Marrakesh

When to go

Marrakesh is a true “year round” destination. Spring and autumn sees the city at its best with almost guaranteed sunshine and bearable temperatures (days are warm and nights are not too chilly). At the height of summer, daytime temperatures can reach a sweltering 38C and shops and restaurants often close during Ramadan and in August. Winter can be warm and blissfully free of crowds – but remember that temperatures drop dramatically at night.

Getting there

Transfers: Door-to-door airport transfers are best arranged through your guesthouse or hotel for £12-£18. If you know the way and travel light, taxi hire from the airport costs £10 maximum.

Cruises: Many cruise passengers disembark in Casablanca, where ONCF (00 212 890 20 30 40; oncf.ma) operates a frequent train service to Marrakesh, departing from Casa Voyageurs station. Journey time is 3hr 30min.

Marrakesh leaves you with holiday photographs that demand further explanation.

ALAMY

Trains: If you have time to spare, consider the scenic route: Eurostar to Paris, then sleeper train through Spain, ferry to Tangier, and train to Marrakesh via Casablanca. See Seat 61 (seat61.com/Morocco.htm) for details. Taxis from the train station to other locations within Marrakesh charge around £2.

Getting around

Carriages: The best way to get around the Medina is on foot, but shiny green calèches (horse-drawn carriages) are still used for public transport. Your chariot awaits in the Djemaa el-Fna, with brass lanterns and official rate charts (about £7 per hour).

Taxis: These are handy for trips from the Medina to the New City. Meters are often broken, but trips within Marrakesh cost from £0.75 to £1.50 maximum, plus a £0.75 night surcharge.

Car hire: Have you seen Marrakesh traffic? Spare yourself the stress, unless you are heading to a remote locale in the mountains or the desert. If you do decide to hire a car, book through major companies such as Hertz (hertz.com), National (nationalcar.co.uk) and Budget (budget.com). A compact car costs from £35 per day, a four-wheel-drive vehicle from £90.

                                                                                                                                                                        by : telegraph