Overview

Marrakech's attractions are not limited to the buzz of the medina and souk, and it is packed with eye-catching fountains, palaces, temples and monuments. The city's soul is said to be the Koutoubia Mosque. As with all mosques in Marrakech and also zaouia (saint's shrines), non-Muslims are not allowed to enter, but the temple's spectacular architecture can be appreciated from the grounds, which are free to all.

Place of the Dead (Jamaa el-Fna)

The square of Jamaa el-Fna operates as the heart of medina life by day and as the social centre by night, and visitors can see the full gamut of souk highlights here, from acrobats to tattooists, belly dancers to snake charmers, storytellers to magicians and potion sellers. The square is ringed by numerous cafés and restaurants ideal for stepping back from the hustle and people-watching with a cup of coffee.

Jardin Marjorelle

Bestowed as a gift to the city by the designer Yves Saint Laurent, the botanic garden designed by French artists Jacques and Louis Marjorelle in the 1920s features immaculate gardens, coconut and banana trees, giant cacti, bamboo and stunning water features. The garden captures an entirely different side to Marrakech and also contains the Marjorelles' old studio, now housing Saint Laurent's collection of local objets d'art and the garden also contains the Museum of Islamic Art, a must-visit.

Sa‘adian Tombs

One of Morocco's most popular sights and an easy walk from Jamaa el-Fna Square, the Sa'adian Tombs, previously only able to be entered from the mosque next door, were opened to the public in 1917. The main tombs themselves were built by Sultan Ahmed el-Mansour as a final resting place for him and his family in the 16th century. The mausoleums and courtyard house the remains of 66 members of the Sa'adian royal family and associated courtiers and feature some of the most spectacular plasterwork and carving in Marrakech.

El Badi Palace (Palais El Badi)

'El Badi' means 'incomparable', and while the palace today might bear little evidence of the opulence that once was, it remains a reminder of one of Marrakech's most spectacular historic buildings. Built in the 16th century by Sultan Ahmed el-Mansour, the palace comprised over 350 rooms lavishly decorated with gold, ivory and precious stones with a huge courtyard of bejewelled fountains and gardens at its centre. Today one of the main attractions at the Palais is the 12th century gold and silver-inlaid pulpit while for a fortnight each summer the palace stages Morocco's National Festival of Popular Arts.

Dar Si Said Museum

Formerly the mansion home of 19th century court chamberlain Sidi Said, the Dar Si Said Museum today houses a fine collection of art including many examples of Berber craftsmanship. Visitors can view silver jewellery, worked and embroidered leather, lamps carved from taroudannt stone and traditional pottery designs as well as collections of daggers, carved door and window frames and musical instruments. The walk through the museum takes in the maze-like entrance halls and the stunning upstairs domed wedding chamber.

Bahia Palace

Previously home to the Grand Vizier Bou Ahmed, the Bahia Palace was built in the 19th century and once housed the French administration based in Marrakech. The extravagant interiors of the palace give evidence of the architecture of that period, as do the finely carved cedar wood works. David Lean filmed a number of scenes for the classic movie Lawrence of Arabia in the Bahia Palace.

Overview

Marrakech's balmy, sunny climate makes it a haven for lovers of outdoor activities and sports, with the city's golf courses nestled in the shadow of the Atlas Mountains a particular highlight. Skiing trips and desert horseback riding also offer worlds away from the city's bustle and make for suitable activities for adults and kids alike.

Golf

For golf lovers there are three beautiful courses all featuring the Atlas Mountains as their backdrop and all open to visitors. The splendid Marrakech Royal Golf Club, offering wide fairways and manicured greens, was designed in the 1920s by the Pasha of Marrakech and was once played by Winston Churchill. Others available are the palm tree-lined course at the Club de la Palmeraie Golf Palace, designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr, and the pretty course at Golf d'Amelkis, the city's most recently-opened club and considered by many to be the city's trickiest 18 holes replete with water hazards.

Skiing

It might surprise a few tourists that skiing is available in North Africa, and while the skiing in Morocco is perhaps not on par with skiing in Europe in terms of quality of ski resorts, the winter sports enthusiast can still indulge on the slopes of the Atlas Mountain range. The resort of Oukaimeden is around a 1-hour, 30-minute drive from Marrakech and boasts not only more than 12 miles of skiing over 20 different slopes but stunning scenery which contrasts hugely with that of traditional European ski destinations. There is something surreal about skiing down a snowy slope while looking out on the surrounding desert. For those that fancy a real departure, you can even try helicopter skiing as enjoyed by the King of Morocco.

Horseback riding

For the budding or experienced equestrian, La Palmeraie offers horse trekking through Marrakech's groves, where thousands of palm trees give shade from the desert sun. Meanwhile, Les Cavaliers d'Essaouira, just outside the city, runs horseback riding trips through the argan plantations, including longer treks with bivouacs. For the more seasoned rider, expeditions through the Atlas Mountains themselves are also available and a fantastic way to see the region's breathtaking landscape.

