Places to visit in a Marrakech tour guide

Beyond the palaces, minarets and other tourist icons, the pleasure of a stay in Marrakech owes a lot to the sweetness of daily life in the city. A unique atmosphere that you discover by taking the time to shop at the markets, stroll through the gardens, to soak up the city. Some suggestions for a unique Marrakech Tour guide and trip to Morocco…

In this article, we will take you on a Marrakech tour guide and we will give you a guide to discover Marrakech just like a Local.

 

The souks of Mouassine

 

The souks of Mouassine is known and loved by its original shops and its very talented Marrakchi designers! 

The traditional markets of Mouassine are modernizing thanks to the new breath brought to them by young creators. Proof if necessary that Marrakech is not a city museum, but an artistic center in perpetual evolution.

 

Bab Doukkala district

In this Marrakech tour guide, we will also visit Bab Doukkala which we love its peaceful alleys and its residential area.

Move away from the souks to stroll through the derbs where the Marrakchis live, away from the bustle of the shops. For that nothing like Bab Doukkala.

 

Discovering Bab Debbagh

The tanneries and the sanctuaries of marabouts are fascinating places to visit.

In Marrakech tour guide the tanners are busy in the northeast part of the medina, where shrines of marabouts (the saints, in the Muslim religion) continue to be the object of devotions. Here we can see that traditions continue to occupy a major place in the modern life of the Marrakchis.

Dive into the heart of the souks

In this Marrakech tour guide we will also take you to artisan workshops and local markets.

The commercial district of Marrakech is not limited to the Semmarine souk and the el-Kebir souk. While in a Marrakech tour guide you should no forget to take a stroll in the Haddadine souk, the domain of ironworkers, without forgetting to go to the qissariat (covered markets), to discover the stalls selling other than souvenirs.

Visiting the Old city of Marrakech is without any doubt something very nourishing and rewarding, it tells you the story of Marrakech and you get to know the local people deeply, However visiting the new city can also be very exciting. 

Gueliz is the district of art galleries and cafes.

Guéliz, in the new city, shelters a totally different cultural life. This area teeming with vibrant art galleries and cafes reflects the rising art scene.

 

In Marrakech tour guide you will also discover our 2 walking routes to dive into the heart of Moroccan culture and discover the city like a resident.

Successive dynasties in Marrakech since its founding by the Almoravids in the 11th century have endowed the city with a heritage that delights both lovers of architecture and decorative arts. If you are more drawn to shopping, your strolls in the souks in this Marrakech tour guide will be the occasion to have a glimpse of the work of the craftsmen or to discover the ceremonial of mint tea in a carpet shop.

 

Glimpses of Marrakech History. 

A first sultan erected its ramparts, the following his great mosque, his palaces, his gardens … Former stage of caravanners, Marrakech thus became a royal capital whose riches were dreaming and aroused lust. South of the medina, this route takes us through a millennium of history. As we get closer to the Kasbah, the tourist varnish that covers the city reveals the old commercial city for which the great Moroccan dynasties competed.

In This historical Marrakech tour guide, you will have the opportunity to visit the following places and areas.

 

1. Ramparts

Visible near the door of Bab Knob, these thick adobe walls could hold the chronicle of Marrakech. They only missed one episode: the arrival of Youssef ben Tachfine, chief of the Almoravids and founder of the city, in 1062. do not forget to take quality pictures with them while you are in a  Marrakech tour guide

 

2. Koutoubia Mosque

This fascinating building is something you should not miss seeing during this Marrakech tour guide. We reach it by following the ramparts to the door of Bab Jdid, then passing in front of the La Mamounia hotel. An emblem of the city, the mosque was built by the Almohads, who captured Marrakech in 1147, pillaged it and rebuilt it in their image.

 

3. Bab Agnaou

The rue Sidi Mimoun leads to this stone arch built under Yakoub el-Mansour. It is one of the oldest entrances to the city with its neighbor, Bab el-Rob. Storks have laid their nests at the top, which creates a wonderful view you should without any doubt enjoy during your Marrakech tour guide

 

4. El Badi Palace

A stone’s throw from the Place des Ferblantiers, the remains of the El-Badi palace bear witness to the glory and fall of the Saadian dynasty. In 1209, the Almohads were driven out by the Merinids and Marrakech dethroned by Fez. It will regain its splendor from 1525 with the Saadians, who built this palace, of which only a large square courtyard remains. You can take a step back in time by visiting the nearby Bahia Palace, built in the 19th century. visiting this Palace in your Marrakech tour guide will give you an idea about the greatness of the Moroccan architecture.

 

 

5.Mellah

The city’s Jewish quarter was created during the Saadian era. The waves of emigration have made Israeli families scarce there, but one can visit a welcoming synagogue and a moving cemetery. The hospitality and the conviviality of Moroccan are omnipresent in this Marrakech tour guide .

 

6.Saadian tombs

Returning on our steps towards Bab Agnaou, we reach the great mosque of the Casbah, near which the Saadian tombs are hidden. Yacoub el-Mansour rests in the largest, superbly decorated.

