The ultimate Marrakech solo female travel guide

Marrakech solo travel summary

Key safety tips | Dress modestly to blend in, ask your hotel to call you a taxi if you need to go somewhere, wear a crossbody bag with a zip, and trust your gut.

Where to stay | My favourite place near the medina is Indian Palace (luxury), if you want to escape the chaos then Atlas Widan (luxury) is a dreamy resort out of the city, Riad Nirvana is a great mid-range option or Hostel Laksour is perfect for budget travellers.

Things to do | This top-rated street food tour (save 10% with promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK and if your guide is Ali, say hi to him from me!), Jardin Majorelle and the YSL Museum, a shopping tour in the souks, Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa, Badi Palace and the Saadian Tombs. You can tick off a bunch of these sights with this highly-reviewed walking tour (10% off with promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK for that one too).

Where to eat | L’mida Marrakech for traditional dishes with a modern twist, the small stalls in Mechoui Alley for succulent meat, Bistro Saveur for fancy European food, BEY961 for Lebanese and Cafe Restaurant Dar L’hssira for the best tagine in the city.

When to visit | The best seasons temperature-wise are spring (March to May) and autumn (Sept to Nov) but these do get busy, if you can brave the extreme heat then July/August brings lower prices and less crowds.

TOP TIP FOR WOMEN VISITING MOROCCO: If you’re keen to explore beyond just Marrakech, consider booking a small group tour with the legends with G Adventures Morocco. I did this 11-day tour that included two days in Marrakech plus stops in the Sahara, Atlas Mountains, Taghazout, Ait Ben Haddou and more.

Is Marrakech safe for solo female travellers?

In short, yes, Marrakech can be safe for solo female travellers, but the long answer is a bit more complex.

Marrakech isn’t the kind of place where you can wear what you want with no consequences, where you can wander markets without being hassled and where you can trust taxi drivers, shopkeepers and good Samaritans helping you find your way. I’m not saying this to scare you off, I just want you to be totally aware of what to expect.

The good news is that some small travel compromises and additional planning can go a long way to ensure you enjoy your solo time here, from blending into the crowd to pre-booking transport to fine-tuning your danger radar.

Here are some of the major things to be aware of when it comes to solo female travel safety in Marrakech, and some top tips to help you stay safe and comfortable when visiting Marraekch as a woman.

A quick note: While many of the safety concerns in Marrakech do come down to a difference in cultural and social norms, I definitely don’t want to to minimise the seriousness of harassment and violence towards women. If you feel like you’re in danger, please leave the situation as soon as you can and go somewhere you can get help, like a hospital, a reputable hotel or a busy shop or restaurant with lots of tourists.

Street harassment

Street harassment is probably the biggest safety concern when you’re visiting Marrakech as a woman, and unfortunately the stories you’ve heard of catcalling, taunting and persistent men trying to get your attention are probably true. Most of the time the harassment stops at the verbal level and rarely escalates to physical violence, but regardless it can still be upsetting and frustrating to deal with.

The high levels of street harassment in Marrakech come down to two main factors: cultural norms around gender roles, and stereotypes of Western women.

In Moroccan society there are deeply ingrained cultural norms in terms of gender roles, and these norms can manifest in the way men interact with women in public places. There’s somewhat of a cultural tolerance for behaviours like yelling across the street and persistent following and contact, especially within communities of young men, and there’s a lack of awareness around how intimidating and disrespectful it is to women to treat them this way. Essentially what we as women see as harassment, some men might view as a socially acceptable form of social interaction.

When you combine the cultural tolerance of these behaviours with the stereotypes some men have of Western women, the level of harassment can intensify even more. Foreign women are sometimes viewed as having different standards than local women, or as being less worthy of respect, so the inappropriate behaviour and unwanted attention might be worse for travellers who are clearly tourists.

It’s important to note that while these factors can contribute to the prevalence of street harassment in Marrakech, they absolutely do not justify the behaviour. I wish we lived in a world where we could travel freely as women without having so many extra things to consider regarding our safety, but unfortunately that’s not the reality in many places around the world. We shouldn’t let men’s behaviour stop us from adventuring, but it is endlessly frustrating to have to deal with.

The best way to deal with street harassment as a solo female traveller in Marrakech is to blend in as much as possible by wearing neutral and modest clothing, walking with confidence, avoiding eye contact and ignoring them if you can, or assertively saying ‘no’ or ‘hshouma’ (shame) if the harassment is impossible to ignore.

Safety vs. comfort

One lifechanging concept for me in terms of solo travel was the idea of safety vs. comfort, and equally danger vs. discomfort.

When we’re in a new environment like our first visit to city in a foreign country, our fight or flight response is immediately heightened. This makes us super aware of any potential risks around us, so we’re much more likely to notice people staring at us, or to assume that the guy who’s been behind us for three blocks is following us instead of just coincidentally walking to the same place.

