Marrakech, a riad that stood out from the very beginning, both for its location and the overall hospitality experience.
As soon as you step inside, you are welcomed by a distinctive scent of cinnamon, which immediately creates a relaxing atmosphere and makes you feel immersed in Moroccan culture. The riad features a small but beautiful swimming pool, perfect for a refreshing dip during the city’s hot days. Breakfast is served on the rooftop and is truly excellent, both in terms of quality and atmosphere.
The staff were super friendly and helpful, making our stay even more enjoyable and comfortable!
Day 1 in Marrakech
Our first day in Marrakech actually began in the afternoon, as we had just returned from a three-day trip with Morocco Fabulous and arrived in the city later in the day.
After checking in and taking some time to relax at the riad, we headed out for our first walk around the Medina. Marrakech’s Medina is a maze of narrow streets filled with small shops, market stalls, the scent of spices and constant activity. It is also where you get the most authentic feel of the city.
We then made our way to Jemaa el-Fna Square, the heart of Marrakech. The experience feels like one enormous open-air market, where you can see almost everything: from women offering henna tattoos to snake charmers and monkeys, as well as dozens of food stalls and vendors selling all kinds of products.
It is a place that perfectly captures the contrast between the tourist and local sides of Marrakech and is undoubtedly one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
It is also worth mentioning that Marrakech was one of the first cities on our trip where we noticed queues at ATMs. Many tourists seem to prefer using cash, which can be summed up quite accurately with the phrase “cash is king”.
For dinner, we chose Naranj Lebanese, a Lebanese restaurant serving really good food. We paid approximately €30 for two main courses.
At this point, we had already realised that prices in Marrakech are generally higher compared to other Moroccan cities such as Fez and Casablanca.
Day 2 in Marrakech
We started our second day with breakfast at the riad before heading to Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. We had booked our tickets in advance, which turned out to be essential, as the area was very busy and there were already long queues.
Jardin Majorelle is a unique botanical garden, famous for its striking blue buildings, exotic plants and beautifully designed spaces. Right next to it, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum is dedicated to the life and work of the fashion designer, who developed a strong connection with Marrakech and found great inspiration in the city.
After our visit, we stopped for coffee at Thirty5ive, a lovely café with a modern aesthetic that feels more like something you would find in a European city than in Morocco.
We then returned to the Medina to explore its streets a little more and eventually stopped for lunch at La Fontaine des Épices. We tried chicken pasta and a beef tagine, with the total bill coming to approximately €30 for two people.
We ended the day with one final walk through the Medina before heading back to the riad to relax.
Day 3 in Marrakech
Our final day in Marrakech started early, as we wanted to visit a few more of the city’s most famous attractions before leaving.
Our first attempt was to visit Bacha Coffee. However, when we arrived shortly before opening time, there was already an enormous queue. In the end, we decided it was not worth the wait and continued exploring the Medina instead.
Our next stop was Ben Youssef Madrasa, one of the most impressive historical buildings in Marrakech. This former Islamic school is famous for its intricate architecture, beautifully decorated wooden and marble details, and stunning inner courtyards that transport you back in time.
It is definitely one of the most photogenic spots in the city and well worth a visit.
We then stopped for tea at Moroccan Teahouse Restaurant – 1112 Marrakech. The place was truly magical, with a peaceful and atmospheric setting and a wide selection of traditional teas. It was the perfect spot to take a short break from the noise and busy streets of the Medina.
Right after that, we visited El Badi Palace, an impressive 16th-century palace that now stands in ruins but still manages to amaze visitors with its enormous scale and historical significance. Walking through its grounds gives you a glimpse of Morocco’s former imperial grandeur and allows you to admire the remains of its historic architecture.
For a quick bite, we stopped at Sabich Marrakech Medina, where we tried some street food. It was the perfect quick fuel stop before continuing our walk through the Medina for some last-minute shopping.
Shortly before sunset, we headed towards the Koutoubia Mosque. The minaret of this iconic mosque dominates the city skyline and is one of Marrakech’s most recognisable landmarks.
Watching the sunset in this area was one of the highlights of our day, with beautiful light and the perfect atmosphere for a final walk and a few photos.
For our last evening in Marrakech, we chose Limoni, an Italian restaurant known for its wood-fired pizzas. We ordered two pizzas and soft drinks, with the total bill coming to approximately €30.
It was a lovely and more relaxed way to end our stay in Marrakech before returning to the riad to rest and prepare for our departure the following day.
Marrakech as Part of Our Wider Morocco Trip
Marrakech was one of the most vibrant and memorable parts of our trip to Morocco, filled with unique experiences, colourful scenery and striking contrasts.
If you want to discover our full itinerary and see how Marrakech fits into the rest of the places we visited, check out our complete Morocco travel guide: Morocco Travel Guide: 10 Days in Morocco