Marrakesh is by far the most touristy place in Morocco, and not without reason. The city stands out from other Moroccan cities, and when you walk through the streets of the city, you feel like you’ve stepped into a movie. Moreover, flights to Marrakesh are often cheap, and there are good facilities for campers in the city. In this blog, we will tell you which places you must see and where you can park your camper in Marrakesh.
Djemaa El Fna square
The most famous place in the city is the large Djemaa El Fna square. During the day, it’s relatively quiet in the square, where you’ll mainly find monkeys in skirts or the famous snake charmers holding their cobras in check with a flute. You can also enjoy a delicious fresh smoothie and there are plenty of vendors trying to sell you all sorts of things. Especially as the evening falls, the square becomes interesting. The entire square fills up with local street food restaurants where you can eat various local delicacies such as tagine, couscous, or even a goat’s head! Musicians gather, and everywhere you hear typical Moroccan drums and bands that create a unique atmosphere on the square.
Souk Marrakech
You can’t miss it, the large souk of Marrakesh. A souk is a part of the city where all the small shops are located. Especially the souk in Marrakesh is very special compared to other Moroccan cities. Thousands of alleyways weave through the center, and you’ll quickly get lost. Unfortunately, Google Maps won’t be able to help you because there are so many streets that they aren’t even recognized. Here you’ll find the most beautiful crafts such as typical Arabian carpets, silverware, shoes, and anything else you can think of. Especially for people with a preference for luxury brands, shopping here is great, as you’ll find a lot of counterfeit goods that are indistinguishable from the real ones.
Koutoubia Mosque
In an Islamic country like Morocco, you can’t ignore the mosques, which often dominate the landscape with their minarets. In Marrakesh, the Koutoubia Mosque is the most famous, with its 69-meter-high minaret. The mosque dates back to 1150 and is located near the famous Djemaa El Fna square. Around the mosque, a lot of market vendors and acrobats gather, making it a charming place to visit. The name Koutoubia derives from ‘librarian,’ because there used to be a market for manuscripts here.
Bahia palace
A visit to Marrakesh is incomplete without a visit to the Bahia Palace. This palace dates back to the 19th century and features a large garden. “Bahia” means ‘brilliant’ in Arabic, and the palace earned this name because it was one of the most beautiful palaces in Moroccan and Arabic architectural styles for its time. The entrance fee to the palace is 70 dirhams, and you can visit the palace daily from 08:00 to 17:00.
Koran School
One of the most beautiful buildings in Marrakech can be found north of the souk. The large Quranic school is now a museum but was once a place for Quranic study, and the building dates back to the 14th century. The Ali Ben Youssef Medersa can be visited daily and costs you 50 dirhams.
Where to park the camper in Marrakesh
Marrakesh is an excellent location to visit with a camper. You can stay overnight at the parking lot next to the famous Koutoubia Mosque for 110 dirhams per night. The parking lot is guarded, and you can walk to the famous Djemaa El Fna square within 5 minutes.
Outside the city center, you’ll find some very luxurious campsites with beautiful amenities. Our favorite campground is Le Relais, where you can stay for 90 dirhams per night. There is a beautiful swimming pool and a good restaurant. Moreover, from the campground, you can order a taxi via the Indrive app. The taxi which will take you to the city center for about 70 dirhams.
If you’re visiting Morocco by camper, Marrakesh is truly a must-visit destination. The city can be quite exhausting due to all the impressions, but it’s so unique that you really don’t want to miss it. If you want to gain more inspiration for your camper trip through Morocco, take a look at some of our other Morocco blogs.