48 Hours in Marrakech

10:00 AM

Combat jet lag with a relaxing stroll through Jardin Majorelle, which French artist Jacques Majorelle spent about 40 years perfecting, from roughly 1923 through the end of his life. It’s as much an architectural showcase (from Moorish to Art Deco—check out the iconic fountain’s vibrant blue paint, which is named for the artist) as it is a verdant and fragrant garden, which famously attracted Yves Saint Laurent, who purchased the home in 1980. Then, peruse an exhaustive collection of cultural paraphernalia in the Berber Museum—including paintings by Majorelle himself.

12:00 PM

Restaurateur Kamal Laftimi made his reputation with Terrasse de épices (where Vogue’s Hamish Bowles has been known to dine when in town). But grab lunch at his latest project Le Jardin instead; there a courtyard dining room with towering palm trees provides a lush setting to enjoy bowls of harira and vegetable soup.

2:00 PM

Get lost in the labyrinthine medina. Manic and overwhelming with its endless alleys of storefronts, restaurants and hotels, it’s Marrakech’s most alluring site. Our advice? Beeline straight toward Souk Cherifia, home to many local under-the-radar labels. For something truly one of a kind, meet with Soufiane Zarib at Kulchi. (Word to the wise: Schedule an appointment in advance of your trip.) The riad turned boutique is a major destination for carpet wholesalers largely because of Zarib, who has been working in the Moroccan carpet trade since he was young and has a vast network of Beni Ourain carpet makers. He’ll whip up the custom-designed rug of your dreams. Oh, and if you do get lost in the medina, any of the children walking around will get you back on track. (Be warned—they’ll expect a small tip.)

5:30 PM

Make your way to Djemaa el-Fnaa. Morocco’s most famous plaza comes alive in the early evening with a dizzying array of sights, smells and sounds: snake charmers, monkeys and street-food vendors. Snack on paprika-seasoned meat kebabs, egg sandwiches in khobz bread and, for the more adventurous, snail soup. The square’s food stalls are numbered, not named, so if you’re curious as to where to eat, follow the age-old international culinary rule: The longer the line, the better the food.

7:30 PM

Vanessa Branson’s El-Fenn, a stylish 22-room boutique hotel in the medina, is the perfect place to unwind after an eventful day. If you have the energy, head to the rooftop lounge for a drink, accompanied by unobstructed views of the souk. Then, turn in early, because tomorrow starts at…

6:00 AM

Your reward for that early-morning wake-up call is a rare glimpse of Marrakech’s quieter side. Go for an unforgettable sunrise run (or stroll, if that’s more your speed) along the eras-old city walls, whose red-orange clay gives the town its nickname. Finish with a sprint through a nearly empty medina, where shop owners are only just getting organized for the day. It’s a fun experience solo but even better with a local partner. We like Jonathan from Kensington Tours—he knows the best spots for a break, whether it’s a cooldown in a hidden courtyard or on a rooftop with breathtaking views of the city, old and new.

9:00 AM

That early-morning run has earned you some pampering at the famous spa at La Mamounia. A hammam experience is all about a relaxing full-body cleanse, thanks to a ritual of steam, Moroccan black soap body wash, a scrub, a clay mask and a massage that will take care of any lingering muscle aches.

12:00 PM

In Gueliz, Marrakech’s trendiest district, brunch at the Art Deco–inspired see-and-be-seen brasserie Le Grand Café de la Poste. Start with fresh oysters from nearby Oualidia, and then tuck into the foie gras with fig jam, a French-Moroccan dish that’s not to be missed.

2:00 PM

In 2016, the Marrakech Museum of Photography and Visual Arts will have a sparkling new Menna Gardens home, designed by award-winning British architect David Chipperfield. But its current locale—the dramatically deteriorating El Badi Palace—has a certain charm, too. Another must-stop is the Dar Si Said, an opulent 19th-century palace transformed into an homage to Berber craftsmanship. Highlights include ornately decorated doors and kitchen tools, some originating from 1000 A.D.

7:00 PM

Dine at Cafe Clock in Kasbah, the second location of the popular Fez original. On a Sunday night, you can take in some chicken couscous or a juicy camel burger during a sunset concert. Jazz is alive and well in Morocco, with the locals playing a version inflected by the traditional spiritual music known as Gnawa.

11:00 PM

Follow in the footsteps of Nicole Kidman and James Franco (among others) at the buzzy nightlife venue Comptoir Darna—nicknamed Le Comptoir by regulars—in the cushy Hivernage neighborhood. Housed inside a two-story mansion decorated in over-the-top Berber glamour (billowy red drapes, gilded and tasseled chandeliers), the restaurant-cum-café really gets going after dinner when entertainers take the floor—from Moroccan musicians to sparkling belly dancers who are not afraid to take their routine atop your table.