Cities & Destinations
275 questions · page 3 of 8
Which Marrakech monuments are must-see, and which can I skip?
Must-see: the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Bahia Palace, and Jemaa el-Fna with the Koutoubia at sunset. Worth it if time allows: the Saadian Tombs (go early) and the Marrakech Museum. Most skippable: the Majorelle Garden if your trip is short, and the ruined El Badi Palace unless you love romantic ruins.
Read the answerIs the Rif Mountains region worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a quieter, greener, less-touristed Morocco. The Rif gives you Chefchaouen's blue medina, the cedar forests and Roman ruins around the region, and proper mountain walking. It's cooler and wetter than the south, and most visitors only see Chefchaouen — there's far more.
Read the answerWhat is there to see in eastern Morocco (Oujda / Figuig)?
Eastern Morocco is the country's least-touristed corner: Oujda the Algerian-border city, the Saidia beach resort, the Beni-Snassen mountains and the dramatic Zegzel gorge, and far south the remote palm-oasis town of Figuig. It rewards independent travellers who want authenticity over polish.
Read the answerIs the Mediterranean coast (Al Hoceima, Saidia) worth it?
For beaches, yes — Al Hoceima has dramatic cliff-backed coves and a national park, and Saidia has a long sandy resort strip. But these are mainly domestic-holiday spots with little of the old-Morocco architecture visitors come for. Worth it as a summer add-on, not a first-trip priority.
Read the answerWhat can you see of Morocco's colonial / Art Deco heritage?
A surprising amount — especially Casablanca, a showcase of 1920s–30s French Art Deco and "Mauresque" architecture. Walk its downtown around Place Mohammed V, see the restored Cinema Rialto and the Villa des Arts; add the planned new towns (ville nouvelle) of Rabat and Fes, and the Spanish Art Deco of Tetouan and Tangier.
Read the answerWhere are the best museums in Morocco?
Morocco's museums are excellent and varied. Top picks: the Yves Saint Laurent Museum and the Berber Museum in Marrakech, the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Moroccan Judaism in/near the capital and Casablanca, the Marrakech Museum and Maison de la Photographie, Dar Batha in Fes, and the Kasbah Museum in Tangier.
Read the answerWhat can you do in Marrakech in one day?
Plenty, if you cluster it. Morning: Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs, then lose yourself in the souks toward Ben Youssef Madrasa. Lunch on a medina rooftop. Afternoon: Jardin Majorelle and the YSL museum in Gueliz. Evening: Jemaa el-Fnaa as it fills with smoke, music and food stalls at dusk.
Read the answerWhat to do in Marrakech on a rainy day?
Rain is rare but turns Marrakech indoors-friendly fast. Duck into the covered souks, the Bahia Palace, the Photography Museum (Maison de la Photographie) with its rooftop café, and museums like the YSL and Dar Si Said. Book a hammam and steam the afternoon away, take a cooking class, or settle into a riad with mint tea and a courtyard.
Read the answerWhat's the best free thing to do in Marrakech?
Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk — the great square comes alive with musicians, storytellers, food smoke and crowds, and it costs nothing to wander it. Close runners-up: getting lost in the souks, watching sunset from a (drink-priced) rooftop, the Koutoubia gardens, and simply soaking up medina life. The best of Marrakech is free; you pay for the mint tea.
Read the answerWhere do locals eat in Marrakech?
Not the tourist-trap terraces on the main square. Locals eat at hole-in-the-wall grills and snack joints around the Mellah, Bab Doukkala and Gueliz, at street-food carts for tanjia, harira and grilled meat, at Mechoui Alley off Jemaa el-Fnaa for slow-roasted lamb, and in workers' canteens where a hearty plate costs a handful of dirhams.
Read the answerWhat can you do in Fes in one day?
Focus entirely on Fes el-Bali, the old medina. Start at the Blue Gate (Bab Boujloud), see the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas, the Al-Qarawiyyin mosque-university from outside, and the famous Chouara tanneries from a leather-shop terrace. Lunch in a riad, browse the artisan souks, and end at a panoramic viewpoint over the city at sunset.
Read the answerWhat to buy in Fes (pottery, leather)?
Fes is Morocco's craft capital. Buy its signature cobalt "Fassi blue" pottery and zellige mosaic, leather from the famous tanneries (babouches, bags, jackets, poufs), brass and copper lanterns and trays, hand-woven textiles and the city's distinctive embroidery. Buy where you can watch it made, expect to haggle, and factor shipping for heavy ceramics.
