Marvellous Morocco: 24 hours in Marrakech

123 Koutoubia mosque, Marrakech, Morocco

What to see and do...

Marrakech is divided into two districts: the Medina, which is part of the historical city, and the new European area called Gueliz or Ville Nouvelle. The Djemaa El-Fna square is the place to start your adventure in Marrakech, although prepare to be accosted by snake charmers, henna artists and entertainers who may expect payment for their unwanted attention. By the square is the Koutoubia Mosque (left) and although tourists are not allowed inside the architecture alone makes it a must-see destination.

In the souk adjacent to the square, stallholders vie for your attention in a glorious riot of colour, noise and smells. Haggling is expected so prepare to walk away before committing to your purchase! Spices, leather slippers and decorative wicker baskets can all be bought very reasonably. Around the souk the crowded streets wind endlessly, but meandering along the maze-like alleys is lovely way to soak up the atmosphere.

A visit to Morocco isn’t complete without a trip to a local hammam, Les Bains de Marrakech is a popular choice with both locals and tourists and for some serious spa indulgence try a traditional Ghassoul (Moroccan clay) body masque.

Get up to early to avoid the crowds at the Majorelle Garden, a 12-acre botanical haven designed in the 1920s by French aristocrat Jacques Majorelle. The gardens were bought in the 1980s by the designer Yves Saint Laurent and are a bougainvillea-clad paradise with a wide range of sub-tropical plants, set against a background of brightly painted pavilions. While you’re there it’s worth taking a trip around the neighbouring museum of Islamic art, with its wide-ranging collection of Berber and Tuareg jewellery.

Eating: what to expect...

Morocco was colonised by the French in the 19th century, so a lot of Moroccan food has a French inspiration - and Marrakech certainly has some of the best pastries and cakes south of the Seine. Local delicacies such as mint tea are wonderfully refreshing palate cleansers, though you might want to ask them to go easy on the sugar, while the not-so-fragrant-sounding pigeon pie is perhaps for the more adventurous. You can also expect to find rich meat tagines, fruity cous cous and honey-soaked pastries so sweet they make your teeth ache. For a truly authentic meal head to Dar Marjana meaning ‘rare pearl’ where the Moroccan royal family are known to dine.

When to go...

Close to the Atlas Mountains and only a few hours away from the Sahara desert, the temperature in Marrakech can reach a sweltering 40° during the summer so the best time to visit is in the spring and autumn as there's very little rain and humidity then.

Where to stay...

Only 20 minutes outside of Marrakech, Villa Fawakay offers individual boutique-style villas set over three-and-a-half acres of well-tended rose gardens, vegetable plots and a menagerie of animals including Doris the resident donkey. The villas are individually decorated with a rustic charm but do have all the modern amenities. Staying at Fawakay is like having the best of both worlds: hotel service but the seclusion of your own little villa, as food is served in your private terrace - and you don’t have to do any of the washing up. For a villa sleeping four, prices start from £1,890 per week including local taxes, breakfast and evening canapés.

In Marrakech the luxury hotel La Mamounia was the place to go as far back as the 1920s and Winston Churchill was a regular guest. More recently Gwyneth Paltrow gave the Mamounia her seal of approval, as did the Good Housekeeping beauty team who recently carried out a photo shoot there and at Fawakay. The hotel is set in the royal grounds, so unsurprisingly it’s lush and plush. There are four restaurants offering truly international cuisine and the spa is well worth a visit even if you’re not a guest. From £520 for two people sharing excluding breakfast.