Discover the Wonders of Marrakech
Marrakech is truly the city of entertainment in Morocco. In the center of Marrakech is a square, Djemaa el Fna, which is the operating point for entertainers such as acrobats, drummers, dancers, pipe musicians, comedians and storytellers. There's plenty of choice for meals, including the Djemaa el Fna food stalls, many inexpensive cafe-restaurants and a number of up-market palace-restaurants that offer Morocco's traditional cuisine at its very best.
Marrakech is Morocco’s second largest city and its population continues to rise. It has a prosperous industrial area and is the most significant market and organizational centre of Southern Morocco. Marrakech does not have many historical monuments and buildings; its beauty lies in the atmosphere and the spectacular location. Marrakech, with the outstanding peaks of the Atlas expanding behind the city, has very warm humid summers and shimmering white snowy winters. Marrakechis are well-known for their warmth and sociability, their humor and honesty.
Accommodation
The accommodation in Marrakech ranges from cheap hotels to quiet pleasant mid-range hotels to up market, comfortable, modern hotels with wonderful pools and interior design. The Medina has the main concentration of cheap hotels, while the hotels in Hivernage and Semlalia are mostly luxury hotels. Booking hotels well in advance will be a wise idea, especially over Christmas, Easter and New Year’s where you’ll find that all the hotels is full to capacity. There are also many choices for villas, self-catering and studio apartments that will suit your budget!
Things to See & Do
It is not essential to have a guide in Marrakech as the maps will guide you perfectly. The souks are interesting places in alleys and small squares that are dedicated to specific crafts and it is here that you can often watch part of the making process. There are a number of souks worth visiting and you can easily find the way to the souks on your own. Even if you get a little lost, you will find that this is part of the fun. The most appealing times to visit the souks are early morning and late afternoon when they auction off merchandise to the public. The Marrakech Museum is also a place worth visiting; it houses exhibitions of Moroccan art and sculpture, both traditional and contemporary. There’s also a small bookshop and café in the entrance courtyard. With the summers in Marrakech being so hot nobody seems to want to do much. A perfect place to do nothing is in the gardens, with many picnic spots, lake-sized pools and cool and quiet surroundings.
Cuisine
Marrakech eating and drinking options break down less rigidly than usual between the Ville Nouvelle, in this case the Medina. The Medina is where you’ll find most of the city’s French-style cafés, bistros and restaurants and virtually all the bars. There’s plenty of choice for meals, including the spectacle of the Djemaa el Fna food stalls, many inexpensive café-restaurants and a number of up-market palace-restaurants that offer Morocco’s traditional cuisine at its very best.
Getting Around
By Air
Marrakech’s airport is 4 km southwest of town; the airport has flights to London, Amsterdam, Paris Lyons, Madrid and Geneva and internal flights to Casablanca and Agadir.
By Train
Trains are the most relaxed way to move around. The trains in Marrakech operate to and from Casablanca and Rabat twice a day.
By Bus
Buses to most long-distance destinations leave from the main terminal at Bab Doukkala. CTM has their own ticket windows and ranks. Buy tickets a day in advance or be there early especially for the popular destinations like Fez, El Jadida, Zagora and Taroudannt.
By Grand Taxi
Grands taxis are relatively safe to take and they are good value for money.
