24 Hours In Marrakech, Morocco: The Story Behind the Travel Photo
- May 5
- 6 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Top Information to Know to Plan a Quick Trip to the Kingdom of Morocco
USA Citizens: make sure you always check with the US Department of State website before you travel.
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One Spring Break, we toured a little of Portugal and Barcelona. I would like to say that it was on a whim, but the truth is, we planned a quick jaunt to Morocco as well. The catch? It was going to be just a 24 hour trip, just to get a taste of a fascinating country and culture. So, while we were in Spain, we hopped over (by plane, of course) and made a quick trip to Marrakech (also spelled Marrakesh).
Interesting History to Know:
I always wanted to know why Spain and France were both associated with Morocco.
Since Morocco is in a great area geographically, both of those countried showed great interest in making the country a protectorate: they each wanted to control and protect it. Meanwhile, the native tribes were fighting each other (with various dynasties and rulers), so when the dust settled, France won out in 1912 with Spain getting to protect a few areas. Inevitably, neither country's occupation prevailed, there was a push for independence and in 1956, the Kingdom of Morocco was created (with some backing from the USA). The 1956 sultan was declared King when Morocco became independent, so the country is a unitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy. Try saying that 10 times fast.
The official religion is Islam, and although you are free to practice your own religion privately, you are not free to proselytize, it's against the law.
What We Needed to Know
To make our trip to Morocco, a visa was not needed, so all we had to do was have our flights and someplace to stay. We did these before leaving the US. Always check with your country before planning a trip out of your nation.
Technically on the African continent, Morocco is considered part of North Africa. The people are mostly Arabs and Amazigh (Berbers). Like many countries in today's world, the tourist area had other ethnicities and nationalities as well and English was spoken where we went. But, there are Spanish and French influences still in the country to this day, including signs in Arabic, English, French and sometimes Spanish. I actually used my very bad French a few times in the souks.
How We Got There: For our 24 hours in Morocco, we wanted to arrive early in the morning from Barcelona and leave in late evening the next day, so we used two different airlines that could accommodate our times because the round trips weren't convenient. Many airlines restrict luggage or charge for everything (especially airlines that service mostly Europe), so pack light and be aware you may have to pay for a carryon (your personal bag, the one that goes under the seat, might be free). Also, check to see if it costs extra to choose your seat. Finally, if you do pay for a carryon, it still may be checked at the gate because of weight issues with smaller planes. Don't forget to save room for a souvenir or two (I brought back a small throw rug).
Staying only one day means packing light. This helped with getting to the riad. Cars and taxis can't go into some streets and they definitely cannot drive through the alleys, which were like a maze. And there are cobblestone streets, so roller bags may not be practical. We were dropped off in the market square, complete with snake charmers and the driver pointed out which way to go. We also had already downloaded the directions and a map of the area, so we guessed correctly which way to go.
For super-short quick trips like this one, opt for a rolling backpack or an underseat carryon, if you have to have wheels. Otherwise, a backpack that packs like a suitcase works great. I even limited myself to one camera and one medium zoom lens (in addition to my phone). Since this was 2018, the equipment is even better now, so that may be all you need.
No matter how brief your trip is, after going through immigration, your bags might be scanned at the airport as you pick them up from baggage and on your way out. Also, you can exchange some money here. In fact, you will have to exchange it back on the way out because it is illegal to take the currency out of the country. Check with your credit card company before you leave home, especially American Express and Discover, which can be picky out of the country. It's possible your debit card might not work for the ATM. Finally, there may be surcharges. We brought euros with us and exchanged at the airport.
Where We Stayed:
We chose a riad not far right off the main market, the Jama El f'na Market. We were also near the famous Koutoubia Mosque, which called the faithful to prayer throughout the day. Because we were only staying one night in Morocco, we wanted to be near the action to maximize the time getting to the places we wanted to see. We walked everywhere.
A riad (ryad) is a traditional garden or courtyard, usually inside with Moroccan houses. Some modern riads have this middle area with roofs, others are an open area with the house built in a square around it. In lodging, a riad is like a small inn or bed and breakfast. Use a reliable website to find one, just like any privately owned lodging, like an air bnb, to avoid scams. If you book and pre-pay online, that's one less thing to worry about. No matter how short your trip is, have someplace to stay before you get there.
What We Did:
Our quick trip was made even quicker by arriving early in the morning (our flight was at 6AM) we were able to drop our bags and start exploring right away. We had some things in mind prior to arriving and we were able to get information from our host (places to eat, a paper map, etc).
We visited Le Jardin Marjorelle (you can only get tickets for this garden through them, no one else) and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, which are right next door to each other. We wandered around through the souks and bargained for a few items (keep your valuables secure as you move through small, tight and crowded areas. Luckily, nothing happened).
YouTube video
We also visited a cooperative owned and operated by women, for some beauty products. The experience was phenomenal.
And of course, we had to do one really touristy thing, so we dined and danced at one of the restaurants right off the market.
Practical Stuff to Know:
There might be a time change, so you may have to change your phone manually. Check with your carrier to see if you will have service, and if you want to use it, how much it might cost. Make sure your riad has free wifi. Be aware that some of your favorite websites might be restricted.
We always advise having digital versions of your travel guides downloaded on your phone so that you can have access. Also, take screen shot walking instructions before you leave the hotel, so that you can move about confidently. As always, keep your sense of street smarts on high alert at all times.
Drinking alcohol is restricted to certain areas. Ask your host.
All in all, we had a fabulous time and it was quite an adventure to squeeze in while we were in Europe. Next stop, Casablanca!
Happy Travels!
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All photos and videos created and copyrighted by Marcia Crayton, unless otherwise noted.
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