What Not to do in Marrakech: 23 Things to Avoid

If you’re planning a trip to this amazing city then what not to do in Marrakech is just as important as what to do in Marrakech. 

Because as someone who lives in Morocco and who has been to this gorgeous city loads of times, there are a ton of mistakes you could make. 

Trust me, I have been there. When I first arrived I got ripped off by taxis left and right. It was only later that I realized I needed to ask them to set the meter.

When they refused, I learned that all I needed to do was mention the “police” and the meter would magically start working. 

I also learned I had to have my GPS on so that I could set the route for my trip. This way the driver wouldn’t drive me all over town in an effort to increase the cost of my fare. 

But, there are lots of things to avoid in Marrakech. I want to introduce you to them all so that you have a beautiful, hassle-free trip. 

I want you to leave Marrakech with memories that will last a lifetime and have explored every inch of the Medina. 

It sits at the heart of the city and is a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site that oozes old-world charm. 

So, for a run, hassle-free trip to Marrakech read more about the many things not to do in Marrakech. 

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1. Don’t Book a Hotel. Book a Riad.

While in Marrakech for a few days, you might be inclined to opt for a conventional hotel. 

However, a more cultural, and beautiful, experience awaits you if you stay at Moroccan riad instead. 

See, riads are traditional Moroccan homes or palaces that are designed with an open-air interior courtyard and garden, often spreading across several floors. 

Rooms overlook a private, central area and are a beautiful place to stay during a day in Marrakech. 

While riads do differ throughout the country, Marrakech’s riads feature breathtaking architecture, stunning gardens, incredible tile mosaics, and sometimes amazing plunge pools. 

Ranging from modern to more traditionally decorated spaces, you’ll enjoy a quiet atmosphere that provides you with a much-needed break from the chaos of the Medina. 

Historically, these structures served as the residences of affluent merchants and officials. 

Today, many have been transformed into hotels, making a stay in one an essential part of your trip to Marrakech. 

I stayed at Riad Palais Sebban the last time I spent 48 hours in Marrakech and absolutely loved it. 

It used to be an 18th-century palace and has been converted into a stunning hotel where you can relax inside a tiled courtyard that comes with an amazing outdoor pool. 

You are also well-located in the Medina, making this a perfect option for any mid-range travelers out there. 

Additionally, the staff are friendly, the rooms are colorful and you can take advantage of a  private balcony overlooking the central courtyard. 

Just don’t forget to visit the restaurant and hammam on-site before you leave. 

2. Don’t Stay Outside of the Medina

Yes, staying inside the Medina can be annoying since it is loud and you will probably get lost trying to find your hotel.  

Additionally, many tours/taxi drivers probably won’t be able to drop you off right at your hotel since the Medina is pedestrianized and they don’t have direct access to many of the streets. 

But, it’s worth it since the Medina is well-located near most of the best things to do in Marrakech and some cool Marrakech breakfast spots.

So, you’ll be able to quickly and easily explore the souks, Bahia Palace, and Jemaa el Fna Square.

Plus, the Medina is just super atmospheric and an amazing place where you feel like you are stepping back in time. 

Staying elsewhere just means lots of long walks and cab rides that can get super annoying fast. 

3. Steer Clear of the Tap Water

I personally haven’t had a problem with the tap water in Morocco. I drink it, use it to brush my teeth, and have had zero stomach issues. 

But, I live here and have had time to acclimate to the water. So, if you are visiting and don’t want to spend the entire time in the bathroom, then be sure to drink bottled water. 

Better yet, help save the planet and travel sustainably with a filtered water bottle. I typically just use a life straw when I travel since it takes up minimal room and is super effective at filtering water. 

4. Don’t Walk Around the Medina After 10:00 pm

Two things happen once the sun goes down, the souks of Marrakech start to close, and everyone leaves the streets. 

Firstly, many streets in the Medina begin to close. So, the route you used to get to your riad in the morning may actually be closed at night, making it difficult to get back to your accommodations. 

Secondly, the streets empty out and it gets super dark inside the Medina. 

