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Listed below are the top travel tips you need to know before you go to Marrakech including details about the currency, safety, getting around, languages, and opening hours.
You may not need a visa to enter Marrakech, however you must ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your stay in the country. Citizens of Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States of America are not required to have a visa to enter Marrakech provided they are there for tourism purposes only and only stay a maximum of 3 months. If you intend to stay longer you will have to apply for a resident permit and will be given a tourist visa for a small charge. For all other countries, be sure to check with your local foreign department.
The currency in Marrakech is Moroccan Dirhams (MAD). You can check the current exchange rate by clicking here.
Tipping - tips are usually made at a rate of 10% for waiters and staff in restaurants and cafes and are generally expected and encouraged. Be aware that the locals will try and sell you anything even if they have nothing to sell.
Like other cities in Morocco, Marrakech is generally quite safe. However, you should look after bags and valuables, especially in popular areas. Be vigilant when walking around the Medina at night.
Getting around Marrakech is relatively easy as there are numerous different methods of transport to choose from. Local buses are cheap and operate frequently, but are usually very crowded. You can also take a ride in a calèche which is a horse-drawn carriage that takes you on a very scenic route. Taxis are very popular and are the quickest way to get around the city, but be sure to agree the rate you will pay before the journey starts. Villanovo can organise a rental car for you that can be delivered to your villa or we can organise chauffeured vehicles.
Marrakech time is the same as GMT.
Shops in the Medina are open from 10am - 7pm every day of the week except from Friday afternoon.
The souks tend to be open every day and there is always someone to greet you in the early morning.
We recommend that you obtain health insurance before travelling to Marrakech as public hospitals are not the greatest and private health care can be expensive. Check with your local doctor to see if you need any vaccinations prior to your trip to Marrakech. Tap water is safe to drink in all international hotels and in most of our villas, although it doesn’t taste very nice so we suggest you buy bottled water instead. In some of our villas tap water is directly extracted from underground so it is better than bottled water, just ask our staff. Our concierge in Marrakech has contact numbers of English speaking doctors if required.
