Backpacking in Morocco🇲🇦: Top 5 Sights in Marrakesh

I was backpacking in Morocco in 2017 as part of a tour where I visited Casablanca, Marrakesh and delved south into Western Sahara. I was able to get a cheap flight from Krakow in Poland direct to Marrakesh in Morocco. This made it easy to visit Marrakesh and backpack my way through the main sights of the city. While here, I teamed up with Marrakesh Food Tours to explore the culinary delights. I also recommend staying in the Kaktus Hostel and booking Morocco Travel Packages, especially for families and groups. On this trip, as a solo backpacker come whackpacker, I set myself on visiting the main sights in Marrakesh.

There are a few decent cafes here with a view of the square.

2.Ali Ben Yousseff Madrasa
The Ben Youssef Madrasa is the largest Madrasa in the whole of Morocco and well worth a visit. Admittedly I have backpacked through dozens of Madrasas on my travels including in Azerbaijan, Iraq, Iran, Uzbekistan and Saudi  Arabia. However, it’s still worth checking this place out. It was an Islamic college named after the Almoravid Sultan Ali ibn Yusuf (reigned 1106–1142), who expanded the city and its influence considerably in the history of Morocco.

3.Koutoubia Mosque
I normally try to visit at least one mosque when I am in Islamic countries and Morocco was no different. I headed to the Koutoubia Mosque. The Mosque is only a short walk from Djemma El-Fna square.

The mosque stands tall and obvious in an otherwise low lying Marrakesh skyline. It has curved windows, a large and wide minaret (77 metres high) and a spire. This mosque is one of the most visited in the city and sits in fromt of gardens and a square. At night it is lit up. It was completed under the reign of the Berber Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur between 1184 and 1199, and has inspired other buildings such as the Giralda in Sevilla (Spain) and the Hassan Tower in Rabat.

4.Bahia Palace
There are some truly elaborate palaces and gardens in Marrakesh including the Bahia Palace. It was built in the late 19th century, and is a huge complex which is meant to represent both Moroccan and Islamic style. The library is worth checking out, as is the courtyard. The complex is larger than 2 acres in size so I didn’t backpack all of it.

5.Saadian Tombs
The Saadian princes were buried here in this tomb which is located beside the Kasbah Mosque. The walls are typically Islamic and the complex has been kept in superb condition despite the fact it dates back to the 1500s.

As well as touring these sights, I also visited a few bars and cafes in Marrakesh. It’s a city that surprised me a lot – here are a few more photos of it.