Three Days in Magical Marrakech: The Momcation of Your Dreams
Today I’m excited to write about a recent trip I took with one of my BFFs to the beautiful city of Marrakech, Morocco. We’re both avid travellers and were looking for something different. We knew we wanted something culturally exciting, great food and weather, and lots of shopping. We needed a good balance of adventure as well as relaxation. Well, Marrakech delivered all of this in spades, and more!
Often referred to as the “Red City,” Marrakech is a kaleidoscope of color, culture, and contrasts that stimulates all senses at once! There’s nothing quite like the sensory overload (in a good way!) of meandering through the dizzying maze of souks, along bright textiles and shiny tiles, your nose tingling with the smells of spices and exotic cuisine wafting through the warm air.
Our three-day visit felt like just the right amount of time to take in all of the goodness of this magical city. With a well-crafted itinerary every day was a new adventure – exploring the medina, savouring local delights, enjoying rooftop cocktails, and getting pampered at a traditional Hammam spa.
So, if you’re hungry for a similar experience, I present to you my carefully curated three-day Marrakech itinerary. Feel free to swipe it to design your own unforgettable, Marrakech escape – the ultimate momcation!
Day One
Jetting off to Marrakech
Your journey to Marrakech couldn’t be easier. With approximately 50 daily flights arriving from various global destinations, Marrakech is surprisingly accessible. You can snag great deals from Europe through low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Easyjet. From North America and beyond, many major airlines can get you here directly, or with one stopover. I recommend using Google Flights to compare prices, and once you’ve found your perfect flight, head to the carrier’s website to book directly.
Smooth airport transfer
On arrival, I’d recommend pre-arranged transfers for a smooth transition to your accommodation. Most establishments provide this service if you request it. The cost is often included in your booking, eliminating the need to haggle with taxi drivers or navigate public transportation. If your hotel doesn’t offer this, book a private transfer service in advance for peace of mind.
Stay here – and thank me later!
The best way to immerse yourself in the city’s rich culture is by staying in a riad. A riad is a traditional Moroccan house or mansion with an interior garden or courtyard, often luxuriously decorated and repurposed as a boutique hotel. There are hundreds to choose from throughout the medina (the old heart of the city). After researching many of them, I chose the exquisite Le Clos des Arts. This gem boasts traditional Moroccan architecture and gorgeous designs throughout. It features tranquil interior gardens with lavish fountains and tropical trees, and a stunning rooftop with plunge pool, making it an oasis of luxury and comfort amidst the bustling heart of medina. The warm and attentive service provided by staff made us feel like VIP guests throughout our stay. It certainly lives up to its numerous five star reviews!
Elevated dining experience
For our first dinner out, I wanted: delicious, upscale and rooftop with big views. So we headed to Terrace des Epices. Picture this – lounging on a gorgeous rooftop, soaking in the 360-degree views of the city and the distant Atlas Mountains, while feasting on a tantalizing mix of traditional and modern Moroccan dishes. We were loving the lantern-lit setting with the DJ playing at just the right volume.
Must try: Everything was delicious, but our favourite was the chicken candied lemon tagine. For dessert, we devoured the chocolate pastilla, so sorry, no pictures!
Reservations Required – make them here or request your riad/hotel to call for you.
Other restaurants that made my rooftop dining short list include: El Foundouk, Dar Yocout (go hungry!) and El Fenn (more on this one below).
Transportation Tip: These restaurants are located within the labyrinth of the medina, so the most secure way to get to/from them is with a private taxi. Ask at your riad/hotel to arrange this for you. You can confirm a set pick up time and location close to the restaurant, or agree to call the driver when you’re ready to be picked up. If you don’t have a mobile, the restaurant will be happy to call for you and will likely send staff to escort you to the taxi.
Day Two
Discover the heart of Marrakech
We started off our morning with an al fresco breakfast on the rooftop. The Moroccan pastries were delicious and the home-made orange-blossom scented yogurt was nothing like I’ve ever tasted before!
Day two was all about exploring the medina, and the best way to do that is with a local, experienced guide. With so many to choose from online, I decided to cut through the noise and have the riad book it for us. Our guide, Youssef, shared stories and history as he led us on the perfect three-hour exploration. We discovered souks down narrow alleyways teeming with colourful treasures, the lavish gardens of the Bahia Palace, and finally, the bustling and lively Jemaa el Fna square. This open area is the cultural meeting spot of the city, with a diverse array of vendors selling traditional Moroccan crafts, spices, clothing, and souvenirs. Snake charmers, henna tattoo artists, and street performers add to the exotic ambiance. As in the rest of the medina, be vigilant of pickpockets. And if you get close to the monkeys and snakes be prepared to pay for a picture.
You can book a tour with Youssef here.
