Viki

Your first Time in Marrakech - A Simple Guide for Curious Travelers

2026-05-13T13:39:08.203Z

What to know
Where to stay
What to try and where
What to see
Where to buy intercity bus tickets

1. What to know before you go

Currency and basic costs: Morocco uses the Moroccan dirham; cash is widely used in the medina and small shops but in cafes and restaurants and museums you can mostly pay by card.

$1 = MAD 9,16

€1 = MAD 10,74

Dress and respect: Marrakech is culturally conservative — dress modestly in public (shoulders and knees covered); non-Muslims cannot enter active mosques, so plan to view some from outside.
Getting around: The medina is a walking maze — allow extra time, wear comfortable shoes, and expect bargaining in the souks.
Safety and scams: Keep valuables secure, be cautious of overly persistent guides and sellers, and agree prices in advance for services - in the souks the prices are always at least 2 times higher so make sure you negotiate it before paying!
Best time to visit: Spring and autumn are most comfortable; summers are very hot, and winter nights can be cool.

2. Where to stay

Stay inside or near the medina if you want the full historic, bustling experience and easy access to sights and markets. My recommendations (where I stayed and enjoyed):

Juli's El Boussouni Hostel

If you prefer quieter, more modern neighbourhoods with rooftop bars and pools, look in Gueliz or Hivernage.

Room in Juli's Place

3. What to try — foods and drinks

Avocado juice — Freshly made, popular street and café drink, creamy and refreshing.
Prickly pear (fruit of the cactus) — Sweet, seedy fruit sold freshly cut by street vendors; try carefully (spines/pips).
Tagine (various types) — Slow-cooked stew (named for the conical pot) in many variations: lamb, chicken, vegetable, often with fruit and spices.
Harira — Hearty tomato-lentil soup typically served at Ramadan and as a starter; warming and spiced.
Mechoui — Slow-roasted lamb, often whole or in large cuts, tender and seasoned simply; a festive meat dish.
Briouats — Small fried or baked pastries filled with savory (meat, cheese) or sweet fillings; great snacks.
Mint tea — The ubiquitous sweet mint tea served ceremonially across Morocco; a must-try and social ritual.

Where to eat and drink (What I visited and recommend)

Restaurant Dardar Rooftop — Rooftop spot good for views and relaxed meals in a medina setting.
Odette Rooftop Bar and Mezze — Rooftop bar serving mezze-style small dishes and drinks, good for evening atmospheres.
L’AMAZIGH Rooftop — Another rooftop choice with local-Mediterranean dishes and skyline views.
Knock Knock Restaurant — Casual dining option with local and fusion dishes.
Simple Specialty Coffee — A specialty coffee spot; try their strawberry matcha if you want a creative take on matcha.
Tip: Rooftop places are great for sunset and to escape noisy streets below.

4. What to visit (with maps links)

Souk market — A network of covered/ open-air markets where craftsmen sell spices, textiles, leather, metalwork and more; the heart of local trade and haggling culture.
Le Jardin Secret — A restored historic garden and courtyard complex in the medina offering peaceful gardens and classic Islamic garden design; a quiet oasis and good photos. Personally, I wasn't much impressed.
Bacha Coffee and Museum — A historic cafe (with coffee museum elements) famous for its elegant setting and wide selection of Arabica coffees. They always ask for at least 2 hours of waiting to taste their coffee in the cafe, I didn't wait and just bought coffee in the souvenir store.
Ben Youssef Mosque — A historic mosque and medersa complex; non-Muslims generally can only view outside.
Marrakech Museum — Housed in a beautiful historic building with carved wood and tiled courtyards, displaying local art, ceramics and history.
Bab Debbagh tanneries — Traditional leather tanning area where hides are processed and dyed in stone vats; it’s an atmospheric (and smelly) insight into an old craft. I'd recommend to come before 5 pm to see the workers doing their work. It's free to see but be ready for beggers.
YSL Museum — Museum dedicated to Yves Saint Laurent and his relationship with Marrakech, with fashion exhibits and landscaped gardens; great if you like design and fashion history. You need to book tickets at least a week in advance.
Koutoubia — The city’s largest mosque and landmark with a tall minaret visible across Marrakech; an exterior icon and good reference point for navigating the city. I wish it were possible to go upstairs.
Bahia Palace — Lavish 19th-century palace with ornate rooms, tiles and gardens; an example of Moroccan palace architecture and decorative art.
El Badi Palace — Large ruined palace complex with dramatic, open courtyards and reflective pools — evocative of Marrakech’s imperial past.
Saadian Tombs — Historic royal tombs restored and noted for their tilework and carved decoration; compact but rich in atmosphere and history.

5. Where to buy coach tickets for other cities

CTM coach station — Use CTM (the national coach company) for reliable intercity buses; buy tickets at the official station or via CTM’s website/office to ensure schedules and seat reservations.

That's all!!!! Thank you for reading till the end and hope this article was useful for you! Wish you many fun travels, kissss))))))

Follow me on Instagram @viki5m and on YouTube @travelviki

How I always have internet connection in every country

2026-03-09T21:17:59.283Z

Follow me on Instagram @viki5m and on YouTube @travelviki

I'm Victoria, a travel blogger: I live in different countries, move frequently, and almost always work online so I always have to stay connected to the internet.

