Marrakech

Marrakech is a city of two halves. Inside the twelfth-century walls, the medina is a labyrinth of souks, hammams and hidden riad courtyards — cool, quiet and tiled floor to ceiling. Outside, the ville nouvelle runs on French boulevards and rooftop cocktail bars.

The centre of gravity is Jemaa el-Fnaa, the main square, which transforms each evening into a sprawl of food stalls, storytellers and musicians. From the city you can reach the Atlas Mountains, the Agafay desert and the coastal town of Essaouira within a few hours.