CAIRO VS. MARRAKECH – CHOOSING THE BEST SPRING CITY BREAK
Spring is finally here, and gone are the below-freezing days of much of Europe and the United States. Even if in April there are some showers, you know that in addition to May flowers, that can bring you the urge to escape to a sunnier, warmer environment for a long Easter weekend. The perfect places for that at this time of the year are the North African cities, where it’s pleasant but still not scorching hot, and the summer tourist invasion hasn’t yet begun. The two obvious destinations in that part of the world are Cairo and Marrakech, and which one you choose depends on how much you can get out of a short city break visit. We’ll help you with that decision:
HOTELS: When it comes to finding special places to stay, the uncontested choice is Marrakech. With its numbers of unique riads, there are few other cities in the world with such attractive accommodation. Riads are classic Moroccan homes turned into stylish boutique hotels, mostly located in the atmospheric medina and featuring a courtyard and tasteful décor. It’s this kind of authentic accommodation in authentic places that you still don’t find in Cairo, where the big bland hotel chains still dominate.
- Marrakech Hotels – Design, Boutique, Luxury, or Cheap Hotels
- Cairo Hotels – Design, Boutique, Luxury, or Cheap Hotels
URBAN LIFE: We love afternoons and nights by the Nile, but Marrakech beats Cairo in variety of dining choices, not to mention in singular, attractive spaces. The Moroccan city also has North Africa’s most cosmopolitan nights, when young visiting Europeans join the hippest locals at major bars and clubs. Go for a quick meal at Kechmara, dine at Dar Moha or Dar Zellij, and drink and dance at Pacha, and you’ll really get the sense that you’re in the North African capital of nightlife.
ATTRACTIONS: Marrakech’s Djemaa El-Fna Square is one of the world’s must-see-to-believe attractions, but nothing can beat the ancient wonders of Cairo. The mystical pyramids overlook the city, and the treasures of the Egyptian Museum are simply stunning. Cairo is the gateway to some of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights, making it a destination you can’t miss.
WINNER: Marrakech
The wonders of Cairo deserve a longer stay than just a short city break. Not only do you need time to get past the initial shock of the chaotic city and end up falling for its fascinating energy, but you also should take the opportunity to see other Egyptian treasures in places like Luxor and Abu Simbel. Visiting Cairo is visiting Egypt, and you should allow at least a week for that. A city break to Marrakech is enough to leave you mesmerized by its street life, its souks, its soul, and its spectacles, and allows you to do it in style. You get to experience the city’s exotic vitality and discover why it’s been an unexpectedly hip destination for decades.
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