The result is a lot of sketchy guys hanging around. They are usually totally harmless and more annoying than anything else. 

So, while I didn’t feel unsafe, I did get hassled when walking around with my friend. Nothing terrible but you may want to plan to get back to your riad by 9:00 pm. 

5. Don’t Overplan Your Visit to the Medina

The Medina is basically a giant labyrinth of pedestrian streets that are filled with delicious restaurants, boisterous vendors, fragrant spices, vibrant lanterns, and more. 

In fact, it dates all the way back to the 11th century and is surrounded by 16 kilometers of ancient walls and gates.

It’s really easy to get lost since there are no landmarks, no signs (there are a few but they are small), and the layout of the streets is pretty random. 

But, this is a good thing! Part of the fun of visiting Marrakech is to get lost and soak up the enchanting atmosphere of this incredible place. 

Plus, this is a great way to stumble upon hidden gems in Marrakech that you won’t find in any guidebook. You can even do this in Gueliz and search for epic brunch spots in Marrakech.

6. Don’t Accept Unsolicited Help or Directions from Strangers

On the whole, Moroccan people are super friendly and absolutely beautiful souls. They will literally give you the shirt off their back and ask you if you need anything else. 

But, those wonderful people are generally not found in the Medina of Marrakech. 

Sadly, most of the people here who are offering to “help” you with directions or unsolicited advice are scammers. 

They will tell you something is closed or offer directions completely out of the blue. 

When you accept their help, they will bring you to a local family store and pressure you to buy something. 

Or, they will take you to your final destination and then demand a ridiculous amount of money from you as payment. 

So, avoid the whole situation and just ignore these people altogether. They are not trying to help you and are just trying to scam you. 

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up

As you walk around the souks of the Medina, you’ll probably notice that the vendors can be super pushy and aggressive when it comes to tourists buying things. 

This definitely happened to me and my partner in the Medina. I was trying on a pair of pants and didn’t like the quality.

So, I took them off and put them back. Then the vendor started yelling at my boyfriend and insisting that I buy the pants because he was insulted that I didn’t like them. 

My boyfriend, who is Moroccan, just said no thank you and walked away. 

Feel free to do the same. You do not have to buy any Marrakech souvenirs you don’t want and should not feel pressured into buying something you don’t like. 

In fact, you may want to wait to buy something since items can be a lot cheaper, and of better quality, in smaller cities like Essaoira. 

8. Don’t Take Photos With Snake Charmers or Monkey Handlers

When visiting Marrakech, Jemaa el Fna Square is a must-see. However, you’ll likely encounter snake charmers and monkey handlers while you’re here. 

They generally showcase the animals in the square and invite tourists to take a photo with the animals for a fee.

Although interacting with these animals appears harmless, it supports illicit trade practices that threaten the Barbary macaque. 

These animals are usually captured when they are young, mistreated, and trained to perform for tourists. It’s similar with the snakes and you should not engage with these people. 

If these locals don’t make money, they won’t use these animals as glorified photo props. 

I know it can be hard to distinguish ethical wildlife tourism experiences from non-ethical ones. 

But, do steer clear of any animal encounters that involve touching, feeding, or photography with the animals. This is easily one of the biggest tourist traps in Marrakech.

9. Don’t Accept the First Price Offered to You in the Medina

If you are exploring the souks and see something you like, one of the things not to do in Marrakech is to accept the first price offered. 

Generally, this price is extremely high for two reasons. Firstly, you are a tourist and they will over charge you since you don’t know how much things should cost. 

Secondly, haggling is a big part of Moroccan culture and you are expected to negotiate the price down. 

When it comes to haggling, I generally start at 50% of what they offer and go up from there. TBH though, I usually let my boyfriend handle this. 

He loves haggling and because he was born in Morocco he always gets a much better price than me. He also just gets really excited when he scores a good deal on something. 

That being said, there are some places where the price is set and haggling is not expected. This includes restaurants, chain stores, super markets, etc. 

