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Planning for 11 nights in Morocco

We'd love feedback on our tentative plan for Morocco in May. We don't plan to rent a car but will travel between cities by train. We'd like to visit museums, markets, and learn more about the culture. We're not so interested in a trip to the desert. We've booked Riads but we're open to suggestions if anyone has a favorite place to stay in any of these cities.

  • Fly Atlanta to Casablanca
  • Train to Rabat (3 nights)
  • Rabat to Fez (3 nights with day trip to Meknes)
  • Open night--one more night in Fez? or add to Marrakesh? or spend a night or two in Meknes?
  • Train from Fez to Marrakesh (4 nights with day trips possibly Essaouira but not sure if it's worth the trip)
  • Day 12 fly Marrakesh to Seville.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Posted by
3247 posts

Thanks Matthew! I'll post on Trip Advisor as well. Great story about getting scammed in Seville...

Posted by
867 posts

Suggestions: hire local guides in Fez and Marrakesh - particularly Fez for the Medina - lots to see in both cities but you need someone to help you find it and provide the background. Don't miss the leather tanneries in Fez - fascinating but oh, the smell! In Marrakesh the things you might want to see are more spread out. Do try and visit the Majorelle gardens which used to be owned by Yves St. Laurent - just beautiful and it includes an interesting small Islamic art museum

4 nights seems a lot for Marrakesh; you might want to cut back on that and with your free day consider a visit to one of the coastal towns - Agadir or Essouira. Or consider hiring a car and driver to visit the High Atlas region - a whole different side of Morocco.

Brush up your bargining skills and learn the phrase "la, shukran" (No, thank you). Say with increasing intensity if someone is persistent and drop the "shukran"! Another good one is "Mahfeesh floos" - no money"! Mind they will offer to take you to the nearest ATM! English and French are commonly spoken throughout Morocco but it seemed to me that saying no thanks in Arabic had more effect!