About Marrakech

'What has Marrakech got to offer?'

Well, everything is the answer! From the world’s chicest boutique hotels (riads) to fabulous food and glamorous bars, from romantic rose-petal strewn beds to a way of life unchanged in a millennia and, of course, don't forget the shopping.

Marrakech has a plethora of varied accommodation. If you want to be in the middle of things then a riad amongst the lively hustle and bustle of the Medina is for you - the narrow streets are not for everyone but the style and design of the riads are everything. If you want to be a little quieter and more extravagant then head into the Palmeraie area.

Marrakech isn’t one of those holiday destinations that’s brimming with monuments and museums. The city’s principal allure stems not from sightseeing, but from the everyday magic that pervades the streets – the exotic sights and sounds that seem so mysterious and compelling to Western senses.

The best way to sample the city is to wander the labyrinthine streets of the Medina, where a surprise awaits around every corner, and where you can spend hours simply absorbing the bewitching atmosphere generated by traditions a thousand years old.

That said, Marrakech does have its own cultural heritage - the Koutoubia Mosque; the Saadian Tombs; the Ben Youssef Medersa (Koranic school); the awe-inspiring craftsmanship on view inside the Marrakech Museum; and of course the dilapidated ruins of the Badii Palace. A visit to the anthropologically appointed Dar Tiskiwin is also rewarding, and for a pleasurable stroll, there are the city’s many gardens. These gardens are a joy, a real oasis away from the chaos. The Majorelle Gardens, owned by Yves Saint Laurent, offer a delightful refuge from busy Gueliz (and also incorporate an interesting museum), while the Mamounia gardens down in the Medina are similarly enchanting.

Turning to contemporary culture, Marrakech seems to be full of ex-pat designers, photographers, painters, sculptors and film-makers, whereas the activities of the local arts community appear to be less vibrant – or at least largely well-hidden. That said, although literature and the visual arts tend to be dominated by past masters, a younger, more contemporary scene is now starting to emerge: check out the Matisse and Bleue galleries for examples of fresh Moroccan painters, and the annual Marrakech Film Festival for works by both international and local film-makers.

The film festival, inaugurated in 1999, is a cause of celebration for the town and the largely international coverage that has followed has helped give the city a more artistic and cosmopolitan image.

The more actively inclined can ascend Mount Toubkal, hike around the Atlas Mountains, wind-surf in Essouira and even ski and snowboard if conditions are right (usually between January and March). Less demanding, but just as much fun, are the city’s horse-riding schools, and the go-karting and quad-biking courses.

Sports enthusiasts might enjoy a round or two of golf (there are three courses that host domestic and international championships), or perhaps some tennis, pigeon-shooting, swimming or squash. Head out towards the desert where camel-riding, dune-climbing and 4x4 exploration safaris become an option.

Those wishing to stay closer to home can enjoy the city’s expansive spa and hammam scene. A hammam (‘spreader of warmth’) is a traditional form of personal cleansing that can trace its roots back to Roman baths. It consists of being steamed and washed down with soap then drubbed by a man or woman sporting a mitt with a texture like a Brillo-pad (a ‘gommage’). This is sometimes followed (depending on the type of hammam you choose) by the application of lavender, rose water, a face-mask or shampoo.

If you still have time you might like to get out of the city and visit some of the surrounding area. Three different places immediately spring to mind. First of all, there’s the Kasbah du Toubkal set in the shadow of Jebel Toubkal, the highest mountain in the High Atlas. The Kasbah is in a stunning location with spectacular views, and to get there you drive through the orchards of Asni. You can lunch here, visit the Berber villages, wander the mountain trails or simply relax with a hammam.