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Best way to travel from Marrakesh to Barcelona-and things to see along way

Going to be flying to Casablanca from Newark end June 2017, going directly from there to Marrakesh for a few days, and then traveling from Marrakesh to Barcelona. Total trip time is 10 days, with at least two days in both Marrakesh and Barcelona. This is our 15 yr wedding anniversary, and we are hoping for the trip to be romantic, not too touristy, not too costly, and fun. Don't really care too much for museums, but love outdoor markets, adventure, really good food and wine, and while we like the beach, we dont need to sit on it all day, just like being close to the water. Love medieval towns, and beauty. Looking to stay in areas close to things but quiet and mostly safe.

Also, noting our limited time, wondering if we should fly to Barcelona, or travel to Spain by Ferry and then travel up the coast by train? My husband loves the beach and is fine meandering up. Any suggestions? Also would love input into favorite stops along the way, or favorite places to stay in both destinations?

Thanks!

Posted by
16895 posts

For this short trip, I would fly to either Madrid or Barcelona (train between the two is fast and expensive, but also offers advance discounts). A traditional route like train from Marrakesh to Tangier (10 hours), ferry to Tarifa (1 hour), and bus to Sevilla (3 hours) will take longer than the sum of its parts, since the connections don't always match up well.

Posted by
7175 posts

If you only have 10 nights I would keep it simple. Maximise your enjoyment time by minimising your travel time, and with no fussing about.

Marrakech (3N)
Fes (3N)
Fly to Barcelona (4N)

Posted by
28102 posts

I definitely agree with the others. It will be quicker to reach beaches near Barcelona than to go looking for one in Morocco from the inland cities of Marrakesh and Fes.

It can get extraordinarily hot in Morocco in June and July. I hit a 113F day in June back in the early 1990s. Are you sure you don't want to spend all your time in the more temperate Catalunya? Barcelona's record highs for June and July are about 20 degrees lower than Marrakesh's. You don't have a great deal of time, and there are plenty of lovely places around Barcelona. (Nothing like the souks in Morocco, though. The crafts are very tempting.)