14 days in Marrakech, Morocco

A row of gold tickets labeled 'my return ticket' with 'ADMIT ONE' printed on each ticket.

VERDICT: WE GAVE 5 OUT OF 5 TICKETS AND HERE’S WHY!

This guide forms part of our complete Morocco Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across Morocco.

This article is part of our 14 Days in Marrakech: Ultimate Guide. We visited the famous Jemaa el Fnaa market, ancient Ait Ben Haddou, travelled the Atlas Mountains and saw the incredible Ouzoud Waterfalls. Our trip also included a stay at the Riad Catalina and a one in a lifetime Hot Air Balloon flight over the desert.

Top Attractions

Many of the attractions are Highly Recommended with a 5 Ticket rating!

A close-up view of a copper sink with a chrome faucet, placed on a blue tiled countertop. There are colorful stained glass windows in the background and various items, including a soap dish and a small basket, nearby.

A colorful tuk-tuk with signage that reads 'Marrakech Toktok' parked on a cobblestone street in Morocco, with buildings and people in the background.

A smiling man wearing a traditional blue outfit and a colorful straw hat poses next to a camel in a desert setting, with palm trees in the background.

Our Unique Itinerary for Marrakech, Morocco

We love to get in as much as we can on a holiday because you never know what can happen – a pandemic can stop the world in its tracks, your health or finances can change where you’re unable to travel – so we always plan as if we may not get a chance to return to where we’re going. If you can only go to this place once – what do you absolutely have to see?

Where we stayed in Marrakech

We stayed at the amazing Riad Catalina (Marrakech hotel), it was in the middle of town, gave excellent service, was clean as could be, and they served wonderful, fresh food. From the warm greeting at our arrival, to the day we left, we had such wonderful interactions with the staff. There was a lovely rooftop pool, plenty of places to sit and enjoy the space, either outside or inside, when it got too hot.

One of our first evenings there, we went to the nearby Riad Elisa Spa. This beautifully restored riad delivered exactly what we were seeking: a peaceful sanctuary just moments from the city’s colour, energy & history. First, the open-air courtyard featured traditional zellige tilework, carved plaster & wood details, soft lighting & flowing water features. You think you’ve seen all of the beauty of this place until you go out onto the rooftop… to their restaurant called Max. The panoramic views were stunning & we watched the city change colour as the sun set, hearing the hauntingly beautiful call to prayer as we enjoyed a lovely meal with excellent service. Our first tastes of the famous spices this country is known for in the flaky, crumbliness of Moroccan Briwates – vegetable, meat & cheese little packets in silo-type pastry.

Visiting the Jemaa el-Fnaa square was a real experience!

We quickly found a fantastic little outdoor café, Koutoubia Cafe, to sit at, before it got too hot in the day, where we could organize our writing & photography, do a little people watching, and have a fresh Moroccan mint tea. Then we realized we were right across the street from the most famous spot in Marrakech… the Jemaa el-Fnaa square… a massive labyrinth of traditional Marrakech Souks. The fresh fruit stalls, food stations, gift stores, decor, entertainment and of course, the souvenirs, are unbelievable, and something to be seen in person. Luckily, we hired a guide to take us through, as it would not have ended well had we gone alone… too many twists & turns had us confused immediately! Read all about our adventure in our post.

Another evening we had an excellent meal with a pretty cool view – we dined at El Fenn Hotel, restaurant & rooftop bar. We’ve learned never to assume anything from the front of a building in Marrakech – some entrances are a huge wooden door in the middle of a stone wall, others are glass, but once you go inside, it’s usually quite something else. El Fenn was the most surprising yet – the colours & art were bright & beautiful with an African feel. In the lobby was a bit of a market, clothing, footwear, decor, jewelry, furniture, even a brass moped with a cowhide seat! A cool, bright red corkscrew of a staircase led up to the patio with stunning views of Marrakech & two of its spectacular mosques. You’ll need to read our full feature to learn how the rest of the evening went.

