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Latest Marrakesh hotel reviews
We just returned from a phenomenal trip of Marrakesh. Al Moussika was our base to explore the medina and for trips to the coast and to the Atlas mountains. The riyad is a carefully and tastefully restored historical building which offers a quiet retreat after a busy day in the pulsating city. There are only six bedrooms and many additional sitting rooms including a well stocked library and a room with a grand piano. Breakfast is of very good quality and the lunches were among the best meals we had in Marrakech. The personnel is competent and very helpful and offers a friendly, personalized service. Restaurants and transportation are suggested on request and promptly organized.
With our Marrakesh self-guided map given by our riad ,we entered into the medina, the walled city section of Morocco’s capital, Marrakech, is nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. The souk contains booth after booth of wares, including local clothes, furniture, rugs, lamp fixtures, spices and exotic foods. Of all the adjectives that could be used to describe the souk, I think eclectic is the most fitting.
After adventuring around for a while in this, one of Africa’s most exciting destinations, (and exclaiming, “Wow! Come look at this!” around every corner), Medina is big, YES, you will get lost eventually, it’s normal. Many people don’t profit from Marrakech’s labyrinth streets, inside the markets (souks) and from many interesting places, because they will get lost. And no one likes to be lost specially in such a chaotic and different environment such as Marrakesh! Because of this,we hired services of a travel company advertising in the same map, named : Les secrets de Marrakesh, for the following day to take us through the lesser-known areas of the souk. Our Moroccan escort took us into the back, where the trades are made as Marrakech wholesalers negotiate with local venders and we got to see raw materials such as leather to make shoes, wool that would soon become a rug, dyes used for clothing, and animals that would soon be for sale. It was the staging area for the souk.
we went exploring a little more and in every direction we turned, there seemed to be a helpful Moroccan that would make sure that we knew where the centre of the souk was. This was where all the action was happening. When I approached the focal point, I saw there was a cock fight in one circle, a dancing monkey in another, a local playing a flute to a dancing cobra…It was nothing like I’d ever witnessed, either in Morocco, Africa or elsewhere!
After leaving this centre square, we asked a local about visiting a hamam-a local Turkish bath house. They pointed us in the right direction and made sure that we were clear on the door we should use so that we would go in the women’s bath, not the men’s. After we entered, we realized why: everyone in the hamam was naked. With a bit of a language barrier, we managed to communicate that we’d like a massage. We undressed and a local woman proceeded to lather us up with a gel-like soap and scrub us down. I was so relaxed after this experience I could barely walk. In fact, I walked right into a Berber gentleman crossing the street right in front of me. It was as though I were walking on a cloud and we opted to sit at a café for a drink before continuing on our journey.
Before leaving the souks of Marrakech, we opted to take one more look at the central square. It had completely transformed. The live dancing animals were no longer there; they had been replaced by a food fare, with some animal heads to be eaten (presumably from the animals that we had seen being traded earlier), some food that looked like worms, some that I recognized to be vegetables, and some that you would expect at a food stand in Marrakech, like your tagines, couscous and soups.
We left the medina with a whole bunch of souvenirs; some for us, some for friends and family back home. We also indulged in some of the more familiar food, some fresh vegetables, olives, cheese, a bottle of local wine and, of course, some fresh mint for after dinner tea, and had a wonderful picnic at our apartment hotel just outside the medina where it was little quieter.
All in all, our Marrakesh adventure proved to be a most wonderful experience.
I would recommend to contact You can get hold of
Updated Jan 18, 2012
Website: www.visit-marrakech-medina.com
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You cannot possibly visit Marrakech and miss wandering around the Djamaa El Fna City Square. This is where you'll find the Souks, food stalls, snake charmers, dancers, henna tatooists and a stack of other interesting stuff.
It's even better if you stay close by so that you can enjoy walking around in the evening. Another good idea is to have dinner on one of the restaurant roof terraces that overlook the square. Of course that costs extra but it is definately worth it for the view and pictures.
Written Dec 28, 2011
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The heart of Morocco beats in Djemaa el-Fna, where everything happens, and everything has a price, in a non-stop touristy happening.
The size of the square, very uncommon in old Moroccan quarters may explain this intense merging of business and popular arts.
The square is a living stage, performing for tourist everything that may lead to a deal.
Updated Nov 28, 2011
This square is the hub of all the happenings in the Medina.
Many restaurants here, stalls, and in the evening a huge number of food stalls as well.
Snake chalmers, Monkey handlers, Story Tellers and other entertainers abound here (for a fee of course)
It's great having a meal on the balcony of one of the restaurants over looking the square and observing things.
Written Oct 19, 2011
The square is a fantastic experience but i would advise anyone not to give money to animal handlers. Extract from an animal charity working in Morocco
But, out of all the animal suffering in Marrakesh, perhaps the most shocking and upsetting of all is the monkey performers. Monkeys are kept in small and cramped boxes throughout the day where they can suffer from heat stroke and illness, due to a lack of space and high temperatures. When night fall arrives, monkeys are forced to perform whilst heavy chains are placed around their necks. As unknowing tourists walk by, monkey trainers throw the animals on to the shoulders of the tourists by wrenching the monkey by the neck and forcing them to climb the tourists body. Without showing any consideration for the suffering the monkeys endure, monkey trainers repeat this routine every single night.
