From Marrakech to the blue city: My 6-night Morocco itinerary

Morocco was my first (and as of Dec 2025, the only) country I visited in Africa. I’ve been intrigued with Morocco for years: the Medinas, the Riyadhs, the Sahara Desert, oh and of course I just HAD to visit the Blue City.

After years of dreaming, I finally visited Morocco in October 2023. I flew from Barcelona to Marrakech. It’s a great country to add to your Europe trip since it’s so close! Most major European airports have affordable flights to Morocco (mainly to Marrakech and Casablanca).

I won’t lie, I was a little nervous to visit… Mainly due to the unfamiliarity. At that point, I was used to Europe & Southeast Asia. Morocco was a brand new experience. It’s ok to be nervous about the unknown, so long as you don’t let it stop you. I decided that 6 nights would be the right amount of time for my first visit & I stand by that. I didn’t get to do everything I wanted, but it was enough time to see a handful of places and to get a feel for the culture.

Morocco has a lot of variety! The north vs. the south each offer a different vibe. However long you choose to spend in Morocco, don’t stay in just one place!

If you want to copy my itinerary, go for it! It’s a great starter trip. Here’s how I spent 6 nights in Morocco!

What to know before you visit Morocco

Is there a language barrier?: Kinda, but not really. Most Moroccans I encountered could speak at least basic English. I had no trouble communicating here. Since Morocco is so close to Europe (particularly Spain), you’ll find that there’s a lot of European influence, especially further up North. Many Moroccans speak French because of a protectorate that was in place for several decades. Obviously, the further north you go, the more Spanish speakers you’ll find.

Is Morocco safe? This is tricky because in my experience, yes… overall. I never once felt unsafe in Morocco. I did, however, feel annoyed… a LOT. Men in Morocco are VERY forward. Prepare for cat calling, especially in Marrakech. I called it an early night on my last night in Marrakech because I was tired of all the comments. This certainly makes things annoying, but I think the overall experience outweighs the negatives. Also, make sure to research the common scams before visiting. Scams are everywhere & they’re easy to detect if you’re aware of them.

Is Morocco affordable? Very! I booked my 3-day tour from Marrakech to Fez (that goes through the High Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert) for less than $300. I stayed in hostels that were just $15/night.

Does Morocco have good public transportation? Sort of. There’s a decent bus & train system. The big cities also have ride share & taxis.

Do I need to carry cash? Yes, Morocco isn’s super card friendly. Some restaurants and most hotels will accept credit cards, but make sure you have cash for small cafes and shopping in the Medinas.

Marrakech: 2 Nights

My trip started in Marrakech, and it was by far my least favorite stop on the trip. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not BAD…the Medina is really cool, the architecture is beautiful, and the food is tasty. My issue with Marrakech is the pushy-ness: Street harassment, cat callers, and scammers were everywhere. I loved exploring, but did find that I needed to take some breaks at my hotel. I don’t want to deter you from visiting, I just want you to be prepared for some annoyances- especially if you’re a western woman.

Where I stayed: I booked a 6-bed dorm at Equity Point Marrakech. The rooms are a little dated, but the exterior and the pool are beautiful! It’s tucked away in the Medina which makes it a little hard to find, but I enjoyed my stay!

Things to do:

Jemaa el-Fnaa is the main square with performances and food stalls. It’s a really lively place, especially in the evening!

Koutoubia Mosque: The most recognizable mosque in Marrakech!

Jardin Majorelle: a beautiful garden that’s owned by Foundation Pierre Berge, because Berge and designer Yves Saint Laurent rediscovered the gardens in the 80s. There’s also a YSL museum in Marrakech.

Explore the Medinas: you could easily spend hours here, especially if you like shopping!

High Atlas Mountains: 1 Night

The next 2 nights are part of a 3-day tour through the High Atlas Mountains & the Sahara Desert. HERE is the tour I booked.

You start your journey through the mountains and the first major stop is the very famous Ait Ben Haddou. A LOT of movies/television shows were filmed there: Gladiator, Game of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia, + more. We had a local guide take us through the alleys and we learned more about the history of the area. It was incredible!

We spent the rest of the day on the road (we made some stops for snacks, toilet, etc.) and spent the night in a Kasbah in Dades. The people at the Kasbah gave us a nice dinner and put on a music show. After the craziness of Marrakech, this was much more wholesome.

