The museum and gardens are shut for lunch for a couple of hours (12-2). You cannot take any photographs inside the museum.

The name menara term derives from the pavillon with it small green, piramid roof (menzeh). The pavilion was built by the 16th century Saadi dynasty and renovated in 1869 by sultan Abderrahmane of Morocco who used to stay here in summertime.

The Menara gardens offers not only a pleasant escape from roaming Marrakech, it also has one of the most photographed settings of Morocco. So what is this place actually? It is designed as a summer escape- remember that Marrakech is like an oven through mid-summer- with both orchards and olive groves.

After spending as much time as you can bear in the steam room you proceed to a cooler room for a scrub with a coarse glove and black soap before being manipulated by a masseur or masseuse. Then it’s time for some quiet contemplation in the “salle de repos” (rest room). Be advised that at hammams males and females are strictly segregated and in female sections women usually go naked, but you can bring along a swimming costume if you prefer not to. Nudity in the male world is taboo, so men keep their trunks on! All Moroccan towns have hammams as do many hotels and auberges.

The best Hammam in Marrakech are:

Hamman Hilton (A gorgeous marble Turkish bath)
Targa Rd
Admission Dh30

Hammam el-Bacha (Traditional hammam in the Medina)
Rue Fatima Zohra
Admission & massage Dh30

Upon reaching Essaouira drive straight ahead until you reach the coastal road. Follow the coastal road (beside the beach) until you reach the parking lot next to the port entrance.

The best lunch is available right at the port where tables are set up to accommodate diners and you can choose the fish you want to have grilled. Be sure to negotiate the price before you sit down.

Depending on the seafood you choose, you can get an excellent lunch for 50-120 DH that will also include salads, bread and a soft drink. If you’re not a seafood fan, try the cheap and delicious take-out sandwich shops on the right side of the main square facing the port!

After lunch, you can cruise the souks to check out local handicrafts. We highly recommend that you visit the spice, jewelry and wood souks. In the wood souk below the ramparts, you can still see artisans at work.

Before heading back to Marrakech, take some photos from atop the ramparts and sip some mint tea in the main square.

Ourika Valley
The valley stretches along a vast area from Souk T’nin Ourika to Setti Fatima. Souk T’nin Ourika is an easy 35-minute trip from Marrakech and has a large Monday souk (regional market). Continuing on to Setti Fatima will require an additional 20-30 minutes. We recommend driving though town and parking in the lot to your right (near the end of the road).

At Setti Fatima you can easily hike up to the first of seven waterfalls without a guide and enjoy a soft drink and/or lunch at the café next to the falls. Alternatively, you can negotiate a price and arrange to have lunch awaiting you at any number of cafes in town or along the path back from the falls. Make sure to look for the Barbary apes in the cliffs on your right during your hike down.

Jbel Oukaimden
This is the best and only local skiing available!! There is usually snow cover from late January to mid-March. Whether or not you choose to ski, you can take the ski lift up to an altitude of over 3700 meters and enjoy the view overlooking the Lalla Takerkouste Dam and the plains surrounding Marrakech.

Day ski passes are very cheap by European and American standards, and will allow you unlimited rides on the lift and the numerous t-bars. Ski rentals are available at a shop leading to the mountain or on the mountain itself.

We recommend that you take your own water, food and medicines, as the resort is not well equipped. To reach Jbel Oukaimden, take the road to Ourika Valley. When the road splits and you see the sign for Oukaimden, stay to the right. Follow the winding road up until it dead ends. There is an entrance fee of 10 DH per car (current as of February 2006).

Have a look the selection of Marrakech videos below

Souqs
The souqs are basically undercover markets that sell everything from chickens to high-quality crafts. The souqs of Marrakech are considered to be among the best in Morocco, so if you like shopping and bargaining you’ll enjoy yourself tremendously. Even if you don’t like shopping, the souqs are a cultural experience you wouldn’t want to miss. Souqs are divided in to small areas that specialize in a certain good or trade. The metal workers all have their little shops clustered together, as do the tailors, butchers, jewelers, wool dyers, spice merchants, carpet salesmen and so on.

Majorelle Gardens and the Musuem of Islamic Art
In the 1920′s, French artists Jacques and Louis Majorelle created a stunning garden in the middle of Marrakech’s new town. The Majorelle gardens are filled with color, plants of all shapes and sizes, flowers, fish ponds and perhaps the most pleasing aspect, tranquility. The designer Yves Saint Laurent now owns the gardens and has also built himself a house on the property. The building that gets most of the attention however is the bright blue and yellow building the Marjorelles used as their studio and which now houses the Museum of Islamic Art. This small museum includes some good examples of Moroccan tribal art, carpets, jeweler, and pottery.

Saadian Tombs
The Saadian dynasty ruled much of southern Morocco during the 16th and 17th centuries. Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour created these tombs for himself and his family in the late 16th century, 66 of them are buried here. The tombs were sealed up rather than destroyed in the 17th century and were only re-discovered in 1917. Consequently they are beautifully preserved and the intricate mosaic is stunning. Despite being situated in the heart of the somewhat hectic old town (medina) the tombs are surrounded by a nice peaceful garden.

The Ramparts of Marrakech
The walls of the medina have been standing since the 13th century and make for a wonderful early morning stroll. Each gate is a work of art in themselves and the walls run for twelve miles. The Bab ed-Debbagh gate is the entry point for the tanneries and provides an excellent photo opportunity full of vivid colors from the dyes used. It is a little smelly though.

Palais Dar Si Said (Museum of Moroccan Arts)
A palace and museum in one and well worth a visit. The palace is opulent and beautiful in itself with a lovely courtyard where you can relax and take some pictures. The museum’s displays are well laid out and include jewelery, costumes, ceramics, daggers and other artifacts. Open daily with 2 hours break lunch.

Ali ben Youssef Medersa and Mosque
The Medersa was built in the 16th century by the Saadians and could house up to 900 religious students. The architecture is beautifully preserved and you can explore the tiny rooms where the students used to live. The mosque is adjacent to the Medersa.

El Bahia Palace
This palace is a wonderful example of the best of Moroccan architecture. There’s lots of detail, arches, light, engravings and what’s more it was built as a harem’s residence, which makes it even more interesting. The palace is open daily with a break for lunch although it is closed when the royal family visits.

In the daytime fresh juices are on offer. Orange for about 10p, mandarin/clementine for 20p.

The medina offers everything, from dried rose petals to the thuya wood ornaments, and sweets,but was the only place where I was groped and pestered.

And down the road from Djemaa el Fna (the Koutobia Mosque side) is a lovely hammam. Segregated times (so men go in the morning, and women in the afternoon). From Koutobia cross the main road as if you are going to Djemaa el Fna. Take the narrow side road, and follow it down. About 500m down on your left is the hammam. A very cheap, very interesting and relaxing experience.

The centre of Marrakech – you can’t miss it.