Basically, our danger radar is set to the most sensitive setting and our brain pings the ‘fear’ response if there’s anything that doesn’t seem ‘normal’.

The problem is that ‘normal’ means different things in different places. In Morocco being stared at isn’t a sign of malicious intent, it’s just that you don’t look like a local so people will look at you and wonder where you’re from. The same goes for persistent shopkeepers, while it can be very uncomfortable to be asked five questions as you walk past a shop, that’s just the way things work in the Marrakech souks.

Misinterpreting the discomfort that comes from societal norms we aren’t used to can result in unnecessary stress, overreaction or missing out on enriching cultural experiences. While unsafe situations might require immediate action to protect ourselves, uncomfortable situations can often be carefully worked through and result in personal growth and better cultural understanding.

Learning to distinguish the difference between genuine danger vs. discomfort takes time and solo travel experience, so you can’t expect to get it right straight away. If you have a bad feeling that you can’t quite figure out, err on the side of caution and get to safety first, and you can always reassess it later from the comfort of your hotel room.

Scams

Scams can be a concern for solo female travellers in Marrakech, so being aware of some common scams and how to avoid them can help you have a hassle-free experience in the city. Here are some you should be aware of:

• Unsolicited guides or ‘helpful locals’: The medina is almost impossible to navigate without getting lost as a first-time visitor, and you might encounter a seemingly good Samaritan who is willing to give up their time to guide you to your hotel or wherever you’re going. This is often a ploy to be able to demand a large tip at the end, and in rare, more malicious cases they might lead you somewhere else entirely and mug you for your bag and phone. If you’re genuinely lost then wander until you find a cafe with WiFi, contact your hotel and ask them for directions.
• Overpriced taxis: Many Marrakech taxi drivers will take advantage by charging an exorbitant amount upfront to unsuspecting tourists, or by saying the meter is broken or just not turning it on in the first place. Pre-book transport where possible (like for airport transfers or day trips), get your hotel to call you a reputable taxi when you need to go somewhere, and insist that the meter is turned on or agree on a fair price before the trip starts.
• Fake goods in the souks: Some shops might overcharge for souvenirs like jewellery, textiles or lamps, so you should haggle in the Marrakech souks and don’t purchase unless you’re truly happy with the price. Keep in mind that it can be difficult to know for sure whether gold, precious stones or other expensive materials are authentic, if the price seems too good to be true then it probably is.
• Street performers or henna artists: In Jemaa el-Fna especially there are loads of performers or artists who might try to trap you into paying them money by posing for a photo or starting to draw henna on you and then charging you for it. If you try to walk away these people will make a scene and follow you around until you pay. Don’t take photos or videos of any performers, don’t stand too close to henna artists and firmly say no if anyone gets too close to you.

Petty crime

Like most major cities around the world who have high levels of tourism and growing inequality, Marrakech unfortunately does have opportunists who target tourists with pickpocketing and bag-snatching.

Be sure to wear a crossbody bag with a zipped compartment for your valuables, or if you have a backpack either wear it in front of you or wear it on your back with both straps and try to loop the zips together somehow, so someone can’t rip it open from behind you in a busy crowd.

Leave valuables that you don’t need with you at home, Marrakech isn’t the place to wear flashy watches or expensive jewellery. If you’re travelling with a camera you’ll want to have a decent pouch or bag to keep it in when you aren’t shooting.

Be particularly cautious in crowded areas like Jemaa el-Fna and the medina’s alleyways, these spaces can get overwhelming which makes it way easier for pickpocketers to grab your stuff without you realising.

Street food

Marrakech is a culinary paradise for foodie travellers, offering incredible value for succulent meat dishes, hearty tagines and sweet treats, but there’s nothing worse than having the best meal of your life and then feeling sick for the next 48 hours.

One important thing to note with any country we’re visiting is that stomach troubles aren’t always a sign of foodborne illness, it’s often just our bodies reacting to rich flavours or ingredients we haven’t had before.

In saying that, we still want to limit the chances of getting sick while eating our way around the city.

It’s best to check reviews online before eating to avoid any obvious red flags, and choose places that have a high turnover as that’s generally a sign of freshness. Avoid eating raw foods, salads or unpeeled fruits without washing them first, and don’t drink the tap water unless you’re at a high level hotel that has filtered water available. Wash your hands before every meal, and take sanitiser with you in your day bag in case you don’t have access to water before eating.

If you do end up feeling the ill effects of food poisoning or an intolerance to what you’ve eaten, the most important thing is to stay hydrated. Drink lots of (filtered) water, stay out of the sun, eat bland food like plain couscous or bread, and see a doctor if your symptoms get worse.