Flight from London (LON) to Marrakesh (RAK) from 187 £

Enjoy your swift and comfortable flight from London to Marrakech at the feet of the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, North Africa. The historic town has its nickname “the Red City” for the red sandstone that was the most used material when the city was first built around 1070. The state name of Morocco was derived from Marrakech, which housed several dynasties of Kings and Sultans. In Marrakech, trade caravans from inner Africa and from the Arabian Peninsula met and exchanged their goods for exotic wares, gold and crafts. Visit the old caravansaries located in several parts of the old city to get an idea how trade was done back in the early days.

Marrakech will enchant you

Trade made the city on the edge of the Sahara desert very rich, and each successive ruler tried to embellish the city with more beautiful architecture than their predecessors. The typical historic house in Marrakech, called Riad, is a house that is arranged around a central courtyard, but shows just a bland wall to the street in front. The well-hidden gems of the old Riads are often converted to hotels and guesthouses, which makes them the most sought-after accommodations in Marrakech. The lucky few that get a room in one of the Riads are already in the Medina, the historic Old Town of Marrakech. Walking the narrow alleys and soaking up the atmosphere can give you some idea what life in Marrakech must have been like in the early days of the city. The little alleys will eventually lead you to the central city square Jemaa el-Fnaa. The vast open space was originally used for public executions in the early days, the name translates therefore roughly to "the assembly of trespassers". The traditional entertainments of the Berber people like snake charmers, dancers, musicians, storytellers and jugglers perform on the square for locals and tourists alike until late at night. Stalls sell traditional Moroccan food like freshly made Mechoui, a lamb baked in an earthen oven. The hubbub of the great square is the most fascinating entertainment in the city.

Marrakech, city of gardens, palaces and mosques

The Koutoubia mosque from the 12th century with its colossal minaret is the most famous landmark of the city. Lesser known are the fine gardens that are behind the mosque. The Medina that is still entirely enclosed by the medieval city walls, the restored city gate Bab Aguenaou, gives an impression of the magnificence that the approaching traders and their caravans experienced when they entered the city. The traditional markets called Souks are still directly behind the Jemaa el-Fnaa; they are a great place to stroll around, find souvenirs and traditional crafts, and haggle and barter with the traders. The rich rulers of Marrakech invested their money in beautiful palaces; you can still visit the Bahia Palace of the 19th century, or the ruins of the El Badi Palace from the 16th century. The beautiful gardens in and around Marrakech are masterpieces of great beauty and intricate irrigation techniques. The Menara gardens that are located west of Marrakech were built around 1130 by the Almohad ruler Abd al-Mu'min. The sophisticated irrigation system around a central artificial lake was the basis to get a garden in full bloom despite being in the desert. The Majorelle garden, built by a French artist in the 19th century and sporting a dazzling blue Art Deco villa in the middle, is from more recent times. Enjoy the exotic atmosphere of Marrakech, but don’t forget your flight home to London.

More to see in Marrakech

• The Saadian Tombs
• ANIMA, the garden of André Heller
• Maison de la Photographie

Information Airport Marrakesh

• Name: Airport Marrakech-Menara
• IATA Code: RAK
• Distance to downtown: ca. 4,5 Km
• Connection: Bus, rental car, Taxi

Which airports are in London?

• London Heathrow (LHR)
• London Gatwick (LGW)
• London City (LCY)