How to spend 48 hours in Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech, Morocco, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with modern allure. In this guide, discover the perfect itinerary for making the most of your 48-hour trips immersing yourself in the city’s rich culture, delicious cuisine and exotic landmarks.

Only have a short time to spend in Morocco and want to see as much of it as you can? This is our recommendation for how to squeeze as much of Marrakech into the short amount of time that you have. Unfortunately we felt we didn’t have enough time in Marrakech however it absolutely can be done.

Check out here for the full guide on Our Morocco Coastal Tour: A Travel Guide to 5 Days in Morocco – G Adventures Tour

To see our tour Coastal Morocco: Waves & Market Stalls

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Before you get to Marrakech

When arriving into the airport make sure you bring some cash on you so that you are able to exchange it at the airport. Majority of the exchanges are cash only, though there was one that accepted card for a hefty processing fee. We would recommend exchanging a small amount of cash at the airport, then once in Marrakech you are able to get withdraw cash as needed from an ATM. Morocco is primarily cash only, only larger establishments accept card.

Another tip while in Morocco is that it is worth getting a Moroccan SIM we used Orange which worked great for the whole time for us and can be purchased from the airport. A sim with 10gb of data costs €10, but they accept cash only. You can also be extra prepared which we were not by getting an eSIM such as Airalo, where you can purchase coverage for different countries through different packages.

How to get from the Airport?

Marrakech Menara Airport is conveniently located just a short 15-minute drive from the city center, but be prepared for potential delays due to traffic.

Before you arrive in Marrakech I would highly advise that you prebook airport transfers, we booked ours through Viator which made leaving the airport super easy after we spent nearly 2 hours at passport control. There is also a local bus if you are travelling on a super tight budget however due to the ease and the small cost for the pre-booked transfers this is the best way to get from the airport into your hotel.

Things to remember in Morocco:

• Always remember to carry cash! Marrakesh has many reputable banks where you are able to use the ATM, it is also worth bringing some of your own currency in and exchanging it at the airport so that you have cash on arrival.
• Don’t drink the water. Due to coming from a different country the water may react to your system differently than that of the locals. It is also worth carrying Imodium and or Charcoal to help settle those sensitive stomachs.
• Please dress respectfully! Morocco is a Muslim country as such I feel we really need to respect their values. As Marrakesh is a tourist town you will see people walking around in their swimsuits and shorts however I recommend investing in some long linen tops and bottoms. It will also protect you from the harsh sun at the same time.

For more tips of What Not to do in Marrakesh read Kelly’s full guide here

Things to do in Marrakesh:

Once we arrived into our hotel which was the one where we start our G Adventures Coastal Morocco: Waves & Market Stalls tour from we hailed a taxi to take us into the Medina. When you hail a taxi make sure that you negotiate the rate for the taxi before you get inside. Also make sure they’re clear on the location that you are heading to due to the language barrier we nearly ended up 30 minutes out of the city when trying to arrive back at our hotel.

Jemaa El Fnaa

Jemaa El Fnaa is the large market square in the middle of Marrakechs Medina. During the day it is quiet and lined with a few juice stalls and people wanting you to take photos with exotic animals however at night is when it gets going. If you are unsure about heading there at night on your own you can join the Walking Tour in Marrakech Medina by Night where you will be shown around the market square with a guide.

Bahia Palace

Bahia Palace meaning “brilliant” in Arabic is a 19th century building lined with paintings, ceramics and gardens to show the wealth of those who built it. The palace is set on two achres of land and has over 150 rooms, you can explore the palace with a Guided Tour tickets can be purchased through Get Your Guide Here.

Koutoubia Mosque

The Koutoubia Mosque is a symbol of Islamic art and culture built in the 12th century. Its tower stands at 77 meters allowing you to see it all through Marrakesh. Those that are not Muslim are not allowed inside the Mosque however there is plenty to be able to see from the outside.

Medersa Ben Youssef

Built in the 14th century Ben Youssef Madrasa was the largest Islamic college when in operation. Tickets can be paid for at the entrance and cost 40DH ( approximately £3).

Jardin Majorelle

Jardin Majorelle is a two acre garden created by Jacques Majorelle a French landscaper in 1923. The garden was then bought by fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and restored it to its current state and also opened the YSL Museum on the grounds. You can buy tickets to Jardin Majorelle through Get Your Guide here.

Where to eat in Marrakech?

Atay Cafe

Cafe

This was our favourite place that we ate in Marrakesh. It had a very relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere compared to some of the other roof tops in which we visited. The food was great our favourite dish was the Chicken Tajine!

Cafe des Epices

Resturant

A very popular cafe located in the same square as the famous Nomad Cafe. This was the first cafe we visited in Marrakesh and due to the heat we opted to share a few salad options which were great! It can be very busy here so we had to wait a while to get a table with a good view however it was worth it watching the people working away in the square.

Cafe Clock

Cafe

We didn’t make it here however we have it on good recommendation that this was some of the best food in Morocco. Their Pastilles are the highlight so if you get a chance make sure to check out Cafe Clock.

Dar El Bacha Coffee

Coffee

If you are a coffee enthusiast then make sure to head to the original Dar El Bacha Cafe in the Medina. They serve all of their drinks out of their specialty Bacha coffee pots to you at your table.

Le Jardin

Restaurant

Le Jardin is the perfect oasis to escape to specially on those hot days in Marrakech. They serve both traditional Moroccan and European food making it the perfect place to stop for a drink or quick bite to eat.

Nomad

Restaurant

Nomad is a modern Moroccan restaurant focusing on seasonal products. The restaurant sits with a view over a square so you can while away your day people watching those shopping below.

Plus61

Restaurant

Plus 61 is a restaurant that is inspired by Australia and its cultural diversity. Plus 61 serves a blend of Mediterranean, the Middle East, and South Asia style food in a relaxed and welcoming dinning area.

Sky Bar – Hotel La Renaissance

Bar

If you are looking for somewhere that serves alcohol to be able to enjoy a rooftop drink then head to Sky Bar. The drinks here can be very pricey however alcohol isn’t as readily available in Morocco.

Where to stay?

During our time in Marrakech we didn’t stay anywhere that we would be able to recommend as the night we stayed in Marrakech we were in the hotel supplied by G Adventures. This was located on the outskirts of Marrakech and we would recommend that if you are looking to stay that you opt for a Riad closer into the centre. If you’re looking for a full guide on where to stay in Marrakesh check out this post from The Guide Marrakech for the Best Riad in Marrakech!

To find out where we stayed while we were on Our Morocco Coastal Tour with G Adventures Tour here

Riad Babouchta & Spa

To see our tour Coastal Morocco: Waves & Market Stalls