This July, we spent a one incredible week family holiday in Marrakech with our boys. Morocco as a destination is unforgettable, but also requires preparation – especially if traveling to Marrakech with kids. Here are do’s and don’ts to have the perfect family trip to Marrakech.
Staying in Marrakech Medina Riads with Kids
There are two different approaches to staying in Marrakech with kids – stay in the Medina, or stay in a resort. We saw some really beautiful high end hotels outside of the center. No doubt these would be great places to sit back, relax, and soak in the Morroccan vibes. I think though, you would only get half of the real Marrakech experience.
We stayed in a family friendly riad in Marrakech within the Medina and we loved it. It was loud, busy, chaotic, and felt like a real adventure.
If you are looking to see how people live – kids kicking soccer balls in the street, men tailoring, craftsmen cutting leather, jewelers hammering metal in their small shops, then you should stay in a riad in the Marrakech Medina.
For our trip, we chose the Riad Puchka. The family room was enormous, with two bedrooms and a living area. It was also an incredible value, costing us less than $200 a night.
The common area at Riad Puchka was beautiful but hot (we went in July). We didn’t spend much time in it except to use the pool. Our room was very comfortable, had air conditioning, and decent wifi.
We did activities early in the morning. In the afternoon, we returned to the riad for pool and a siesta of sorts. In the evening, we would venture back out for dinner.
Breakfast at Riad Puchka was amazing, with homemade msemen bread each day, freshly cooked eggs, cakes, coffee and orange juice. I would go back just for the breakfast.
When choosing a riad, the one caution I would make is to make sure you aren’t staying right in or too close to Jemaa el-Fnaa Square. The square is the center of tourist activity in the medina. While it might seem you would want to be close, this is also the center of tourist traps and scams.
Riad Puchka was about .4 miles from the square, which was perfect for us. We could get to the tourist center for dinner or activities, but then we could stay in a quieter location.
Other Family Friendly Riads in Marrakech:
Getting Around in the Marrakech Medina
The Marrakech medina is busy. Motorbikes are people’s main means of transportation, and they drive them through the narrow alleyways. They are good about watching out for you, but an unpredictable move could certainly end in injury.
We realized quickly that you need to walk on the right and walk in a straight line. This was the safest way to make sure motorbikes can get around you.
We also learned to walk with confidence. We heard a lot of horror stories about people trying to help you get places, and then insiting on payment. This didn’t happen to us, but the couple of times we stopped to look at our phone, a few people asked if we were lost. It was nothing that saying no didn’t remedy.
Apple Maps and Google Maps don’t work well in the medina. We got good advice to download MAPS.ME, and this was a lifesaver. It had the narrow roads of the medina on its map, and made it easy to navigate.
Overall, we found people in Marrakech very respectful of us, and overall friendly and helpful. The medina was very manageable once we had MAPS.ME and we knew to keep to the right and stay out of the center of the road.
How to get from the Marrakech Airport to the Medina?
Many riads are located down unmarked alleys. It would be easy to get lost without a guide to initially help you find your way around.
We coordinated transport through the hotel. I think that’s the best way to go. We would never have found our riad if we hadn’t had a guide to take us down the windy streets. Even the first day or two it was easy to get turned around.
The medina is intimidating and hard to navigate. If you only book a cab or uber, they won’t be able to get you into the center because cars can’t drive there. Do yourself a favor and have your accommodation pick you up and help you get there.
Things to Do in Marrakech with Kids?
Cooking Classes in Marrakech
This was the best experience we had on family holiday in Marrakech. We booked this Airbnb cooking class, and it was absolutely lovely. The cooking class was held in Byram and Sana’s family home.
They live about 30 minutes outside of the medina, and they recommended a driver who took us there. Upon arrival, it was immediately clear that this would be an authentic experience.
The first thing we did during the class was enjoyed a breakfast with their family. The house was bustling with relatives in and out and children playing. Byram took us to the local market and we got to see residents doing their every day shopping.
The boys got to choose our produce for the tagines, and we visited the local spice store and the butcher where Byram bought our meat.
Back at the house we cooked with Sana and Byram’s mother. They walked us through preparing tangine, couscus, and how to make mint tea. The boys each got to make their own small tagine. There was so much food and it was all delicious.
We recommend this experience to anyone who wants to get a real Moroccan experience with their family. This family was so generous, and we couldn’t be more grateful to them.
Marrakech Medina Tours
You know your kids, and you know if they can handle a walking tour. When researching Marrakech, many people recommended a walking tour the first day to get your bearings and we were glad we took their advice.
Our tour guide gave us insights into the medina, as well as tips on how to stay safe and the do’s and don’ts of staying in Marrakech. (We reccomend booking through Get Your Guide or AirBNB, prices were much more affordable than other platforms).
We went in July (me and my crazy trip planning), so it took a bit of water and bribery to get my kids through it, but they did great. I think in a cooler season it would have been fairly engaging for them. It was really good for me and my husband to get an understanding of the culture and surroundings.
