Marrakech

Where to shoot

• Jemaa el-Fnaa — the medina's great square, busiest and most alive at dusk when food smoke and lantern light rise against the Koutoubia minaret
• Bahia Palace — a 19th-century palace of painted cedar ceilings, zellige tilework and quiet courtyards
• Jardin Majorelle — cobalt-blue buildings and bamboo set among desert plants on the city's western edge
• Saadian Tombs — a 16th-century royal necropolis with finely carved marble, cedar and stucco
• Jemaa el-Fna — the central square of the medina, liveliest at dusk when food stalls light up and crowds gather
• Koutoubia Mosque — a 12th-century landmark whose minaret rises above the old city and anchors the skyline
• Ben Youssef Madrasa — a former Quranic school with intricately carved cedar, stucco and zellij tilework around a central courtyard
• Jardin Majorelle — a botanical garden of bamboo and cacti set against cobalt-blue buildings, calmest early before crowds arrive

When to go

Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offer warm, comfortable weather; summer is scorching, while winter days are pleasant but nights cold.

What to eat

Tagine slow-cooked in conical clay pots, harira soup, couscous traditionally served on Fridays, grilled brochettes from the night-market stalls, and sweet mint tea.

Where to stay

A riad in the old medina puts visitors a short walk from the souks and Jemaa el-Fnaa, though the modern Gueliz district offers quieter, more spacious lodging.