Marrakech: My Little Holiday Snack!
Exploring a colourful shopping street in the Medina, Marrakech, Morocco
A friend and I have a name for our trips to Morocco. We call them our little holiday snacks! You know those few days you squeeze in between bigger holidays? A bit of sunshine, a lovely hotel, fabulous food and a complete change of scenery without spending a fortune. That's Marrakech for me. And I absolutely love it!
The madness of the Medina
I love wandering around the Medina. You've got donkeys, scooters, carts and these hilarious little vans squeezing through streets that barely look wide enough for two people.
You hear a beep-beep behind you, step aside, let whatever it is pass and carry on. I've no idea how it works, but it does!
And don't get me started on the doors!
Behind those fairly plain red walls could be the most beautiful riad, with ornate furniture, little pools and the gorgeous scent of orange blossom. Or an incredible restaurant where you suddenly find yourself in the middle of a traditional Moroccan dinner show!
You just never know what's behind the next door.
A little bit of everything
One of my favourite things is sitting in Jemaa el-Fna, the main square, watching the world go by.
A freshly made juice for around €2, an omelette for €1 on my last visit, and endless entertainment just watching people. Where would you get it?
I've enjoyed camel rides, dinners in the Agafay Desert with fire shows, traditional music and dancing, and more hammams than I can count. I absolutely adore a hammam!
Then there's modern Marrakech, with fabulous restaurants, rooftop bars, nightclubs and gorgeous hotels.
I've also stayed in beautiful five-star all-inclusive resorts outside the city, perfect for a few days being waited on hand and foot.
And one of my favourite moments is escaping the madness, sitting in a peaceful riad courtyard or on a rooftop as the call to prayer drifts across the city. Just beautiful.
Why I keep going back
With direct flights from Dublin taking around four hours and some fantastic-value accommodation, Marrakech makes a brilliant long weekend.
You can explore, relax by a pool, enjoy the nightlife or do a little bit of everything.
It's a complete feast for the senses, the people I've met are wonderfully friendly, and I never seem to tire of it.
And that's the thing about our little holiday snacks. There's always room for another one!
If Marrakech is somewhere you'd love to visit, I'd be delighted to help you plan your own little escape.
