Marrakech

Inside the red city's walls

Marrakech takes its nickname, the red city, from the colour of its ancient walls and much of its architecture. Within them, the medina's souks spread across a dense maze of alleys selling spices, leather, textiles and metalwork, centred on the Jemaa el-Fnaa square, which shifts from a daytime market to food stalls and performers after dark.

Gardens and quiet corners

Away from the souks' intensity, Marrakech holds calmer spaces: the Majorelle Garden's cobalt-blue buildings and cacti, the Bahia Palace's courtyards, and countless riads, traditional courtyard houses converted into guesthouses, that offer a quiet retreat behind unmarked doors. The city's tanneries and artisan workshops, some centuries old, continue to produce leather and textiles using traditional methods, and several offer visits for travellers interested in the craft behind the souks' goods. Many visitors base a first Moroccan trip here before heading further afield; our style guide to cultural travel is a useful reference for building this kind of itinerary.

Day trips from the city

The Atlas Mountains rise within about an hour's drive, with Berber villages and trekking routes reachable as a day trip or longer, and multi-day excursions continue further southeast to camp among the dunes of the Sahara near Merzouga or Zagora, a route our Morocco guide covers in more depth. Evenings on the rooftop terraces overlooking the medina are among the best ways to watch the call to prayer echo across the old city as the light fades. Spring and autumn, roughly March to May and September to November, bring the most comfortable temperatures for exploring both the city and these desert or mountain add-ons.