If you are sick and tired of taking summer holidays in Faro or the Costa del Sol, where there seem to be more Brits than locals, perhaps it’s time to start thinking a little further afield. Just a few miles south of the lower regions of Portugal and Spain sits the exotic terrain of North Africa. And you don’t even need to wait until the summer to see what countries such as Morocco and Egypt have to offer. Why not take a long weekend this winter, and enjoy a short-but-sweet city break whilst the UK gets colder and darker?
The old market town of Marrakech, in Morocco’s mid-southwestern region of Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz, is fast becoming a super-hip destination for the international crowd. The city is home to the largest souk (traditional Moroccan market) in the country, as well as boasting one of the busiest and most vibrant squares in Africa, if not the world. Known as Djemaa El Fna, this vast open space is the centre of the town’s activity, and never seems to sleep.

Wandering through the square day or night you could find yourself confronted with any manner of characters: the sunshine tends to attract acrobats, water-sellers, dancers, and artists, not to mention a few suspect businessmen and Moroccan Del Boys; and by night, the area becomes a glittering expanse of food stalls, one massive restaurant under the stars. Amongst other individuals wandering the booths, taking in the sights and smells of rich tagines and traditional dishes using thick, spiced sauces and pulses such as lentils and chickpeas, you might bump into one of the city’s infamous Ladies of the Night. Whether you choose to get better acquainted is of your particular concern…

But there is more to see than markets and musicians. Marrakech is home to a UNESCO World Heritage site – that of the Medina of Marrakech, an intricately carved building worth taking a few hours to gape at in awe. Situated near the base of the Atlas mountains; the city is also a great place from which to take day trips to the valley of the Ourika River or the valley of the Draa River, which is situated further south near the Sahara.