Travel bucket list idea:
Marrakech, Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
|There’s no better way to immerse yourself in Moroccan life than staying in a riad; the traditionally-designed townhouses that line the twisting alleyways of the medina. Rooms are set around an internal courtyard – traditionally divided into four quarters, with a small fountain at the centre and filled with plants and greenery.
Traditionally, Islam forbids any external show of wealth when it comes to property, so all riads – even the most upscale and ornate – are hidden behind plain walls. This adds to the tantalising sense of stepping into a hidden oasis; riads are designed to be cool and quiet – a cocoon from the frenetic streets outside.
Riads vary hugely in style; many have swapped the traditional mosaic tiling and tadelakt plasterwork for a more contemporary, minimalist feel, but what almost all have in common is a rooftop terrace. These are the places to experience Moroccan a sunset, when the Atlas Mountains shimmer in the distance and the call to prayer echoes up from the mosques; Marrakech at its bewitching, enigmatic best.
Marrakech, Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
|Official star rating:
One of Marrakech’s most sumptuous riads, with richly decorated architecture and interiors. This opulent complex has five courtyards around which rooms and suites are arranged.
Average £523
Extra beds
Pool
2+ bedrooms
Beach
Kids menu
Fitness center
Kids club
Marrakech, Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
|Official star rating:
A chic, elegant riad hotel set across seven houses, creating a wonderful sense of space inside the busy medina. It’s also home to a very good spa.
Average £277
Extra beds
Pool
2+ bedrooms
Beach
Kids menu
Fitness center
Kids club
Marrakech, Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
|Official star rating:
A chic, minimalist riad in the heart of the medina, complete with an on-site hammam, roof-top bar and heated courtyard pool.
Average £251
Extra beds
Pool
2+ bedrooms
Beach
Kids menu
Fitness center
Kids club
Marrakech, Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
|Official star rating:
A classy, colonial-style boutique hotel with an exquisite spa, set in the atmospheric Dar El Bacha quarter of the medina.
Average £196
Extra beds
Pool
2+ bedrooms
Beach
Kids menu
Fitness center
Kids club
Marrakech, Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
|Official star rating:
Trendy riad in the Bab Taghzout quarter of the medina with a stylish rooftop terrace and picture-perfect plunge pool.
Average £102
Extra beds
Pool
2+ bedrooms
Beach
Kids menu
Fitness center
Kids club
Marrakech, Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
|Official star rating:
A rambling riad with light-filled rooms, shimmering plunge pools and small spa, located in the bustling neighbourhood of Bab Doukkala, home to the medina’s liveliest markets.
Average £128
Extra beds
Pool
2+ bedrooms
Beach
Kids menu
Fitness center
Kids club
Marrakech, Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
|Official star rating:
Idiosyncratically decorated in vintage mid-century furniture, this little treasure is Marrakech’s best budget riad.
Average £80
Extra beds
Pool
2+ bedrooms
Beach
Kids menu
Fitness center
Kids club
Marrakech, Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
|Official star rating:
Moroccan design and Italian style combine at this elegant hotel, housed in a former manor house with a full-sized pool and chic restaurant.
Average £380
Extra beds
Pool
2+ bedrooms
Beach
Kids menu
Fitness center
Kids club
Marrakech, Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
|Official star rating:
Trendy boutique hotel in Marrakech’s old city, an easy walk to the medina’s palaces and souks, with the lively Jemaa el Fna just five minutes away.
Average £400
Extra beds
Pool
2+ bedrooms
Beach
Kids menu
Fitness center
Kids club
Marrakech, Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
|Official star rating:
A lovely light-filled Medina riad, with superb pool and spa (with hammam) is a tasteful mix of Moroccan style and modern comfort.
Average £300
Extra beds
Pool
2+ bedrooms
Beach
Kids menu
Fitness center
Kids club
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
An exotic time capsule of ancient streets and souks, blending Arab culture and French colonial heritage. Soak it all up in the wonderfully evocative atmosphere of the Jemaa el-Fnaa.