Buying a phisical simcard while traveling is unpractical and oldfashioned :)

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM is a SIM card that doesn't need to be inserted into your phone.

— you buy it online,

— you set it up in your settings,

— and your internet starts working.

No trips to stores or lines))))

I've compared different eSIM services and for me the best working and most affordable one is - MobiMatter

It's an eSIM that works in 164 countries—Europe, Asia, America, Africa, and the Middle East.

I've connected to it on several trips, and every time the process is the same:

everything is done online, in a few minutes.

➕Pros of the app:

— connection takes about 5 minutes

— no passport required

— works in multiple countries

— no need to change SIM cards when moving

— better prices ad offers than in other similar services like JustEsim and Airalo

❓What happens when the data runs out

If your main package runs out, you have a small amount of data left over—so you can open the app, buy more data, and avoid being cut off at the most inconvenient moment.

This is a real lifesaver when traveling.

🎁 Bonus

When you sign up for Just eSIM, use my personal code VMONS93296 and you can get 50% cashback (up to $5) on your first purchase.

❓Is the eSIM compatible with your phone?

If you have an iPhone XR or newer, it will almost certainly work.

Many Samsung phones and Google Pixel phones also have eSIM.

It's easy to check:

Settings → Cellular → "Add eSIM."

If this option is there, everything is fine.

✍️ How I connect eSIM — step by step

1️⃣ Download the app

Link

2️⃣ Select a country or region

3️⃣ Enter the promo code "VMONS93296 "

(it gives you a 50% cashback (up to $5))

4️⃣ Pay

5️⃣ Install the eSIM according to the instructions

Usually, this is a QR code or a couple of clicks in the settings.

❓ When does the internet start working?

You can install the eSIM in advance, at home.

The internet either turns on immediately or automatically when crossing the border or you'll need to turn it on in Cellular settings — depending on your plan.

I always do this before departure so I can be connected at the airport.

Follow me on Instagram @viki5m and on YouTube @travelviki

How to travel if you're young and broke :)

2026-03-05T21:28:23.428Z

Follow me on Instagram @viki5m and on YouTube @travelviki

1. Volunteer work for food and accommodation

WorkAway is the largest cultural exchange platform in ~170 countries.

How it works: You create a profile, choose a host, and agree on assistance with accommodation and food.
Unique feature: you need to pay for participation (membership), so check your host in advance.

Greece, 2021 - we all met thanks to this website

Worldpackers — Volunteer work and exchange experiences and assistance in different countries.

The platform says they check all hosts and offers ratings and reviews. You can send a private message to any person who left review and ask any questions about the host.

(I'm going to try it for the first time in Morocco in a week and attach photo proofs :)

WWOOF — A platform where you can help on organic farms, ideal for ecotourism and eco- activists. Most hosts wait 3-4 hours a day for assistance, the rest of the time is yours.

2. Cheap Flights

You can compare all prices here:

Skyscanner - I use it all the time for any international flights. I especially love to check "explore everywhere" to see which cheap and direct flights exist every month from my city.

Aviasales - you can use it to compare ticket prices if you travel to or around Russia. Payments are accepted with any bank cards (including Russian cards). To make even the most of it - after finding the ticket you need you can go to that specific air-company website and buy your ticket directly.

3. Booking excursions and attractions for free or almost free

If you don't have the budget for excursions, you can use the GetYourGuide platform.

Important: you need at least 3,000 followers on social media to receive a voucher (up to €200) for free entry to attractions.

If you don't have any subscribers, you can work through affiliate/referral links and earn cashback for every booking, allowing you to travel almost for free.

Guruwalk - another great service where you can book free walking tours in any country (you can leave tips if you like your guide)

Showaround - is a platform that connects travelers with locals for tours. Currently, the site features over 2000 locals in about a thousand cities worldwide, and it's growing fast – so finding a local for some insider knowledge has never been easier.

You can either book a tour with a local for free or with some payment in a foreign city or you can also become a local tour guide in your own city - I did it in Moscow for 4 years and can surely say it's the best experience of my life :))

4. Find travel companions and free accommodation

Couchsurfing through this service you can connect with locals and ask for an accommodation for a couple of days for cultural connections.

Here you can also chat with locals and other travelers and create your own events in every city, for example, "I want to explore the area". Then you can see who is ready to join you and meet up :) easy peasy xoxox

It's not only saves you money but also connect you with many beautiful local people and travelers around the world.

Travel Ladies is a service for women where you can find free accommodation from other travelers or locals.

Designed specifically for safe travel:

• Real profile verification

• Reviews

• Ability to see who's nearby in your city/country

Perfect for solo travel: you can find a travel buddy or a host willing to host you for 1-3 nights for free. There also local chats for every city and you can post your pictures and texts as your personal blog.

5. How to stay connected to the internet in every country

I've tried many different eSIM services and found the most affordable one - MobiMatter is my favourite that I use all the time in my travels. With my personal code VMONS93296 you can get 50% cashback (up to $5) on your first purchase.

That's all!!!! Thank you for reading till the end and hope this article was useful for you! Wish you many fun travels, kissss))))))

Follow me on Instagram @viki5m and on YouTube @travelviki