Marrakech in January: sun for the day, a coat for the evening

January is a comfortable month in Marrakech. Daytime temperatures are mild and pleasant for walking, while mornings and evenings are cold enough to need a proper layer, particularly in unheated riads. Rain is not common but can happen, so carry a light waterproof, and have an indoor plan.

The medina, the old walled city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best way to see it is slowly, with one sight in the morning and one in the afternoon. The Jemaa el-Fnaa square is its centre and changes through the day: orange-juice stalls and storytellers by day, food stalls and musicians at night. Nearby, the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs are within walking distance of each other and are best visited early, before tour groups arrive.

Outside the old city, the Majorelle Garden, created by the painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, is one of the most visited places in Marrakech. Buy tickets online where possible and arrive at opening time. Prices and opening hours change, so confirm them with the site.

For a change of pace, the Atlas Mountains are an easy day trip, and in winter parts of the High Atlas can be snow-capped on a clear day. Choose a licensed guide and an operator that pays local people fairly.

Practical points: use official taxis or agree prices before you start, learn a few words of Arabic or French, and ask before photographing people. Visa rules depend on your passport, so check the official Moroccan authorities before you book.