Marrakech City Breaks
An enchanting oasis of culture
Marrakech is a sensory feast – a dazzling kaleidoscope of colours, aromas and sounds that makes for an unforgettable urban adventure. Nestled at the foot of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, the city is a harmonious blend of ancient traditions and modern melodies.
The beating heart of the city is the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is a maze of narrow alleyways lined with traditional souks. Here, artisans display their crafts, from ornate lanterns and rugs to handmade jewellery and delicate perfumes. The sounds of haggling and the rhythms of Berber drums mingle with the distant call to prayer, providing a lively soundtrack for this bustling marketplace.
Jemaa el-Fna Square, the medina's epicentre, transforms as the day progresses. By day, street performers and henna tattoo artists enthral visitors, while at night, the square becomes an open-air theatre, alive with storytellers, musicians, and stalls serving fresh food.
If you’re a connoisseur of cuisine, you’ll be delighted with traditional Moroccan dishes, like slow-cooked lamb tagine, sweet pastilla, and almond ghriba cookies, which are best washed down with steaming mint tea. Or, for gourmands, there are the trendy eateries and cocktail terraces of the more modern Ville Nouvelle.
Beyond the medina, Marrakech offers tranquil gardens like Jardin Majorelle, an oasis of calm with its iconic cobalt blue structures and lush plant life, while palatial hotels and boutique riads with palm-fringed pools and shaded courtyards offer respite from the city's hustle.
The beating heart of the city is the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is a maze of narrow alleyways lined with traditional souks. Here, artisans display their crafts, from ornate lanterns and rugs to handmade jewellery and delicate perfumes. The sounds of haggling and the rhythms of Berber drums mingle with the distant call to prayer, providing a lively soundtrack for this bustling marketplace.
Jemaa el-Fna Square, the medina's epicentre, transforms as the day progresses. By day, street performers and henna tattoo artists enthral visitors, while at night, the square becomes an open-air theatre, alive with storytellers, musicians, and stalls serving fresh food.
If you’re a connoisseur of cuisine, you’ll be delighted with traditional Moroccan dishes, like slow-cooked lamb tagine, sweet pastilla, and almond ghriba cookies, which are best washed down with steaming mint tea. Or, for gourmands, there are the trendy eateries and cocktail terraces of the more modern Ville Nouvelle.
Beyond the medina, Marrakech offers tranquil gardens like Jardin Majorelle, an oasis of calm with its iconic cobalt blue structures and lush plant life, while palatial hotels and boutique riads with palm-fringed pools and shaded courtyards offer respite from the city's hustle.
Explore our map of Marrakech City
Your Marrakech City questions, answered
The only way to travel in the medina is on foot. Many of the winding streets in the historic centre are so narrow, they’re only wide enough for bikes and scooters – and it’s worth keeping a careful eye out for them, because they often drive quite fast. Outside the medina, taxis are your best bet. There’s no metro system and the local buses are old and overcrowded. Make sure your driver turns on the metre when you get in – they sometimes ‘forget’ to do it, then try to charge a hefty price at your destination.
For the authentic Moroccan experience, you can’t beat a traditional riad within the medina, where you’ll be right in the middle of the city’s hustle. If you prefer more Western comforts, Gueliz is Marrakech’s modern district, filled with contemporary hotels, international restaurants and shops. Those seeking luxury should check out the upscale neighbourhood of Hivernage, or Palmeraie, which is a vast palm oasis on the city outskirts. Filled with resorts, it offers a more secluded and tranquil stay.
You can cover most of the city’s main sights in a long weekend – although if you’re staying in a luxury resort on the outskirts, you might find the amount of time you need depends entirely on the number of books you brought to read by the pool.