One Week in Morocco: Itinerary and Guide
- margauxgathy6
- Jun 29
- 7 min read
I spent a week in Morocco and found it was more than enough time to see the highlights. If you have time and are a keen hiker, I would highly recommend adding 2 days to climb Mt Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa (4167m), as this was undoubtedly my highlight! You can even fit this into a week if you want. This post will give you my best advice for things to do in Marrakech, Fes, and Chefchaouen, including how to get around and places to eat.
Contents
Logistics: Making Bookings and Moving Around
If you fly into the Marrakech airport, expect a wait at passport control. They will ask for three things, so make sure you have them in hand: your profession (no need for evidence), boarding pass, and address of accommodation in Marrakech. You can get the bus L19 from the airport to the city centre, and buy a ticket in cash when you get on the bus. They cost 50 MAD (approx. £4.05) for the return trip. Head out of the terminal, cross the road, go up the stairs, and go past the taxi ranks and you will see the bus stop. There are some signs, but you can also ask people if you get lost.
Getting around Morocco is fairly easy. The country has a good network of trains and buses. You will need to book these about a week in advance to be safe, but you might be able to get a ticket on the day. The ONCF website is your go-to for train bookings and it is very straightforward. The train stations are very easy to navigate, but beware all the signs and announcements are in Arabic and French. They accept tickets on your phone, so there’s no need to print them.
I booked my hostel accommodation in advance because I knew what my schedule was for such a short trip, but you can book a couple of days before and be fine. Activities can also be booked in very short notice, 1-2 days is usually fine.
If you’re flying out of Marrakech, you will need to print your boarding pass. The airport does not accept mobile boarding passes. You can usually ask your hotel or hostel, but they also have print shops in the medina where you can pay a small fee to have it printed.
Marrakech
Three nights in Marrakech is plenty. You can theoretically do all the top sights in one day (I did), but two days will allow you to experience it at a more relaxed pace.
Things to Do
Jardin Secret
Jardin Secret is a small curated garden with nice plants and lots of benches. It’s a great place to relax. Tickets cost 90 MAD (approx. £7.25) or 80 MAD (approx. £6.45) if you’re aged 12-24 (they check your ID). It won’t take long to walk around the garden but you can sit on the terrace or benches forever as it’s a very welcome respite from the chaos of the medina. It’s optional to go up the tower, but you have to pay 40 MAD (approx. £3.25) extra. The view is pretty much the same as from the free terrace, so I wouldn’t bother!
Jardin Majorelle
Jardin Majorelle is one of the hotspots in Marrakech. It’s out of the medina but walkable from it. You will need to prebook tickets on their website at least a day in advance, but more if you can. The tickets cost 95 MAD (approx. £7.70) with a student ID or 170 MAD (approx. £13.75) normal adult price. They check your student ID even if you book online so make sure you bring it.
The garden is busy all the time. I got the first timeslot at 8am and it was still heaving with people. They have a one way system in place so it feels a bit like a conveyor belt of tourists. You will have to queue for certain photo spots. It’s pretty, but very overpriced for what it is, so if you have to skip one thing, I would say skip this one.
Ben Youssef Madrasa
Ben Youssef Madrasa is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Marrakech. It has gorgeous architecture and you can get some great photos from the ground floor and the upper level. It opens at 9am and I would recommend going then because it gets extremely busy. Because it’s not that big, all those people make it feel very crowded. It costs 50 MAD (approx. £4.05) to enter, and so it is definitely one of the best value for money sites you’ll see.
Koutoubia Mosque
While you can’t go in Koutoubia Mosque, you can walk around it for free. It’s very impressive and there are some lovely gardens to walk in behind it as well.
Bahia Palace
Bahia Palace is an incredible site. The architecture and decoration was stunning. I would recommend going here when it opens at 9am because it was absolutely packed when I went at 10:30, which kind of ruined the magic which was a huge shame. Nonetheless, it was beautiful. It cost 100 MAD (approx. £8.10) to enter and you can buy tickets on the door.
