Discover the Wonders of Marrakesh with iBestTravel

Marrakesh is a city that fizzes with life, where the default-blue of the sky sings against peach-gold architecture. Whether it’s your first visit or your 15th, the technicolor souqs and the street theatrics of Djemaa El Fna, the city’s main square, exert a magnetic pull, perpetually filled with movement no matter the time of day.

Moreover, there are many surprises to discover in this mysterious, magical city. It is a place that lends itself to happenstance, inviting you to get lost in the tumult of the crowd, dive off into hidden alleyways, and uncover the unexpected.

Explore the Cactus Sea of Cactus Thiemann

On the outskirts of Marrakesh lies the spiky sculptural expanse of Cactus Thiemann, offering the rare experience of wandering amid cacti that can soar as tall as buildings. With over 150 varieties of cacti, some ablaze with startlingly bright flowers, this is a hidden gem. It is known as Africa’s largest cactus farm, set against the backdrop of the majestic Atlas Mountains. The farm was initiated by German engineer Hans Thiemann, who came to Morocco in the 1960s to pursue his passion for these plants, and is now run by his descendants.

To visit, email for an appointment at (cactusthiemann@gmail.com); guided tours last 45 minutes and cost Dh150. They will provide the contact for a taxi driver who knows the way, as the location can be tricky to find.

Feasting with a Conscience

Off the beaten track, the tree-shaded courtyard restaurant of the Amal Center is much more than meets the eye. At first glance, it’s traditional home-cooked food in a lovely setting, but Amal is not only about eating; it empowers local women in financial difficulties. Founded by Nora Belahcen Fitzgerald after meeting a single mother begging on the streets of Marrakesh, this nonprofit organization provides free six-month training courses for women, allowing them to secure work afterwards. Additionally, you can take recommended cookery courses at the restaurant, where you’ll learn to cook a mean tajine and enjoy your creation at the end.

Marrakesh’s Female Founder

Few visitors realize that a powerful woman was instrumental in Marrakesh’s founding over 1000 years ago. Zaynab an-Nafzawiyyah, an alpha Berber queen, co-ruled the Almoravid Empire alongside her husband, Yusuf ibn Tashfin. Discover the history of Zaynab and the role of other illustrious Moroccan women at the Musée de la Femme.

City Within a City

Wandering through Marrakesh’s Jewish quarter, known as the mellah, feels like stumbling onto a secret. A few steps from the center, the mellah has its distinct atmosphere, with Stars of David etched above doorways and shaded balconies overlooking the narrow lanes. You can visit the Lazama Synagogue, still in use for its substantial congregation, explore the Mellah Market, renowned for its fabric, and visit the eerie Miaara Jewish Cemetery, a city of the dead stretching out into the distance, adorned with uniform rounded tombs.

Underground Ovens

Not for the faint-hearted, Mechoui Alley in the medina (the old walled city) is the place where those in the know head to dine on fragrant slow-roasted lamb. Each shop has a pit in the ground where lamb is slowly roasted over a wood fire until it falls off the bone. These family-run food stands serve a limited menu: tanjia (slow-cooked stew), mechoui, and roasted sheep’s head, but it’s worth spending a lunchtime on a seat behind the counter, enjoying the delicious cumin-scented meat while sipping mint tea and watching the world pass by.

Marrakesh’s Warhol

Hassan Hajjaj is an artist and sculptor with an international reputation for his photographs of locals dressed in fabulous traditional attire, bursting with pop-art color. Known as Marrakesh’s Andy Warhol, Hajjaj’s work is well-regarded, having had a recent retrospective at London’s Courtauld Institute. Visitors can explore his gallery, tea room, and shop at the beautifully decorated Riad Yima. Stepping inside is like entering one of his vibrant photographs, as this gallery invites interaction rather than adhering to the conventional art exhibition model.

Hidden Cultural Hub

One of the many secrets of Marrakesh’s maze-like Medina is Dar Bellarj. If you didn’t know, you’d pass right by it, as it’s tucked away next to Ali Ben Youssef Medersa. Enter through the doorway, and you arrive in a riad, a traditional house centered around a beautiful courtyard. This is an arts centre celebrating living culture, showcasing exhibitions on topics such as Berber tattoos, photography, and local weaving. Beyond its exhibits, it serves as an ideal escape from the bustling souqs, offering a tranquil setting to enjoy a cup of Berber whiskey (mint tea).

Ancient Recipes

The medina is home to many restaurants, but Riad Farnatchi’s Le Trou Au Mur offers a menu that diverges from the usual tajine and couscous. This place is lined in stucco and filled with portraits lent from the nearby Maison de la Photographie, creating a truly hidden gem. The owners and chefs aim to revive ancient cooking techniques and ingredients, with unique dishes such as tihane (stuffed offal with spiced kefta), velvety mechoui from their oven, and fish baked with vermicelli and preserved lemons.

A Berber Escape

Occasionally, you may crave a breather from the intensity of the city. A short trip outside Marrakesh takes you to another world: a Berber village in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Amizmiz, located just 55km south of the city, offers a glimpse into Berber life. If you time your visit for a Tuesday, you’ll experience the lively traditional weekly market, where Berber villagers gather to sell their crafts, produce, and spices. Additionally, you can explore the lush countryside, with snow-dusted mountains in the distance.

Secret Shopping

While the shiny brassware and traditional Berber rugs of the souqs may be tempting, serious savvy shoppers in Marrakesh often venture to the industrial area of Sidi Ghanem. Just 4km from the center, this area is home to workshops, outlets, and showrooms specializing in contemporary design. Discover artisanal candles at Cote Bougie, the exquisite scents and creams from Les Sens de Marrakech, or the meticulously crafted ceramics of LRNCE.

Article first published February 2018, last updated July 2019.