 

7. Around the Royal Palace

The active rue de la Casbah leads to the pointed roofs of Dar el-Makhzen, the Royal Palace, covered with glazed tiles. This official building, prohibited to the public, was built in the 17th century by the Alaouites, successors of the Saadians and dynasty of which the current king Mohammed VI is the twenty-third sovereign. On the right, you can access the interior mechouar, a vast enclosure preceding the palace. it represents a part of the Moroccan heritage you should without a doubt see during your Marrakech tour guide.

 

 

8. Walk in the souks

The souks and their maze of alleys constitute the heart of this former trading post that is Marrakech, where caravans, after a long journey, came to buy, sell and barter goods. If travelers arrive today by plane and train and no longer by camel, commercial activity remains alive and well. Explore the shopping streets, the craftsmen’s quarters and the alleys in pink tones that form the center of the medina. Do not forget to buy a souvenir from this wonderful traditional souk during your Marrakech tour guide. 

Marrakech is not only a historical city, but it is also a place full of souks from where you can purchase unique, beautiful and traditional items as gifts for your family and friends. During this Marrakech tour guide, we will also take you on a tour in the souks of Marrakech.

 

Itinerary in the souks of Marrakech

1.Jemaa el-Fna

The best place to make your mark is Jemaa el-Fna, the main square in Marrakech and the beating heart of the medina from where, like arteries, the souks radiate in all directions. The place is bubbling with energy, the excitement peaking at dusk. do not miss this place during your Marrakech tour guide. 

 

2.Rue Mouassine

Go north through the Ableuh souk (olive souk) and take west in the Quessabine souk to reach the small Bab Fteuh square. From there, take rue Mouassine straight north (if a souk can extend in a straight line).

 

3.Douiria Museum of Mouassine

A winding lane runs along the back of the Mouassine mosque. Follow it to the Douiria museum in Mouassine, the interior of which has regained its former splendor thanks to careful restoration. In this area your Marrakech tour guide will be for sure a unique experience.

 

4.Souk Sebbaghine

Return to the mosque and continue your journey north. The Sebbaghine souk is that of the dyers, as evidenced by the colorful skeins of wool hanging high and the pots of powder dye placed in front of the tiny workshops.

 

5.Souk Haddadine

The Kchachbia souk sells all kinds of souvenirs but try to tear yourself away from this flashy bric-a-brac to turn east towards the Haddadine souk. You will see the artisans at work and can buy their creations directly from them. our Marrakech tour guide aims to show you to life of the locals and not just the touristic side.

 

6.La kissaria

Enter the Smata souk and then walk randomly through the maze of alleys of the kissaria (covered market), which has retained its traditional atmosphere. Take the opportunity to buy slippers (without forgetting to haggle) and make your Marrakech tour guide more authentic and comfortable.

 

7.Rahba Kedima Square

The alleys of the kissaria join the souk el-Kebir. From there, a short walk will take you to Rahba Kedima Square, where street vendors offer handmade souvenirs, in the scent of cumin and cinnamon from apothecary shops.

 

After this Marrakech tour guide full of unique experiences and beautifuls spaces comes the time of relaxation and self care. the best thing to do after a long journey is to take a deep warm Morocain Hammam, in order to make your Marrakech tour guide more rewarding.

A secular place where you can finish your Marrakech tour guide, the hammam is a real place of purification of body and soul but it is also the place of all meetings. Where men, separated from women, talk about their lives, introduce their children and make friends there.

 

What is the Moroccan hammam?

It is a wet heat bath very different from the sauna which is based on dry heat. It is also different from the Turkish bath, which is almost completely steamed. The Moroccan hammam heats up thanks to a coil system up to mid-height. Unlike the Turkish bath, it is humid but not filled with moisture.

 

Inspired by the Roman baths that the Arabs discovered in the conquest of Syria, the hammam is currently and often composed of one piece or even two for exfoliation. However, it is its shortened version that we know today. Traditionally, it includes several rooms (minimum 3) which will increase in temperature to reach the hottest room by 50 °. The goal is to evolve within these rooms by accustoming the body to progressively more intense heat. Thanks to this heat, the skin will become more flexible, the pores will open. and then you can remove the dead skin and make your body feel soft and clean

 

The Moroccan hammam represents a beauty ritual with multiple benefits that you should enjoy during your Marrakech tour guide. 

To enjoy the benefits of the hammam, stay there for a minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of 2 hours, to rest there and lie down on the ground or on the benches. During this time, a Kessala (name of women practicing scrubs in hammams), applies black soap to the whole body. Then, after an exposure time of fifteen minutes when rest is required, the Kessala will rinse the black soap, using a Kessa glove, it will then rub the body in order to remove the impurities. 

what a great feeling after a long Marrakech tour guide. 

For More information on Our Marrakech tour guide, do not hesitate to contact us and to book a tour with our well-experienced guides.