Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Festivals & Events
SPORT
Marrakesh Marathon
(
www.marathon-marrakech.com
;
half-marathon fee €30, full €50; Jan)
Run like there's a carpet
salesman after you from the Djemaa to the Palmeraie and back for this annual marathon.
Marrakech Biennale
(
www.marrakechbiennale.org
; Feb)
Promoting debate and dialogue through artistic ex-
change, this major trilingual (Arabic, French and English) festival invites local and inter-
national artists to create literary, artistic, architectural and digital works throughout the
city. Held every second year (in even years).
CULTURAL, ART
MadJazz
(
www.madjazz-festival.com
; Mar)
Marrakesh invents new sounds nightly with Gnaoua
castanets, jazz riffs and Jimi Hendrix guitar licks.
MUSIC
STREET CARNIVAL
Festival of Popular Arts
(
www.marrakechfestival.com
;
Jul)
The only thing hotter than Marrakesh in July is this free-
form folk fest. Berber musicians, dancers and street performers from around the country
pour into Marrakesh to thrill the masses.
TEDx Marrakesh
(
www.tedxmarrakesh.net
; day/weekend Dh700/ 800; Sep)
Like any self-respecting cultural cap-
ital, Marrakesh has it own TEDx talkfest, where Marrakshi movers and shakers take on
challenging themes such as 'Driving Forces' and 'Dare to Question'.
CULTURAL
Marrakesh International Film Festival
(
http://en.festivalmarrakech.info
; Dec)
Stars from Hollywood to Bollywood strut the Berber
red carpet at this week-long festival, culminating in wildly unpredictable awards shows.
FILM
Sleeping
Marrakesh has it all: you can sleep anywhere from the funkiest fleapit to palaces straight
out of some Orientalist Hollywood fantasy. Take your pick: authentic riads hidden in the
heart of the medina
;
budget-friendly inns right off the Djemaa; ville nouvelle hotels, ran-
ging from budget to business class; or Palmeraie villas, with pools amid swaying palms.
