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Discover Marrakech on
your Morocco holiday
Marrakech, the ochre city where tradition meets modern to form
an unusual and exciting blend. Head to the ancient medina, explore
and get lost in the narrow, winding, lively streets to discover the
hustle and bustle of the souks, the locals selling their wares
whilst haggling with customers over a Moroccan mint tea, and the
rich aroma of stalls piled high with exotic, potent spices. The
experience is something of an assault on the senses, but likely to
leave you with one of the most enduring memories of your holiday.
Be sure to try the varied and tempting street food!
The medina spreads like a large spider's web from the
multifaceted Jemaa el Fna; the main square. During the day the
square is a hive of entertainment with everything from traditional
dancers to snake charmers, but at dusk and until late into the
night it takes on a very different persona, the square is filled
with stalls serving every type of street food from a peppery
'babbouche' broth filled with snail to a couscous tagine, enjoyed
by both locals and tourists alike.
Jemaa el Fna is the usual starting place for anyone looking to
explore the medina in Marrakech and for first timers it can be both
exciting and daunting at the same time. Luckily the square is
surrounded by cafes and restaurants with most offering roof
terraces, an ideal sanctuary to sit and watch the square and ready
yourself for your exploration into the souks and immersion into
Marrakech!
Marrakech isn't all about the narrow ancient souks though.
Outside the walls of the medina lives a very different city, visit
Gueliz or Hivernage, offering modern shopping centres with famous
European shops, cafés and restaurants. In these areas you
will also find the large modern hotels, bars, casinos and
nightclubs.
There is plenty to see in Marrakech, from the Sabine Tombs in
the heart of the medina to the beautiful and tranquil Majorelle
Gardens on the outskirts. There is also plenty to keep the
young and young-at-heart entertained, with water parks, an
amusement park, go-karting or maybe even a camel ride!
The city is set against the backdrop of the mighty, often
snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Just a 45 mile drive from Marrakech,
you can be hiking the Atlas foothills, exploring traditional Berber
villages, or, in winter, enjoy a few hours skiing at Africa's
highest ski resort of Oukaimeden.
For a true Marrakech experience stay in a Moroccan riad in the
heart of the medina. A riad, meaning 'garden' in Arabic is a
traditional townhouse formed around a central courtyard. Riads
usually offer a small pool in the courtyard and a roof terrace,
ideal for enjoying a hearty breakfast, soaking up the sun or having
a drink at sunset.
Marrakech is a great winter sun destination in our opinion, with
pleasant temperatures ideal for exploring all that this intriguing
city has to offer.
The city has some truly world class hotels; why not take a look
at some of our favourites.
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