Marrakesh is a vibrant, bustling place – and the good news is, you don’t need a huge budget to enjoy it.
Whether you’re browsing the souks, taking a day trip to a kasbah or sipping mint tea on a rooftop, there are lots of ways to enjoy the city whilst making your money go further. Here’s how to save on your trip to Marrakesh.
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1. Go on a walking tour
One of my top money-saving tips for a city break is always a walking tour, because they’re a great way to discover your surroundings, you can choose whatever one that best suits your budget.
Don’t want to spend anything at all? Google ‘self guided walking tours’ and ‘Marrakesh’ and get out there for yourself!
However, if you’d like to learn about the local history and culture and chat to someone who knows what they’re on about, I’d recommend going on a free walking tour where you tip the guide at the end. The good news here is that most of these tours say you can pay what you feel and what you can afford, and so this is a possibility even when you’re on a tight budget!
The other option is to opt for a paid-for tour that’s more tailored to your tastes. This usually comes with a bigger price tag but some of them even have specific themes to do with culture, food or history. For Marrakesh, I love the look of this guided souk tour and this evening food tour too.
2. Tick off some free activities and attractions
While a few of the top tourist attractions do command a small fee, there are some places you can rock up to for free in the city.
The Medina
Marrakesh’s medina, its old town with its narrow streets and souks, is free to enter, and you can easily while away a morning or afternoon exploring – examining the produce on offer – everything from spices and sweets to soaps and rugs – searching for trinkets and just soaking up the atmosphere. It’s like a living museum!
Jemaa el-Fnaa
The beating heart of the medina is Jemaa el-Fnaa, the central square which is full of market and food stalls as well as entertainers. My top tip is to keep moving and stroll around to avoid getting hassled – I saw people lingering to watch entertainers or even take photos and that’s when they started getting asked for money!
Sadly, you will see some monkeys and snakes ‘performing’ for tourists here and the best way to deal with this is to ignore it completely. It’s a case of your attention – and then your cash – will encourage these vendors to continue with these practices, and so by avoiding them you can hopefully encourage them to stop in the future.
If the hustle is too much for you, I recommend finding yourself a rooftop cafe or bar that overlooks the square so you can take it in from afar. Try Le Grand Balcon du Cafe Glacier, to watch the evening bustle whilst sipping a mint tea.
Koutobia Mosque
Koutoubia Mosque is the largest and most famous mosque in Marrakesh. You’ll find you often catch sight of its minaret, which is an impressive 77m high! This is an iconic building in the city so do definitely swing past to check it out – it’s a working mosque so only Muslims can go inside to pray. It’s located next to Jemaa El Fnaa so it’s easy to swing by.
Menara Gardens
These historic gardens are just outside Marrakesh – close to the airport – and make a nice retreat from the busyness of the city. They’re very peaceful with spectacular views of the Atlas mountains. Stroll through the olive and palm trees, and admire the huge lake filled with water that comes all the way down from the mountain via underground tunnels.
3. Marvel at the beauty of affordable attractions
Marrakesh is one of those places where I do recommend you set a bit of budget to the side to visit some ticked attractions. This is how you’ll see some of the stunning architecture up close that the city is well known for.
Bahia Palace
- Entry from £6 / 70 MAD
Make a stop at Bahia Palace, which will cost you around £6 / 70 DAM. You’ll see beautiful architectural features here like marble floors and colourful mosaics. The tiled courtyard is really pretty – you might even recognise it as I feel like it’s always full of people getting the perfect Instagram shot!
Madrasa Ben Youssef
- Entry from £4 / 50 MAD
There’s also Ben Yousef, an Islamic college or madrasa, it costs around £4 to get in here. Again there is amazing detail to see – intricate wooden carvings and more colourful tiles as well as the beautiful courtyard – you can even peek at the students’ rooms too.
Le Jardin Secret
- Entry from £8.20 / 100 MAD
Judging by the queues outside, this should be called the not so secret garden, but it’s popular for good reason. It’s a little haven of peace and quiet in the heart of the medina. It’s a classic example of historic Moroccan architecture which has been carefully restored.
