Getting to you
The Marrakech medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a place you cross on foot. Taxis stop at the gates or on the few streets open to cars, and the last part of the journey is through the derbs, folding table and linen bag on the shoulder. Depending on where your riad is, that is two minutes or a quarter of an hour's walk.
For the treatment to start on time, we need the exact name of the riad or house, ideally the name of the derb, and a phone number we can reach. If access is genuinely tricky, the simplest solution is a meeting point at the nearest gate or a well-known landmark, where someone from the riad collects the therapist.
The districts of the old city
Mouassine, Bab Doukkala and the Dar el Bacha area, north-west of Jemaa el-Fna square, hold many guest riads and are fairly easy to reach. The Kasbah, to the south around the Saadian tombs, is one of the most practical areas: several of its streets take cars. The Mellah and Riad Zitoun, south-east of the square, are denser and need a precise landmark.
The deeper your riad is in the souks, the longer the arrival takes. That is never a problem if we know in advance: we simply adjust when we set off.
Noise, heat and the right time
Around Jemaa el-Fna, music and bustle go on late into the evening. If your riad is very close to the square, a room on the courtyard side rather than the street side makes a real difference for a massage, and a late-afternoon slot is often quieter than early evening.
In summer, the thick walls of riads hold the cool during the day and release it at night. A session on the ground floor or in an air-conditioned room is better than the terrace before sunset.
What we need for the medina
- Address
- Riad name, the derb name if you have it, and the nearest gate.
- Access
- On foot for the last part. A meeting point is possible.
- Distance
- The centre of our area: it is where the map starts.
- Best time
- Late afternoon near Jemaa el-Fna, quieter than early evening.
- Hammam
- If your riad has a hammam, the beldi or royal hammam takes place there.
Frequently asked questions
Do you come into the Kasbah and the Mellah?
Yes, the whole medina is covered, from Bab Doukkala to Bab Agnaou and from Mouassine to the Mellah. The Kasbah is in fact one of the easiest areas, as several of its streets are open to cars.
My riad has no visible number. What do I do?
Most riads are the same. Give us its name and share your location when booking, or ask your host for the landmark they usually give taxis: we use it the same way.
Does the therapist carry all the equipment on foot?
Yes, the massage table folds and is designed to be carried, and the linen and oils fit in a bag. Our therapists are used to derbs and narrow staircases.
Can I book an evening massage in the medina?
Yes, up to the last slot at 10pm. In the evening the alleys empty and arrival is often quicker than in mid-afternoon, when the souks are at their busiest.
