Marrakech is the perfect combination of old and new, offering delicious cuisine, breathtaking culture and a flight time of just under 4 hours. Along with our range of great-value deals, here are our top 11 reasons to visit Marrakech…
1) Markets
A visit to Marrakech would not be complete without a trip to the famous markets (known by locals as souks). Here you can pick up everything from homemade crafts, ornaments and jewellery. The markets are a great place to pick up a cheap souvenir for someone back home. To fully immerse yourself, we recommend paying a visit to the souks inside the Medina walls of old Marrakech.
2) Short Flight Time
The average flight time from UK airports to Marrakech is 3h45, which is shorter than flights to other popular destinations such as the Canary Islands and Greece. Considering the complete culture change, Marrakech is the perfect place to visit to experience a whole new world without spending too long in the air.
3) Food
Moroccan cuisine is well known for its exotic flavours. Due to its location bordering the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, there is always a fresh supply of fish. As a result, you’re likely to find sardines, anchovies, mackerel and prawns in most restaurants and cafes. Other popular dishes include zaalouk (a smoky aubergine puree), harira (a lamb broth) and Morocco’s national dish tagine. Yummy!
4) Relaxation
After a day of exploring your new surroundings, why not take some time to refresh yourself ahead of the next day. Enjoy a trip to a hamamm (steam room), something that locals consider a ritual. Hamamms in Marrakech are quite spectacular and take place in buildings that have specially designed interiors so remember to have a good look around.
5) Luxury Accommodation
You don’t have to break the bank to secure some luxury accommodation with Marrakech offering 5* hotels at an extremely affordable price. A night at the 5* Adam Park Hotel & Spa will only set you back £32pp/pn while a stay at the 4* Labranda Les Idrissides Hotel & Spa will cost as little as £16pp/pn.
Take a look: Adam Park Hotel & Spa, Labranda Les Idrissides Hotel & Spa
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6) Street Performers
No matter where you are in Marrakech, you’ll never be too far from a street performer. Snake charmers, acrobats and magicians, nothing is off limits here and we’re sure that you’ll make some magical memories here. We recommend taking some spare change as a way to the thank any street entertainers you take pictures with.
7) Great Weather
Marrakech enjoys incredibly hot summers, warm winters and hot springs and autumns – there really isn’t a bad time to go. There tends to be a big difference in temperatures during the day and at night with temperatures in peak seasons dropping around 15°C in the evening. Rainfall is very low all year round while there is an average of 11 hours of sunshine per day in the summer months. Highs in summer range from 33-38°C while you can expect an average temperature of 13°C in winter.
8) Djemmaa el-Fna
The popular city square of Djemmaa el-Fna is truly at the heart of Marrakech, attracting tourists from all over the world. Filled with everything from fortune-tellers, dancers and musicians, the square really comes alive in the evening. During the day, the square is a great place to snatch a bargain and you will find a range of homemade goods for sale. The square is also a great place to learn about Moroccan culture; many of the locals will be happy to answer any questions.
9) Instagram Opportunities
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Marrakech is the huge range of colours that present themselves around the city. From yellow walls, to blue buildings and orange sunsets, literally everything in Marrakech is Instagram worthy. The image below was taken at Le Jardin Majorelle, a 12-acre garden created by French painter Jacques Majorelle. Tag @OntheBeachHolidays for your chance to be featured on the On the Beach Instagram channel.
10) Culture
Marrakech’s historic medina is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and boasts spectacular architecture and alleyways that you can spend hours admiring. Outside of the medina, you’ll stumble upon places such as Koutoubia Mosque, Badia Palace and the Saadian Tombs – all great sightseeing opportunities…
11) Tea
We’re tea mad at On the Beach so we had to talk about one of the local delicacies in Marrakech: mint bubble tea. Served in a traditional teapot with a curved spout, the flavour is unlike anything we have ever sampled in the UK but highly recommended.
Take a look at all of our Marrakech deals here