Jardin Majorelle
- Entry from £14 / 170 MAD
These gardens are super famous thanks to their beautiful plants and the iconic blue building inside. They are named after a French painter who designed them, but are more commonly known as once being the home of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. This is really a must see – go early before the crowds and pay attention to the time of your ticket – don’t miss your slot!
El Badi Palace
- Entry from £8.20 / 100 MAD
El Badi is a ruined palace that was built in the 16th century for a rich sultan. Once upon a time it was dripping with marble and gold, it’s now a ruin so you’ll need to imagine how things once were! The scale of the place is still impressive though – see if you can spot the storks that nest here.
4. Stay in a traditional riad
One of the big benefits of staying in Marrakesh medina is staying in a gorgeous traditional riad or guesthouse. And the good news is loads of them are pretty well-priced. They often come with a huge traditional breakfast included, which will probably be served in a cute courtyard or even on a rooftop.
It’s also common to organise for someone from your riad to meet you at the outer walls of the medina when you arrive. The medina is like a maze and it’s very easy to get lost.
Especially if you have a lot of heavy luggage, arranging for someone to meet you is a good way to avoid having to find a porter when you arrive outside the medina, when the risk of getting ripped off is high!
Suggested hotels
Budget:
Riad Jnane Mogador
Riad Redous
Mid-range:
Riad Marrakech Peace
Riad Zoraida
Treat:
Riad Anya
La Mamounia
5. Get dirham out once you arrive in Morocco
The currency in Morocco is the dirham, and it’s known as a closed currency meaning you can’t really get it outside the country. However some currency exchange places in the UK do seem to offer it if you’d like to be prepared. Bear in mind you can take a maximum of 2,000 Moroccan dirham into or out of the country, which is just over £400.
However, I personally prefer to get dirham when I’m in the country – you can do this if you’ve got a card that allows you to withdraw money from a foreign ATM without a fee. It may well be that the ATM itself will charge you a small fee – around £2.50 – but this can often work out at a better exchange rate than pre-ordering your money in the UK. Just make sure to check the terms of whatever card you choose to use. AND make sure you ignore any invitations on the ATM screen to convert to pounds before you pay. Always withdraw in the local currency to avoid extra fees!
The other option is to take cash in pounds, euros or dollars to exchange whilst you’re there.
Also, if you happen to have any spare euros lying about, grab them for this trip as they can be really handy to have. A taxi driver accepted my €20 when I realised I was out of dirham on a previous trip – and some other places will accept euros too.
6. Eat on the go
Food in Marrakesh is delicious and incredibly cheap too – if you stick to the street food stalls and local snack bars and cafes.
For breakfast, go for msemmen flat bread or berber pancakes, and for lunch and dinner, try kebabs, soups and tagines.
Wherever you are in the world, consider that eating street food is not the same as eating in a restaurant in terms of food safety and preparation standards. But keep in mind – just because a spot is pretty basic, it doesn’t mean it’s not clean. Sure there might be scratched tables or bashed plates – but it doesn’t mean they don’t keep good hygiene!
If you’re wary, check how clean the place looks and don’t ignore your gut if you don’t like it. You can also ask your accommodation to point you in the direction of places they recommend.
Opt for vegetarian meals if you’re worried about eating meat, and if you’re grabbing a delicious fresh juice from a stand, just check the cups are unused, and order without ice.
I had the most delicious hot sandwich at Sandwich Dada which had onions, tomatoes, minced beef, cheese and hot sauce in a huge roll for just 15 MAD – that’s less than £1.25! There are several places serving similar sandwiches here and there are veggie options too.
Chez Cherif was also brilliant for offering a ‘meal du jour’ – a dish of the day – for just 60MAD, which is around £4.90. This included the most beautiful salad and dips, bread, a kofte tagine and a soft drink. What a bargain!