10. Don’t Forget to Learn About Local Customs

Whenever you are visiting a new country it is always important to research local customs and to respect the local culture. 

This is true in Morocco where more modest attire is worn by both genders. Women can show respect for local culture by wearing long and loose clothing that covers the upper arms, knees, chest, midriff, and back. 

Men are encouraged to wear clothes that cover their shoulders and legs. 

In practice, I have personally found that no one in Morocco cares what you wear in Marrakech or anywhere else. Within reason.

Crop tops, cleavage, and booty shorts are not okay. Basically, dress like you’re going to your grandma’s or a funeral.

I naturally wear more modest clothing but wore biker shorts throughout Morocco and only had an issue in a small village outside of Fes. 

Other than that, no one really cared what I wore. I even went to my boyfriend’s home and everyone knew I was foreign and didn’t have any issue with my wardrobe. Again though, I usually wear long pants/shorts and T-shirts.

Additionally, most Moroccans do eat with their hands but you are not really expected to do the same. 

People know you use silverware and don’t mind. I mean, I go to my boyfriend’s parents house all the time and they always give me utensils just in case I need them. 

I actually now eat with my hands but they never considered me to be rude if I ate with silverware. 

11. Don’t Engage in PDA (Public Displays of Affection)

Moroccans are VERY loving people – just not in public. 

Sure, people regularly hug and put their arm around their friends. But, you definitely should not be kissing or making out with your partner in public. 

On the whole, kissing and hugging and overt displays of affection are considered inappropriate when outside and should be left for the privacy of your home. 

So, I will never kiss my partner in public but it’s totally fine if we hold hands or put our arms around each other. 

The one exception to this was in a restaurant in Tangier where the owner actually was insulted that I put my arm around my boyfriend. 

Therefore, be sure to keep the public displays of affection to a minimum in Morocco. 

12. Don’t Have a Late Night Booty Call With a Local

Moroccans have a much more conservative attitude towards premarital sex. In fact, it is illegal for unmarried male and female Moroccans to spend the night together. 

This rule also applies to couples where one person is Moroccan and the other person is a foreigner. 

So, I cannot share a hotel room with my boyfriend because he is Moroccan and we are not married, even though I am American. 

As a result, if you book a hotel room as a solo traveler and have a local of the opposite sex come back to your room for the night, it is not okay. 

Hotels will not tolerate this and you could be asked to leave or the police might be called. 

So, do not drunkenly have someone come back to your hotel after hitting the clubs and enjoying the best things to do in Marrakech in the evening. 

However, this rule does not apply to foreigners. Therefore, if you and your partner both have foreign passports and are unmarried then you should have no problem sharing a hotel room. 

13. Don’t Accept the Price Taxis Offer

The taxi drivers in Marrakech are HUGE scammers. They try to scam my boyfriend all the time and he is like, “WTH, I live here!”

So, what not to do in Marrakech is accept the initial price a taxi driver offers. It is way too much and you are getting ripped off. 

Instead, ask your hotel/riad what a taxi should cost. Then, go to the taxi driver and ask them to use the meter. 

When they refuse, mention the “police” and 99.9% of the time they will all of the sudden turn on the meter because they don’t want to get in trouble. 

Next, have your GPS on and the address of your final destination in their so that your taxi driver doesn’t intentionally take a longer route in an effort to run up the meter. 

Our driver once did this and a trip that should have taken 10 minutes took 20 since, “all the roads were closed and there was so much traffic.” 

We basically got out and walked the rest of the way but definitely keep track of where they are going so this doesn’t happen to you. 

14. Don’t Take Photos Without Permission

This one drives me insane. My boyfriend does this all the time and I am like, “Babe, this is not okay.” 

Anyway, I just find it rude to take people’s photos without permission, especially kids. Plus, many locals prefer not to have their photo taken for religious reasons. 

But, it doesn’t really matter why someone doesn’t want their photo taken. It is their choice and if they don’t want a photo taken, respect that. 

People aren’t there for your enjoyment and are not glorified tourist attractions. 

