Gay friendly hotels marrakech
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It carries so much history and we too deserve to experience it firsthand. Travelers should be aware of the cultural and legal context and exercise caution, as attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals can vary among locals.
In recent years, there have been efforts to promote tolerance and awareness. Move to the North African dance beats, sip on the signature cocktails, and you'll probably end up making conversation with a perfect stranger.
But, at the same time, we also found articles about how Morocco was a gay haven for Western tourists in the 1950s and came across countless stories of gay travelers who had visited without issue, so we decided to do extensive research to ultimately decide if we’d go for a short-trip or not.
Now, after experiencing Morocco firsthand, we want to share everything we learned so you can decide if it's a destination for you—and how to travel safely if you do go.
That depends.
✔ If you’re comfortable being discreet for a short time, then you’ll be fine.
🥂 Insider Tip: Alcohol is not as common or available, so if you want a drink (or three), go to restaurants in well-known hotels and/or rooftop lounges. Here are the suggested places, known to be especially welcoming:
Riad Dar Zaman
Located in the Medina, this welcoming riad has a multilingual and open-minded (gay-friendly) staff, that gladly provides tips on where to go in the city.
That sounds terrifying, but in reality, enforcement is inconsistent and typically only comes into play when gay locals or travelers attract unwanted attention. No, the men you see holding hands are not a gay couple (platonic same-sex affection is freely shown), but there was a time when the city of Tangier had quite a gay scene.
While we were only able to visit Marrakech, Morocco as a country is breathtaking, unique, and worth experiencing. We do not want to publicly disclose the riad name out of respect for privacy, so message us and we will send you the name. We recommend the same if you’re feeling nervous, but trust us, while it’s no guarantee, you will be fine visiting Marrakech and other parts of Morocco!
✅ Cheeky Tip: If you’re booking a riad, read reviews carefully and look for ones that mention "friendly staff" or past LGBTQ+ guests.
Navigating Morocco as a Gay Couple: What We Did & How We Felt
From exploring the souks to interactions with locals, let’s talk about a few important things:
Did we show affection?
However, if you stick to the foreign-owned properties, you're more likely to find like-minded people. Today, an increase in male prostitution has led to a rise in harassment by authorities, who follow local men and beat information about what happened in the hotel room out of them. One-of-a-kind. We' were glad our first experience was in the Medina because it's truly one of a kind.
It's important that you be discreet if you meet local men anywhere in the country. Since it's quite a discreet place, you may be able to do some nude sunbathing on the terrace:
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Riad L'Orchidee
Combining classic Moroccan architecture and style with modern design, this riad is an attractive place to stay in the heart of the city.
You'll see that information at the time of booking and again in the confirmation email:
Search for Marrakech hotels or Marrakech apartments
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If you're in town in the summer, you'll enjoy the outdoor pool and sun terrace; if it's winter, you'll want to be by the fireplace. Lesbians shouldn't encounter any problems, as the only annoyance would be having to explain to the macho Moroccan men that you're into the ladies -- everyone seems to think there's no such thing as a lesbian here.and they are night and day. Use apps to connect with locals but be careful. However, although no one will dare say it out loud, male homosexuality is actually relatively common.
You'll see some of the most expensive cars. The souks are just around the corner, and after a day around the city, guests can relax on the sun terrace:
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La Maison Des Oliviers
Looking for a welcoming place with a large pool? For the local experience, choose one of the traditional (and beautiful) riads.