Morocco

Gateway between two continents

Morocco sits at the northwest corner of Africa, a short flight from most of Europe, and packs mountains, desert and coastline into a country that can be explored on a relatively short trip. Marrakech is the country's most visited city and a natural base for a first visit, with its walled medina, souks and gardens.

Beyond the medina walls

From Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains rise within an hour's drive, offering Berber villages and trekking routes, while multi-day trips continue further southeast into the Sahara's dunes near Merzouga or Zagora. Coastal cities such as Essaouira add a laid-back counterpoint to Marrakech's intensity, with Atlantic beaches and a fishing-port atmosphere. Moroccan cuisine, from tagines to mint tea, and the country's craft traditions in leather, ceramics and textiles are as much a part of a visit as its landscapes. Morocco's imperial cities, including Fez and its own historic medina, reward travellers with more time for a multi-city itinerary; our style guide to cultural travel covers this kind of trip in more depth.

Best time to travel

Morocco's climate varies by region and altitude: Marrakech and the south can be very hot in summer, while spring, roughly March to May, and autumn, September to November, bring milder temperatures across most of the country, including the desert, where nights can turn cold outside these windows. Travellers pairing Morocco with a longer Mediterranean or European trip often add a few days on the coast at Essaouira, where Atlantic breezes keep summer temperatures noticeably milder than inland.