Read the answerWhat can you do in Chefchaouen besides photos?
Plenty beyond the blue walls. Hike to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint at sunset, walk to the Akchour waterfalls and God's Bridge in the Rif, swim or paddle at the Ras el-Maa cascade where locals wash wool, shop for the region's wool blankets and goat cheese, visit the Kasbah museum, and simply sit in Plaza Uta el-Hammam over a tagine and mint tea.
Read the answerWhat's there to do in Ouarzazate besides the studios?
Beyond the film studios: explore the Taourirt Kasbah in town, day-trip to UNESCO Aït Benhaddou, wander the Skoura oasis and Kasbah Amridil, drive the Route of a Thousand Kasbahs toward the Dades and Todra gorges, follow the palm-lined Draa Valley south toward the desert, and visit the Fint Oasis hidden in the hills nearby.
Read the answerIs Taroudant (the "little Marrakech") worth visiting?
Yes, if you want an authentic, low-pressure alternative to Marrakech. Taroudant has magnificent intact ochre ramparts you can circle by horse-drawn calèche, two lively local souks (Arab and Berber) with little tourist hassle, a relaxed walkable medina, and a position in the Souss valley near argan country — a calmer, more genuine slice of Moroccan town life.
Read the answerWhat can you do in Essaouira when it's windy?
Lean into it or shelter from it. Windsurfers and kitesurfers love Essaouira's famous "Alizés" trade winds — it's a world-class spot. If you'd rather hide, the walled medina blocks the wind: explore the souks and art galleries, walk the Skala sea ramparts, eat grilled sardines at the port, tour a thuya-wood workshop, or settle into a riad. The wind also makes beach horse and camel rides glorious.
Read the answerShould I start my Morocco trip in Fes or Marrakech?
Start in Marrakech if you want an easier landing, big-city energy, and a straight run to the Atlas and desert. Start in Fes if you prefer the more authentic, less touristy medina first and plan to loop south afterwards. Both are superb — it mostly shapes the rhythm of your route.
Read the answerEssaouira or Agadir for the coast?
Pick Essaouira for character — a walled medina, fishing harbour, art, wind, and a laid-back bohemian feel. Pick Agadir for a conventional beach holiday: long sandy bay, reliable sun, big resorts, and calmer swimming. Essaouira charms culture-lovers; Agadir suits sun-and-sea relaxers and families.
Read the answerShould I visit Chefchaouen or Tetouan?
Choose Chefchaouen for the famous blue-washed mountain town — photogenic, relaxed, and built for wandering. Choose Tetouan for a more authentic, UNESCO-listed Andalusian medina with far fewer tourists and real daily life. Most visitors love Chefchaouen; Tetouan rewards those wanting the road less travelled.
Read the answerWhat's the weather like in Chefchaouen / the Rif?
Chefchaouen sits in the Rif Mountains at around 600m, so it is cooler and greener than the lowlands. Summers are warm but pleasant (25–32°C), winters are cool and damp (8–15°C days, chilly nights), and it is the wettest region in Morocco — the Rif catches significant rain and even occasional snow on the higher peaks.
Read the answerIs a Volubilis + Meknes day trip from Fes worth it?
Yes — it's one of the best day trips in Morocco. Volubilis (Roman ruins with superb mosaics) is about an hour from Fes, with Meknes (an imperial city) and the holy town of Moulay Idriss close by. You can comfortably see all three in a full day. A rich history-and-culture combination.
Read the answerCan you do Essaouira and back in a day from Marrakech?
Yes, comfortably. Essaouira is about 2.5 hours' drive each way from Marrakech on a good, mostly flat road — so a full day there and back works well (roughly 5 hours' driving, 5–6 hours in town). It's one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips, though an overnight lets you enjoy the sunset.
Read the answerIs Moulay Idriss worth visiting?
Yes, if you pair it with Volubilis — it's only 4km away. Moulay Idriss is Morocco's holiest town, built around the shrine of the man who founded the first Moroccan dynasty. The shrine itself is closed to non-Muslims, but the whitewashed hillside town, its viewpoints and calm streets are worth an hour or two.
Read the answerIs Sefrou worth visiting?
Only if you have spare time around Fes and want something un-touristy. Sefrou is a small, historic town 30km south of Fes with a tiny walled medina, an old Jewish quarter and a famous June cherry festival. It's pleasant and authentic but modest — a half-day detour, not a must-see.
