We have tested: Arabian nights in Marrakech

We have tested: 12 Hotels Morocco: imperial cities

Marrakech, capital of the south, gave its name to the country. Before arriving into the heart of the city, take a trip to the Saadian tombs where princes and princesses rest underneath marble tombstones. Curvy columns, zelliges, cast plaster cupolas adorned with honey-combed niches decorate the mausoleums. In the same area, walk past the fortifications of el Badii Palace built at the end of the 16th century by Ahmed el Mansour. Jealous Moulay Ismail had had it taken down and the materials (gold, onyx and Italian marble) transferred to his residence in Meknes. What remains today is a vast esplanade with fountains and orange trees. The more recent Bahia Palace dates from the 19th century. Carved cedar painted with natural pigments ornaments the ceilings of the legitimate wives' apartments. Zelliges embellish the marble floors and the fountain in the centre of the courtyard indicates that this was the harem. You are not far from Jemaa el Fna Square where story tellers, musicians and snake charmers are always busying themselves amongst the orange stalls. Come back in the evening and climb up to a cafe terrace to admire the sunset. At night time, the small lights of the refreshment stalls are refracted in the smoke of the grilled meat. To find your way around town, keep an eye on Koutoubia Minaret, masterpiece of hispano-moresque art, 226 feet high. It may prove very useful when you walk into the souk in the heart of the medina. Dyers souk changes colour nearly everyday. You can visit the ironsmiths' district, el-Kelin souk, for its leather ware, the babouche slippers at Smata souk, the grocers' square, Zrabia souk, for the carpet auction sale, within three hours. On your way, you will walk past Medersa Ben Youssef, the old Koranic school which used to be the most important one in the whole of Maghreb. Leave the medina for a walk around the ramparts: eight miles of adobe walls built in the 12th century opened up by 14 gates, one of which being Bab Agnaou. Remain within the walls. In the modern town, there is a garden called Majorelle created by the French painter who goes by the same name, where lush greenery grows around a small fine art museum which now belongs to Yves Saint-Laurent. Save the visit to the hundred year old olive trees of Menara and the palm grove for the end of the afternoon. Marrakech is worth staying a minimum of two days.

Hotels Morocco: imperial cities

Family
- Tikida Garden
  
  Easyexperts : 6.75
  As its name suggests (Tikida being a type of tree), Le Tikida Garden offers lush greenery. Numerous activities and entertainment are available : here, boredom is out of question ! A hotel for families, couples and golfers, the Palmeraie Golf Palace being [...]
- Kenzi Oasis
  
  Easyexperts : 6.85
  Now, here is a dynamic club where you can't get bored ! The Kenzi Club Oasis, located right out in the countryside, will seduce both young people and sporty people as well as families thanks to its complete facilities and its lively atmosphere. We particularly [...]
- Eden Andalou Spa Resort
  
  Easyexperts : 7.5
  The brand new Eden Andalou is a handsome hotel with high quality infrastructure and services. Large and peaceful, with no other hotels or buildings nearby, this hotel is the ideal place to take your family for a relaxing week in Marrakech. To leave you [...]
Charm
- Les Jardins de la Koutoubia
  
  Easyexperts : 8.25
  A luxury hotel in Marrakech, Les Jardins de la Koutoubia enjoys an enviable location in the heart of the city. Its sumptuous setting blending contemporary chic and Moroccan tradition, as well as its excellent service will seduce customers who are particular [...]
- Le Palais Rhoul
  
  Easyexperts : 7.85
  Do we even need to present the "Palais", one of the most expensive hotels in Marrakech? Its unusual setting, its high-end service and its lush greenery in the heart of a palm grove, makes it the preferred destination for international jet-setting clientele. [...]
- La Maison Arabe
  
  Easyexperts : 8.15
  Very popular, the Maison Arabe offers luxury and refinement of an oriental style. This former riad enjoys a privileged location in the heart of the medina, while still having a large garden in the palm grove, housing a swimming pool and a cooking school. [...]
Sport & Shape
- Palmeraie Golf Palace
  
  Easyexperts : 8.1
  The ideal place for golf enthusiasts. The golf course spreading on 190 acres, modern facilities, 9 restaurants, discos, leisure activities and the comfort and charm of the establishment, all make one of the most famous addresses in Marrakech. [...]
- Coralia Club Palmariva Marrakech
  
  Easyexperts : 6.9
  Located 3 miles from the centre of town, right in the centre of Palmeraie, the Coralia Club in Marrakech offers, in a park of 61 acres, many sporting activities thanks to its various infrastructures and its large animation team. It offers typical architecture [...]
- Atlas Médina et Spa
  
  Easyexperts : 7.5
  The Medina & Spa hotel offers a charming setting, with a delicate mixture of Moroccan and 1930's architecture. As its name suggests, it is equipped with an oriental spa, Daniel Jouvance, whose atmosphere is enchanting. Dedicated foremost to business clientele, [...]
Luxury
- Sofitel Marrakech
  
  Easyexperts : 7.9
  Oasis de verdure aux portes de la vieille ville, le Sofitel Marrakech est une adresse haut de gamme offrant un cadre agréable, un confort cinq étoiles et un très bon service. [...]
- Kasbah Le Mirage
  
  Easyexperts : 8.0
  The welcome of a riad, the quality of service of a hotel and the possibilities of a club ... By bringing together these three styles, the Kasbah Le Mirage created its own concept, that is still to be matched in Marrakech. The hotel has a magical and quiet [...]
- La Mamounia
  
  Easyexperts : 8.0
  For its fourth renovation La Mamounia pulled out all the stops, as usual! After a series of works that lasted three years, this Moroccan palace has been the recipient of a well-needed facelift. La Mamounia has therefore gone from Art Deco style to a style [...]