Marrakech - Solo?

[therockingbird]

My teens are off to Spain with their dad for Easter for 10 nights.. this is the first time in 15 years I’ll be alone (single parent) and I’m thinking it’s a good opportunity to head off somewhere myself. I’ve gone down various rabbit holes and discovered Marrakech. It’s warm, not too far away and something completely different. Would you consider this a safe solo holiday? I’m getting mixed signals on reviews. I won’t be laying on a sun lounger reading a book - more walking about taking in the culture and practicing my photography skills.

Istanbul might be a good alternative? I had zero hassle there as a solo female. Stunning sights and the food is incredible.

I have backpacked on my own many times - Asia and Africa. My worst experience of being hassled by men was a trip to Marrakesh with my girlfriend. we were about 30 at the time and dressed very respectfully, covering arms and legs when out and about. We were hassled by men a lot. The worst experience was near to our hotel when a man started wanking in front of us. As previous posters have suggested, Essouira would be much better.

I've been (not on my own) and saw at least three other women there who were solo travellers. It's an interesting place and I wouldn't let some of the comments above put you off. Just do your research so that you know what to expect. The centre really is like a maze - every street looks the same with so many similar shops. And don't accept any offers of people trying to help you.

I’d love to go to but only with someone else!
how about Venice - so beautiful and lots of cafes to sit and people watch, plus really fab for just wandering

I think Marrakech is a lovely place to go to on your own. You will no doubt get pestered to a degree but the level of harassment is so much less than some other North African cities, such as Luxor, and I’ve never felt remotely intimidated anywhere in the region st any time of day. I think Marrakech is a magical city and if you dress respectfully and dont take the approaches from shop keepers and tour guides too seriously, you will have a great time. I woukd go again on my own in a heartbeat.

I’ve just returned from Marrakesh with my partner. The main square has tourists traps such as the cobras, monkeys and henna. However, if you stay away from these which even the locals tell you and go and explore the souks, you will be fine. There are so many people about and if you are just polite and say no thank you and keep walking, they don’t bother you. Marrakesh was one of the friendliest places we have ever been and we saw lots of solo travelers and they were fine. If you go on YouTube, watch some of the videos on there, it will give you a better perspective of the place. Trust me, it’s incredible and also book a trip to the mountains to do camel riding and quads, we were with a group of lovely people and the tour guide couldn’t have been nicer.

I would agree that Egypt has a lot more hassle.

it is easy to get lost in the medina though as there are so many streets and they all look like each other!

we learnt various landmarks and went by those. Phone signal can get tricky and the streets are close together (a bit like the shambles in York if you have ever been)

I would love to go to Marrakesh but don’t fancy it on my own! If you want sunshine why don’t you look at the Algarve? I went to a wee place called Monte Gordo 2 years ago and it was fab!! Not the prettiest town but it caters mostly for Portuguese so food is excellent and cheap! Amazing beach, great public transport along to Faro and to Villa Real de Sant Antonio where you can get a wee ferry to Ayamonte in Spain. I loved it and it was so relaxing. I’d go exploring every morning to Tavira, Faro etc and had a day in Spain, spent most afternoons on a sun lounger reading! or go to Athens, explore for a few days then head to Aegina and just enjoy island life!!

I went to Marrakesh last year with girlfriends and found it fine. There’s an app that lets you download a map of the medina so you’re still able to find your way around even though you don’t get reception there. Pay for a private transfer - the dodgiest thing was when we arrived, the airline bus dropped us off and we were swarmed with ‘porters’ who then couldn’t find the hotel - our fault for not being prepared but it wasn’t the nicest welcome.

The trick with the sellers is to NEVER go inside the shop. They’re not allowed to hassle you on the street, different story if you choose to go in. And tbf the shopping is crap, it’s all the same stuff now, all mass-produced. The medina felt a little like a theme park if I’m being honest.

That all said, if what you actually want to do is practice your photography, I wouldn’t necessarily pick Marrakesh, you will be swarmed with people demanding money for you to take their picture the minute you raise your camera.

Granada in Spain would be ideal for you then. Beautiful and interesting city, wandering the streets of the albaicin district is lovely as is sitting sipping mint tea in the Moroccan inspired tea cafes, and then you have the Alhambra which is stunning and a photographers dream

I’ve been to Marrakesh twice with DH and really enjoyed it, but there is absolutely no way I would go there as a solo female traveller.