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Now that I have 36 countries under my belt, my first adventure in Africa was a doozy!
As soon as you leave the airport you are welcomed by impressively organized chaos and you quickly realize that you are ‘not in Kansas anymore’ as you zoom past the local camelbacks, different eras of architecture and breathtaking grand palaces.
But as you do everywhere when you travel into the unknown, you adapt. And adapt in the beautiful capital of Morocco Marrakech was a surprisingly easy adjustment despite its quirks.
Spending a week playing digital nomad here was flawless, and I can’t express enough how much I enjoyed wandering this ancient city and working from one of the best rooftop terraces I’ve been to on my travels.
Safe, sunny and wildly engaging digital nomads shouldn’t sleep on Marrakech as a top winter destination, especially with new direct flights just launched by United.
Extremely cultural and always vibrant
For those who don’t have Morocco in their reach, it’s directly opposite Spain, which, when you think about it, it’s pretty crazy how cultures can be so different and yet be so close.
You won’t find cheap wine and endless tapas, but you will find cheap tea and endless souks.
If you don’t know, a souk is a traditional marketplace, usually street-side, that showcases local vendors’ goods, such as spice shops, textiles, fresh food, jewelry, and more.
It was absolutely fascinating to wander the miles of narrow alleys of the medina’s souks, especially as everything from motorcycles, donkeys to stray cats weave their way through this shared space.
The sights, sounds and tantalizing smells of freshly brewed coffee, grilled lamb and engine exhaust are an indescribable cocktail of sensory overload that will stimulate you.
That is ground zero for the cultural chaos Jemaa el-Fnaaan open square with snake charmers, fresh juice stalls and endless street vendors selling everything from faux produce to savory kebabs.
But for digital nomads, there are plenty of great places in and around this central part of the city to serve as a base for work.
Getting around: Uber doesn’t serve Marrakech, but I would say Morocco robi.taxi app works even better! Just make sure you have WhatsApp installed as well.
Quaint rooftop cafes and co-working spaces
Life is short, so you might as well make the most of your work. Marrakech does not disappoint. Actually, I didn’t necessarily plan on making my trip as a digital nomad destination, but it became too obvious the more time I spent there.
While I was writing an article for you all (you’re welcome), I loved the surroundings, ranging from rooftop cafes overlooking relics of the ancient world, trendy shisha cafes and even my Airbnb balcony – all of which An fast, reliable Wi-Fi.
Most of the best rooftops to work from were all in the Medina and there are also nice co-working offices dotted around the area.
My personal favorite was Kosy Kawa located in The Mellah (the old Jewish Quarter), with great views but less hustle and bustle than the wild atmosphere of Jemaa el-Fnaa.
Although I didn’t use a co-working space as I prefer cafes, I did pass through many along the winding souk paths, but the top-rated Go to work in Marrakech is open 24 hours a day and located in the more modern Gueliz district where I stayed.
To make things easier, everyone I interacted with in Marrakech spoke fluent in English – taxi drivers, baristas, street vendors, everyone.
Buy your winter sun cheaply
Money was not a problem in Marrakech, from $1.50 coffee and mint tea, $8 traditional Taginesand $33 spacious Airbnbs (with air conditioning!).
Americans can stay in Morocco visa-free for 90 daysso now is the perfect time to plan an extended stay in Marrakech with monthly Airbnb apartments between €800 – €900 in great locations.
The weather remains warm throughout the winter, with temperatures hovering around the 60s and 70s. And even better: Marrakesh is safe, so don’t be put off by the word ‘Africa’.
The US Department of State mentions Morocco as Level 2 similar to many popular destinations around the world.
I walked around around midnight and never felt left out. Your only concern is weaving through motorcycles and crossing the street, as road signs are just suggestions.
Like everywhere: do what the locals do.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
