While virtually all of the famous sites charge admission, there are plenty of free things to do in Morocco to compete with them. These are the spots to see in Morocco, whether you’re on a budget or not!
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Observe daily life in the medinas.
The medinas are, without a doubt Morocco’s top free attractions. And they’re so diverse from one another that you won’t grow bored.
Marrakech’s medina is orange-red and, regrettably, very congested. The medina in Fes is more yellowish, devoid of motorbikes, and quite confusing. Essaouira’s medina features a chequerboard design and is located directly on the beach. Chefchaouen’s medina is blue, whereas Ouezzane’s is green.
They’re all wonderful for people-watching and walking. In the medina, there are generally lots of shopping choices, either in the souk or in little stores in the alleys. marrakech desert tours 3 days
Shop at one of the souks.
Every city has a souk, and visiting one is one of the greatest free activities in Morocco. Sometimes in the shape of a market hall, sometimes more akin to a weekly market someplace outdoors. On the route to Merzouga, my favorite real souk is in Rissani. Sunday is the main market day (with Tuesday and Thursday being somewhat smaller), and the town is packed with people riding donkeys or driving horse carts from the outlying towns. Everything is available there, from fruits and vegetables to donkeys and lambs. It’s a lot of joy to see the colorful hustle and bustle.
The souks are nearly their own neighborhood in major towns, like Marrakech and Fez, and are generally partially covered. People like to sell for visitors here, and there are souvenirs of every variety and quality. Viajes a Marrakech
Hear the tales at Jmaa el fna.
An evening in Marrakech’s main plaza, Jemaa al fna, is one of the city’s primary attractions and most enjoyable experiences. Enjoy the sunset from one of the rooftop decks while drinking orange juice or a traditional mint tea.
Later, you may go around the plaza and listen to traditional music or see storytellers. Look for the largest group of individuals to find the finest stories. Even if you don’t speak any of the native Berber languages, it’s a fascinating sight to see.
Hiking through the Valley of the Roses
The Valley of the Roses, which lies behind Kelaat M’Gouna, is my favorite among the valleys south of the Atlas. You may spend the night at Bou Thrarar and embark on a few of hikes from there. If you remain in the main valley, hiking without a guide is simple; there’s little risk of getting lost. So this is another another fantastic free activity in Morocco.
Spend the day at the beach.
Tafedna is the place to go if you want to see a remote and scenic beach. This little community is directly on the beach and has a lovely beach that is almost vacant throughout the week. You could hire an umbrella for the day for 20 DH while we were there, and there are several tiny stores and eateries.
The beach is fantastic for swimming and bathing, but the only thing to do in the afternoon is watching the little fishing boats bring in their haul. There were also no lifeguards, so you should be a strong swimmer.
Legzira was noted for its Elephant Granite, a red rock arch distinctive of the area. Unfortunately, it went bankrupt a few years ago. However, there are many more rock arches on the shore, albeit they are not as stunning. Tour del Marocco
A few hotels and residences face the Atlantic in the bay’s little hamlet.
Feel like a movie star
Ait Ben Haddou was created about 1000 years ago and was once a prosperous town since it was the first stop for all travelers and merchants traveling from the north over the Atlas Mountains. As a result of the prosperity, there was a great demand for defenses, which can still be seen on practically every structure.
Today, the area is mostly deserted, although it is frequented by visitors and film teams on occasion. You may follow in the footsteps of Russell Crowe (in Gladiator) and Orlando Bloom (in Kingdom of Heavens) by visiting this location.
Essaouira is also a well-known filming site, with episodes of the HBO series Game of Thrones being shot there.
In Chefchaouen, take photographs like an Instagram celebrity.
Chefchaouen rose to prominence because of Instagram. Few visitors visited the city until every travel blogger shared photographs from the blue medina. It’s difficult to pick out distinct “sights” since practically every corner is gorgeous. So go on a stroll, get lost, and snap as many images as your heart wishes. Don’t worry; since the medina is so tiny, you’ll always find your way back.
Asilah’s street art
Asilah is a small and cozy village on the Atlantic Ocean. Every year, a festival is held here during which artists paint colorful murals on the walls of the homes in the medina. This implies that you must return every year to view the new artwork.
The medina is fairly tiny, mostly white and blue, and there aren’t many visitors. Nonetheless, or maybe because of this, it is worthwhile to pay a visit.
Photograph the tanneries in Fes.
Visiting and photographing the tanneries is one of the most popular activities in Fes. The Chouara tannery, in particular, is undoubtedly the most photographed location in Fes these days. I’m sure everyone has seen the colorful Instagram photographs of the Fes tannery.
In Fes, leather is still tanned using pigeon droppings, quicklime, and calf urine (thus the stench!), as well as natural colors, just as it was hundreds of years ago. The guys then stomp on the leather in these massive cauldrons, softening it while also exposing their own flesh to these harsh chemicals. Despite earning a nice living, their life expectancy is rather low.
In Tangier, pay your homage to Ibn Battouta.
Ibn Battuta, have you heard of him? He was essentially the Islamic world’s Marco Polo. He was born in Tangier in the early 14th century and traveled as far as China and back, as well as across areas of East and West Africa. His experiences were recorded by a notable writer of the day, but they were lost for many centuries. He is now a well-known person in the Islamic world, and his tomb is located in Tangier.
It’s tucked away on the western outskirts of the medina and quite unremarkable. However, I believe it is an excellent location to pay tribute to one of the greatest travelers of all time.
Visit Hercules Cave.
The Cave of Hercules, also known as the Hercules Grotto, is one of Tangier’s most renowned sights, yet it is actually situated a few kilometers west of the city. It is now simple to visit since the way down into the cave has been paved, making it safe to explore in all weathers.
The entrance to the grotto facing the sea resembles a reflected outline of Africa and is a favorite photographic subject.
Examine the Spanish impact on Tetouan.
Tetouan is in Morocco’s extreme north, near the Mediterranean Sea. Tetouan’s medina is one of Morocco’s smallest but one of the finest maintained. It is picturesque due to its whitewashed walls and location on the edge of a hill.
The whole medina is still enclosed by a massive wall, and access is restricted to one of the seven city gates. Green wooden roofs cover parts of the medina, providing much-needed shade in the heat.
The medina is next to the Spanish Quarter, which is likewise white but considerably newer and has classic Spanish balconies. Tetouan is one of my favorite cities in Morocco because of this difference.
In Meknes, you may see the gorgeous city gate in Morocco.
The Bab Mansour in Meknes is regarded as Morocco’s most magnificent city entrance. And based on what I’ve seen so far, I have to agree. It is not only massive but also beautifully ornamented, with some columns “taken” from Volubilis by Moulay Ismail.
When the sun is shining on the Bab Mansour, it is best seen from Place el Hedim or one of the adjacent rooftop cafés in the late afternoon.