Hot Air Ballon flight our top experience in Morocco

Our Riad was also a good location for us to be picked up for any day trips, we only had to come out around the corner & cross the street. Our Atlas Mountains Hot Air Balloon Flight saw us picked up at 4:30am so that we could make it in time to enjoy the sunrise from high above the Sahara Desert. We booked this through Viator, it included a Berber breakfast (excellent), a camel ride, and the balloon flight. It was an incredible trip that we would highly recommend. We flew with Marrakech by Air whose team & pilot were spectacular.

The views and the peace that you discover while floating in your hot air balloon is not something you can easily describe. The roar of the flame was all that broke the silence as we all just gazed around us at the Atlas Mountains & the desert below. The camel ride that we went on after was also quite an experience! These animals were very well looked after, mostly behaved, and the camel calves loved following their mamas, nipping at their tails, and playing with each other.

Heading for the Atlantic Coast

Also, booked through Viator, our Essaouira day trip from Marrakech. Click Excursions were our hosts as we toured the seaside city of Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast. We stopped at Le Val d’organ, where Berber women make Argon oil by hand. Then as we continued on our travels we spotted a very unusual sight… many goats perched in argon trees!

Arriving in Essaouira, the cooler Atlantic breeze rolled in, and we had about three hours to tour the Medina, handcrafted goods, woodwork, textiles & art. This souk was much easier to navigate than the Jemaa el-Fnaa by far! It was beautiful along the harbour, the rows of bright fishing boats, crashing waves, sea air and the open horizon created a sense of calm that’s hard to find inland.

Lunch was a highlight – we sat down to enjoy a meal, when a trio of musicians wandered over & began to play. It was spontaneous, joyful & captured the spirit of travel for us – authentically bringing the moment to life.

Ancient sites and incredible film studios, part of our journey

Another day trip we wanted to take – Ouarzazate – where we would see the filming location of films like Gladiator & Cleopatra. This was also booked with Viator & Click Excursions. Basically we arrived to see the Hollywood of Morocco! We did stop at quite a few sights along the way to get photos, including Ksar Ait-Ben-Haddou World Heritage Site & the famous Kasbah. The giant sets at Atlas Corporation Studios for Cleopatra were as if you were really in Egypt. The famous scene in Gladiator where Russell Crowe was in chains before the fight? We sat in the exact spot! There were also a few vehicles from various movies you would recognize: The bus from Prison Break, military vehicles from Black Hawk Down, chariots from Gladiator & more.

Moroccan cooking class was truly rewarding

One thing we had booked that was really an incredible experience – a cooking class! For about $50 we had instruction from the lovely Chef Najla, learned the history of her family home, went to the market to choose ingredients, even a freshly butchered chicken, then prepared the meal together with 6 others, who were a lot of fun, world travellers like us. We learned all about the fresh spices that are the cornerstone of Moroccan cooking, and the daily fresh baked breads. We learned the proper way to make & pour a Moroccan mint tea (it’s very very sweet!) and enjoyed hearing each other’s stories.

Arabian night at Chez Ali Show

We booked a Fantasy Show at Chez Ali’s through Viator, but it wasn’t great. Our evening was supposed to have been dinner and a show. What happened was, we were picked up almost an hour late, with no apology, then still had to wait for another 40 minutes for others who were running late. Dinner was tasty but to have wine was $45 Canadian, so we stuck with water. The show started very late, the music was so loud that people had their ears covered for the majority of it. There were long breaks between acts, which made it close to midnight before it finished… not really acceptable, as there were children there! The horseback riders & their tricks were exciting once it finally began, and there was a man juggling fire that was also quite talented. The culture was good but the disorganization was its downfall.

One of the highest waterfalls in Africa; Ouzoud Waterfalls

The spectacular Ouzoud Waterfalls. This is something that continues to be very hard to put into words. Another case of “you have to see it for yourselves to believe it”. We travelled to Morocco in May & that was what made all the difference from between being way too hot to do anything & being survivable. These falls are the second highest falls in North Africa. There had been a massive rainfall the couple of days before we arrived, so that made these incredible falls look like they were pouring down liquid chocolate! We came across Barbary Apes, that were mostly behaved but one did jump on a tourist’s shoulder & try to pull out her hair barrette. We had lunch here, that at the time, tasted nice, but later we were sick for two days… very sick. We had to cancel two other trips.

