For clothes, the market has many stalls and shops that sell both western-style clothing as well as traditional Moroccan clothes. You’ll also find a lot of fake brand names around here as well.  The same goes for other items like bags, socks, and shoes.

This market is also where you can find souvenirs, keychains, jewelry and fragrances! The market is also home to excellent quality leather, so keep watch for that.

In the areas of the market with bazaars, you may come across electronic devices as well. Just make sure to inspect the quality and build before you purchase so that you can get the most value for your money.

Marrakesh is a bustling city in Morocco with a number of accommodation options for visitors. You could choose a traditional hotel, but as with other cities in Morocco, I find that some of the coolest places are Airbnbs as well as riads. Riads give you that local feel with an iconic courtyard, rooms throughout and sometimes even a great rooftop terrace.

Marrakesh is a popular city for visitors to Morocco. Tthe WHOLE city is one huge maze. I’d venture through it and get lost for a day. However, don’t get TOO lost as there are some people who will try to lead you astray by saying “GPS doesn’t work here”

What they do next is try to lead you somewhere to do who-knows-what. Seriously, it’s pretty easy to get caught into it so make sure NEVER to follow anyone, this needs to be said. Other than that, you’ll be fine.

Beyond The Old Medina

After exploring the old Medina area and doing some shopping at the Jemaa el-Fnaa market, you can also immerse yourself in the culture through food, music, drink and performances from the locals.

For religious and cultural hallmarks, the Koutoubia Mosque is a popular place to visit. The very tall building is the setting of many urban myths and legends.

The Saadian Tombs is another good spot to add to your itinerary. This place has tombs of members of Al-Mansour’s bloodline and is a very immersive place with a unique ambiance.

For those looking into the arts, the Marrakesh Museum is home to an impressive range of artwork, sculptures, and others. They have everything from religious to aesthetic creations.

Lastly, the Manara Gardens is a very atmospheric tourist spot. It is a sprawling garden located in the center of Marrakesh and is a peaceful escape from the busy city. Olive trees line the place, and there is a scenic lake. For couples or friends who want to have a picnic, the Manara Gardens may be the perfect spot.

A ton of street food is available here, especially near the market. And it is SO good! There is this one REALLY delicious place that serves this meat and spices in between a pita.

The cramped areas may be a bit of an inconvenience for some, but that’s a part of the experience. You can get seafood, including calamari and fish combined with vegetables. If you like meat, the merguez sausages are excellent, and the grilled dishes have smoky goodness to them. You can even find potato cakes if you want to try a hearty alternative to dessert.

Moroccan Cuisine

Morocco is home to a variety of fruits and vegetables. In terms of meat and poultry, significant cuts serve as the centerpiece of many recipes. Cooks infuse dishes with lemon, oil, butter, and fruits. One of the most famous dishes in Morocco is couscous, composed of tiny steamed balls of wheat with a healthy coating of stew.

 

Marrakesh has been around for more than a millennium, and so has the Jemaa el-Fnaa market. The market has been a cultural hotspot for people from all walks of life. People can have their fortunes read, enjoy a performance from dancers or charmers, listen to preachers-somebody can find almost any form of entertainment in the area. Not only is this market a hub of activity for the town, but it’s connected to a lot of history.

This liveliness can be traced back to 1062 when the Almoravids established the city. Even as the Almohads seized the land and renovated it, trade and activities flourished in the area. However, the square of the place also became a symbol of fear. Centuries ago, people of power used to conduct public executions to demonstrate their reach and status.

Fast forward to today, and the Jemaa el-Fnaa retains its place as a cultural hotspot. People from different social classes take part in breathing life to the area, enjoying food, performances, and essential human services. As musicians and dancers give their all in entertainment shows for locals and tourists alike, the nightlife is bustling.

The Moroccan cultural legacy is alive and well, too, carried on by poets and artists that uphold their heritage through their craft.

Before focusing on a specific part of an important city, it pays to know a little about the country you’re visiting. Geographically, Morocco is located across from Spain. The land was formerly French and Spanish-controlled, with two key areas still under the latter’s jurisdiction. In terms of wildlife, the country is home to a vast population of reptiles. Expect to see giant lizards and snakes in rural places, but keep watch for a few small mammals like primates too. As for the greenery, olive trees are abundant while conifers and oaks cover mountainous regions.

The government is a form of monarchy, and King Mohammed VI serves as the head of state. The leader asserts that he is a legacy of Muhammad. He has been in the position since the 90s.

About Marrakesh

Now that we know a bit of Morocco, let us get into the history of Marrakesh. The city began in the 11th century when Yusuf ibn Tashfin established a brand new government focused on Islam. The city became home to several religious sites, many of which are still standing today. Marrakesh served as the empire’s capital and became the subject of many attacks from both local and foreign rivals.

These resulted in an invasion of the place, and other countries exploited natural resources in Marrakesh. Today, Morocco and Marrakesh are independent. While the capital has moved to Rabat, Marrakesh is the biggest commercial hotspot in the country and transports several essential mining products.

Marrakesh is one of the most economically significant places in Morocco. Accessibility initially limited trade routes, but improvements to roads opened up avenues for a better exchange. The city is home to over forty thousand merchants that sell forms of pottery, leather products, memorabilia, and others.

Many of these products come from foreign countries like China and India, two of the biggest importers in the world trade. However, many local shops infuse Western fashion with a Moroccan flavor. People that are selling self-made clothing use in-house materials to create a semblance of their brand.

Traders also specialize in other products, including poultry and meat butchers. Unfortunately, Marrakesh is a breeding ground for animal traders, which are often unsanctioned and unmoderated. The city is also the site of many industrial factories, particularly in the cement business. Workers turn to these for sources of income.