Marrakech is a place to have an experience rather than a holiday but it can be an exhilarating or an exhausting experience, depending on how well prepared you are for the sights, sounds and smells of this Moroccan city.
Come expecting to leave time schedules and plans behind and just let yourself be absorbed by this exciting destination would be my advice to anyone visiting Marrakech for the first time. Read on for a taster of what awaits you when you arrive.
First of all, find the ideal accommodation in Marrakech, a riad (traditional guesthouse) at the heart of the medina (old town) if possible for the ultimate culture shock and then head for Djemaa el fna Square – the heart of the city. This bustling public square is a meeting place for snake charmers, orange juice vendors, tradesmen from the Sahara and food sellers. It is best seen in the evening when the sun goes down and you can pull up a stool next to one of the open air grills and enjoy some great Moroccan cuisine for just pennies while you watch the world go by.
Once you are a little more acclimatised and ready to get out of the midday sun, plunge into the souks – the semi covered network of winding alleyways, lined with market stalls, selling everything from carpets to goat’s skulls. Although a trip to the souks can be a little overwhelming for some (the aromas and narrowness especially), it is an experience you will never forget and, for most people, an exhilarating one that you will be eager to repeat the following day.
For a break from the hustle and bustle of the medina, head to the Majorelle Gardens and relax under the shade of a palm tree of return to your riad for a glass of mint tea next to the fountain in the peaceful, cool oasis that is a tiled internal courtyard. Of course, you can give yourself a real treat and a perfect end to your day at one of the city’s hammams with a stint in the sauna followed by a massage.
But Marrakech has a more modern side too, and one that should not be overlooked if you want to get a balanced idea of the city. The “Ville Nouvelle (new town) is where you will find many of the city’s museums, galleries, finer restaurants and cultural venues.
One thing is for sure, whatever your preferences and whatever you choose to see and do, Marrakech will not leave you indifferent!

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