Prior to becoming performers, monkeys endure several months of rigorous training which includes having chains placed around their necks whilst they are attached to a ceiling, which forces their bodies to adopt a straight posture. During this cruel process, handlers often tie a monkeys hands behind their backs and deny the animals food. While widespread suffering of cats, mules, donkeys, horses, snakes and monkeys is common in Marrakesh, there is one charity helping to make a difference.
The Fondation Helga Heidrich SOS Animaux helps rescue injured, abused and suffering animals from the streets of Marrakesh. The organisation also helps spay and neuter cats and dogs, to help combat the growing problem of overpopulation. The charity runs an animal sanctuary in Marrakesh which houses around 85 dogs, 30 cats and 36 equines.
Tourists can help combat the problems facing animals in Marrakesh by helping to feed stray animals and by avoiding giving money to horse and cart carriages, monkey performs and snake charmers. To add to this, tourists can urge animal handlers to treat their animals better, by providing their animals with more nourishment, by cutting the animals work hours and by stopping the physical abuse of their animals.
Written Oct 18, 2011
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All the touristy books and guide books will tell you to do this - Ive done this a number of times and include it as a thing to do when taking or sending friends to Marrakech - a roof top cafe such as Cafe France, Cafe Glacier, Cafe-Restaurant Argana - where you can enjoy coffee or mint tea as the unfolding spectacle of the busy Djmaa elFna unfolds below you and the beautiful Marrakechi sun sets.
UNFORTUNATELY CAFE ARGANA WAS DESTROYED EARLIER THIS YEAR 2011 BY A BOMB THAT EXPLODED UP ON THIS FLOOR IN MY PHOTO KILLING A NUMBER OF TOURISTS FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES AND MOROCCANS - THE POLICE ARE STILL ACTIVELY ON THE HUNT FOR THOSE THEY HAVE BELIEVE ARE INVOLVED AS THIS IS A TREMENDOUS CONCERN TO THE GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN BOTH PEACE AND STABILITY AND CONTINUE WITH THEIR PUSH FOR INCREASED TOURISM
Updated Aug 14, 2011
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Djemaa el Fna is a square and market place in the old part of Marrakech.
The square dtes back to the 1070's when Marrakech was founded by the Almoravids. Much of the city was destroyed when it fell to the Almohads in 1147 and Djemaa el Fna was restored along with city in the years up to 1158.
It is still the main square of Marrakech dusy both day and night. By day you will find fresh orange juice stalls, snake charmers, monkey handlers and traditional water sellers in their traditional colourful costumes.
In the evening the pace changes. It is more crowded with musicians, dancers and magicians; the food stalls start up and the with the rising steam come tantalising aromas. Along one side of the square is the Marrakech souk and opposite you will find the famous terraced cafes where you can sit and relax above all the noise and confusion. If you are there at sunset the views over the square are fantastic.
Written Jul 7, 2011
Website: http://www.ilovemarrakech.com/marrakesh/el_fna.htm
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I had a great trip in Marrakech!
This because i have booked everything online and had the best tips from. My Residence Marrakech.
So if you ever want to travel to Marrakech just send an email to these guys and you will have your best trip ever.
http://www.myresidencemarrakech.com
Good luck and if you need more information off what i did just email me.
Cheers
Christina
Updated May 7, 2011
Website: www.myresidencemarrakech.com
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The heart and life of Marrakech, Djemaa el Fna is where everything happens! This enormous square occupies a central position in la Médina, the old city of Marrakech, and is the converging point of many of its streets and souks. It is an amazingly animated square, which is part theatre, part open-air restaurant, and part souk. It comes most alive in the evening when all the food sellers set up stalls for dinner. They cook harira soup, kebabs, tagines and other dishes in front of their clients for immediate consumption along tables and benches. Not too distant in the square, snakes and their charmers, monkeys, story tellers, orange juice vendors, drummers, and musicians all congregate and offer their services to the masses. Tourists are prime targets for them, but locals come here too. Beware, even taking pictures could cost you dirhams! The energy and sounds of Djemaa el Fna are just impossible to describe in words... but the video "Sounds of Marrakech" gives a glimpse of what it's like.
Updated Nov 15, 2010
Address: Place Djemaa el Fna
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This place is located at Dajeema El Fna. It has a terrace from which you get a nice view of the square and the city lights. Getting there in the evening, after walking the whole day, to take a mint tea at the terrace was a real pleasure.
We got there quite late, and in spite of the fact that they were almost closing, they took us the tea, did not rush us to go, and in the end then they didn´t charge anything because the cashier had gone. I don´t mean you have to expect this to happen, but I do mean that they are really kind and considerate. After a day of being hussled and overwhelmed by vendors, this place was quite an oasis. They really earned a positive review!
Updated Apr 30, 2010
Address: Look for it at Dajeema El Fna
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