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Going Places: Destinations |
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Marrakesh is known as the Red City of Morocco for the rose pink color of its buildings. For nearly a thousand years, it provided a safe haven for the camel caravans trekking across the Sahara Desert. Today, it trades in foreign visitors as the country's preeminent tourist destination.
Its ancient walled city holds an almost unfathomable labyrinth of streets, squares, and blind alleys. Getting lost is part of the fun, and there's treasure hidden around almost every corner-markets to haggle in, traditional courtyard houses turned into jewel-like guesthouses, and luxury spas for unwinding after a long day of sightseeing. Read more in Paul Clammer's guide to Marrakesh.
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Marrakesh isn't a city you simply see. It's one you hear, smell, and feel all around you. These can't-misses capture the rhythm, history, and magic that round out a Red City adventure. |
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Djemaa el Fna: The city's electric main square and social heart, filled with musicians, snake charmers, storytellers, and food stalls that hum with life at all hours of the day.
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Medina souqs: A maze of street markets radiating from Djemaa el Fna. Browse leather goods, carpets, spices, and copper while practicing the art of bargaining.
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Riad stay: Traditional courtyard homes hidden behind plain walls, offering a glimpse into Moroccan design with mosaics, carved stucco, and tranquil inner gardens.
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Traditional hammam: Whether at a centuries-old bathhouse like Mouassine Hammam or a luxe riad spa, this steaming, scrubbing ritual is a quintessential experience.
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Majorelle Gardens & Musée Yves Saint Laurent: A lush garden created by French artist Jacques Majorelle (later owned by Yves Saint Laurent), and a striking museum celebrating the designer's connection to the city.
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Preserving ancient traditions
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One institution always at the heart of the Djemaa el Fna was the city's legion of hikayat, or traditional storytellers. For more than 1,000 years, storytellers have passed on traditions and cultural stories, acting as a blend of entertainer, instructor, and town crier.
The art has been threatened with extinction as older storytellers retire, but in recent years there's been a revival. A program run by Marrakesh's Cafe Clock has gathered the few remaining Master Storytellers to preserve their stories and perform them for visitors, and encourage younger Moroccans to become their apprentices and carry the tradition forward.
-Paul Clammer, Going contributing writer
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Arrive hungry. Marrakesh's culinary scene is built on comfort, spice, and time-honored techniques that have the power to make your entire trip. |
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Tanjia: A Marrakesh specialty of slow-cooked meat, preserved lemons, garlic, and spices, traditionally baked for hours in hammam ovens until meltingly tender.
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Tagines and couscous: Moroccan staples, served in traditional dishware, fragrant with spices, and found everywhere from humble stalls to refined restaurants.
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Mint tea ("Berber whisky"): A beloved national drink made from green tea, fresh mint, and lots of sugar, poured theatrically from up high and meant to be sipped slowly.
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Street food at Djemaa el Fna: Nighttime stalls serve everything from smoky kebabs to snail soup, all amid rising steam and nonstop energy.
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Why visit Marrakesh in 2026 |
Increased United service from Newark, a new Delta direct route from Atlanta, and more capacity from Europe make Morocco cheaper and easier to reach this year-and one of our picks for Where To Go in 2026.
Willis, Going's Senior Manager, Member Performance, says: Marrakesh is often treated as the jumping-off point for Morocco's landscapes, but the city itself deserves real time. The medina is a maze that rewards slow wandering, with lantern workshops, spice stalls, hidden riad courtyards, and the sound of everyday life echoing through narrow alleyways.
It can feel overwhelming at first, which is why booking a medina food tour on your first day is our number one travel tip for Morocco. You'll get a look at how families source and combine ingredients, how communal bakeries still anchor neighborhoods and entire communities, and how food shapes daily life. After that, the medina feels far less intimidating, and you'll be able to venture more confidently into the rest of your Moroccan travels.
From Marrakesh, it's easy to reach palm-lined oases, ancient mud brick villages in the High Atlas, or even continue toward the Sahara dunes. Morocco may feel a world away, but in 2026, it becomes closer and more accessible than ever. |
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