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Marrakesh
Agafay Desert
If you’re staying in or around Marrakesh then a hot air balloon trip with spectacular views of the Moroccan landscape including the Atlas Mountains and Berber villages is…
Just an hours drive from the centre of Marrakesh is the Agafay Desert and it’s the perfect place for some adventure activities from camel rides to racing around…
The Majorelle Garden (or Jardin Majorelle to give its correct French name) is a tranquil oasis in the city of Marrakesh with lily filled ponds, fountains and thousands…
Trip Information
Morocco, and particularly along the coast, experiences a typical Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and hot dry summers.
Nov, Dec, Jan and Feb are the winter months but offer lovely warm days and cold nights and it is generally sunny and bright with temperatures in the high teens during the day and chilly at night.
March, April, May, June, September and October are all excellent months for travelling to Morocco with days in the low to high 20’s and warmer nights.
The rainy season generally extends from October to April with the wettest period being between January and March however the south and the desert areas are much drier and receive significantly less rainfall.
July and August are hot! Temperatures in-land can reach over 40c but the heat is dry so not as tiring as humid weather but along the coastline it is slightly cooler and makes ideal beach weather if that’s what you are looking for.
We travelled to Morocco in February where the mornings were crisp and the days had beautiful blue skies and were warm followed by cool and clear evenings.
Before you go
For most nationalities, including UK and US citizens, a visa is not required for tourist visits to Morocco that are 90 days or less.
Even if you don’t require a visa at immigration control at airport you may be asked to provide proof of onward/return travel; proof of funds to support yourself during your stay and; evidence of your accommodation whilst you’re in Morocco. Make sure you have this to hand to speed up your exit.
Please note:
The ETIAS visa expected in late 2026 for all non-EU citizens (UK, US etc) entering any country in the EU is NOT required for Morocco. Morocco is a country associated with the EU for trade purposes but it is not part of the ETIAS scheme.
Flight Arrival Information
Our flight from Birmingham to Marrakesh Airport (RAK) was with Easyjet flying directly into Marrakesh (can also be spelt Marrakech!).
Flights were originally sourced via Skyscanner and then booked directly with the airline. Skyscanner is our preferred flight search engine due to the ease of searching different airports, flight dates, times and airlines.
Flight costs were £265 in total for two people including seat selection and one piece of 20kg checked in/hold luggage with small backpacks as a carry on which were free.
If you can be flexible on your airport, dates and times there are some excellent deals from £60 pp especially
if you’re prepared to take early morning or late night flights (which we tend to avoid).
Other UK airports that fly to Venice include Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Luton, Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester and Edinburgh.
Flight time to most destinations in Morocco is between 3.5-4 hrs from most UK airports.
Trip Information
Marrakesh airport (code name RAK) is a reasonably modern airport and although it only has two terminals
its best to expect lengthy queues through immigration so bear this in mind if you are planning on booking a timed hotel private transfer. It does depend on the time of day and the number of arrival flights but it can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 1.5hrs from the time you land til you exit the airport.
Immigration may ask you to provide proof of onward/return travel and proof of funds to support yourself during your stay and evidence of your accommodation whilst you’re in Morocco. Make sure you have this to hand to speed up your exit. They may also ask each person in your party to come up one at a time so make sure everyone has the details. It is just a formality but can slow things down.
Marrakesh airport is located about 15 minutes drive from the city centre and there are plenty of taxis located just outside the terminal. Costs for a one way trip to the city will be around £6 / €7 / $8 during the day and double this at night time.
There is a cheaper alternative, the airport shuttle bus, which leaves every 30 minutes from just past the airport car park outside the terminal. This costs £2.50 / €2.13 / $2.80, takes around 40 minutes and drops off at Jemaa el-Fna square in the heart of the city.
There are no Ubers or Lyfts in Marrakesh, these were banned in 2018 due to protests from local taxi drivers.
Getting a taxi is the easiest way to travel around with the hailing of a taxi common or having your hotel arrange one.
