daffy_traveller

My husband and I are sneaking in 4 days in Marrakech between business trips in Spain and France. I have a few questions...any help is most welcome!

1- What are the 'must dos' in Marrakech? We don't like to over plan, but don't want to miss something important.

2- What is the weather like there in late November?

Thanks loads for any help!
L

TimCullis

Strongly suggest you get a Marrakech-specific guidebook both for planning your trip and reference whilst you are there. Personally I don't value any of the normal tourist sites (tombs, palaces), but prefer to people watch in the medina and the new town and just wander around.

Weather varies, absolutely no way to predict. If it's sunny it will be warm, if not it's likely to be cold.

MmePerdu

Well said, TimCullis. I'd avoided giving essentially the same answer so glad you stepped up.

MinnBeef

Fair points, TimCullis and Mme Perdu but I suspect both of you have been to Marrakech more than several times and have seen the tourist sites already. I don't know for sure about the OP but my guess is that this will be their first trip to Marrakech.

For me, I first off completely reject the idea that "we don't want to overplan." Overplanning to me means that you have to do everything you put down on your list, regardless of how your trip plays out and how you are feeling on any given day. It means rushing around from site to site and not appreciating the moments at the site you are visiting. However, you MUST plan to a good extent for any city you are visiting for the first time unless you want to waste a bunch of time and money and have an experience not much different from one you could have had in your home country.

I would say the one must in Marrakech is the obvious one-the Djema el Fna. Both during the daytime and then at night when the grill stands come out at night. Walking around the grounds of the nearby Koutoubia mosque is interesting although of course, you cannot enter it. The Saadian Tombs to me were rather ho hum. The Ba'hai Palace was also rather cool.

By 4 days, do you mean 4 nights?

MmePerdu

I think you misunderstand MinnBeef.

1. I agree, get a guidebook, essential.
2. By "personally" I think TimCullis, & I do mean, all choices of what to do are personal. Not that if I don't want to see it, you shouldn't want to see it.
3. "Must dos" - no such thing unless you find there's something you must do. On my first visit 20 years ago my own was spending time in the garden at the Mamounia and to do it I had to sneak past doormen whose mission was to keep the rabble like me out. Maybe not high on the OP's list.
4. I find it exceedingly gratifying to turn over every rock in preparation for a trip because it would upset me to find there had been something wonderful that I'd have loved to see and hadn't done my homework. Maybe I take it all too seriously but my trips are among the most satisfying things in my life. So I loose patience with those who would lean on others and not bother to do their own work.
5. Get a guidebook.

MmePerdu

Make that "lose" patience. I do get excited and can't blame auto-correct.

Bedar

Minbeef is correct. In fact, there aren't many so-called must-sees in Marrakech. Easily done with a guidebook and then peope watch. For me the most interesting thing about the city is its setting - the palmeraie ringed by snow-capped mountains. Lovely. You might also have a meal at the Maison Arabe.

MinnBeef

Thanks for the clarification, Mme Perdu.

daffy_traveller

I appreciate all the answers. I DO get guidebooks and do extensive research
(a ridiculous amount actually)...and Fodor's Forum is one of my many sources.

We have 4 nights - not days.

I assume that wandering around, getting lost and finding surprises is going to be our main activity. It's what we always do. But if there was something unique someone had discovered, I was hoping they would share that.

I will get my book and dig in!

Thanks to all

MinnBeef

I would add that you might want to consider a carriage ride around the city. There are many that line the street connecting the Djema el Fna with the Koutoubia mosque. I would assume that, like taxis, negotiate your price in advance. And remember, everything is negotiable.

MmePerdu

Eat bastilla, also spelled b'stilla, pastilla. Traditional pigeon pie, now made with chicken. Oh, yum.

If you don't see it in restaurants ask at your hotel where you can find it. Last times I've gotten it was in a neighborhood bakery where I had to order it in advance. But it's fun to have something to chase down and worth it.