Read the answerIs Taroudant worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a relaxed, authentic walled town without the hustle of Marrakech. Taroudant, often called "little Marrakech" or "grandmother of Marrakech", has magnificent intact ochre ramparts, two lively local souks and a calm Souss-valley pace. It is low on big monuments but high on genuine charm.
Read the answerIs Sidi Ifni worth visiting?
For travellers who love offbeat places, yes — Sidi Ifni is a faded Spanish Art Deco town on the wild Atlantic coast of the deep south, with blue-and-white streamline buildings, dramatic surf beaches and a remote, end-of-the-road feel. It is far from the main circuit, so it suits road-trippers and surfers more than first-timers.
Read the answerAre the Legzira beach arches worth seeing?
Legzira is still worth it for the dramatic red cliffs and the one remaining natural arch, but manage expectations: there were two famous arches and the larger one collapsed in 2016. The surviving arch and the vast red-sand beach at low tide are beautiful, especially at sunset — but it is a remote stop on the deep-south coast.
Read the answerWhat is the Marrakech medina like, and should I stay there?
The Marrakech medina is the walled old city — a labyrinth of derbs (alleys), souks, and hidden riads around Jemaa el-Fnaa. It is loud, sensory, and atmospheric. Most first-timers should stay there in a riad for the magic, accepting that you arrive on foot and noise carries. Light packers love it; comfort-first travellers may prefer Hivernage or Gueliz.
Read the answerWhat is Gueliz (the new town) in Marrakech?
Gueliz is Marrakech's modern district, built under the French, just northwest of the medina. Wide boulevards, pavement cafés, boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and the city's contemporary life. It's where many locals actually live and shop. Calmer and more drivable than the medina, with cars able to reach your hotel, but with far less old-city atmosphere.
Read the answerWhat is the Palmeraie in Marrakech?
The Palmeraie is a vast palm grove on Marrakech's northeastern outskirts, now dotted with luxury villas, resorts, and golf estates. It offers space, gardens, pools, and quiet — but it's a 15–25 minute drive from the medina, so you'll rely on taxis or a driver. Ideal for resort-style relaxation; not for those who want to walk into old-city life.
Read the answerWhat is Hivernage in Marrakech?
Hivernage is an upscale district between the medina and Gueliz, known for five-star hotels, manicured streets, rooftop bars, casinos, and the city's nightlife. It's polished, walkable to both old and new town, and very comfortable — though more international-hotel than authentically Moroccan. A strong choice for nightlife lovers and comfort-first first-timers.
Read the answerWhat is the Kasbah / Mellah area of Marrakech?
The Kasbah is the old royal quarter in the south of Marrakech's medina — home to the Saadian Tombs, El Badi and Bahia palaces. Beside it lies the Mellah, the historic Jewish quarter, with its synagogue, old jewellers, and lively spice and produce souks. Quieter and more residential than the central medina, rich in history, and within walking distance of the main sights.
Read the answerWhere's the best area to stay in Marrakech for nightlife, for families, or for first-timers?
For nightlife, stay in Hivernage — five-star hotels, rooftop bars, and clubs. For families, the Palmeraie or a Gueliz hotel gives space, pools, and easy access by car. For first-timers wanting the classic experience, a riad in the medina near Jemaa el-Fnaa is unbeatable, though Hivernage is the comfortable compromise.
Read the answerWhat is Fes el-Bali vs Fes el-Jdid?
Fes el-Bali is the ancient walled medina — a UNESCO World Heritage car-free maze of thousands of lanes, the tanneries, Al-Qarawiyyin (the world's oldest university), and most of the great monuments. Fes el-Jdid is the smaller 'new' medina built in the 13th century, holding the royal palace, the old Jewish quarter (Mellah), and gardens. Both are old; Fes el-Bali is the heart.
Read the answerWhat's the best neighbourhood to stay in Fes?
For atmosphere, stay in a riad inside Fes el-Bali, the old medina — you wake within the medieval city and walk to everything. For comfort and easy car access, the French-built Ville Nouvelle has modern hotels and drivable streets. Most travellers should choose a medina riad for the experience, ideally near a gate so luggage transfers are easy.
Read the answerWhat is the Ville Nouvelle vs the medina (in general)?
The medina is the old walled city — car-free or near it, dense, atmospheric, and where the riads, souks, and monuments are. The Ville Nouvelle ('new town') is the French-colonial-era district outside the walls, with wide streets, modern buildings, cars, and everyday city life. Most Moroccan cities have both. Visitors usually stay in the medina; locals largely live in the Ville Nouvelle.
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