There is the private driver option if you are intending to travel around and prefer a bit of luxury or need a larger and more comfortable vehicle. Check out Get Your Guide which gives you a range of options from an airport transfer to day trips.
The currency in Marrakesh is the Moroccan Dirham (Dh) or MAD which is made up of 100 Centimes (cents).
A key note is that the Dirham is non-convertible so whatever cash you have leftover you can’t convert back to a different currency.
The MAD at the time: 100 Dh = £8.10 / €9.50 / $10.80. Check out Xe Currency for the latest conversion rates.
Dirham coin denominations are 1, 2, 5 and 10 and for notes they are 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200.
Coffee costs around 10-20 Dh and a beer or wine from 50 Dh.
As Morocco is a Muslim country alcohol is not commonly found as it is against Islamic law to consume it. Check with a restaurant if they serve alcohol and don’t expect to find lots of bars or clubs and please note, drinking alcohol in public is illegal.
Tipping in restaurants is customary but not mandatory and a circa 10% tip in a restaurant is sufficient if you do tip.
When shopping in markets and squares it’s best to use cash as card machines will not be available in the smaller shops and stores. Plus it will help with any haggling!
We recommend the use of a Revolut card for your travels which you can use as an App as well as a physical card. It can be used all over the world, is free to apply, can be linked to your accounts for easy online transfers and has low exchange rate fees. Kids can have a Revolut card too which is great for their independence when travelling.
Revolut also provide monthly plan options which give midweek no-fee exchanges in over 30 currencies as well as access to airport lounges, travel insurance and airline miles.
Practical Advice & Tips
If you stay in the centre of Marrakesh the best way to get around is simply by walking. Its the only way to explore the souks, which are open air markets and bazaars and are the main attraction when visiting the city.
If you are travelling out of the city to other sights or staying further away from the city then taxis and the best mode of transport. They can be easily hailed on the street or arranged through your hotel.
There are two types of taxis:
These are easy to recongise as like the cabs in New York they’re yellow-ish (in Agadir they’re orange and in Casablanca they’re red!). These taxis are, as per the name, smaller commonly Dacia Logans and only carry up to three passengers and are only allowed to operate within the city limits. They are perfect for single trips around the city and they are all metered – just make sure the driver puts it on as sometimes they ‘forget’.
These vary in colour and are larger vehicles, generally Dacia Lodgys, and are used for longer journeys or multiple stops. Grand Taxis hold up to six people and fares are based on destination not a meter so always agree on the fare before you depart. They are often found outside larger hotels, airports, bus and train stations.
There is a quirk to these Grand Taxis though!
They only leave once they have a full car. So if you don’t have enough passengers to fill the car or; don’t pay to have the entire car – the driver will stop and pick other people up along the way!
This can be a cheap way of getting around but also an inconvenience if you don’t want to share with others!
Make sure you clarify the destination and how you want to hire the taxi (ie to share or all of it) and the cost before you set off.
An example cost of all six seats in a Grand Taxi from Marrakesh to Casablanca one way (240 km / 149 miles) would be circa 550 Dh or £45 / €52 / $59.
Taking taxis in Marrakesh is generally safe and no more dangerous than any other major city. The driving can be a little sketchy so just make sure the seatbelts work!
Marrakesh doesn’t have a underground or metro system but it does have a train station and these are comfortable and
depending on what day and time you travel can be cheap.
A 2.5 hr journey from Marrakesh to Casablanca via First Class will cost from 150 Dh or £12 / €14 / $16 and trains run frequently. Train schedules, prices and bookings can be made at the station or online via ONCF or Rail Ninja.
Private vehicle hire is a great option if you are a group
or prefer to travel in a bit more comfort but these are obviously more expensive.
Private hires can be arranged through your hotel or there are various options via Get Your Guide.
If you are a confident driver and plan on travelling around Morocco and want more flexibility then car hire is definitely doable. Check out Booking.com for options and always take the full comprehensive car insurance. Driving in the cities can be sketchy and whilst the main roads are generally well-maintained, roads in rural areas or towards the deserts can be rough and unpaved. If you intend to go off road then definitely select a 4 x 4 option.
