If you have been to morocco what cities/places would you recommend? I have only heard of Marrakech. What are the main highlights/attractions of Marrakech?
Re: Morocco
i tell u what -- dont go to meknes!
Fez is also a very beautiful city with a rich history. Casablanca is much more modernized, but it's worth a visit, especially to see the magnificent mosque they built there about 15 years ago--I don't remember the name, but part of it hangs over a seaside cliff, and part of the prayer floor is transparent so you can see the sea down below you! Rabat is a fairly bland city, not a lot to see in my opinion. Tangier is very interesting because it is a historical crossroads where Europe met Africa; a lot of American and European romantics like Paul Bowles lived and wrote there. However, Tangier has a bigger issue than probably any other Moroccan city with drugs, prostitution, etc., so it does give the impression of being pretty seedy. Also, it's flooded with day tourists from Europe who can be pretty obnoxious. Marrakesh is magnificent.
The best way to see Morocco is to get out of the cities and try and visit some of the villages during market days. Ouriki, south of Marrakesh, is one such place where they have a weekly market. You should definitely try to visit at least one Berber village so you can get a flavor of the diversity of Morocco, with its mixed Arab/Berber influences. If you're interested in history, especially ancient history, you should try visiting the ancient Roman city of Volubulis---the ruins are beautiful and very well preserved, and very nearby is the city of Sidi Idris, where you will find the tomb of Idris, a sort of 'patron saint' who is said to have brought Islam to Morocco. Any drive or hike through the Atlas mountains will yield beautiful scenery and you'll pass by many remote villages. Moroccans are wonderful, friendly people and everywhere you go you will get invitations to tea, even to weddings---definitely accept them! This is one of the best ways to experience the country.
Re: Morocco
Thanks guys esp to NYC. I'll do some research too!
Re: Morocco
If I stay in Marrackech, how easy will it be to explore cities such as Fes and casablanca?
Hey Coolmunda,
They have a decent train system between the major cities in Morocco, with regularly scheduled service, so getting from one place to another is very simple logistically. The problem you would run into is timing----Casa is about three hours from Marrakesh, and then from there I think it's another couple of hours to Fez, so it's not very practical to make Marrakesh your home base and to see stuff from there. I would suggest you do some research on train trip lengths between cities, and split your trips into two sections: maybe North/South, and figure out which city in each area is your priority (for example, Marrakesh and Fez.) Then you could explore your home bases more thoroughly and only be a couple hours away from other destinations where you'd like to do a 'day trip.'
If you're in the United States or can order books online from where you are, look into the 'Let's Go' series of travel guides. They are my favorite and have really good suggestions for itineraries, tips for budget travelers, tips for having a more 'authentic' experience, etc. etc.
Good luck!
Im just back from Marrakech - had an amazing time. At the most you need 2/3 days to see the main sites of Marrakech:-
- jama al fana - the main square - plent yof markets and entertainers - best to visit after Asr salat and early evening. The Kortobia tower is 2 minutes away. Also not very far are the Kasbah mosque and the Saadian tombs. From there you can walk 10 minutes to the Bahi Palace are whatever its called. the Agdala gardens are not that far and within walking distance of the main square. Its a good walk along roads with orange trees bearing fruit liing the path and palm trees too.
You can do them in whatever order but the main square is busy after Aasr.
marjorella gardens is in the new city, gueliz, and worth a visit. taxis accept 200 dirhams from the jama al fena.
menara gardens also woth a visit.
spend sometime shopping and walking in the old streets/markets/souks - whatever price they offer you - you say 25% of it.
try organise a day trip to Oukaimeden - or however you spell it. Its in the Atlas and theres a ski slop there. You get a wonderful view of Berber lifestyle as you drive up. You can get taxis to it for 600 dirhams, = £55
its possible to get to agadir from marrakech and it takes a maximum of 5 hours, on the quckest bus service. its quite a good journey through some beautiful landscapes. I think casa is not that far from Marrakech - if its just 3 hours then i would consider it. You only need 2/3 days for Marrakech.
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can you guys suggest some good places in marrakech to buy decently priced morroccon lamps and souvenirs. ?
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How much money would you need to take for a week's stay including eating, drinking, travelling between cities and for site seeing/excursion etc?
I'm assuming you mean without counting lodging---that would be extra.
It has been awhile since I was last in Morocco, so prices may have changed. However, my guess is that it's still the type of place where you can live on next to nothing if you really want to, or spend a lot of money if that's what you really want to.
If you're a serious budget traveler, you could go as low as budgeting $50/day and still bring home some cute souvenirs, etc. Purchase your food from clean-looking street vendors, eat breakfast at the hotel, buy lunch a couple of times from the grocery store (some bread, cheese, maybe a fizzy drink), and take second class trains. If you budget $100/day, you can live really well---eat in some nice restaurants every day, travel first class on the train, pay for some more guided tours or guided day trips to area villages, definitely buy plenty of souvenirs from your visit.
