Expressly Marrakech

BY TESS DE KLERK

Dizzying Marrakech has been named one of the top places to visit in 2023 by Conde Nast - no small feat. The city is a mish-mash of old and new, where liberal and conservative seem to meld effortlessly. Orange trees abound and so do well-fed stray cats, all under the blazing sun – even in winter. An ideal long weekend getaway but you’ll end up wanting to go more than once.

Where To Stay

Morocco’s bohemian city has so many choices, from colourful traditional riads to top-end luxury hotels.

La Mamounia

The Morrocan classic. Sir Winston Churchill and Sir Charlie Chaplin preferred to hide out here, and Hitchcock filmed The Man Who Knew Too Much here. It was revitalised by designer Jacques Garcia, and reopened in 2009 with great fanfare. It has hosted more than its fair share of royalty and VIPs. Marrakech’s most storied hotel is big, bold and beautiful.

From £597 per night in March https://mamounia.com/en/

Royal Mansour

The Royal Mansour, owned by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, is in fact an imperial palace operating as an exquisite hotel. It is made up of 53 guest riads, each three storeys high, with up to four bedrooms, indoor-outdoor living spaces and private rooftops with plunge pools and views of the Atlas Mountains. The courtyards are magnificent, beautifully detailed, Zellige-tiled, with enormous scalloped arches and intricately carved doorways, embellished with fountains and cane furniture, and lit by traditional lanterns. Find a welcome retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle in the lush gardens with palms, olive and orange trees, fragrant with the scent of jasmine, rosemary and mint.

From £1,700 per night in March www.royalmansour.com/en