48 Hours in Marrakech at Dar Darma

To escape from the routine this time of the year and find solace in the warmth of the sun only takes 3 hours of flight and a small bag of light clothing. Spring has now arrived in Marrakech and Dar Darma, the exclusive riad in the medina, is ready to offer a relaxing stay, apt for those who love shopping, excellent dining and a vibrant night life.

Once you arrive in Marrakech, you will immediately be captured by the scents of spices, songs of the Muezzin prayer and a thousand other sounds in the picturesque Jamaa 'El-Fna square, including snake charmers, magicians and captivating henna tattooists. To make it even more unique the stay of its guests, Dar Darma sets aside many tips for discovering the red city in 48 hours. Here you go some ideas!

To get a great start to your day, you known, all you need is a rich breakfast. Dar Darma wishes its guests a good morning with delicious traditional pancakes and crepes, cakes, homemade jams, yogurt with fresh fruit and the inevitable, yet traditional, steaming mint tea with honey.

With two days at your disposal, long cultural walks among the monuments and the most iconic places of the city are an absolute must; you can start from the Majorelle Gardens and the Medersa Ben-Youssef and then go all the way to the Saadian tombs, whose Arab-Andalusian garden offers peace, quiet and a splendid view on the minaret of the El-Mansour mosque. In the northeast corner, do not miss the ancient minbar of the Koutoubia mosque, with its beautifully ornate pulpit sculptures and delicate inlays. Finally, you must stop at the Menara Gardens, one of the landmarks of the city where the locals go to cool off during the hottest days.

After walking the length and breadth of the Medina, shopping may begin in the craft shops of the souks, in search of comfortable babouches, sold in thousands of colors and patterns. Loose yourself among carpets, teapots, ceramic tajines, candles and leathers: alone or with the Dar Darma personal shopper, who can accompany those who wish, go looking for the best deals in the coolest boutiques, from the Medina to those of the new district Guéliz, in search of souvenirs and unique Moroccan handicraft pieces that are worth taking back home.

For lunch, there’s nothing better than returning to Dar Darma for a cooking class with the riad’s chef to prepare traditional dishes such as couscous, pastilla, tajine and the traditional harira soup. After the class, there’s the possibility to taste the dishes prepared and have lunch on the terrace, in the shade, on a comfortable sofa. After lunch, if you need to relax, on the riad's terraces you can soak up the sun and cool off in the pool - just enough time to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Marrakesh rooftops and the Atlas Mountains. In the late afternoon you can have relaxation in the indoor hammam or in town for a rèmise en forme in perfect Moroccan style.

At dinner, those who look for a full immersion of flavors, can choose to stop at the dar, where the kitchen’s scents and spices will spread throughout the maison. A reserved corner table with a cozy atmosphere will welcome guests for a unique gourmet experience.

To end the day in celebration, Marrakech has a lively nightlife with numerous pubs, clubs and discos animated by international DJs that make the city pulse to the rhythm of music. There are several guidelines to enjoy the best of the night. Pacha, for the trendiest and for those who like to stay up late, is the biggest club in North Africa with two indoor swimming pools and four restaurants; Comptoir restaurant pub is frequented by a cosmopolitan clientele where belly dancers and musicians will enliven the evening; Theatro, a very chic and intimate nightclub, is the reference point for all the night owls of Marrakech.

Dar Darma (www.dardarma.com) is a prestigious and recently refurbished palace placed in the heart of the Medina in Marrakech. The 4 luxury suites (the 2 Patio ones, the Mirrors one and the Orange one) and the Blue and the Red apartments, furnished in a superlative way and with sophisticated decorations, have lounges, and one or two bedrooms with toilettes and fireplace. The large halls of the residence create an elegant and absolutely private atmosphere thanks to the personalized and at the same time informal service offered by maids and femme du ménage and available 24 hours a day. The new dining areas and the terraces with shady lounges as well as the swimming pool complete the exclusive offer of the maison.