You'll want to bring your wallet to Marrakesh: with so many markets and shopping stalls crammed into the ancient medina, Marrakesh is the best city for shopping – and splurging. But when you're traveling on a budget or just saving to buy that authentically made Moroccan souvenir, you can have the best of Marrakesh without spending anything at all.
From the city's rowdy main square and sprawling souqs to the quiet and calming gardens, fundamental essentials top things you can do in Marrakesh free of charge.
1. Djemaa El Fna
Djemaa El Fna, Marrakesh's main square, is definitely busy with pedestrians and street performers, and as night falls, food stalls and smoky grills set up look for the dinner crowd. The hoopla and halqa (street theater) happen to be non-stop here since the 11th century, and Djemaa's nightly carnival is constantly on the dazzle. Amazigh musicians start the music and gnaoua troupes sing while henna tattoo artists beckon to passersby. This is a demonstrate don't want to miss, and it's a bargain too: it's all free to watch, and applause and some dirhams ensure an encore.
2. Menara Gardens
The Menara Gardens are arguably Marrakesh's most engaging green space, having a 19th-century pavilion and reflecting pool set from the Atlas Mountains backdrop. Away from the commotion from the medina, the Menara Gardens alllow for a more peaceful stroll along with a great destination to take photos.
The iconic look at the Atlas Mountains out of this park is often featured on postcards on the market around the city. The historic gardens were laid out in the 12th century, and Moroccan families still enjoy relaxing around the huge water basin and among the rows of olive and palm trees.
3. Koutoubia Gardens
With tall palm trees, lots of seating on benches along with a tiered fountain, the Koutoubia Gardens are well manicured making an easy avoid the narrow alleyways from the medina. The park has great views of the minaret of nearby Koutoubia Mosque, that was constructed in the 12th century and stands nearly 250 feet (75m) high. The Koutoubia Gardens really are a popular central meeting point near Djemaa El Fna, and the mosque's minaret may be the tallest structure in Marrakesh.
4. Mellah Market
The bustling Mellah Market is ideal for a wander, and its lanes are fascinating to understand more about each morning when stalls are at their busiest. For that southern side of Marrakesh, the forex market is really a major food source, flowers and spices (which are cheap in contrast to souq tourist stalls). The mellah is Marrakesh's Jewish quarter, and visiting here seems like you've stumbled onto a secret. Despite the fact that it's only several paces from the center, the mellah has an atmosphere all its own, with Stars of David etched above doorways and shaded balconies overlooking the narrow lanes.
5. Comptoir des Mines
The arts scene in Marrakesh is growing quickly, especially in the trendy neighborhood of Gueliz, and some of the city's best galleries and art spaces can visit. A high pick is Comptoir des Mines, the place to find three floors of recent art in old art deco offices that once belonged to some mining company. Comptoir des Mines is a project by Hicham Daoudi, who founded the Marrakech Art Fair. Restored to the original art deco glory, the sweeping staircases, terrazzo flooring, crystal-shaped wall sconces and furniture make this spot worth a trip by itself. Rotating art exhibitions profile leading and up-and-coming artists from Morocco and elsewhere in Africa.
6. Riad Kniza Musée and Galerie
Riad Kniza Musée and Galerie, a personal museum, has been a labor of affection because of its owner Mohammed, who accustomed to run an antique shop in the Gueliz neighborhood. When his family closed the shop, the large question was what to do with his overflowing collection of Moroccan antiques. The solution was this lovely little museum, displaying carpets from the High Atlas Mountains, tribal jewelry and clothing, decorative pottery from Fez dating towards the 17th century and a wonderful collection of Amazigh sugar hammers. The museum is free to go to.
7. Dar Bellarj
Dar Bellarj is Marrakesh's premier community arts center, and it's located in a former stork hospital (bellarj is Arabic for stork). Each year, the nonprofit Dar Bellarj Foundation results in a program themed around living culture, which range from film to women's textiles and storytelling. Admission is generally free, but a fee may also be charged for certain events. Calligraphy demonstrations and humanities workshops are regular draws, and through Ramadan, the building blocks hosts a number of evening music concerts within the beautiful central courtyard.
8. Bab Debbagh Tanneries
Leatherworking is among Morocco's medieval trades, and the tanneries around Bab Debbagh will be in use for years and years. Unlike the greater famous tanneries in Fez which have pots full of a rainbow of dyes, the tanneries in Marrakesh only work the natural leather, and dyeing is done elsewhere.
Your nose will show you when you've arrived: the pungent smell comes from the use of ammonia within the troughs which are accustomed to soften the leather and strip it of its animal hairs. The best time to come is in the morning when you'll usually have the ability to see tanners at the office, transforming animal skins that are delivered by donkey carts into supple leather prepared to be tailored into wares sold in the souqs.
The largest cooperative, Association Sidi Yacoub, is available to visitors and theoretically free to visit, but it's likely you'll be stopped by a 'guardian' at the entrance suggesting otherwise. Some visitors ignore them or provide a small tip of Dh10 to Dh20. If you're not up for this battle, go with an official guide included in a medina tour.
9. Souq Haddadine
Souq Haddadine, the blacksmith's market, is filled with busy workshops in which the sound from the metalworkers' hammers supplies a steady staccato beat. You can watch the blacksmiths at the office, or if you've been tempted by some of those lovely Moroccan lamps on the market throughout the souqs, buying direct here will probably get you the best price. This souq is tough to locate: follow the noise.
10. Funduq El Amri
It's free to see the stalls and admire the architecture, that is particularly noteworthy for the red-ochre geometric decoration of diamonds, hexagons and stars that border this funduq's internal stone arches.
11. Criée Berbere
Criée Berbere is Marrakesh's main market for carpets, and it's packed to the rafters with rugs of every hue and weave. You can view auctions that are held here around 4pm to 5pm every single day each week except Friday. To find it, look for the archway with 'Le Souk Principal de Tapis' written above the door around the north side of Rahba Kedima.
12. Assouss Cooperative d'Argane
The road between Marrakesh and the coastal capital of scotland- Essaouira is dotted with lots of argan trees, and Assouss Cooperative d'Argane may be the big-city branch of a women's organic-certified argan cooperative that's located outside Essaouira.
The all-female staff will ply you with free product samples of amlou (argan-nut butter), and it's worth spending some of the dirham you've saved in your free adventures around Marrakesh on a few of the argan goodies, prickly pear oil or gourmet dipping oils on offer.