Family Friendly Spas in Marrakech
I love a spa, and the idea of being able to share this with my kids seemed really cool. Several spas in Marrakech provide family services.
We chose the ISIS spa at the recommendation of other families, and this was one of the most unique things we did as a family in Marrakech.
We booked the”Soin je fais plaisir a mes petits anges pacage”, which included a hammam experience as well as massages.
You might prepare your kids for the hammam ahead of time. We were all in the same room, and we layed on cushions while our therapists applied different soaps and exfoliants to our skin. We all wore bathing suits which made everyone more comfortable.
At the Isis Spa, they separated us for massages (although they did keep the kids with each of us, me with my youngest and my older son with my husband). They brought us together in a private room at the end for mint tea.
This was so wonderful and even the boys admitted that they found their massages really relaxing. I would definitely recommend this experience if you are looking for a unique family activity in Marrakech.
Eat at Rooftop Bars
There are so many amazing rooftop bars in Marrakech. Sunset is beautiful over the city, and the desert breeze is refreshing after a cool day.
One thing we learned quickly is that Marrakech is similar to Spain in that they have a siesta schedule. Mid-day, most activities and businesses are shut down. The city comes back alive in the evening, and most restaurants just start opening their doors around 8 PM.
It’s a good idea to make reservations at rooftop restaurants – particularly if you have certain ones in mind. I caution you on going with everything you see on instagram. We enjoyed some of the restaurants we discovered more on our own, and found the most popular restaurants to be a bit artificial.
Of note, they don’t serve alcohol in the medina. We didn’t see it anywhere, although I hear some of the hotels or upscale restaurants do. We splurged on the juices and mocktails they provided in the restaurants, and we really enjoyed them.
These were our favorites restaurants in Marrakech:
L’Mida – Serving meals from a female chef raised in Brussels in a Moroccan family, this was a lovely environment. Service was thoughtful and kind, and the food was a fusion of recognizable dishes with Moroccan flavors. They were very kind to our kids, and we would highly recommend this restaurant.
Amasia – We loved this restaurant and actually returned twice. The views are breathtaking and we had Tajine and Tatchouka which were delicious, and the kids enjoyed spaghetti. This place is a bit undiscovered, and we highly recommend it.
Of note, we went to the Nomad while we were in Marrakech. The food was good, but I wouldn’t go back. The servers seemed taxed, and it seemed a bit too trendy for my taste. The juice flight was pretty great though 🙂
Visiting the Atlas Mountains with Kids
When we visited Marrakech, I booked a last minute trip with airbnb that looked really great. It included a “home cooked meal with my family” and a visit to a UNESCO heritage site village, a waterfall hike, and an Argan Oil Woman’s Cooperative.
I was really disappointed with this tour, and it might have been my expectations. My family seemed to enjoy it more than me.
The “home cooked meal with my family” was served in a large room with multiple other tour groups. Either he has a very big and active family engaged in the tour operation business, or this was a misrepresentation.
The UNESCO village site was actually a large road side souvenir shop that overlooked the site from afar. The waterfall in Imlil was overcrowded, and we couldn’t even find a place to sit and enjoy it.
Overall, there has to be a better way to see the Atlas Mountains. Just be careful of any tour that includes a waterfall, you might end up disappointed.
Places to See with Kids in Marrakech
Madrasa Ben Youssef
Madrasa Ben Youssef is a must see on a Marrakech family holiday. It was founded in the 14th century and was a Koranic school.
It has the beautiful mosaic and tile work you come to think of when you visit this region, and it minded us very much of a the Alhambra in Grenada which we visited when our son was a baby.
This was also really fun for our kids because there are small dormitories that you can wander in and out of. The building had neat crevices that you could explore, making it a bit of an adventure and more fun than your average architectural site.
The visit to this site was included on our walking tour, but only cost about 5.50 euros per adult and is easy to find without a tour group.
Jardin Majorelle
The Jardin Majorelle is a botanical garden restored by the fashion designer Yves Saint Lauren and his partner. Its worth a visit, especially if you are in the medina and you are looking for a place to escape for a while.
The Jardin Majorelle was nice for kids, with unusual plants and fun winding walking paths. It also was in a nice area of Marrakech, with some higher end stores and cute cafes. We easily made a morning of this, and hired a driver to take us there and back.
Menara Mall – Kidzo
This one might not be on everyone’s list, but after a week in Marrakech, our kids were ready for something that looked a bit closer to home. We had a late flight, so we stopped at the Menara Mall on our way out of the city, and we were so glad we did.
The top floor, “Kidzo”, is a giant arcade with games, small rides, a climbing gym, and even and ice skating rink. You load up a card with points and let the kids go. We spent two hours here and had a great time. It was an easy stop, and definitely worth visiting with kids if you are doing slower travel.