Mountain climbing

The valleys and plateaus of the Atlas Mountains also provide a stunning terrain for climbing, with trails available for all levels of climber from the novice through to challenging peaks for the most experienced. The range has more than a dozen peaks over 4,000 metres high and numerous lower altitude trails for beginners, and trips can be arranged with English-speaking expert guides and tutors.

Water sports

For the water sports enthusiast, the quiet and picturesque town of Essaouira on the Atlantic coast is within a couple of hours' drive of Marrakech and its beach makes a stunning location for water sports including surfing and windsurfing. Inland and away from the strong Atlantic winds and currents, the lake at Dar Ouzgita provides a beautiful spot for renting a jet-ski and tearing up the water.

Dining and shopping

Marrakech is a veritable melting pot of dining and shopping choices, and Moroccans claim that their cookery, alongside Chinese, French and Indian, is one of the four great cuisines of the world. While this may be a proud boast, eating out in Marrakech is a fascinating experience. Within the medina, eating out choices vary from authentic street barbecued food up to five-star haute cuisine restaurants.

For the traditional medina eating experience you can wander among the street stalls and choose from over 100 kitchens which set up stall each evening offering such local delicacies as merguez (spicy sausage), tagine (meat and vegetable stew slow-cooked in a clay tagine pot) or harira (hearty broth made from chickpeas), while the more daring diner can experiment with boiled sheep's head or barbecued eel. All the while you will be surrounded by the ubiquitous snake-charmers, potion-sellers and musicians as you dine.

At the opposite end of the scale is a host of fine eating establishments offering the diner first-class cuisine and often providing enormous, five-course banquets to sate even the hungriest appetite. Foods of the world can be found in Marrakech's restaurants so you are not limited to the Moroccan cooking experience. Excellent Japanese, French, Italian and even Thai restaurants can be found and enjoyed in the city.

Marrakech is famed for its shopping and there is something to satisfy every retail therapy hound. The souks within the medina are packed with stalls offering every type of hand-made craft imaginable, and the area is, like all good bazaars, segregated into streets specialising in particular merchandise.

Entering the souk from the direction of Rue Souk Smarine the street forks into Souk el Attarine, home to spices, pottery, metalwork and textile workshops and Souk el Kebir, which specialises in leather goods, lamps, carpets and traditional Moroccan clothing stalls. It is here that you will need to employ your bartering skills, with a good rule of thumb being to start your bidding at around one-third of the price you would like to pay for an item.

Shoppers seeking silverware, jewellery, carved wooden souvenirs and silks can head for the Ministero del Gusto in the souk or the more upmarket L'Orientaliste in the Gueliz part of town. Gueliz is home to Marrakech's chic boutiques, with designer labels and objets d'art being available in the modish stores along Rue de la Liberte. Gueliz may be expensive in comparison with souk shopping but in relation to European prices, rates are still much lower.

Marrakech has a fantastic selection of restaurants, offering a mix of traditional Moroccan fare, Moroccan-European fusion and individual, international speciality dining, and many are of a very high standard. The top restaurants here are as good as can be found anywhere and all benefit from Marrakech's unique atmosphere, architecture and balmy climate. Whether your preference is for barbecue or nouvelle cuisine, chairs or cushions, quiet ambience or lively music, there is something for everyone in this eclectic destination.

Overview

Marrakech Menara Airport operates as the main access point to the city and provides regular connecting flights to other Moroccan airports as well as servicing flights from numerous European destinations. Travel to Marrakech from neighbouring cities such as Casablanca and Rabat is also possible by bus and rail though while less costly, train and bus travel is more time-consuming and less comfortable and convenient.

Airports

The city's international airport is situated just six kilometres outside of the city. Menara's Terminal 1 was recently refurbished and expanded to increase capacity to 2.5 million passengers. A new terminal with capacity for 4 million passengers is scheduled for completion during 2008. Airlines servicing the airport include Royal Air Maroc, Thomson, easyJet and Ryanair.

Menara has a host of facilities available in the airport including ATMs, currency exchanges, telephones, wireless internet access, duty-free and gift shops. Transfer from the airport to the city centre is in the form of regular buses running at half-hour intervals plus taxis are readily available outside the airport exit. Information is available at taxi ranks on likely fares to your destination in the city.

Public transportation

Visitors can travel to Marrakech from neighbouring and nearby countries, with France and Spain offering ferry services to Tangiers, which then connects to Marrakech by rail via Casablanca.

Rail networks within Morocco connect Marrakech to Tangiers, Casablanca and Rabat, with comfortable, air-conditioned trains available on these routes and departing on a regular basis. Marrakech central railway station is a quaint throwback to a bygone era and is located on Avenue Hassan II in the new town of Gueliz. Tickets are available for purchase directly at the station ticket office or through hotels.

Marrakech is also connected to Tangiers, Rabat and Casablanca by long-distance bus services which provide a cheaper, if slightly less comfortable, option.

Within the city itself, getting around is a straightforward process, with taxis readily available to take you around the sights. To reach the coastal town of Essaouira, frequent buses depart from the city centre while shared taxis, usually in the form large Mercedes cars, are a good means of getting to Ourika.