CITY CENTRAL MARRAKECH

Explore the melting pot of north Africa in peace now the revelry is over

GO NOW With springlike sunny days and chilly nights warmed by bedside fires, this is the best time to visit Marrakech. Now the New Year crowds have gone, the medina and new Yves St Laurent museum are yours to explore undisturbed, while bargain flights barely break £100. Connections from the UK are with BA (ba.com), easyJet (easyjet.com) and Ryanair (ryanair.com).

STAY HERE

Cosy up in the jewel-like interiors of Jasper Conran’s 19th-century riad, L’Hotel Marrakech (1) (l-hotel marrakech.com), where guests are greeted like old friends amid Forties art deco elegance. Doubles from £260 with breakfast. More affordable style is available at Riad Le J (2) (riadlej.com) in the historic Mouassine neighbourhood. Doubles from £65 with breakfast.

WALK HERE

Start in the Jemaa el-Fna (3) where juice vendors juggle oranges in the shadow of the millennia-old Koutoubia minaret. Then dive into Souk Laksour (4) and walk north to the Musée de Mouassine (5), a Saadian town house painted and stuccoed within an inch of its life. Continue along Rue Mouassine and hang right at the next intersection to Souk Cherifa (6) where hip, young designers congregate. Return to the intersection and follow the curve of Rue Amsafah northwest to the Medersa Ben Youssef (7), once the largest Koranic school in north Africa. Finish at the Maison de la Photographie (8), 330yd (300m) west, where you can lunch on the roof terrace after browsing vintage Moroccan photography.

SEE THIS

The Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech (9) (museeyslmarrakech.com) celebrates the work of the couturier who lived in Marrakech for 40 years. In February, a temporary exhibit shows the work of Noureddine Amir, whose creations in wool, raffia, silk and tree bark blur the lines of fashion and sculpture.

TRY THIS

Indulge in a traditional hammam, either at your riad or the Farnatchi Spa (10) (farnatchispa.com). Opt for the 60-minute Royal Hammam 550Dh (£43).

SHOP HERE

Algerian-born Norya Ayron (norya-ayron.com) is the go-to girl for cult kaftans. Kate Moss and Erykah Badu have one, why not you? Her boutique is at Le Jardin (11) (lejardinmarrakech.com)

DRINK HERE

Enjoy the fuchsia-pink leather walls and leopardprint carpets in the jazzy decadence of the Churchill Bar (12) at La Mamounia (mamounia.com). Cocktails are about £20.

EAT HERE

Mohammed Fedal’s fivecourse feasts at Dar Moha

(13) (darmoha.ma) showcases the Moroccan palate admirably. Book a table by the fire. Expect to pay £50pp including wine.

OFF THE MAP

Escape the madness with a day trip to the High Atlas valley of Ouirgane. Mohammed Nour at Inside Morocco Travel (inside moroccotravel.com) is an excellent guide. Or book a horse trek with Les Cavaliers de L’Atlas (lescavaliersdelatlas.com; half-day £40).