Morocco can be a delight to the senses in many ways, and it is so easy to reach and enjoy. Only 20 miles from mainland Europe, the country blends the culture, sights, sounds and smells of North Africa with the familiarity and accessibility you’d expect of a more developed nation.

Many of Morocco’s most visited and popular places can be found in Marrakech. This inland walled city has a history dating back centuries as a Berber stronghold. Today it retains much of that sense of history and charm, with a skyline full of minarets (and none so iconic or tall as the 12^thcentury Koutoubia), as well as palaces, gardens and the labyrinthine souk at the heart of its ancient medina.

At its heart is the Jemaa el-Fnaa, a UNESCO World Heritage site and probably the best known and busiest square in Africa. Long a place of public events, trading and entertainment, it has become a symbol of the city and Morocco as a whole. Tourists flock here every day to be entertained by snake charmers, magicians, acrobats and to buy from the markets. By night it transforms into a carnival of light, sound and the smells of food stalls. All around it are cafes with terraces from which a great vantage point can be found to take in this spectacle.

Marrakech is also a place where you’ll find museums, historic palaces and city walls to explore. The Menara gardens to the west of the city date from the 1130s, while the Majorelle Gardens were restored by Yves Saint Laurent in the 1980s.

Not far from the Jemaa el-Fnaa is the medieval souk which winds its way through the historic medina. Canopies overhead add to the mystery and loss of orientation as you meander past stalls and shops with vast arrays of wares from food to carpets, with sellers vying for your attention. It is a generally safe place to be, and fun to haggle over a souvenir to take home.

These souks can be found in towns all over Morocco, including Fez, Agadir, Essaouira and the many Berber villages of the mountains where leather, carpets and food products are sold.

Fez is one of Morocco’s most beautiful cities. It is a cultural city surrounded by mountains, and traditionally on the trans-Sahara trade routes. At its heart is the walled old city with two medinas, and outside is the newer French colonial part of town. Fez has one of the world’s oldest continually functioning universities, and many very historic mosques.

From Fez it is easy to visit the ancient ruined city of Volubilis where Moorish architecture sits alongside Roman ruins in one of Morocco’s most culturally important sites. Tours and day trips can be arranged to visit.

Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and its main centre of commerce, with its largest port and airport. It is also a city synonymous with modern culture in Morocco, as well as sports and music. Of course, it is the namesake of the 1942 Hollywood film, which draws many tourists as a result, even though it wasn’t filmed in the city.

However, Casablanca is not the capital of Morocco. That honour goes to Rabat, a city further up the coast. Traditionally a port and centre of industry and international embassies, Rabat has a growing presence as a tourist destination and boasts many parks, historic buildings a marina, royal residences and coastal views.

To enjoy Morocco’s coast to the full, there are resorts in the south around the towns of Essaouira and Agadir, itself a major city. In these areas there are miles of golden beaches, fantastic surf, golf courses and fine resort hotels.

Stretching across the southern portion of Morocco are the Atlas Mountains, a range capped by Mount Toubkal – the highest peak in North Africa at 4,167m. This range stretches from the coast all the way across into neighbouring countries and can be seen (and easily visited) from Marrakech. Their often snow-capped summits belie the fact that this is the Sahara Desert, and yet below you’ll often find lush green valleys. This region is littered with Berber communities and villages, and it’s a great place to go hiking, mountain climbing, camel riding or offroading. There are ski resorts like Oukaïmeden in the High Atlas region, and an ever-growing number of desert oasis resorts, spas and luxury camps are appearing offering a retreat for world-weary tourists.

If your plan is to visit Morocco on a day or weekend trip from Spain, you main port of call will be Tangier, on the northern coast, where ferries arrive. It has beautiful historic architecture, an ancient kasbah, Grand Mosque and some great shopping, walking areas and places to eat.