What to do and see in Marrakech in March?
Are you looking for the perfect destination for a trip in late winter and early spring? How about going to Marrakech in March? At this time of the year, you can benefit from a very mild climate, and have an excellent stay while avoiding the flood of tourists that surges here for a good part of the rest of the year.
In the lines that follow, I take you to discover everything that awaits you during a stay in Marrakech in March.
Marrakesh weather in March
With its semi-desert subtropical climate, Marrakech is a city where it is good to travel at any time of the year. But it is especially during the mid-seasons that all the conditions are met, because you can enjoy a really pleasant climate and less frequentation.
The month of March, which marks the end of winter and the return of spring, is therefore a very good time if you do not yet know when to go to Marrakech. The sun is very present and the temperatures are never too high.
In March, the thermometer climbs little by little as the month progresses. The average temperature is around 22 degrees at the height of the day. The weather is very mild in the morning (about 18 degrees at 9 a.m.), and it stays that way quite late in the evening after sunset. It is cooler in the middle of the night, but the temperature rarely drops below 10 degrees.
March is one of the months of the year with the heaviest rainfall in Marrakech. However, the rains remain really rare, since on average it only rains 2 days during the month, so you can take advantage of it to multiply the visits and excursions.
During the month of March, the days get longer, they last around 11.30 a.m. the first days and 12.30 p.m. at the end of the month. The sun rises between 8 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. and sets between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Overall, the weather conditions are really very favorable for making a trip to Marrakech during the month of March, and they even become practically ideal towards the end of the month.
Tourist attendance in Marrakech in March
March is a month when tourist attendance is relatively low in Marrakech, even if the return of the high season is near.
Traveling in March can be a price advantage, since it is one of the months of the year when the prices of plane tickets are at their lowest. On the other hand, with regard to hotels and the prices of the various activities, the prices change very little depending on the time of year. In any case, you can save money by making your reservations as early as possible.
What to do and see in Marrakech in March?
The major unmissable sites of Marrakech
Place Jemaa El Fna, a large square listed as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site which is located in the heart of the Medina, between the Koutoubia Mosque and the souks. This is the liveliest place in town, during the day you can see musicians, acrobats, henna tattoo artists and even snake charmers. In the evening, mobile restaurants invade the square, which becomes the best place in town to savor typical Moroccan dishes at very attractive prices. As much to tell you that this site is one of the essential places to visit if you do not yet know what to do in Marrakech
The gardens of Marrakech are very appreciable at this time of the year, when the return of spring is near. The Majorelle garden is undoubtedly the best known in the city. Designed by the French painter Jacque Majorelle, it then belonged to Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé, and today it is one of the main tourist sites in Marrakech.
Other beautiful gardens await you, such as the Menara Gardens, with their huge basin fed by water from the Atlas Mountains, their ancient olive grove and their amazing vegetation. You can discover all these places during a visit to the most beautiful gardens of Marrakech.
The Bahia Palace, a sublime 19th century palace that was built for Sidi Moussa, vizier of Sultan Hassan I. Located southeast of the Jemaa El Fna square, it was one of the largest buildings in the country. During a guided tour of the Bahia Palace, you can discover the magnificent hand-decorated ceilings, the traditional mosaics, the large gardens and the patios decorated with astonishing richness.
The souks of Marrakech are obviously also unmissable. These souks which extend into the alleys of the Medina are often considered the most beautiful in the whole of the Maghreb. Whether in the Smata souk, the Cherratine souk or the Attatine souk, you can discover products of all kinds (leather goods, metal objects, clothing, fabrics, slippers, jewelry, etc.).
The El-Badi Palace, whose name literally means “the incomparable”, was built at the end of the 16th century. Today in ruins, it is a site that remains particularly impressive for its size. Visiting its large courtyard allows you to get a glimpse of what this palace must have been like at the time of its splendor. This site steeped in history which is located in the Mellah, one of the districts of Marrakech, can be discovered in the company of a guide. It also houses the Museum of Photography and Visual Arts of Marrakech.
The Saadian Tombs are one of the major historical sites of Marrakech. Became a necropolis in the middle of the 16th century after the burial of a Saadian prince, this site which is located just south of the Medina was rediscovered in 1917. More than 60 tombs are grouped together in a large mausoleum which houses a chapel and several funeral homes. This visit can be done freely, but you can learn much more about the history of the place during a guided tour of the major historical sites of Marrakech.
The Spring of Poetry
The Spring of Poetry in Marrakech is one of the major cultural events in March. In several emblematic places of the city such as the Place Jemaa El Fna, the cultural center of Dar Charifa and the University of Letters, poetry is honored. For a week, you can attend numerous activities, readings, exhibitions, film screenings and workshops accessible to the whole family, in French and Arabic.
The International Festival of Magic
During this exceptional event, which takes place mainly at the Royal Theater of Marrakech, and on Jemaa El Fna Square, world-renowned magicians, conjurers, mentalists and illusionists are performing in Marrakech for 3 days.
Founded in 2004, the Marrakech Magic Festival has gained notoriety over the years to become today one of the cultural events not to be missed during a stay in Marrakech in March.
Go on an adventure in the Agafay or Merzouga desert
During a stay in Marrakech, making an excursion in the desert of Marrakech is one of the absolutely essential activities, especially during the month of March, since the weather conditions are really favorable, whether to discover the desert in the middle of the day or to spend there the night.
The Sahara desert is quite far from the city, which is why to discover it, it will be necessary to devote at least two or three days. However, you can also explore the Agafay desert in a single day.
The Agafay desert is located in the High Atlas region, about thirty kilometers from Marrakech. From your hotel or from the city center, you can join it on a day trip to the Agafay desert. This rocky desert has some very nice surprises in store for you. During a beautiful camel ride, you can admire extraordinary panoramas, visit typical villages and discover an astonishing oasis.
The Merzouga desert is the most spectacular part of the Moroccan Sahara. It is located about 550 km from Marrakech, and you can discover it during a 3-day excursion.
Several beautiful discoveries such as Aït-Ben-Haddou, the Todra Gorges and Ouarzazate await you on the road, and you can also visit the dunes of Erg Chebbi on camels, spend the night in a Berber camp, enjoy an authentic dinner under the stars and admire a superb sunrise in the desert. Note that it is also possible for you to spend a night in the Marrakech desert if you wish
The Morocco Classic Rally
For nearly 30 years, the Morocco Classic Rally has been one of the biggest automotive events in Morocco. During 5 stages, the competitors cross the country from Rabat on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean to Marrakech, passing through the dunes of Merzouga and the peaks of the Moroccan Atlas.
If this rally is called Classic, it is because the participating sports and GT cars must have been built between 1930 and 1992. But the Prestige category also allows cars built after 1992 to participate.
That’s it for this article, I hope you liked it, and if you would rather go when it’s a little warmer, I have an article that will help you decide if you prefer to go to Marrakech in April .