For souvenirs, shoes and sandals are great---if they are leather they will be quite stinky because of the tanning process they use, but if you leave them on a window sill for a week they'll air out and lose the bad smell. They also have pretty fabric, embroidered versions especially for ladies. You can also buy cotton men's and ladies djellabas and caftans for lounging around the house that are super comfortable. If you have some time and the budget you can get dressier clothes custom made (especially for ladies---they make beautiful party/wedding caftans.) They have beautiful colorful lamps if you can spare the luggage space. They also have some nice tribal-style and Berber handwoven rugs, and if anyone you know likes funky jewelry you can find some really terrific, heavy silver with lapis and coral tribal jewelry---some of it brought into the country from Algeria (the style I'm thinking is called Qabila.)
morocco is not that cheap. a macdonalds meal with a mcflurry ice cream cost me 700 dirhams which is about £6.50. in the UK it costs £4 max
in pak it costs £3 max
a ticket from marrakech to agadir by a fast bus whichtook 5 hours was 100 dirhams incl registering of baggage, just about £9. its about 240km. a similar journey from pindi to lahore bu bus may cost from 200-400 rs. ie £4max
have a good breakfast and site see for the rest of the day. then eat your evening meal say just after maghrib azan. eating lunch takes up time and makes you lethargic when your travelling out and about. it also costs money.
you really need to have a look at what type of sight seeing you want to do? city centre based? do you wanna go to harder to acess areas? what type of sight seeing you want to do - historical sites or scenic?
you can get some really cheap places for £10 in the main square, they wont be luxurious homely places but then again they wont be dirty and might not provide brekfast.
cheap places i saw doin breakfast for £2 but you did not get too much. a tangine, morocco's most famous dish may cost you £3 minimum in a cheap place. more common dinner prices are somewhat closer to UK prices than say pakistan.
How much money would you need to take for a week's stay including eating, drinking, travelling between cities and for site seeing/excursion etc?
Interesting to see how prices have changed, but I have to say that McDonald's isn't a budget option outside of the US/Western Europe! It's actually a more 'aspirational' brand in most developing countries...
Thanks for opening my eyes about the costs. I was under the impression that because £1=11 dirhams it'll be relatively cheap.
I think you were meant to say 70 dirhams and not 700 for a McD meal.
In terms of site seeing I'm into historical places, landscapes, deserts, ruins, villages etc
How many days would you reccomend in Marrakech, Fes and Casa Blanca? Should I include Agadir in my trip?
a ticket from marrakech to agadir by a fast bus whichtook 5 hours was 100 dirhams incl registering of baggage, just about £9. its about 240km. a similar journey from pindi to lahore bu bus may cost from 200-400 rs. ie £4max
have a good breakfast and site see for the rest of the day. then eat your evening meal say just after maghrib azan. eating lunch takes up time and makes you lethargic when your travelling out and about. it also costs money.
you really need to have a look at what type of sight seeing you want to do? city centre based? do you wanna go to harder to acess areas? what type of sight seeing you want to do - historical sites or scenic?
you can get some really cheap places for £10 in the main square, they wont be luxurious homely places but then again they wont be dirty and might not provide brekfast.
cheap places i saw doin breakfast for £2 but you did not get too much. a tangine, morocco's most famous dish may cost you £3 minimum in a cheap place. more common dinner prices are somewhat closer to UK prices than say pakistan.
For Marrakech you would need a couple of days. If you arrive during the day and you have a few hours then take a trip to the kurtubia tower, masjid kasbah and the saadian tombs. If you still have a bit more time do visit Palace El Badi. Visit the Afna square in the evening. Its a complete spectacle. Spend some day light hours too. Next few places you could visit are Menora gardens and marjorella - i did nt go to the larger agdal gardens sadly. Its worth getting a shared taxi to Oukaimeden - its high up in the Atlas Mountains and you will see some increidble landscapes, lifestyles and see the Berber's in action. Agadir is 5 hours from Marrakech - what you would need to do is check what times buses go there - i went there at 10.45am.
it is possible to visit the main sites in the first day - you could start at afna square, then go to kurtubia tower, then kasbah masjid and saadian tombs - all 3 are very close. from there you can walk to al badi palace about 10 minutes away. then you could possibly walk it to the menora gardens (it might be the marjorella - it has a tribute to yves saint laurent) - might be a coupl eof 2km - its about 1-2km from afna square, then get a taxi to the other gardens marjorella. a taxi from afna square to menora gardens should cost you 20 dirhams. they might sit others with you too! then spend a few late afternoon hours at the afna square and then some evening. the 2nd day you could make an arrangement to oukaimeden. it cost me 600 dirhams or just about £55 alone or you can go with shared group.
if you have spare time in marrakech do spend soemtime walking the date and orange tree lined boulevards
day 3 move on to next destination. agadir is very beautiful but not many historical sites there.
Its worth exploring thr beach and city of Agadir. I think Agadir s in the opposite dfirection of Casablanca, Fez, tngier, Rabat
Re: Morocco
^ thanks. Agadir looks very nice in pictures. How much does it cost by taxi/coach to Agadir from Marrakech? Is it easy to book a coach? I'm thinking og 5 nights in Marrakech and 5 in Agadir.
5 nights in marrakech might be too much and you could end up being bored. 5 nights in Agadir are too much. Unless you wan to explore the city and the beaches theres nothing much to do there.
the ticket from marrakech to agadir is 100 dirhams, about £9. just go to the coach station and book them. you would have to register your baggage too for 5 dirhams. #
a taxi costs a minimum of 800 from marrakech to agadir.
i tell u what -- dont go to meknes!
haha, right said fred.
but moulay dris close to meknes and the roman ruins by moulay dris are def worth checking out.
you’ve got me thinking now. 
maybe i should cut the trip down to 7 days? 3 nights and 4 nights?
Re: Morocco
parents went there this past summer