They live here and are just trying to go about their daily lives. So, always ask permission before taking photos and sharing them on social media if that is your thing. 

Additionally, be mindful when taking photos of who might end up in them. So, wait a minute and try to avoid accidentally taking someone’s picture if you can. 

15. Don’t Eat Around Jemaa el-Fnaa

Some of the restaurants around Marrakech’s main square are totally legit, and some are an absolute nightmare that you’ll want to avoid. 

I personally have never experienced this scam but I have heard horror stories where restaurants will initially show you a menu with really cheap prices. 

You’ll order and then when they bring you the bill everything will be way overpriced. You’ll ask them about it and when they bring you the menu it magically has higher prices on it. 

Yup, this is a scam and they have two menus. To avoid this problem, take a photo of the menu with your phone before eating. 

This way when they try to do this you can just show them the photo and they won’t be able to argue with you. 

However, you can always just pay the initial price and walk away since these scammers can’t really complain to the police about you since they are doing something illegal. 

Also be wary of eating street food at food stalls in the square since they are known to charge you for things that you didn’t order. 

16. Don’t Carry Just a Credit Card. Always Have Cash.

Cash is king in Morocco and you should always have some handy when you travel around Marrakech. 

Yes, many large hotels and chain stores/restaurants will accept cards, but many smaller stores won’t. 

This pattern only gets more pronounced as you move around the country since businesses in other cities accept cards much less frequently. 

So, get into the habit of always having cash on you. But, only carry what you need for the day. 

This way if you get your valuables stolen then you still have money and credit cards that you can use back at your hotel. 

17. Don’t Rely on Your GPS in the Medina

My cell phone plan comes with unlimited data and my GPS worked well in the Medina of Marrakech. 

However, many people I met had a really hard time using GPS in the Medina. It either didn’t work or was inaccurate and just got them lost. 

And, like I mentioned earlier, it is REALLY easy to get lost since the Medina is pedestrianized and the streets have no signs and no easy layout to follow. 

So, download an offline map like Maps.me before you arrive in Marrakech. This way you won’t have to worry about getting lost and can navigate around the city even while you’re offline. 

18. Don’t Carry Large Bills

The local currency in Morocco is Dirham. They come in 20, 50, 100, and 200 denominations, with coins in use too.

Generally, prices are pretty low in Morocco. So, if you pay for something with a 100 Dirham banknote, it can be difficult for locals to find change. 

Or, they may just take advantage of the fact that you don’t know the local currency and give you incorrect change. 

Either way, it’s generally a good idea to have 20 Dirham notes handy so that you won’t have to wait for change. 

I typically get change for larger bank notes at international grocery stores like Carrefour. 

19. Don’t Forget to Get Out of the City

The cool thing about Marrakech is that it is well-located near a bunch of really cool places. 

So, get away from the chaos of the city and book a day trip from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains, the Agafay Desert, or the waterfalls of Ouzoud. I always love booking a cool day trip to the Agafay Desert.

If you want, you can even do a day trip from Marrakech to Essaouira. This is where I live and it is a magical city on the ocean that can easily be explored in a day. 

It’s also easy to get to Essaouira and you could definitely travel from Marrakech to Essaouira on your own. 

Local Tip: If you have extra time and are looking for something luxurious to do then relax and spend the night at a luxury Agafay Desert camp. You could also get a rental car in Morocco and do a cool road trip.

20. Don’t Make Marrakech the Only City You Visit in Morocco

Marrakech is awesome but there are a lot of other beautiful cities in Marrakech that you’ll want to explore. 

You could easily take the bus to Essaoira or hop on a train to Fes (FYI this is like a 7-8 hour trip) or Casablanca if you have more time in Morocco. 

Do this and you’ll be engaging in second city tourism. Basically, by doing this you help alleviate over tourism issues and can enrich your trip with a visit to a cool new city. 

21. Don’t Visit Jardin Majorelle Without a Reservation

I have been to Jardin Majorelle a couple of times and I am going to give you my HONEST opinion. The first time I visited was in January of 2023. I went right when they opened and there was hardly anyone there.

