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World Travel Guide > Guides > Africa > Morocco > Marrakech

Local time Marrakech

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Getting around Marrakech

Public transport

ALSA Marrakech (www.alsa.ma) provides the local buses, including double-decker tourist buses that pass through key attractions and airport transfer.

Taxis

Marrakech's petit taxis are standard metered taxis, which can be hailed around the city. Ask the driver to use the meter or haggle for an agreed fare before travelling. When you arrive, make sure you have small notes to pay in cash. Tipping is not expected, but you can round up a dirham or two if the trip was excellent.

Grand taxis are old Mercedes cars that can carry up to six people for a fixed, agreed-upon fare, usually to out-of-town destinations such as Essaouira. Drivers will make sure all seats are full in a Grand Taxi and then leave from popular places like the bus station at Bab Doukkala.

A calèche is a horse-drawn carriage that can carry up to six people, either as a mode of transport within the medina or as a picturesque way to tour Marrakech. Not all tours have fixed prices, so check or negotiate before your ride. You can find calèches lined up between the Koutoubia Mosque and Jemma el-Fna.

Driving

Most tourists tend to avoid driving in Marrakech as some roads are narrow and often crowded with people and cyclists. After dark, the dangers increase since it is legal to drive cars and ride bicycles without lights at up to 20kph (12mph).

Street parking is often supervised by a 'parking guardian' on the block, who usually wears a blue coat and expects a tip of a few dirhams. Private parking can be found in most major hotels in Guéliz and off the Avenue Mohammed V. Other parking can be found around Medina at Jemaa el-Fna and off Rue Riad Zitoun el Jedid.

Car hire

Major car hire companies like Budget (+212 5244 38710; www.budget.com), Europcar (+212 5244 31228; www.europcar.de) and Hertz (+212 80 200 7778; www.hertz.com) operate in Marrakech. You can also rent from local companies.

Drivers must be over 21 to hire a car, but some rental companies charge additional fees for drivers under 23. Foreign nationals may drive in Marrakech if they are holders of a valid driving licence, but an International Driving Permit is recommended. Third-party insurance is automatically included when renting a car, but you might want to pay extra for collision damage waiver and personal insurance to avoid excessive charges in case of an accident.

Bicycle hire

Popular alternatives to car travel include bicycles and scooters. There are quite a few bicycle hire shops around the medina – some even conduct tours.

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Riad Dar Aby

Situated just outside the Medina, Riad Dar Aby houses a number of en-suite rooms circled around a bright, tiled courtyard. The daily breakfast of Moroccan pancakes with lashings of jam provides a homely touch, while free Wi-Fi access, optional specialised tours and friendly staff complete the package.

Riad Cherihane

Notable for its vibrant rooftop garden where tortoises laze in sun, the well-priced Riad Chrihane is situated near the northern edge of the Medina, roughly a 15-minute walk from Jemaa el Fna. Though it can be tough to track down, due to its location down a quiet side alley, complimentary Moroccan tea and biscuits greet wearisome guests.

Riad L'Etoile D'Orient

Restored in 2010, this tastefully appointed riad mixes the modern with the traditional, meaning guests can upload snaps of the refined Moroccan decor using the speedy free Wi-Fi service. Just minutes from Jemaa el Fna, rooms here include flatscreen TVs and gorgeous bathrooms. There's also a rooftop terrace to enjoy.

Riad Al Massarah

This riad is the definition of Marrakech cool, with its blend of traditional lofty architecture, handsome custom-made furnishings and ultramodern bathroom fittings by Philippe Starck. Proprietors Michael and Michel are blazing the trail for responsible tourism with clever use of natural light and solar energy, contributions to local charities, and standard-setting wages for staff.

Riyad El Cadi

This elegant guesthouse is a maze of historic riads set around five courtyards and faceted with private balconies, terraces, staircases and light wells. Each of the rooms has its own décor scheme (stay in the cupola-capped Ottoman suite with Turkish tile and latticework harem balcony). It also has a pool with Jacuzzi, subterranean hammam and well-stocked wine cellar.

La Maison Arabe Marrakech

Opened in the 1940s, La Maison Arabe was a popular dining place for the rich and famous (Winston Churchill was a patron). It closed in the 1980s but reopened in 1998 as a hotel with Italian blueblood and African antiques collector Frederic Ruspoli at the helm. His collection is now the centrepiece of the hotel's luxuriously restored suites and rooms.