☰Guéliz

Gueliz is Marrakesh's new town, built by the French during the Protectorate era and laid out on a European grid that feels like a different city from the Medina. Avenue Mohammed V is the main spine, lined with art deco buildings, modern cafes, and shops selling international brands. The neighbourhood appeals when you need a break from the intensity of the old city: air-conditioned restaurants, wine lists, and pavements you can actually walk along without dodging motorbikes. The Majorelle Garden, Yves Saint Laurent's electric-blue botanical retreat, sits on the western edge and is the single most visited attraction in Morocco. Several good contemporary art galleries have opened nearby. Gueliz lacks the Medina's romance, but it offers practical comforts and a window into how modern Marrakshis live.