Another day, we took a horse & carriage ride from the beating heart of the city, Jemaa el-Fnaa square. We wanted to observe, rather than dodge, the action so this was a great way to do it. We watched the daily life unfold, shopkeepers chatted in the doorways, scooters threaded impossibly tight lanes, locals steered their wagons of fresh breads through the streets. The Koutoubia Mosque’s minaret rose above the rooftops, elegant & unmistakable. We moved from the old Medina into the new town, of wide boulevards, modern buildings & a pace that felt distinctly European. The contrast – stark & fascinating!

Overall, Morocco was fascinating & so culturally interesting, the people were kind. They were happy to try their English with us after we began speaking our minimal Arabic, they appreciate the effort made to learn a few phrases. It was a very intriguing country for sure.

Favourite Destinations

A cart loaded with wrapped packages and boxes moving through a bustling market street under a cloudy sky.

A group of tourists walking through a narrow alleyway lined with traditional Moroccan textiles and clay walls.

Marrakech, Morocco: Explore Marrakech’s colourful souks, historic palaces, rooftop cafés and endlessly energetic ancient medina.

Ait Ben Haddou: Explore this ancient fortified village, famous for Hollywood films (Gladiator) and desert landscapes.

A large black statue of a figure standing against a wall, with palm trees lining a pathway in the background.

A vibrant display of various ceramic plates and bowls stacked together, showcasing intricate designs and colors, alongside handmade mugs hanging above.

Ouarzazate: Discover Morocco’s desert gateway, famous film studios (Game of Thrones, Cleoptra), historic kasbahs and spectacular cinematic landscapes.

Jemma El Fnaa Market: Experience Marrakech’s legendary square filled with food stalls, performers, music and colourful characters.

A coastal scene featuring a sandy beach with rocks, a fort in the background, and a clear blue sky. A bird is flying in the sky.

A couple walking in front of a tall, ornate minaret on a sunny day, with palm trees and tourists in the background.

Essaouira: Escape to Essaouira for Atlantic beaches, fortified walls, seafood and charming medina streets.

Koutoubia Cafe: Relax with Moroccan tea or coffee while watching Marrakech’s fascinating street life unfold.

Best Experiences

A couple smiles in a hot air balloon basket with flames shooting from the burner above, surrounded by other passengers and a colorful balloon canopy.

A person standing on a rocky ledge near a large waterfall, surrounded by cliffs and green vegetation. The waterfall cascades down in a cloud of mist, and the river below has a brownish color.

Hot Air Balloon Flight: Float above desert landscapes at sunrise, with the huge Atlas Mountains beyond you. Our female pilot, took us to record altitude.

Ouzoud Waterfalls: Discover Morocco’s spectacular waterfalls, scenic trails, playful monkeys and refreshing natural swimming pools.

Two horse riders in traditional attire galloping through smoke, one holding a long weapon, during a nighttime performance or celebration.

A winding road through a mountainous desert landscape with rocky terrain and sparse vegetation under a partly cloudy sky.

Three women smiling and posing together in a colorful indoor setting, with a patterned table in the background. They are holding small blue bags and appear to be enjoying a shared experience.

Chez Ali Arabian Show: Experience Moroccan folklore, traditional music, horsemen, dancing and spectacular entertainment beneath the stars.

Atlas Mountains Tour: Journey into the Atlas Mountains for Berber villages, dramatic valleys and unforgettable scenery. Once in a lifetime trip!

Cooking with Chef Najla: Cook authentic Moroccan dishes with Chef Najla while discovering traditional flavours and local techniques.

Watch: Morocco | First Time Visitor to Marrakech [Video]

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Must-See Jemma el Fnaa famous market

Planning your trip?

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