From winding alleyways brimming with copper lamps and jewel-toned pottery to the scent of saffron and cumin wafting through the air, Marrakech is a treat for the senses. Home to Instagram favorites like Bacha Coffee and the ultramarine hues of Jardin Majorelle, the Red City offers plenty to engage first-time and returning visitors.
Marrakech is one of my favorite cities, and after my second visit, I gleaned that some of the best experiences are outside the museums and trendy cafes. Instead, they’re the ones that connect you to the local culture and the city’s residents. If you’re visiting Marrakech and want to diverge from the typical tourist sights, here are five of my favorite ways to get to know this captivating Moroccan city and the people that make it so special.
Taste your way through Marrakech’s street food
Home to swanky rooftop bars and elegant cafes, Marrakech certainly isn’t lacking in elevated dining experiences. However, to get a real taste of the city, check out its thriving street food scene.
Jemaa el-Fnaa is a natural jumping-off point for tasting all things Marrakech. At night, this central plaza roars to life with twirling dancers and live music performances, food vendors, and the odd snake charmer. The center is lined with rows of tent-covered food stalls, offering everything from couscous to snail soup.
Take your time browsing the food offerings, and don’t feel pressured to sit down even when the hosts try to give you the hard sell. Each stall has a number, so be sure to ask your accommodation or local guide for the latest recommendations. Don’t miss the juice stands, they’re my favorite in Jemaa el-Fnaa, piled high with glistening displays of fruit.
Off Jemaa el-Fnaa, you’ll find Derb Dabachi, a bustling corridor lined with hole-in-the-wall eateries and throngs of tourists and locals dodging motorbikes rocketing down the alleyway. It’s lively, heavily scented with grilling meats and warm spices like cumin and cinnamon, and pure Marrakech.
Hop in line at Chez Abderrazzak or the adjacent Sandwich Chez Hicham for a mixed meat sandwich. Apron-clad workers expertly chop and mix sizzling piles of liver, chicken, and beef on grills before depositing the melange into a warm bread roll. At just 15 dirhams ($1.50), this is an easy way to get a hot bite to eat and rub elbows with locals.
A few of my favorite street food staples can be found by wandering the Medina. In the morning, keep an eye out for msemen, a flaky, buttery flatbread served plain or with honey or amlou — a decadent spread made from ground almonds, honey, and argan oil. Try to get one fresh off the griddle. There are also various stands and bakeries selling typical Moroccan pastries, like the crescent-shaped kaab el-ghazal (gazelle horns) or gooey, fried chebakia.
Experience communal bathing at a local hammam
Going to the hammam is an important part of Moroccan culture. Not only are these gender-segregated public bathhouses a key aspect of regular hygiene in Moroccan society, but they also provide a space for socializing.
There are several high-end and tourist-oriented hammams in Marrakech, but if you really want a peek into daily life, head to a local hammam. I recommend Hammam Nilo, which is slightly further from the bustle of the center and Jemaa el-Fnaa, yet still within the Medina and not totally off the beaten tourist path.
This is primarily a local hammam, but they do offer services for foreigners. When I visited, I was the only tourist, and I enjoyed sharing this cleansing ritual with Moroccan women. Services start from around 150 dirhams ($15), with the option to add on massages or facial treatments.
Throughout the hammam experience, you’re accompanied by a spa attendant, who will guide you through the cleansing with traditional black soap, followed by rigorous exfoliation. On the way out, you’re treated to mint tea and traditional cookies. I left feeling squeaky clean, smooth, and refreshed.
Dive into traditional Moroccan cuisine at a cooking class
Cooking classes are one of my favorite ways to get to know a new country’s culture. They’re a hands-on introduction to the different ingredients, flavors, and dishes you’ll experience throughout your trip, and often provide insight into daily life.
During my second trip to Morocco, I booked an experience through Marrakech Cooking Class with Locals. Led by Ahmed and Hassan, this four-hour class started with a visit to a neighborhood market to collect our vegetables, followed by meal prep and cooking in a traditional Moroccan home.
After enjoying a glass of mint tea, our international group sliced and diced vegetables, entertained by the gnawa music playing in the background and Hassan’s anecdotes. During the class, we learned to prepare four types of tajine (both meat and vegetarian/vegan options), along with shakshouka and zaalouk — a roasted eggplant and tomato dip.
The best part, of course, was enjoying a family-style meal at the end, where our steaming tajines were displayed on the table, accompanied by more mint tea and fresh khobz — traditional round bread loaves.
Take a locally-guided walking tour
I love walking tours — they help you get a lay of the land and provide valuable information on the historical and contemporary atmosphere of a destination. On my first visit to the Red City, I booked a free walking tour through Marrakech WITH Locals.
Our guide Ismael expertly navigated our group through the labyrinthine streets of the Medina, showing us corners of Marrakech I can confidently say I wouldn’t have discovered alone. We visited a family bakery, peeked into the lush inner courtyards of traditional riads, and wove our way past the pounding hammers of blacksmiths and whirring sewing machines of leather artisans.
Throughout the tour, Ismael shared cultural and historical information, from showing us the oldest hammam in Marrakesh to recommending the best rooftop bar to catch sunset over Jemma el-Fnaa.
*Although these tours are marketed as free, remember to tip your guides at the end:)
Get lost in the souks
There’s no better way to explore Marrakech than allowing yourself to wander and get lost in the souks (and with the winding, maze-like alleys, you’re sure to take a wrong turn at some point). Start in the bustling Souk Semmarine, offering everything from spices and ceramics to leather bags and rainbow displays of balgha — traditional backless slippers.
After, make your way through the Souk des Teinturiers, and keep your eye out for the dyers’ alley, canopied with tangles of brightly colored wool. Souk Haddadine offers dazzling displays of copper lanterns, casting warm light through intricate designs of dots and spirals. When you’re buying, don’t be afraid to haggle — it’s cultural and expected — but remember to be respectful.