Sahara Desert: 1 Night

What a big day! We made many stops, specifically to the Tinghir oasis and Todgha gorges, which are STUNNING. We stopped at a place where we got to try some Moroccan tea and learned more about Moroccan carpet. The people there did try to push sales, but a simple ‘no, thank you’ sufficed.

Now, let’s talk about the desert…

You leave your luggage in the bus, and just bring a small overnight bag. Your camel greets you to enjoy a ride through the desert at golden hour. By the way, if you haven’t ridden a camel before, I have 2 things to say:

1.Wow, they’re tall!

2. Yes, they have humps for sitting, but that doesn’t make it a comfortable ride. Don’t be surprised if you have some back/butt pain after.

Tears streamed down my face as we journeyed through the desert. The Sahara is as beautiful as it looks, and being there was a major accomplishment as someone who’s dreamed of travel since childhood.

We sat on a hill, got to sand board, take photos, and enjoy the view.

Once we were done, we went to camp, had dinner, then enjoyed a bonfire show. The hospitality was excellent! Everyone was kind, happy to take photos, and thoroughly answered my questions.

Fez: 2 Nights

The day started early. We were woken up at 5am to prepare to watch the sunrise in the desert. It was well worth it. I said a final goodbye to the camel, then we went back to our pick up point, washed off, ate breakfast, then got back on the road.

About 7-8 hours later, I arrived in Fez.

I stayed at Medina Social Club and I really enjoyed it. I far prefer Fez’s Medina to Marrakech. it’s easier to navigate and it’s much wider (doesn’t feel quite as cramped). While there were cat callers and scammers present, it wasn’t as bad as Marrakech.

Chefchouen: Day trip from Fez

Sometimes, the Instagram-able places aren’t worth visiting at all. Sometimes, they are. Chefchouen is 100% worth visiting.

It’s about a 3-4 hour drive from Fez. I went with a tour that started with a walkthrough of the city with a local guide, followed by a few hours of free time. I booked through this company and would definitely recommend!

Most people visit Chefchouen because it looks cool. Honestly, that’s why I did. To my pleasant surprise, there is so much more to the blue city than aesthetics. Nobody knows exactly why the city was painted blue. Many believe it was done by Jewish refugees who settled there in the 30s. Some believe it’s for practical reasons: to repel mosquitos and for temperature control. Now, the city remains blue because it has a calming, beautiful look.

My biggest surprise is just how kind and welcoming the locals are. Despite it being a popular tourist spot, it wasn’t very crowded. There were several moments where I had the streets all to myself, with maybe just 1 or 2 people passing by. Most of the locals I came across said ‘welcome.’ Some stopped to ask me where I’m from. After all my years traveling to very touristy cities where the locals don’t exactly love visitors (Paris, Tokyo, Rome.. crowded spots like that), it’s a breath of fresh air to come across locals who are genuinely pleased to see you.

The city is gorgeous and is absolutely worth a day trip!

What I would do next time

Honestly, I wouldn’t change much about my first trip. I think I saw enough and had a great experience. Next time, I have no plans to visit Marrakech. Instead, I would rather spend more time in the North and on the coast- I hear Morocco has great beaches! I would also spend more time in Fez since I didn’t have enough time to explore.

My only regret

If I have one regret, I wish I would have looked into the common scams before visiting. I found myself in an uncomfortable situation in Marrakech that I could’ve easily avoided if I had simply done more research. While looking for my hostel, a teenager offered to give me directions. I graciously accepted them, and he demanded that I “pay him for his service” and wouldn’t accept my offer (that, in hindsight, I didn’t need to give him at all.. just wanted him to go away). I firmly told him “take it or leave it” about a dozen times until he finally accepted what I was offering ($5 USD). Not a huge deal, but definitely avoidable. I noticed a few instances of people trying to do the same thing later on in Marrakech and it was easy to catch since I was aware of the signs. You can really never do enough research before traveling, honestly.

Morocco is a gorgeous country and I loved my visit. While it is not particularly beginner friendly for solo travel, it is safer than many assume. If you’re a woman and are afraid to visit, just be prepared for cat calling and get really good at ignoring it. Beyond that, in my experience, I felt safe. The Marrakech Medina may deceive you into believing that all the locals are scammers and hustlers. Once you leave the Medinas, you will find hospitable, kind people who are happy you’re visiting. By the way, Morocco is the only place where I was personally welcomed by the Immigration officer.

Morocco is simply too beautiful & interesting not to visit!