The Souks
The medina is essentially just souks. There are loads of markets and shops lining every single busy narrow street. They unfortunately mostly sell touristy items which is a shame, so you’ll have to take it all with a pinch of salt. But it’s fun to walk around for a little while, and don’t forget to bargain your prices lower if you want to buy something.
Where to Eat: Vegan friendly places
Most places in Morocco have vegan and vegetarian options available. Of the local dishes, it will mostly be couscous or tagine. Here are some of my tried and tested places:
Ayaso
Snack Toubkal: very cheap prices right on the main square which is great for people watching!
Shtatto: a good rooftop without the usually extortionate rooftop prices
Salama: if you want alcohol in the medina
Fes
You only need three nights in Fes, so you’ll have one day to explore the city and one day for a day trip to Chefchaouen. There isn’t a lot to do in Fes, so you won’t need to be there for any longer, but I loved the more authentic vibe in this city.
Things to Do
Chouara Tannery
The tanneries are what makes Fes famous, and Chouara Tannery is the main one. It’s located in the medina, so you can walk there. You’ll know you’re getting close because shop keepers come up to you and tell you to go up to their terrace for a view. I tried to go down to the tannery but got stopped by a man who would not let me pass until I paid him, so I went up to the shops.
Shop number 10 has the best view and they weren’t hassling me for money or urging me to buy something, which was really nice. I just made it very clear I just wanted to look, and they left me alone. Shop number 64 is on one of the other sides. The view from there is also great. They tried to ask for money, but I said I didn’t have any and they let me up. These two shops are the only ones that give you a good view. The tannery unsurprisingly smells awful. All the shops have mint that you can sniff while looking, and honestly it makes such a difference!
Bou Inania Madrasa
Bou Inania Madrasa is a Madrasa similar to Ben Youssef in Marrakech. It’s not as impressive but is still nice to see. It opens at 9am, and again I’d recommend going early before the tour groups get there.
Rainbow Street art
Right next to Bou Inania Madrasa is Rainbow Street which is a colourful painted street full of art. It’s very short (you’d walk through it in 30 seconds) but has nice paintings.
Jnan Sbil Park
Jnan Sbil park is outside of the medina but is a nice place to walk around. It’s not busy at all which makes it very relaxing.
Puertas del Palacio Real de Fes
While you can’t actually go into the palace (I tried), there are some gorgeous doors which are a must see if you’re in the area. They’re not busy at all and are very impressive.
Fes el Jdid
Fes el Jdid is a market street and the Jewish quarter. It’s not as touristy as the main Fes medina, which makes it nice to walk around.
Place Boujloud
If you’re heading over to the el Jdid side of Fes, you’ll walk through the Place Boujloud. It’s a huge square with fortress walls surrounding it.
Where to Eat: Vegan friendly places
There are plenty of places to eat in Fes, especially around the Blue Gate area. Here are some that I enjoyed:
Veggie Pause
Restaurant Hakim
Bouanania
Ruined Garden
Chefchaouen
I did a day trip to Chefchaouen from Fes, and booked this on Get Your Guide. I looked at taking a bus there and back, but it was more expensive and at very inconvenient times, so this was the best option. The tour just provided the transportation (approximately 3 hours each way) and then left you to explore the city on your own for 4 hours. This is plenty of time as the actual blue part of the city is very small and after an hour you’ll find yourself walking the same streets over and over again. It’s very picturesque though and I’m really glad I went.
Budget
My daily average in Morocco was £45, which included accommodation (hostels), transport, activities, food, and my SIM card. Most meals are around £7-£9, but you can eat for around £3 if you want. Hostels cost around £10-£15 per night. Morocco is pretty much cash only, but it’s a closed currency which means you can’t take it out of the country and exchange it. So, make sure you don’t take out more than you’ll need, otherwise you’ll lose out. Look out for Al Badid bank, as that is a commission-free ATM.
I hope this helps plan your trip to Morocco. As I said, I highly recommend going into the Atlas mountains and climbing Mt Toubkal if you can. But otherwise, these two cities provide a great overview of the country. As always, please look after the places you visit, and only leave your footprints behind :)
Comments