Marrakech is not a place you’d want to visit and spend all day inside a hotel. But it’s also one of the most sensory overload-inducing cities I’ve ever been to. The medina demands your full attention: people, mopeds, market stalls, colour everywhere and about twelve things you want to look at and purchase all at once. After a full day in the middle of it, a quiet place to retreat to is very welcome indeed.

This was my fourth visit to Marrakech, and we spent 48 hours there staying at Park Hyatt. Two days is barely enough time for everything you’d want to do here, but it was enough to remind me why I keep coming back. We explored, shopped, took approximately a million photos and then returned to a wonderfully calm hotel.

Hyatt’s Vows & Venues research found that 45% of people would choose a classic beach break for their honeymoon, while 20% preferred a city escape. I understand the appeal of doing absolutely nothing after organising a wedding, but if you get restless, Marrakech offers you a bit of both. While there’s no ocean, staying in a hotel like Park Hyatt with its three pools, a spa, two restaurants and two bars, gives you plenty of reasons to stay put when you’re ready for a slower day.

A Place to Come Back To

Park Hyatt Marrakech is outside the medina, and that distance is part of its appeal. Our room was generously sized, with a private balcony overlooking the gardens and an enormous steam shower. Some rooms have a pool, and one we toured even had its own gym! The minibar was restocked with water and soft drinks each day, and dates and pastries were delivered to our room every evening. They’re lovely things to find waiting when you return from a busy day out.

That matters on a honeymoon. You’ll remember the big days out, but you’ll spend plenty of time in the hotel too: getting ready, talking over breakfast and making a plan for the day. A good hotel makes those hours enjoyable, especially when the city outside is as busy as Marrakech can be.

The spa is Park Hyatt Marrakech’s strongest case for newlyweds. It has treatment suites for couples, so you can book a massage together rather than disappearing into separate rooms. Afterwards, there’s an indoor pool, a jacuzzi, an ice plunge and loungers where you can linger together with a ginger tea. Having somewhere to enjoy the afternoon after your treatments makes the spa feel like an actual part of the trip, rather than an appointment you have to squeeze in.

When you are ready to head into town, you’ll need a taxi. A ride anywhere in the city cost us 150 MAD, roughly £11.70. The hotel arranged our first driver, who was lovely. He gave us his WhatsApp number so we could message him whenever we wanted picking up, wherever we’d ended up. I’d recommend doing the same if you find a driver you like. Taxis wait near the main exits of the medina and attractions such as Jardin Majorelle, but we were quoted more when trying to find one there ourselves.

Getting Lost in the Medina

The souks were our favourite part of the trip. We’d worried the vendors might be pushy or aggressive, but most of the people we met were friendly and very kind. We could stop, ask questions and look around without feeling too pressured to buy. When there were a few who seemed a bit pushier, a firm “No thank you we’re just looking” was enough for them to back off.

If you find something you want, don’t be afraid to haggle. It’s part of the culture and expected, but be respectful: this is how people earn their living. And if you love something, get it. There’s no regret quite like leaving Marrakech without the thing you’re still thinking about!

I came home with a large mug for 200 MAD (£15.60), a coffee cup and saucer set for 150 MAD (£11.70) a leather bag for 400 MAD (£31), an adorable brass heart keychain for 100 MAD (£7.80) and the most perfect chunky sterling silver ring with a pink gemstone, also for 400 MAD. The vendor even gave me a free brass bangle which probably means I paid too much, but I was happy with the price. You don’t have to get everything for as little as possible. If something feels worth it to you, pay it.

That said, have a proper look around before you buy the first thing you fall for. You’ll see similar pieces at different stalls, and a wander gives you a better sense of what’s available and what things cost. If you spot something you really love, drop a pin in your maps app. The medina is a maze, and no matter how good you think your sense of direction is, you may not find the exact stall on the way back.

For bigger purchases, try to get a rough price before you become too attached. We learnt that one the awkward way with a rug. We asked the seller for an idea of the cost, but he kept steering us towards choosing one first. Once we’d found a rug we liked, he named a price around five times what we wanted to spend! That was too far apart for us to feel comfortable haggling, so we left, slightly embarrassed and rugless. It’s a funny story now, but at the time I wished we’d been firmer about getting a ballpark figure at the start.

Rooftops and Lunch Stops

When you need a break from the heat or navigating the souks, head up to a rooftop. We loved NOMAD and Café Arabe for lunch and drinks. MÖ-MÖ was also beautifully decorated, with an incredibly cool rainbow interior, but the food didn’t live up to the décor for us.

A long lunch is a good way to divide the day and get out of the heat. You can look through the photos you’ve already taken, compare what you’ve spotted in the stalls and decide whether you’re going back for the thing you said you probably didn’t need.

Beyond the Souks

We went to Jardin Majorelle, the vivid blue home and garden bought and restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Book your ticket online in advance for 170 MAD (£13.20), as you can’t buy one at the entrance, and arrive for your allocated time slot. It’s busy, and getting a photo without other visitors in it takes patience, but the garden is worth seeing. We skipped adding a ticket to the museum, and I’m so glad because the queue to get in was enormous. I would have liked a look in the gift shop, though!

If we’d had more time I would have loved to also visit Le Jardin Secret, a historic garden in the medina, and Ben Youssef Madrasa, the 16th-century Islamic college known for its incredible architecture. If you’re staying longer than we did, add them to your list!

Making the Trip Your Own

Hyatt’s Vows & Venues study puts the ideal honeymoon at 13 days, with a budget of £9,610. Weather topped the list of reasons people chose their destination at 47%, with value for money close behind at 45%. Those figures describe an ideal, of course, rather than what anyone has to spend or how long they have to take off work, but Marrakech really does offer both. It was 38°C when we were there in September, but if you travel later into the autumn or over winter, it will be a much more reasonable 23-30 °C.

We flew with easyJet, and our flights cost under £200 including checked luggage which you WILL want for all your purchases! The flight time is only around three hours from the UK which makes it a great honeymoon option no matter how long or short your trip. We packed a lot into 48 hours, although I’d give yourselves longer if you want to explore the city and enjoy the hotel without rushing. It could also be the first stop on a longer journey through Morocco. I’d love to spend time in the Atlas Mountains, Fes, the desert or the capital, Rabat, which is on the coast.

For me, the best thing about Park Hyatt Marrakech is the contrast it gives you. Go out, get lost in the streets and see what you come home carrying. Then head back, wash off the day and decide what to do tomorrow. After four visits, I still see Marrakech with as much awe as I did the first time I was there. I’m already so excited to go back.

Kat was a guest of Park Hyatt Marrakech. Rooms start from £725, and can be booked at Hyatt.com.