If the physical environment of Morocco has more than its fair share of beauty and drama, the man-made environment is equally entrancing and diverse. Some towns have a local colour: Marrakech is known as the red city (it’s more ochre really); Chefchaouen is blue. The past is written on the peaks and valleys of the Atlas Mountains in the form of abandoned earth-coloured kasbahs or fortified palaces; it’s very much present in the green-tiled roofs and intricate multicoloured mosaic tiling of medieval Fès. Time Out’s editor’s pick their favourite destinations in this diverse, captivating country.

Almeln Valley and Tafroute
Rural idyll & small gem: Trekkers in the Anti Atlas have known about the relaxed, high-altitude town of Tafroute, as well as the landscape that surrounds it (cloud-capped peaks, deep valleys and gorges), for decades. The Almeln Valley is dotted with tiny, thriving villages, but Tafroute is something special, with its spectacular surroundings making it seem cosier than your average Moroccan town. The region is renowned for its almond harvests, which find their way into delicious couscous and tagines.
Stay at: Hotel Les Amandiers, www.hotel-lesamandiers.com (+212 28 80 00 08).

Asilah
Coast: Today one of Morocco’s cosiest and most charming coastal resorts, Asilah possesses a swashbuckling history of Barbary pirates, Riffian rebels and battles on its 15th-century ramparts. The smart and busy Zallaka in the Ville Nouvelle is a hub of decent restaurants and seafront avenues, but you can still get a taste of the romantic past by walking through the Bab Bhar gate into the town’s incredibly well-preserved medina. Casa Garcia (51 Avenue Moulay Hassan ben Mehdi, +212 39 41 74 65) is a small, beguiling restaurant that knows a lot about the town’s speciality food: fish.
Stay at: Berbari, www.berbari.com (+212 62 58 80 13).

Casablanca
City and coast: In Casablanca today, residential boulevards that wouldn’t look out of place in Beverly Hills, along with chic French restaurants and chi-chi beach clubs, play host to Morocco’s wealthiest and most Westernised people. And while the city’s seafront is dominated by the immensity of the Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca is also home to North Africa’s largest Jewish population, consisting mainly of
well-off, middle-class Moroccans.
Stay at: Hôtel Transatlantique (+212 22 29 45 51/29 52 04).

Chefchaouen
Small gem: Folded high in the crags of the Rif Mountains, this remote hideaway has a bewitching, storybook atmosphere to match its fairytale history as a retreat for rebels and European adventurers. Its ancient crafts and diverse cultural heritage have been perfectly preserved, along with its stone-walled streets and impressive Spanish mosque and Kasbah. Try to book a table at Casa Aladin (+212 39 98 90 17), which has a well-executed roll-call of rich and sticky tagines and couscous and a highly romantic atmosphere.
Stay at: Casa Hassan, www.casahassan.com (+212 39 98 61 53).

Dadés Valley
Mountains: The Dadés Valley runs between the High Atlas to the north and the Jebel Sarho to the south. Sometimes called ‘the Valley of the Kasbahs’, fortress-cities litter the route as a reminder of civilisations that flourished here. It’s the most barren of the southern valleys, which makes palm-strewn oases such as Skoura all the more beautiful, and dramatic gorges like Dadés and Todra all the more spectacular.
Stay at: Les Jardins de Skoura, www.lesjardinsdeskoura.com (+212 24 85 23 24).

Marrakech
City: Founded at the confluence of ancient trade routes, Marrakech is rooted in the twin activities of hospitality and trade. In its booming 21st-century incarnation, that means two things: chilling out and shopping. Head to the fantastical central square, Jemaa El Fna, for a nightly carnival of local life; north medina for a thriving network of souks; and south medina for the glittering remains of the sultan’s palaces.
Stay at: Dar les Cigognes, www.lescigognes.com (+212 24 38 27 40).