Marrakech is a fairly small city which can be roughly split into the following main areas:

Djemaa el Fna

The centre of the city, and showcase of Moroccan life. This lively square is the main gathering point.

The Northern Medina

This section of the walled city, north of the Djemaa el Fna is home to Marrakech’s souks and most of the artisans’ workshops.

The Southern Medina
The area south of the Djemaa el Fna is less crowded, and contains the city’s royal palaces, the Saadian Tombs and a couple of interesting museums.

New Town (Ville Nouvelle)
Founded by the French when they took over in 1912, the new city outside the Medina walls is popular for cafés, smart restaurants, stylish boutiques, and has some good nightlife. The downtown area of the Ville Nouvelle is Guéliz. This is where most of the upmarket shops and nightlife are located. South of Guéliz, the Hivernage district was built as a garden suburb, and this is where most of the city’s newer hotels can be found.

The Palmery
A rambling oasis of date palm trees situated northeast of the city.

From the heart of the medina (old town) to Guéliz it is a 40-minute walk or 10 minutes in a petit taxi. There are regular bus services on this route. If you are staying in the Palmeraie, a taxi or a bicycle will be necessary to get to the medina.