culture and history

Gnawa music Morocco guide cover: a three-string guembri lute and iron qraqeb castanets on a terracotta-to-navy gradient, representing the Gnawa, chaabi, and Andalusian traditions.

Culture & History

Traditional Moroccan Music: Gnawa, Chaabi & Where to Hear It Live

Morocco has at least seven living music traditions, not one. Here's what Gnawa, chaabi, aita, al-Ala, Amazigh, malhun and rai each sound like, and where to hear them.

Marco Delgado
August 10, 2026

Marrakech medina history title card, with a keyhole arch, a rampart gate, and the Koutoubia minaret in silhouette over a terracotta-to-navy gradient.

Culture & History

The History of Marrakech’s Medina: A Quick Traveler’s Primer

A short Marrakech medina history: founded around 1070, reshaped by four dynasties, split in two by France in 1912, and UNESCO World Heritage since 1985.

Marco Delgado
August 10, 2026

Amazigh culture title card over a terracotta-to-navy gradient, with the Tifinagh yaz symbol and a woven diamond carpet motif framed by a keyhole arch.

Culture & History

Berber (Amazigh) Culture in Morocco: What Travelers Should Know

Morocco's 2024 census found 24.8% of Moroccans use an Amazigh language every day. A traveler's guide to who the Imazighen are, why the name matters, the Tifinagh script on every road sign, and Yennayer.

Marco Delgado
August 10, 2026

Best Riads in Marrakech title card over a terracotta-to-navy gradient, with a rooftop courtyard scene, a keyhole arch, and a gold star-rating accent.

Accommodation

Best Riads in Marrakech by Budget (Tested/Reviewed)

Best riads in Marrakech by budget: 250-500 MAD budget, 500-1,000 mid-range, 1,500-4,500 luxury. Neighborhood trade-offs and how to vet a licensed riad.

Marco Delgado
August 10, 2026

Best Riads in Fes title card over a terracotta-to-navy gradient, with a blue-green keyhole arch echoing Bab Boujloud, a donkey-cart silhouette for the car-free medina, and a gold accent line.

Accommodation

Best Riads in Fes: Old Medina vs New Town

The best riads in Fes sit inside the world's largest car-free medina, home to 156,000 residents. Compare medina riads with Ville Nouvelle hotels on price.

Marco Delgado
August 10, 2026

Marrakech Souk Shopping Guide title card over a terracotta medina gradient with a hanging lantern and keyhole arch motif.

Activities & Experiences

Marrakech Souk Shopping Guide: What to Buy & How to Haggle

A slow traveler's guide to Marrakech souk shopping: real 2026 MAD prices, haggling scripts, and how to spot fakes. Genuine saffron runs 40-45 MAD/g.

Marco Delgado
August 16, 2026

Essaouira Riads and Guesthouses title card over a terracotta-to-navy gradient, with a blue-and-white medina skyline, a fishing boat silhouette, and a keyhole arch.

Accommodation

Essaouira Riads & Guesthouses: Where to Stay Near the Beach

Essaouira riads run 250-800 MAD a night, well below Marrakech and Fes. An honest guide to medina vs beachfront stays, 2026 prices, and the Atlantic wind.

Marco Delgado
August 17, 2026

Language Spoken in Morocco title card over a terracotta-to-navy gradient, with a speech-bubble motif showing Arabic, Tifinagh, and Latin scripts framed by a keyhole arch.

Culture & History

Arabic vs Darija vs French: What Language Do Moroccans Actually Speak?

The main language spoken in Morocco is Darija, used daily by 91.9% of the population. Here is how Darija, Modern Standard Arabic, French, Amazigh and Spanish divide up the country, and the ten words worth memorising before you go.

Marco Delgado
August 10, 2026

Moroccan Architecture 101 title card over a terracotta-to-navy gradient, with a keyhole arch, an eight-point zellige star, and a stepped kasbah tower motif.

Culture & History

Moroccan Architecture 101: Riads, Kasbahs & Zellige Explained

Moroccan architecture explained: a riad is an inward-facing courtyard house, a kasbah a fortified residence, a ksar a whole fortified village. Plus zellige, tadelakt, and where to see each across Morocco's nine UNESCO cultural sites.