A Quick Guide to Visiting Marrakech in 2 Days
After Chefchaouen, Marrakech was my second favorite city to visit during our week in Morocco. With Morocco being such a conservative country, I felt more at home since it had such a “busy city” atmosphere. I even wore shorts instead of covering up on our first night. There was so much to do in the city center and I wanted to experience it all.
If you’re ever planning a trip to Morocco, here’s a quick travel guide of what to do in Marrakech in 2 days.
About Marrakech
Marrakech (also known as Marrakesh) was founded in 1062 and is the fourth largest city in Morocco. The red walls of the city, built by Ali ibn Yusuf in 1122–1123, have given the city the nickname of the “Red City”.
What to Do in Marrakech in 2 Days
Our girl’s trip with Gate 1 included a half day guided tour with free time in the afternoon and evenings. As great as the educational aspect of guided tours are, I love exploring different areas of the city on my own. Here are the various activities that can be done for two days in Marrakech.
- Visit Bahia Palace – Built in the late 19th century, for the grand-vizir of the sultan, Bahia Palace is a palace that was intended to capture the essence of the Islamic and Moroccan style.
- Saadian Tombs – A mausoleum with interments of about sixty members of the Saadi Dynasty.
- Explore the Square – Jemaa el-Fnaa Square is the entrance to the outdoor markets and food courts, It is also the busiest square in Africa. If you’re a people watcher, this is the place to be because there’s ALWAYS something going on.
- Relax at La Mamounia – One of the most Instagrammable places in the city, La Mamounia Palace is a 5-star luxury hotel. If you can’t afford the $400+ a night stay, purchase a day pass. This gives access to the Pavilion of Fitness, tennis courts and swimming pools.
- Experience a Hammam – A Moroccan hammam consists of a bathhouse for cleansing the body. You can read more about the Hammam experience at Heritage Spa from The Traveling Stomach.
- Eat street food with Marrakech Food Tours – This food tour was absolutely worth the cost. We ate traditional Moroccan foods and learned a lot from shop owners and workers. I ate seasoned cow spleen with fresh bread and it was AMAZING.
We spent a total of two days in Marrakech, so we couldn’t do every activity available. Here are some other popular things to do in Marrakech if you plan to spend more time in the city.
- Majorelle Botanical Gardens – Another Insta-worthy location, Majorelle Gardens was designed by the French artist, Jacques Majorelle. In 1980, the garden was purchased by designer Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé.
- Koutoubia Mosque – The largest mosque in Marrakesh. Unlike the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, if you are not Muslim, you cannot enter.
- Marrakesh Museum – Learn about the history of the city and view the artwork.
- Desert Tours – Trips to the Sahara or Zagora deserts are available, but are usually two or more days.
Where to Stay in Marrakech
For the two days in Marrakech, we stayed in the Novotel Suites. The location was an average 5 walk to La Mamounia and 15-20-minutes from the square. If you’re visiting Marrakech you can also opt for a traditional Riad. Below are some suggestions, but you can also try Airbnb or other alternatives.
- Riad L’Orchidee
- Riad Dar One
- Palm Plaza Marrakech Hotel & Spa
- Riad le Clos des Arts
- Riad Dar Najat
We also purchased Argan Oil and Moroccan spices at a holistic pharmacy outside the Medina. When showing it to one of the women on our food tour, our guide said it was very reputable. I’m trying to figure out what meal I want to cook first. Exploring Marrakech two days with our tour was not even enough for me so I will definitely be back.
You make me want to add this to my bucket list of travels. I’m gonna have take some notes to save for a later date. Thanks for sharing. Oh and those spices look sooooo fresh.
This looks so interesting because its such a different atmosphere than in the United State. I for sure one day want to travel to Morocco and visit the beautiful mosques there, among the many other amazing destinations. You can never go wrong with instagramable places.
Nice post!