Marrakech
First Impressions
Marrakech was unlike anywhere we had visited before.
Arriving in the Medina for the first time felt like sensory overload. Narrow alleyways twisted in every direction, scooters squeezed through crowds without warning, market stalls spilled into the walkways, and the constant sounds of people, animals, carts, and motorbikes filled the air from sunrise until late into the evening.
After months travelling through Europe, Marrakech felt chaotic, colourful, and completely foreign.
At first, it was overwhelming.
But once we slowed down and accepted that getting lost was part of the experience, we began to appreciate what makes Marrakech so unique.
We stayed in two very different parts of the city during our time here. Our first stay was inside the Medina, placing us right in the middle of the action. Later, we returned to Marrakech and stayed outside the old city walls, giving us a very different perspective of daily life in Morocco.
What We Found in Marrakech
Marrakech is one of Morocco's most famous cities and has been a major trading centre for centuries.
The Medina sits at the heart of the city and feels like a giant maze. Every turn reveals something different: spice stalls, leather workshops, tiny cafes, fresh orange juice stands, hidden riads, and market vendors selling everything imaginable.
Outside the Medina, the city feels completely different.
Wide roads, modern shopping centres, apartment blocks, and supermarkets create a much more familiar environment. It almost feels like two separate cities existing side by side.
The contrast between old and new became one of the things we found most interesting about Marrakech.
Highlights
Exploring the Medina
Walking through the Medina was one of those experiences we're glad we had, but not necessarily one we'd rush to repeat.
The narrow alleyways were packed with people, scooters, hand carts, street vendors, and market stalls all competing for the same small spaces. Add in the smells from food stalls, animals, dust hanging in the air, and the constant noise, and it quickly became overwhelming.
The kids stayed close the entire time.
At first there was excitement as we wandered through the maze-like streets, taking in something completely different to anywhere we had visited before. But after a while, the novelty began to wear off and our focus shifted more towards simply navigating the chaos than actually enjoying it.
It felt less like sightseeing and more like survival.
While the Medina is undoubtedly one of Marrakech's biggest attractions, we found a single walk through its busy streets was enough for us. The experience gave us a fascinating glimpse into daily life and centuries of history, but we were equally happy to step back into the quieter parts of the city afterwards.
Jemaa el-Fnaa
If the Medina felt chaotic, Jemaa el-Fnaa took things to another level.
The famous square sits at the heart of Marrakech and is unlike anywhere we've ever been. As the afternoon rolled on, the space filled with food stalls, performers, musicians, snake charmers, and crowds of tourists trying to take it all in.
At first it was fascinating.
Cobras swayed to the music while handlers encouraged people to come closer for photos. Men carrying dressed-up monkeys worked the crowds looking for tourists, often placing the animals on unsuspecting shoulders before immediately demanding payment.
Everywhere you looked there was something happening.
The atmosphere was energetic and undeniably unique, but it could also feel quite confronting. Simply slowing down to watch something often attracted attention, and it didn't take long to realise that many interactions came with an expectation of money.
For us, Jemaa el-Fnaa was less about relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere and more about experiencing a side of Morocco that felt completely foreign to anything we had encountered before. It was chaotic, intense, and memorable, and while we're glad we saw it, it wasn't somewhere we found ourselves wanting to spend long periods of time.
Returning Outside the Medina
After our Sahara Desert tour, we returned to Marrakech and stayed outside the Medina.
The experience couldn't have been more different.
While the Medina was chaotic and crowded, the outer suburbs felt noticeably poorer and far less polished. The streets were rougher, buildings appeared more run down, and there was a visible level of poverty that we hadn't noticed as much during our first stay.
One thing that stood out immediately was the number of stray cats.
When we first arrived at our accommodation, the stairwell and corridors were full of cats and the smell of cat urine and faeces was difficult to ignore. It wasn't the most welcoming first impression.
What surprised us was the contrast once we stepped inside our apartment.
The accommodation itself was modern, clean, spacious, and comfortable. It felt like a completely different world compared to what was outside the front door.
Daily life was also a little more challenging than we expected. There were no large supermarkets nearby, only small convenience stores selling mostly packaged goods, and food options within walking distance were fairly limited.
The upside was cost.
Eating out was significantly cheaper than inside the Medina, and we found local restaurants offered far better value than many of the tourist-focused venues we had encountered earlier in our stay.
While this part of Marrakech wasn't as visually impressive as the historic centre, it provided a more authentic glimpse into how many locals live day to day and added another layer to our understanding of the city.
Challenges
Marrakech was one of the most challenging destinations we visited during our travels.
The sheer volume of people, noise, traffic, smells, and constant stimulation took some adjusting to. Navigating the Medina often felt overwhelming, particularly with children, as scooters, carts, vendors, tourists, and locals all competed for space in the narrow alleyways.
The attention from street sellers could also become exhausting. Whether it was market vendors, snake charmers, monkey handlers, or people offering directions, many interactions seemed to come with an expectation of payment.
Outside the Medina presented a different set of challenges. Food options were more limited, access to groceries wasn't always easy, and the visible poverty and stray animal population were difficult to ignore.
Combined with the dust, heat, and busy pace of the city, Marrakech was not a place where we immediately felt comfortable.
It was a destination that required patience, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace experiences that were often far outside our comfort zone.
Looking Back
Looking back, Marrakech wasn't our favourite destination in Morocco, but it was certainly one of the most memorable.
It challenged many of our expectations and exposed us to a culture, environment, and way of life that felt completely different to anything we had experienced before. While we didn't always enjoy the chaos, we appreciated the opportunity to see a side of the world that operates very differently from home.
The city constantly sat between two extremes.
Historic yet modern.
Beautiful yet confronting.
Welcoming yet overwhelming.
Some moments left us fascinated, while others left us searching for quieter spaces and a chance to catch our breath.
Marrakech may not have been a destination we fell in love with, but it was one that broadened our perspective and gave us a deeper appreciation for the diversity of experiences that long-term travel can offer.
Explore Our Time in Marrakech
👉 Read our full Morocco budget breakdown
👉 Follow our day-to-day experiences in our Marrakech daily journals