Marrakesh Weekend Escape

Best time to go: definitely winter! The temperatures are great during the winter, it’s not cold at all, just carrying a jacket is enough and it’s still sunny. The summer is too hot so I would not recommend it.

General advice: very careful with the taxi drivers they will always try to take advantage of you and ask you for much more money than what a ride costs. Remember always negotiate the prices, especially when buying things in the Medina.

The recommend hotel to stay is "La Mammounia hotel" a wonderful classic hotel with the most incredible garden. Even if you decide not to stay there it’s worth to trying to sneak in and visit the gardens which are simply beautiful. I liked the location a lot because it is almost outside La Medina and not close to the busy area. Another very good and nice hotel to stay is "Dar Rhizlane, Palais Table d'hôtes & SPA".

Day 1: Arrival

After arrival, go to Jama El f’na Market to watch the sunset from one of the popular rooftop terraces of "Café Árabe" or "La Terrasse des Épices".

Recommended dinner at "A. Montana" restaurant to enjoy a typical Moroccan meal.

Day 2: Medina and surroundings

I would recommend you wake up early in the morning as there are a few things you should see on your first day. I would suggest the following itinerary for your first day:

• Menara Gardens - botanical gardens with a pavilion and basin are surrounded by orchards and olive groves.

• Bahia Palace - a late 19th-century palace, famous for its decoration. Its walls feature stucco carved with Arabic inscriptions, geometric patterns, arabesques, and muqarnas.

• Koutoubia - the largest mosque in Marrakesh. It likely inspired other buildings such as the Giralda of Seville and the Hassan Tower of Rabat, which were built shortly after, in the same era.

• Jama El f’na Market - a square and market place in Marrakesh's medina quarter. It remains the main square of Marrakesh, used by locals and tourists.

• Lunch at "Naranj" a very nice Lebanese restaurant with a beautiful rooftop at the Medina.

• Medina – now it is time to walk around the medina to visit the numerous small shops selling spices, olives and babouches and stroll around the pretty streets.

Recommended dinner at "La Palette Restaurant Marrakech" a super nice and cosy French restaurant outside the Medina.

Day 3: YSL and Jardin Majorelle

Spend the full day visiting the Yves Saint Laurent Museum and the Jardin Majorelle. The YSL museum is a beautiful place for everyone regardless of whether you like fashion or not. It is located in a beautiful place next to Jardin Majorelle. I would recommend buying the tickets online and in advance as the queue to get in is usually massive and you can get tickets for both things together.

Jardin Majorelle - a two and half acre botanical garden and artist's landscape garden created by the French Orientalist artist, Jacques Majorelle over almost forty years ago. The property was the residence of the artist and his wife from 1923 until their divorce in the 1950s. In the 1980s, the property was purchased by the fashion designers, Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé, who worked to restore it.

If you have more days… I would advise you to do a dessert tour or visit Fez city if the dessert is not your thing.