7. Chill out in a garden
When you’ve had enough of the medina – which is likely to happen! – seek a little peace and quiet in one of Marrakesh’s gardens.
Try the Cyber Park, a huge park in the city centre which is free to enter. It’s an old historic garden which has been more recently overhauled with some tech-led facilities like smart irrigation facilities and wifi.
Or there’s Le Jardin Secret, a little sanctuary in the medina, which we mentioned above. When I visited there were a few people sat in the middle of the gardens with a book in hand and it honestly looked like the best way to spend a few hours.
Alternatively, lots of riads have rooftops, or leafy courtyards, so if you choose one of these you’ll have a little oasis you can retreat to for free whenever you like!
Of course probably the most famous garden here is the Majorelle Garden, which was once owned by the designer Yves Saint Laurent. This is such a popular spot that I wouldn’t exactly say it’s a place to chill out – but if you get there early, you do get a peaceful chunk of time to enjoy it without the crowds. It’s essential to book in advance, and be aware your ticket is for a specific time slot, so don’t miss it!
There’s also the historic Menara Gardens, a sweeping park with an enormous lake and lots of shady olive and palm trees, that’s on the way to the airport.
7. Visit in the off peak season
While spring and autumn are the most popular times to visit Marrakesh, trips in this period also come with higher price tags and bigger crowds. To save money – and experience the city when it’s a bit less busy – consider planning your trip between November and February. You’re more likely to bag more affordable accommodation and cheaper flights in these off peak months, so it’s an ideal time to visit if you’re watching your budget.
Though temperatures can drop, especially in the mornings and evenings, sunny days are still common – so it’s still good weather for exploring the historic souks, serene gardens, and historic sites without the usual gaggles of tourists. Just make sure you pack lots of layers and bring a big coat for the evenings.
As there are fewer visitors in this period, you might even find discounts on guided tours, day trips – like ones to the Atlas Mountains or the desert – and even on local taxi rides. Just remember if you’re going to mountains or desert, it will be much colder than in milder months.
Overall a visit in winter means you get to experience a more intimate side of Marrakesh, when it’s a bit quieter.
9. Get your haggle on
In Marrakesh, haggling is all part of the standard shopping experience. It’s expected and it isn’t rude! The general rules are to not accept the price you’re given first, whether it’s a pricey rug or 50g of spices. Be polite but firm, and don’t be shy about pushing for a better price.
It’s a good idea to know in your head the highest price you’re prepared to pay for any item before you even ask the price or begin the haggling process. If the price is way too high – even after you’ve haggled for it – just say thank you and walk away.
My top tip is to always browse a few places before buying anything. You might fall in love with something in one shop, only to find it in lots of other places! If this happens, asking the price in each place can help give you confidence when you’re haggling, because they’re likely to be very different!
And finally, try to keep things neutral – if you’ve fallen in love with something, don’t let on! – keep your manner casual so they need to win you over.
If you’re at a loss of where to start, you could ask the vendors for a price and then offer half – just don’t raise your price too quickly. You want to bring them down to your offer, not the other way around!
10. Go all inclusive
There’s actually a good choice of all inclusive resorts close to the city of Marrakesh. Whilst you can eat and drink on a budget by doing it yourself, if you’d like to have a more unlimited option, then there are some great deals to be had in these resorts! Especially if you’re travelling off peak.
This will also suit you if you hope to be enjoying a few alcoholic drinks, since not every food place in Marrakesh will serve booze, and therefore it’s not as easy to find cheap drinks as it is meals.
My advice would be to opt for a stay that includes a free shuttle into the city so that you can still experience all the wonderful culture that you’d otherwise miss out on!
Boost Your Holiday Budget With Our Ways To Save Money on Your Marrakesh Trip
Marrakesh is always a strong option for an affordable city break. And with a bit of planning and a few local tips, there are plenty of ways you can save money on your Marrakesh trip.
It’s one of those places where there are exciting sights and sounds around every corner, and just wandering the streets feels like an activity – so you don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy this incredible city!
