A First-Timer’s Guide To Marrakech

I’ve long wanted to visit Marrakech—a North African city known for its rich history and colourful souks (markets). The location for countless films ranging including the second Sex and the City movie and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, it’s a bucket-list-worthy travel destination that’s somehow just a seven-hour direct flight from Montreal.

Visiting Morocco on my own had always felt a little daunting, especially as a female traveler. But during a recent stay at Club Med’s Marrakech la Palmeraie resort, I found it startlingly easy to explore and experience the many sides of this ancient metropolis.

In less than a week, I visited a UNESCO World Heritage Site, booked local cultural experiences, and explored a few of its famed desert and mountain landscapes—but also found time to relax and unwind at the recently-renovated resort in the lush Palmeraie (palm grove) districtof the city.

The top sights

A quick, half-day tour is a great way to orient yourself in a new city. Our Marvellous Marrakech tour, offered through Club Med, included visits to top sights such as the Jardin Majorelle, Bahia Palace and Jemaa el-Fna square before wrapping up in the famed Souk Semmarine. It’s was a visual feast for the senses, and our knowledgeable guide offered insights on topics ranging from the history of the Red City to the rules of Moorish architecture.

Of course, one could spend weeks exploring the different markets of Marrakech—there are specialty ones devoted to everything from spices to carpets to slippers. I happily spent hours on a guided tour of just Souk Semmarine with Moroccan Food Adventures one morning, meeting local craftspeople and shopping like a local. My only regret? Not booking the tour on the first day of my trip, so that there would be enough time to have certain souvenirs custom-made.

Another must-do in the city for fashion enthusiast is the small-but-charming Yves Saint Laurent Museum Marrakech, located just next door to the Jardin Majorelle. Pieces from the Hamish Bowles Collection, on display until April 2026, beautifully showcase three distinct eras of Saint Laurent’s career. The museum also house a café, theatre space and illustration gallery as well as the occasional temporary exhibition.  

Bucket-list adventures

Even on a short trip, you’ll want to get outside the city for some excursions—to immerse yourself in Moroccan culture and see more of the area’s unique landscape up close. On a day trip arranged through Club Med, we hiked the High Atlas mountains close to Toubkal National Park with local guides and two mules, crisscrossing Berber villages and apple orchards and even catching a glimpse of is the highest peak in North Africa, Mount Toubkal.  

It’s not for everyone, but hot air balloon rides are also a popular half-day activity for visitors to Marrakech; every day, dozens take flight just minutes north of the city. I booked an early-morning one online, which included breakfast, transportation and almost an hour in the air. Watching the sun rise over the rocky desert landscape from our balloon, with mountain ranges visible in several directions, is an experience I won’t soon forget.

A serene oasis

Just a few minutes north of the city centre, the Club Med resort in Marrakech sits within a literal oasis—La Palmeraie is Morocco’s oldest palm grove. The grounds are verdant, with palm trees and olive groves providing shade to freshwater swimming pools and open, grassy expanses. Rooms, all with air conditioning and furnished terraces or balconies, are thoughtfully spaced out across the sprawling property—you’re much more likely to hear birds chirping or a rooster crowing than moonlit revelers.

In between excursions and visits to the medina (old city), I found plenty of diversions at the resort. There are multiple swimming pools, a Cinq Mondes spa and daily opportunities for sports like golf, tennis, petanque and horseback riding. More adventurous types will want to visit the archery range and sign up for a session with the flying trapeze school. Each evening, the resort hosts special events and themed parties for guests; highlights for me included a rousing performance by a quartet of local musicians and an all-white Garden Party to close out our trip. —Truc Nguyen