Marrakech Holiday Homes & Monthly Stays

Where Marrakech is, and what it is like

Marrakech sits inland in western Morocco, on a plain beneath the High Atlas, whose peaks are visible from the city on clear days. It is called the Red City for the colour of its walls and buildings.

At its heart is the medina, the old walled city and a UNESCO World Heritage site: a maze of lanes, souks, mosques, palaces and courtyard houses, centred on the great square of Jemaa el-Fnaa beneath the minaret of the Koutoubia.

Outside the walls are the newer districts. Gueliz and Hivernage are broad, modern and calmer, with avenues, cafés and apartment buildings, and beyond them lie the palm groves and villa areas on the edge of the city.

It is a city of contrasts, and that is the draw. Noise and calm, old and new, the souks in the morning and a quiet garden in the afternoon.

Who it suits

It suits anyone looking for somewhere entirely different from home within a short flight of much of Europe. Couples, friends and families all come for the food, the craft, the architecture and the light.

It suits longer stays. Many people come for a week and wish they had booked a month, and a private home with a kitchen and space of its own makes a long stay much more comfortable than a hotel room.

It suits people who want a base for exploring further: the Atlas Mountains, mountain villages, the desert and the Atlantic coast are all popular trips out of the city.

It suits less well anyone who wants a beach holiday. Marrakech is inland, and its pleasures are the city, the gardens and the mountains rather than the sea.

Getting around

Marrakech has its own international airport, close to the city, with flights from across Europe and beyond.

Inside the medina you walk. Many lanes are too narrow for cars, and part of the experience is getting a little lost. Outside the walls, the small local taxis are the usual way to get about, and it is sensible to agree the fare or ask for the meter before setting off.

For trips into the Atlas or further afield, most visitors hire a driver or join an organised day trip rather than drive themselves.

When to come

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, with warm days and cool evenings, and they are when the city and its gardens are at their best.

Summer is very hot and dry, and the middle of the day is best spent indoors or by a pool. Winter days are often sunny and mild, but nights can be cold, so a home with good heating and warm bedding matters more than people expect.

During Ramadan the rhythm of the city changes, with quieter days and lively evenings. It is a memorable time to visit, as long as you plan around it.

What staying with fäm Living is like

fäm Living runs holiday homes in Dubai and Ajman, and brings the same approach to Marrakech: a home that is properly prepared, properly cleaned and looked after, rather than a key left under a mat.

The home is cleaned to the same standard before every stay, and you deal directly with us from booking to departure, with somebody to contact if anything needs attention.

Booking direct means no platform service charge added on top, and the price you see is calculated for your actual dates, whether that is a few nights or a month.