The medina is for walking: lanes are narrow and many are closed to cars. Petit taxis (beige) take you between the medina, Gueliz and Hivernage; ask for the meter or agree the fare before you get in. City buses (Alsa) cover the main roads. Uber came back to Marrakech in November 2025, and Careem, inDrive and Heetch also run; the UK government warns that many app cars are unregistered, so check the plate matches.
Marrakech
The red city, loud and warm
Marrakech is the busiest, loudest and warmest of Morocco's old cities, and the easiest to fly into. In one walk you go from the storytellers and food stalls of Jemaa el-Fnaa to quiet riads and palace gardens, with the snow of the High Atlas on the horizon in winter.
Getting there
Plane
Marrakech Menara airport is just southwest of the city, about 15–20 minutes by taxi to the medina, with direct flights from much of Europe. Fair taxi and bus prices are on our airport page.
Train
ONCF trains run from Marrakech station (Gueliz) north to Casablanca, Rabat, and on to Tangier with the Al Boraq high-speed line from Kenitra, and to Fes and Meknes.
Bus
CTM and Supratours coaches leave for Essaouira, Agadir, Ouarzazate and Merzouga; Supratours sells through-tickets that connect with ONCF trains.
Getting around
Where to stay
Medina
Riads around Jemaa el-Fnaa, Mouassine and the Kasbah: the city at your door, but cars can't reach most of them, so ask the riad to meet you.
Gueliz
The 20th-century new town: wide streets, cafés, the train station and easy taxis.
Hivernage
Big hotels and gardens between the two, quiet at night.
Palmeraie
Resorts in the palm grove outside the city, with pools and space; you'll need a car or taxi.
What to do
- Jemaa el-Fnaa at duskThe square fills with food stalls, musicians and storytellers; part of UNESCO's list of intangible heritage.
- The souksLanes of leather, metal, spices and rugs north of the square; check fair prices before you bargain.
- Ben Youssef MadrasaA 16th-century Koranic school with carved cedar and zellige around one courtyard.
- Bahia PalaceA 19th-century palace of painted ceilings and courtyards.
- Saadian TombsThe royal tombs of the 16th-century Saadian dynasty, next to the Kasbah mosque.
- Jardin MajorelleThe blue garden of the painter Jacques Majorelle, with the Berber Museum; book a time slot online.
- KoutoubiaThe 12th-century minaret that Seville's Giralda echoes; the gardens around it are free.
- A hammamFrom a local public bath to a spa; prices on our hammam page.
Day trips
High Atlas and Imlil
Mountain villages and walks below Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak, about 1.5 hours away.
Ourika Valley
A green river valley in the Atlas foothills, an easy half day.
Ouzoud waterfalls
Morocco's best-known falls, a long day trip north-east.
Aït Ben Haddou
The fortified village over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, on the way to the desert.
Essaouira
The Atlantic port, about 3 hours west by road.
When to go
March to May and October to November are the gentlest months. Summer is very hot (often above 40 °C in July and August); winter days are sunny and mild but nights are cold, and riads can be chilly.
Quick answers
Is Marrakech as exhausting as people say? The souks around Jemaa el-Fnaa are loud and pushy, especially in the afternoon; most people who find it too much spent their days there. It's calmer early in the morning, in the gardens (Majorelle, Le Jardin Secret, the Koutoubia gardens) and in Gueliz and Hivernage. Break the trip with two quiet nights in Essaouira or Rabat.
Riad in the medina or a hotel in Gueliz? A riad puts you inside the old city, quiet behind its walls; a Gueliz hotel gives you cars at the door, wider streets and calm evenings. To pick a riad: check its pin on a map, ask how close a car can get and whether someone meets you, read reviews from the last few months, and ask about Wi-Fi and heating in winter.
Can a taxi reach my riad? Usually not to the door: most medina lanes are closed to cars. Taxis drop at the nearest gate, square or car park, such as Bab Doukkala, Bab Ksour, Riad Zitoun or near Jemaa el-Fnaa. Ask your riad for the exact drop point and to send someone to meet you. Men offering to wheel your bags will ask for money at the end; agree it first or say no.
Henna, snakes and monkeys on Jemaa el-Fnaa? Henna is sometimes started on your hand before you agree, or a monkey is put on your shoulder, and then money is demanded. Keep your hands in your pockets, say “la, shukran” and keep walking. If you want a photo or henna, agree the price before anything starts. Barbary macaques are an endangered species, and paying for photos keeps them in chains.
Do I need a guide for Imlil and Toubkal? For walks around Imlil, no, though a local guide helps. For the Toubkal summit, go with a licensed mountain guide: the rules for climbing without one have changed over the years, so ask your guesthouse or the guides' office in Imlil what applies now. It's cold up high most of the year, with snow in winter.
How many days do I need? Three full days for the medina, the gardens and one day trip; add more for the mountains or the desert.
Is the medina safe to walk? Yes, with the care of any busy city. The main nuisance is people offering directions for a tip: a polite "la, shukran" (no, thank you) is enough.
What should things cost? We keep fair prices for taxis, tickets, hammams, food and the souk, each with its sources.
Travel times are rounded; check the day's timetable with the operator before you go. Last reviewed 2026-11-14.
Sources
- UK travel advice: safety · gov.uk
- Morocco World News: Uber returns (Nov 2025) · moroccoworldnews.com
- UNESCO: Medina of Marrakesh · whc.unesco.org
- UNESCO: Jemaa el-Fna cultural space · ich.unesco.org
- ONCF trains · oncf.ma
- ONDA airports · onda.ma
- Supratours · supratours.ma
- CTM · ctm.ma
- Jardin Majorelle · jardinmajorelle.com
- Wikivoyage: Marrakech · en.wikivoyage.org
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