A skyline view of Marrakech rooftops and Old Medina in Morocco with a hazy blue sky and mountains in the background

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Holidays in Marrakech

The flight from the UK to Marrakech takes less than four hours – but as soon as you touch down, you’ll feel like you’re in a different world. Marrakech holidays are a window into an ancient city that buzzes with 21st-century life. Step off the plane and into an exhilarating culture defined by elaborate Islamic architecture, atmospheric souks and aromatic cuisine.

The moment you arrive, you can almost feel the history of Marrakech, and you can see the city’s past in its incredible monuments. Tour the ornate Bahia Palace, visit the vast Ben Youssef Madrasa college and see the graceful Koutoubia Minaret. Or, dive into more of Morocco’s history at one of its many city museums.

To experience a Marrakech ritual largely unchanged by time, head to the maze of souks for a shopping spree like no other. With stalls selling exquisite rugs and traditional hand-carved ornaments and leather, this jumble of criss-crossing passageways is the city’s commercial and cultural heart.

Place des Épices is an entire souk dedicated to selling spices, a heady introduction to Marrakech’s food scene. You’ll find couscous, tagine and mint tea on menus everywhere, but there’s also a chic side to the city’s dining. And while there’s nothing sophisticated about dinner at Jemaa El-Fnaa central square, it’s definitely not a meal you want to miss.

Even its biggest fans agree Marrakech can be intense, but there are serene spots to catch your breath. Shake off the medina’s madness in The Secret Garden, a palatial oasis, or stroll among the cacti of the Majorelle Gardens, a vivid artists’ retreat.

To turn the relaxation levels up another notch, a Moroccan hammam is just the ticket. There are many hammam baths across the city, each promising rest and rejuvenation with an indulgent cleanse and a soothing massage.

When to go to Marrakech

One of the best times to see Marrakech is spring, when the scenery is lush and temperatures hover around 20C. Autumn is also a popular time to visit, with balmy days largely free of rain. In both seasons, temperatures can drop sharply at night, so remember a jumper or jacket.

In summer, temperatures are regularly in the mid-30s – great if you like lounging around a resort pool all day, but not ideal for sightseeing. If the heat doesn’t put you off, there are cheap deals available at this time. In July, Marrakech hosts the National Festival of Popular Arts, featuring traditional music, theatre, poetry and art.

If you’re happy to pack a few extra layers for chilly evenings, a winter break means fewer crowds. The average temperature is around 13C, and if you plan ahead, you can often score a cheap all-inclusive package.

What to do in Marrakech

Start your Marrakech adventure in the colourfully chaotic Jemaa El-Fnaa square before diving into the souks to practice your haggling. Recover in a tranquil garden or impressive palace before a revitalising treatment to prepare for another day in this alluring city.

Jemaa El-Fnaa

The largest market square in Africa, Jemaa El-Fnaa is awe-inspiring, intoxicating and occasionally overwhelming. At the heart of Marrakech, the huge square is packed with snake charmers, soothsayers and henna-tattoo artists.

The place really comes alive at dusk. Locals arrive for a stroll and food stalls set up alongside acrobats, traditional Berber musicians and other entertainers. Take a deep breath, grab a seat at a lantern-lit grill and admire the nightly carnival of chaos.

Bahia Palace

Translated as “brilliance” in Arabic, Bahia Palace lives up to its name. Si Moussa, the chamberlain of Sultan Hassan I, commissioned the fantastic gardens and 150 intricately decorated rooms of the grand 19th-century palace. His son, who ruled Morocco for a time, added extravagant touches – including an entire wing for his wives and mistresses.

When you visit, you’ll see elegant archways, painted wooden doors and ceilings and marble-tiled courtyards that stay true to traditional Islamic architecture.

Souks

Marrakech’s bustling souks feel like they’re from another time. In the covered marketplaces and winding lanes, you can pick up rugs and crockery, leather goods and lamps.

While the promises of a “good price” from every storekeeper can get tiring, you’ll have more fun if you embrace the experience. Step into a makeshift shop, accept a glass of piping hot mint tea and haggle your heart out.

Majorelle Garden

This perfectly manicured garden is an oasis of serenity. French painter Jacques Majorelle spent 40 years creating the garden for his friend Yves Saint Laurent, the fashion designer. He weaved paths through bamboo groves and past bubbling streams and desert plants to the garden’s most striking sight: a bright-blue studio surrounded by tall cacti (a favourite for Instagrammers).

There is also a Berber Museum, focusing on the culture of Morocco’s original peoples.

Hammams

After a day of sightseeing, unwind like the locals in a traditional Moroccan hammam. Part steam room, part body rub, the idea in a hammam is to open up your pores to cleanse the skin.

The hammam is also an important social ritual in Morocco, where you can catch up with friends or family. Marrakech has lots of hammam baths, from no-frills options where you wash and exfoliate yourself in the company of others to plush spa-style pampering.

Where to stay in Marrakech

For families

If you’re travelling with the kids, the quiet district of Chrifia is a good spot to stay. Southwest of the centre, the neighbourhood is far more relaxed than the sometimes-frenetic heart of the city. Kids will appreciate the Oasiria waterpark, and there are a couple of golf courses nearby. Even better, you can still be at sights such as the medina and Jemaa El-Fnaa square within a 20-minute drive.

Stay in the medina for a short city break and the children will love the souks, snake charmers and the experience of having a henna tattoo in Jemaa El-Fnaa.

For food and drink

Jemaa El-Fnaa is hard to beat for a foodie experience. Stay in an elegant riad or palace-like hotel in the medina and head to the square for dinner. You’ll find up to 100 food stalls competing to tantalise your taste buds. Choose from dishes such as pastille (Moroccan phyllo-pastry pie), flavourful merguez sausages and grilled meats. If you’re feeling adventurous, give sheep brains and stewed snails a try.

Beyond the medina walls, restaurants all over the city serve Moroccan classics and fine French cuisine. Many riads also offer guests tasty home-cooked tagines.

For nightlife

A ten-minute drive from the medina, Gueliz is one of Marrakech’s trendiest neighbourhoods. There are shopping malls, galleries and spa hotels here, but it’s the bars and clubs that make this the place for night owls. While drinking alcohol certainly isn’t encouraged in Morocco, in Gueliz, you’ll find everything from casual pubs and wine bars to upmarket cocktail lounges.

West of the medina, Hivernage is another cool spot for a drink and a dance. There are swanky chain hotels and nightclubs that are just as chic.

For culture

Staying in the medina is one of the best ways to soak up Marrakech’s culture. Climb to a rooftop patio for a mint tea or find a moment of peace outside the elegant Koutoubia Mosque. Wander the narrow streets and see local handicrafts for sale in the souks.

Several of the city’s most important museums are here, including Dar Si Said Museum with its collection of Moroccan antiques and artefacts and the magnificent Ben Youssef Madrasa college.