Where exactly is it?
Marrakech is in central Morocco, a short trip from the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. The ‘Red City’ is famed for its wonderful Medina, Berber architecture and preservation of ancient traditions. It has a population in excess of one million. Its walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
How do I get there?
The easiest route is to catch a flight to either Luton or London Stansted and connect with a Ryanair flight to Marrakech’s Menara Airport. If time isn’t an issue why not travel by ferry from southern Spain to the Moroccan port towns of Ceuta or Tangier? Marrakech is a 300-mile road-trip away. En route you can detour to the equally impressive, ancient city of Fes.
What language do they speak?
Arabic is the official language of Morocco and Marrakech’s natives, many of whom are of Berber origin. The local dialect is known as Ttamazight. French is also spoken by the majority of the population, a result of colonialism in North Africa during the nineteenth and twentieth century. A small bit of Leaving Cert Français will go a long way...
What is the local beer like?
Alcohol is technically prohibited under Islamic law, but widely available in the main urban centres in Morocco. A couple of different beers are brewed in Morocco, Spéciale Flag, a light crisp lager and the preferable and slightly more expensive Casablanca. Beer is sold in corner shops, supermarkets and in a limited amount of restaurants run by foreign owners. Heineken and other mass-market beers are also available in the larger supermarkets. Getting your hands on a few brews is practically impossible during Ramadan.
Other drinks?
Moroccan wine production expanded during the period of French rule. Its sloping mountains, fertile soil and cooling Atlantic winds make conditions almost perfect for cultivating vineyards. The local red wine varieties are especially good; namely Cinsaut, Alicante and Cabernet Sauvignon. Much of the produce is exported and Moroccan reds are now the most widely consumed foreign wines in France!
What is the transport like?
Transport really isn’t an issue when visiting this grand old imperial city. Visitors to Marrakech tend to stay in boutique guesthouses, known as riads, either within the walled Medina or just beyond its environs. All you need is a decent map, a steer from the obliging locals and a decent pair of walking shoes! Marrakech is a feast for the senses and best experienced on foot. Everything from the winding labyrinth of souks to the great market of Djemaa El Fna is within strolling distance. If you fancy travelling onward to the laidback seaside town of Essaouira or the capital city Rabat, a number of luxury coach companies operate from the main bus station in the new city. ONCF run a daily train service connecting Marrakech to all the key urban centres, including Casablanca, Fes and Tangier. It’s also possible to hire a chauffeur-driven car and take a day-long trip into the breathtaking Atlas Mountains. After a few days of market bargaining and sightseeing, you might be glad of a break from the Medina’s claustrophobic chaos!
What’s the food like?
Moroccan food is world-renowned and for a very good reason. It’s the result of multiple influences over many centuries, including native Berber and Arab traditions. European occupation has also left an imprint on the daily cuisine of this North African country. Amongst the chief ingredients are a large range of herbs, spices, olive oil, dried fruits, vegetables and everything from lamb and beef to rabbit and camel meat. One of the most celebrated Moroccan dishes and a daily staple is couscous. It’s prepared using semolina and is often served with a meat and vegetable stew accompaniment. This dish is broadly known as a Tagine, due to the clay pot in which it’s served. Burek fried pastries are also a popular offering and normally come filled with minced meat and spices. Moroccans certainly have a very sweet tooth. The variety of confectionery available in Marrakech’s markets is astounding! Jalebi is amongst the most popular, a chewy sweet made from flour, sugar and saffron.
What’s the nightlife like?
Marrakech can boast a bustling nightlife, even if it’s sometimes a little difficult to find! However, most visitors to the city aren’t banking on a banging party. The main night-time attraction is the vast open square of Djemaa El Fna, the busiest market in all of Africa. It’s like stepping back in time to the Middle Ages, with everything from traditional Berber musicians, storytellers, snake charmers and even dentists! The place comes alive once the sun goes down and is one of the most enchanting places you’re ever likely to visit. On the total flipside, Marrakech can also boast some seriously high-end clubs. Pacha, the superclub of Ibiza fame, has a sister venue on the outskirts of the city that brings new meaning to the word ‘bling’. However, unless you’ve a gold card burning a hole in your back pocket, give it a wide berth. Best leave the clubbing for elsewhere; Marrakech has much more to offer than over-priced cocktails and vacuous hordes of the beautiful people...
Why should I go?
Marrakech is only a few hours away by plane, but its ancient Medina is a world away from the urban concrete jungles of the west. Everywhere there is colour, fantastic sights, good-natured people and fabulous food. The city is steeped in history and was once a key strategic trading point between the Mediterranean and the vast desert lands that lie just beyond the nearby Atlas Mountains. You won’t be disappointed.
What are the touristy things to do?
There’s a lot to see, so get walking! Experiencing the chaotic clamour and excitement of the vast market area of Djemaa El Fna is a must. It’s a time-warp, a place inhabited by snake charmers, storytellers, traditional musicians and healers. The windy labyrinths of covered markets that dot the town are known locally as souks and the array of goods on display is mind-boggling! If you’ve an eye for a bargain, you’ve come to the right place! The old city ramparts offer great views of the metropolis below and the faint silhouette of the Atlas Mountains looming in the background. Palais Dar Si Said is a breathtaking example of the decadence of Marrakech’s earliest rulers, while the El Bahia Palace has some of the finest intact examples of classic Moroccan architecture, including ornate arches and open courtyards. The tallest building in the city is the Koutoubia minaret. Its imposing structure, standing seventy metres high, can be seen for miles. The Majorelle Gardens, built in the ‘20s by French artists Jacques and Louis Majorelle. is a magical place. It’s an oasis of calm, a place to unwind after an afternoon’s haggling in the souks.
Anything else?
If you have a little time, it’s possible to travel onward from Marrakech to the epic landscape of the Atlas Mountains. It’s certainly not for the faint-hearted! Narrow windy roads, without any edge-protection, hug the mountain face and impatient locals overtake without fear of the sheer drop only inches away. However, the real pay-off lies beyond: a glimpse of the vast rolling dunes of the Sahara, the world’s largest desert.
Anything to avoid?
While the endless list of exotic curiosities that dot Djemaa El Fna make it a photographer’s paradise, make sure to be respectful of those providing the material for that great shot. Ask permission before sticking a lens in someone’s face.
What should I bring home?
Where to start! The souks are chock-a-block full of curios of all shapes and sizes. Moroccan clay bowls are particularly beautiful, decorated with traditional patterns and will look equally at home on your dinner table or mounted on the kitchen wall. Rugs, leather bags, scarves and moccasins the list goes on and on. One word of warning, don’t be shy and bargain hard!
When should I go?
Winter is an ideal time to visit Marrakech. The temperatures are much more manageable and accommodation more competitively priced. In July and August the mercury regularly tops 45, whilst in January it’s a much more comfortable 20.
What’s my challenge?
Get lost in the Medina! Rather than trying to stick diligently to your tourist map, simply wander the narrow ancient streets of the old city, soaking up the wondrous sites around every corner. Beautifully decorated souk markets, wonderful architecture, donkey drawn carts drawing foodstuffs to market and people going about their business in traditional Berber dress, it’s a special place...
What’s the currency?
The Dirham (MAD).
Something to remember...
Marrakech was once one of the most powerful cities in the world. Founded over a thousand years ago by the Berber Almoravids, the ‘Red City’ was the imperial capital of an Islamic empire that stretched from central Spain to
West Africa.