Where to stay
Marrakesh has a great range of accommodation choices with reasonable prices from
city centre traditional Riads to secluded off the beaten track five star resorts.
Where you want to stay is a personal preference but if you’re in Morocco to explore and experience the culture then staying in a Riad has to be the only option.
Riads are a traditional Moroccan house with a central courtyard, garden or pool and are generally found in the medinas (old historic centre of a city often with a wall around it). All the accommodation in Riads generally open into the internal courtyard area so check bookings for sound proofing or previous stays review if absolute silence is a necessity!
Riad is Arabic for garden and these large homes were often owned by wealthy families that have been converted into amazing places to stay. The right choice of Riad will provide a quiet and serene hideaway from the bustling and hectic medina and unlike accommodation in many cities of the world, is an experience in itself.
Below are a range of accommodation choices we have selected located within the medina or outside the city including our Riad in the city centre and luxury camp in the Agafay Desert.
If you are considering to stay outside of the city take into account the limited public transport and reliance on taxis or private hire.
£££££ Agafay Luxury Camp is located just an hours drive from Marrakesh in the Agafay Desert and was our stay after being in the city. This amazing property has two restaurants and swimming pools with accommodation in ‘tents’. But these are not your normal tents, these are luxury tents with king size beds, outdoor lounge, huge bathrooms and some come with outside baths or your own private pool. The views over the desert especially at sunset or sunrise are spectacular and the service and food is fantastic. It’s not often we return to the same place but this is one that we definitely would.
££££ Hotel & Ryad Art Place was our Riad located right in Jamaâ El Fna Square which we highly recommend. Tucked in the corner of the square through the market crowds sits this jewel of a stay. Through large intricately carved doors that the concierge will open you’ll step out of the hustle and bustle and into the calm and tranquillity this accommodation has to offer. The Art Place has excellent service, will assist in any tours or queries you may have and it has a rooftop pool and views over the market as well as a fantastic breakfast buffet and dinner menu allowing you to sample many traditional Moroccan culinary delights.
£££ Fashion Boutique Hotel is a highly rated hotel just a 30 minute walk to the Majorelle Garden and YSL Musuem and the Jemaa el-Fnaa square and market place. There are a range of reasonably priced room options and the hotel comes with a rooftop swimming pool and pool bar, restaurant and spa and wellness centre.
££ Riad Al Nubala is a very well priced and immaculately presented Riad, this accommodation comes with a sun terrace and includes breakfast. It is well located in the medina just a 20 minute walk from the Kutubiyya Mosque, Jemaa el-Fnaa Square and the Souk Semmarine.
£ Budget does not mean bad when it comes to accommodation choices in Marrakesh and there is a great selection of good quality inexpensive Riads to choose from. Recommended is Riad Zoraida which is located just a 10 minute walk from Bahia Palace, it has its own hammam and massage experience, is quiet, has a rooftop jacuzzi and comes with a good buffet breakfast.
There are many all inclusive resorts in Marrakesh such as the Hotel Riu Tikida Palmeraie or the Kenzi Club Agdal Medina. These offer great value for families with plenty of activities such as tennis, swimming, live music, themed nights, spas and wellness centres etc. Most resorts in Marrakesh are located outside of the main city so taxis or private hires will need to be used to travel in and out.
Whether you are after a short relaxing break or an adventurous trip, Morocco is a fantastic choice for your next holiday. With excellent weather, amazing culture, stunning landscapes, palaces and gardens, vibrant markets and excellent accommodation options and great cuisine – this North African country, just a four hour flight from the UK, is a highly recommended destination.
Explore the ancient walled medinas, haggle for goods in the bustling souks and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells then relax in the comfort and serenity of your traditional Riad.
You won’t be disappointed with a trip to Morocco and if you’re after some adventure that’s right on your doorstep you can go on a camel ride, race dune buggies across the Sahara or hot air balloon over the Agafay Desert with spectacular views over the Atlas Mountains.
