Marrakech holidays

About Marrakech

This rose-pink oasis city with its spectacular backdrop of snow capped Atlas Mountains captures the heart and imagination of everyone who visits. Pulsing with the beat of the drummers of the Djemma el Fna Square, it is a city alive with possibilities.

Food and drink

Moroccan cuisine is rightly celebrated as one of the best in the world and Marrakech has numerous fine restaurants to choose from. Start with a bowl of steaming, spicy harira soup or unexpectedly delicious bastilla, a semi-sweet pigeon pie made with layers of filo pastry. For the main course, a chicken or lamb tagine with couscous is a must, while for dessert, a choice of small, nut-filled pastries will be offered and accompanied by a glass of sweet, green mint tea or a strong, thick coffee. Although it is a Muslim country, alcohol is widely available; lookout for local wines, the best of which are red.

Must see and do

The souks of Marrakech are over-flowing with fantastic things to buy, from carpets and lamps to slippers, pottery, jewellery and leather goods. Particularly worth looking out for are beautiful thuya wood boxes, often inlaid with mother-of-pearl, brightly-coloured tagine pots, basketwork and kilim rugs. You will be expected to haggle, so never pay the first asked price, but if you feel hassled by a seller, simply walk away. There are fixed-price tourist shops outside the souks, if you'd rather not bargain.

When to visit

If you're planning a holiday in Marrakech, our top picks for the best time to travel would be April