Tips for Visiting Marrakech with Kids

When you’re ready to dip your children’s tiny little toes into north Africa, Marrakech, in the heart of the former French colony of Morocco and a short skip from Spain, is where to begin. With its wide Parisian-style boulevards in the new part of the city and its narrow rabbit warren-like donkey cart runs within the old walls of the Medina, it offers both first world luxury and developing world charm. Visiting Marrakech with kids is an delight for the senses and a fun experience at every age, from a baby to a teenager.

Where to Stay in Marrakech with Kids: HouseTrip.com

You want to stay outside the old city of the Medina. Although it’s a magical place to visit, it’s not an ideal pitching up place for young children, as cars can’t reach far within it so you need to walk everywhere. And, at rush hour, which tends to coincide with restaurant-hunting hour, the little alleyways become a motorway for motorbikes and donkey carts, terrifying as an adult and even worse if you’re tiny in size! Consider bringing a baby carrier if you’re traveling with a toddler.

This three-bedroom house from HouseTrip.com is in a gated ‘Spanish-style’ resort complex within a few metres of the Medina walls. You can spend the morning relaxing and hanging out by the pool and the afternoons exploring the real Marrakech. Arranged over three floors, like a typical riad, this newly-built property has a lovely lounge to sit in at night whilst the kids are asleep, and a great roof terrace, complete with barbecue. The only downside is it doesn’t have a bath.

If you’re travelling with toddlers and young babies, a villa in the ‘Beverly Hills’ area of the city, the Palmeraie, may be more appropriate as there will be fewer stairs making it more baby friendly. The Palmeraie is a beautiful green area of Marrakech where President Sarkozy is said to stay. This villa looks like a great option.

Teenagers will probably enjoy really living like a local in the heart of the Medina. And this riad will ensure that you stay in the lap of luxury whilst doing so. Bag the roof-top suite with plunge tub before the kids do though.

Things To Do in Marrakech with Kids

The beauty of staying in a holiday rental with HouseTrip is that you get to meet your host or a representative of your host and grill them for local tips. With my schoolgirl French I discovered the following gems:

Visit Jemma el-Fnaa

Avoid the main square of Jemma el-Fnaa at night. You don’t want to be taken unawares by a man throwing a monkey or a snake charmer for a photo-op; arrive instead just after midday when the stalls have all opened up and you will have more control over who is trying to entertain you.

The kids will be delighted to see the snakes being charmed, the monkeys performing their tricks, and the traditional street dances.

Take a Horse and Cart Ride Around the City

There is also a chance to take a horse drawn carriage ride around the city from here too, but remember to haggle down the price. Moroccans love to haggle. I’m not sure if the treatment of animals in Morocco is quite up to the standards of various Western protection agencies though. If you don’t think you can stomach it, avoid the square altogether.

Tour the Koutoubia Mosque

The Koutoubia Mosque on the outskirts of the Medina is an impressive building just outside of the main square. You may get to hear the melodic call to prayer whilst walking in the rose gardens of the park alongside it. Then let the kids have more of a run around in the Cyber Park just next door, whilst you check your emails – there is free wifi access here.

Wander Around Le Jardin Majorelle

Le Jardin Majorelle, in the grounds of the former home of designer Yves Saint Laurent, is amazing too. The colours and the cacti in the Majorelle gardens are incredible, but my kids spent most of the time seeing if a cat would succeed in catching a goldfish from the pond. Each to their own.

Experience a Marrakech Souk

Take in one of the many souks scattered across the Medina. They are a series of Aladdin’s caves of wonder. Beautifully crafted shoes, necklaces and traditional dress jostle for space with stalls mounted with spices, fruit and sweets.

Check out El Badi Palace

Next stop the El Badi Palace to check out the impressive mosaics. Our host offered to arrange a guide for us, but I don’t think that young kids have the concentration span for this so we went along by ourselves and managed to spend a few minutes tagging along with an English speaking tour.

There is also a very nice clean toilet in here, grab them while you can.

Tip: Attendants at Marrakech restrooms will expect a tip or small gratuity, make sure you always have change with you.

Experience the Jewish Quarter within the Medina

Just around the corner from the Palace, a local boy offered to show us the way to the synagogue. Marrakech used to have a bustling Jewish quarter within the Medina, but now all that remains is the old temple, which is beautifully decorated in turquoise mosaics.

None of us expected to see a family of tortoises waiting at the entrance though! As we were constantly told, there is always something to surprise you here.

Where To Eat in Marrakech with Kids

• Le Fondouk for a real Moroccan feast in traditional family-friendly surroundings.
• Chez Ouazzani! on Rue Ibn Aïcha in the new city for BBQ meats.
• The drinking water in Morocco is supposed to be safe, though there is growing mistrust as to whether the government is properly treating it. Bottled water is always a safe bet.

Marrakech Travel Tips

• Many holiday rental hosts in Marrakech do not speak English. If you know French, you’ll be fine. If not, take advantage of HouseTrip’s customer service team and their multilingual skills if you have questions.
• It’s common for hosts to ask for a cash deposit when you check-in. It works similarly to when you check in to a hotel and they swipe your card for a deposit. Make sure to arrange a time on your check-out day to get the funds back.
• Have your host write the address of your home on a piece of paper in French and Arabic so that you can hand it to taxi drivers when you want to get around.
• HouseTrip have a policy whereby you can report any issues with your rental within 24 hours of check-in. This is because they hold the payments until 48 hours after your check-in date. If it’s a minor problem such as a leaky tap, then they can negotiate with the owner for a quick repair. If it’s something bigger (like if the listing says it has three bedrooms and you find only two are available) then they can negotiate discounts or a full refund depending on how severe the problem is. If you don’t call the customer care team before the payment is made, then the opportunities for negotiation diminish. So it is best to do a once-over of your rental as soon as you arrive.
• When travelling with older teens, ask how many sets of keys are available. You don’t want to be in a situation where kids are trapped because they can’t go in and out of the property independently.

Editorial Note: This trip to Marrakech was sponsored by House Trip. As always, our opinions are our own on Ciao Bambino.

Relevant Links:

Family tour of Morocco

La Sultana Marrakech: Sleep Inside a Luxurious UNESCO World Heritage Site

5 Outrageous Things to Do in Morocco with Teens

Morocco with kids planning tips

Desert sand dunes of Morocco for Photo Friday

Family-friendly sustainable tourism in the High Atlas Mountains