I got to roam the gardens freely and took tons of stunning photos. Fast forward to February of 2025 and the experience was less than stellar.

First of all, you MUST make a reservation online at least a couple of days in advance. If you don’t, you will NOT be able to get in. I actually saw a couple leave because they didn’t book in advance

Secondly, the garden was packed with people. You felt like a herd of cattle walking around and could not walk through the complex freely.

For example, I tried to walk to a fountain to take a photo and a person working there stopped me and told me I had to walk through the garden in a specific route. I get why but it was a bit annoying.

You also had to wait in line to take photos at key photo spots.

Additionally, I thought the Berber Museum was pretty underwhelming. I think there are much better museums in Marrakech.

Yes, my partner loved it but I kind of felt let down by how much it had changed. I would probably go to Musee de Palmeraie instead since it is a beautiful garden/museum without any people. Plus, that museum only costs 50 Dirhams per person.

22. Skip Marrakech Museum

So, I always like to visit places with an open mind. But, Marrakech Museum was a bit of a dud. Yes, the interior is beautiful since this used to be a grand palace from the 19th century.

However, the collection of art and artifacts on display is a bit lame. The art I saw was pretty low-quality and the ceramics collection was just okay.

I dunno, for the price of admission I thought the collection would be larger and contain much more impressive artifacts.

Personally, I think the only reason to visit would be to admire the building’s awesome Moroccan architecture. I also think that Ben Youssef Madrasa (right next door) is much more impressive.

You pay just 50 Dirhams to enter and the architecture is stunning. So, the only thing I woudl do here is grab a mint tea at the lovely cafe just outside the museum.

23. Skip Le Jardin Secret

Full disclosure? I don’t hate Le Jardin Secret. It does have a cool Islamic Garden and a nice Exotic Garden as well. There are also pieces of historic architecture on display from the Sasdian Dynasty.

However, on the whole, the garden is a bit small and there isn’t a ton to see. It is also usually PACKED with people. Plus, they recently jacked up the price and it now costs 100 Dirhams per person to visit (yikes).

Yes, I think that is a bit steep for what you get. I would also 100% skip the tower climb which is an additional fee. Sure, the views are nice, but you can enjoy views like that from just about any rooftop cafe in Marrakech.

So, personally, I would give this place a pass. There are better gardens in Marrakech to visit and you defintiely don’t have to pass as much.

But, if you do want to go, try and time your visit for first thing in the morning so that it is (hopefully) a bit less crowded.

What Not to Do in Marrakech FAQs

What Can’t You Do in Marrakech?

Things not to do in Marrakech include:

• Don’t forget you’re in a Muslim country and be sure to understand when and where you can drink in Marrakech
• Don’t get scammed by a taxi driver. You can use the taxi stand when traveling from the airport to the Medina
• Don’t accept the first price offered
• Don’t wear Babouche when walking around all day
• Don’t take photos with the monkeys and snake charmers
• Don’t forget to carry cash
• Don’t accept unsolicited help or directions

What to Avoid Doing in Morocco?

Avoid preaching publicly about religions other than Islam since this is illegal. You also can’t criticize or disrespect the monarchy, and are not allowed to drink alcohol in public places. 

Do this and you’ll be just fine during your 4 days in Marrakech.

Can You Brush Your Teeth with Tap Water in Marrakech?

Most people will tell you not to brush your teeth with tap water in Marrakech. I did and was just fine. 

But, if you have a sensitive stomach or are concerned, then use filtered/bottled water to brush your teeth. 

What do I Need to Know Before Going to Marrakech?

Before going to Marrakech you should:

• Plan out your trip
• Use a taxi from the taxi stand to get from the airport to the Medina
• Get ready to haggle 
• Be careful when eating street food in the main square
• Monitor current events in the city
• Dress as the locals do
• Don’t forget to go to the best hammam in Marrakech

That wraps up this guide on what not to do in Marrakech. I hope you found this post useful and can use my tips to figure out all the things not to do in Marrakech. 

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