Hungry for more (and for lunch), we headed to restaurant L’Adresse, located on the perimeter of Jemaa el Fna, where we enjoyed authentic tagines (check out the video to eat them with your eyes!) with a panoramic view of the vibrant square below.
Finally, after a stimulating morning, spend your afternoon lounging by the rooftop pool or browsing local shops and stalls. Or make time for both!
Evening vibes
For a proper dinner experience at one of the restaurants I previously listed, be sure to make a reservation. Or, if you’re up for a more casual evening of cocktails and tasty bar snacks, head to the rooftop bar at El Fenn where there’s no reservation required. Nestle yourself on a comfy extra large lounger or day bed, and take in the spectacular views of the iconic Koutoubia mosque and surrounding rooftops. There’s an all day menu of yummy bites and sharing plates, and the DJ’s always serving up equally delicious tunes.
Must try: the El Fenn Margherita! (see it in the video below)
The night is young!
If you’re up for more fun, like we were, make your way (by private cab) to the upscale Hivernage neighbourhood, less than a 10 minute ride away. This is where you’ll find trendy nightclubs, bars and casinos next door to luxury hotels. Check out the chich and exotic Comptoir Darna for a cocktail and, if you’re up for it, learn a move or two from the belly dancers making their way around the rooms. Just before midnight, head over to Palais Jad Mahal where the fun is just starting, with a live band playing all the latest and greatest. This trendy and luxurious supper club turns into a super fun dance party complete with more belly dancers shaking it up with other revellers on top of tables!
Day Three
Indulge in unique experiences
Wake up happy knowing you still have one more full day in this exotic oasis and reminisce about last night’s escapades over another delicious al fresco breakfast.
Some options for this first half of the day:
* Take a camel ride through the Palmeraie, a lush green oasis surrounded by desert – so many instagrammable moments!
* If you’re feeling the need for speed, add a quad bike ride to the experience
* If tranquil gardens are more your thing, visit the vibrant Jardin Majorelle and its accompanying Yves Saint Laurent museum. This one sells out fast so make sure to buy your ticket in advance!
* If you simply can’t decide, check out these options offering both garden visits and Palmeraie camel rides.
Luxuriate at a spa
In the afternoon, immerse yourself in a traditional Moroccan hammam spa experience. While there are many spas to choose from, my plan was to book us at one of the high-end hotels so we could explore the property and its grounds after our treatments.
My short list included:
* La Sultana – a luxurious boutique hotel with a stunning pool area and lush rooftop gardens and bar.
* La Mamounia – a timeless beauty, this grand hotel features sprawling and meticulously groomed gardens and has hosted many politicians (i.e. Winston Churchill) and celebrities (i.e. Kardashians) over the years
* La Maison Arabe – another opulent riad-hotel in the heart of the medina offering top notch Moroccan hospitality
The spas at each of these locations offer an extensive menu of beauty and relaxation treatments, but I could only choose one! Ultimately, La Sultana won, purely based on distance to our raid, but I’d love to try the others on future visits.
The hammam experience
If you’ve never experienced a hammam treatment before, be sure to include it in your visit! A hammam is an ancient Middle Eastern bathing ritual involving a steam bath and a deep body scrub to exfoliate the skin and detoxify the body. We chose the La Sultana Signature treatment, after which we were pretty much floating on a cloud. The ritual begins with, well, basically checking your inhibitions at the door and stripping down to your birthday suit. They do provide a disposable thong but it doesn’t leave much for the imagination. We were each assigned a personal attendant, who proceeded to splash us repeatedly from head to toe with perfectly warm water, followed by a generous lathering of a clay mixture from head to toe. Then comes the scrub, which is a bit intense, but leaves you feeling like you’ve shed an entire layer. By the time we stepped out of the steam room, wrapped up in fluffy towels, we felt a sense of rejuvenation, like we’d hit a reset button. As if we weren’t relaxed enough, we enjoyed a 50 minute massage with Moroccan argan oils.
After two blissful hours at the spa, we wandered around the hotel, taking in its exquisite beauty from every corner (the pictures speak for themselves!). Then we treated ourselves to delicious cocktails under a gorgeous gazebo at the hotel’s lush green rooftop sanctuary – can you tell I love rooftops?!
That’s a wrap!
We wrapped up the day with a nap and a delicious home-made dinner at our riad. We slept like logs – thanks to the spa treatments? Or maybe the cocktails? Id’ say probably thanks to a little bit of both.
And just like that, this perfect three-day momcation draws to a close! It served up just the right amount of adventure, culture, fun and relaxation. So next time you’re dreaming of a blissful getaway, share this itinerary with your BFF, partner, favourite travel buddy, or even as a solo trip to reconnect with yourself! I guarantee you’ll have a memorable time in this enchanting city just like we did.
Have questions? Need help planning your next adventure? Get in touch!
