Animal abuse is rife here, please don’t encourage it by paying for photos of chained monkeys or the snakes in the square. The horses are look knackered and unkempt so please don’t fund this abuse by paying for horse carriage rides. The donkeys are treated even more abysmally, beaten with sticks to carry heavy loads and matted with faeces. Heartbreaking to see and the stench is awful.

I want to warn others about the disturbing treatment of animals in the Medina. Monkeys are chained up and forced to pose for photos with tourists, while snakes, likely drugged or harmed, are used for entertainment. The monkeys are dragged around and hanging off the chains and trying to take the chain off their necks, and when the handlers are done with them, they stick them back in their tight cages until the next day comes and the same goes on and on every day. It’s heartbreaking to witness these animals being exploited for the sake of a photo op. Please, do not participate in this cruelty or take photos with the animals- it only fuels the problem and encourages further abuse. If we want to see change, we need to stop supporting these practices and raise awareness about the mistreatment of animals.

PLEASE DO NOT ENGAGE WITH THE MONKEY AND SNAKE KEEPERS The Medina is vibrant and full of interesting markets, but the constant harassment from locals makes it hard to enjoy. The worst part is the mistreatment of animals in Jemaa el-Fnaa square- monkeys are chained and dragged, while snakes appear lifeless, likely drugged. Tourists taking photos fund this cruelty, so please avoid engaging. While the Medina has its charms, the aggressive atmosphere and inhumane animal treatment are hard to ignore.

Interesting to see a different way of life. The huddle and huddle of the market is key to mortician life. You will get hassled but make sure to haggle as you can get the price down.

Way too many motorbikes in the medina. The air is full of exhaust fumes. Very loud and stinky in the narrow streets Very disappointing, would be a very nice place without this nuisance

The old city. Chaotic, dull architecture. Labyrinthine streets, where it's hard to navigate even with a GPS. Almost no trees. Dirt everywhere. Medina is a huge bazaar, entire streets full of shops selling souvenirs, handicrafts, spices, clothes and much more. Crowding on the narrow streets, where people, mopeds and donkey carts crowd. Lots of small hotels and restaurants lost in the labyrinth. But there are also very nice restaurants, some even serve alcohol. They don't really accept card payments.

It’s not what you expect from Marrakesh at all. It’s all about scamming tourists and serving bad, overpriced ugly food. Go and visit Rabat, Fes, and any other nice cities closer to the coast.

I am giving this area the lowest star because of the animal abuse! The area and country still do not have any animal rights! This needs to be reviewed and changed ASAP. Government's will not listen unless it effects them financially. I will avoid the country until these laws are put in place. Monkeys are chained by their necks dressed up and with their heads hung dragged around. You can see the distress. Snakes charmers have snakes which have huge scars across their stomachs and seem bloated. Donkeys/mules are throughout the country whipped and abused, starving and lame. If anyone has any capability to be the voice for these lives, it would be a great thing for them and also the country as more tourists would be willing to go and come back. Tourists will not return due to these things they experience. For the people that pay and take photos with them, you need to review your personal morals. The madina itself is pleseant as a space we went in the winter months which made our experience of Marrakesh as a whole more manageable as the crowds were not high and we could still walk around comfortably, if ignoring the bike traffic.

This was a family trip, and it featured a fairly comprehensive stay in Marrakech (5 days), with a two-day tour around the Atlas mountains, around Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate. As a side note, we had thought of going as far south as Merzouga to see the desert (I have done that in Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt already), but decided not to do it, and we are in hindsight very pleased with that decision. These booming "desert experiences" are the typical tourist trap, pretty much everywhere, and they are designed to suit the average tourist - most people visiting Morocco are sadly falling into that category. On Marrakech. We stayed in a very central, and surprisingly fairly quiet Riad, very close to the main square - Jamaa el Fna - and therefore walking distance from most attractions. It is fair to say that we had a chance to explore the city in depth, even outside the city walls. My view of Marrakech as a travelling destination is not too positive though. The whole of the city centre feels far too much like a tourist trap, where little or nothing is actually genuine, and most attractions (from the shopping to the actual sites) are designed to attract the average western idiot (the accidental tourist mentioned earlier). Much of what is for sale for instance has little to do with local craftsmanship and trade (there is more in that sense around the Atlas). As an illustration, you go to an antique dealer, and it's all junk from Mali, Burkina Faso, Northern Nigeria. You talk about rugs, and there is no reason not to go to Istanbul instead. Above and beyond this, the medina is polluted like no other city, the result of an endless stream of scooters and mopeds that run around the narrow alleyways as if there were no tomorrow! The result is unbreathable air, and the sheer impossibility to actually admire that otherwise interesting web of lanes. Overall, this is an interesting, but underwhelming experience. I would point to other cities in Africa, that in my view represent a much better experience: Mombasa, Stone Town, Cape Town, all rank much higher in my view.

From all the historical medinas that I have seen in Morocco, this is the one that I liked the least. Very dirty and crowded. But most importantly, what are motorbikes doing there? You can't stop by and actually buy anything, because there are just vehicles passing by. You can try to avoid them as you stroll those narrow streets, but this takes most of your attention. And they are driving both ways. This tremendously decreases comfort, adds to pollution and noise level.

What a crazy place! So easy to get turned around! But what colour, what excitement, what hustle and bustle. Lots to see and shopping is easy if you wish, but I kept my wallet well hidden. Can't believe the crowds and the motorcycles driving through the people. Strange to a Canadian but an absolute must visit place.

Not a good place, loads of people harassing you to buy, rude and disrespectful. If you take a photo in the square you are likely to be harassed for money by aggressive locals. Too much animal cruelty, idiots who still think it is ok to pay to have a photo with a caged and chained monkey, donkeys being mistreated and drugged snakes. A place to avoid, there are much better places around.

This is probably my least favourite medina in Morocco. There are too many people and too many motorbikes to truly enjoy the atmosphere.

Never been anywhere as hectic but worth it for the experience! Just beware mopeds , donkeys , bikes etc. and pushy sales. We found our own way to politely walk on saying’maybe later’. The minute they mention tannery or Argan oil they’re trying to sell! Great bargains to be had but be prepared to barter. Work out how much you’re prepared to pay for slippers, hats, brass, etc then start slightly lower without insulting the seller and remembering that cost of living is low here but people are generally poor so don’t rip them off either! Couldn’t go to Marrakesh and not wander round the souks. Be prepared to get lost and get a few landmarks to find your way back to the main market square. Didn’t feel unsafe but we weren’t out late

This whole place is like a maze full of vendors. The vendors drive up the price so not suited for people are not good at negotiating. Watch out for robbers and people with bad intentions.