Cyber Park, Arsat Moulay Abdeslam

The Cyber Park is the easiest free green space for a break between Jemaa el-Fna and Gueliz, and a pleasant way to see Marrakchis at leisure. Its proper name is Arsat Moulay Abdeslam: an arsat is an orchard garden, and this one dates back to the eighteenth century, when the sultan gave it to his son, Prince Moulay Abdeslam, for whom it is named. Today it covers about eight hectares along Avenue Mohammed V, just outside the Medina ramparts near Bab Nkob, a short walk from the Koutoubia. In the early 2000s the garden was restored with the support of Maroc Telecom, at the initiative of Princess Lalla Hasnaa, and reopened in 2005 as an electronic garden, as the Marrakech-Safi Regional Tourism Council puts it, with internet terminals scattered among the trees and an exhibition hall for a small Museum of Communications. The terminals have aged and are less relevant in the smartphone era, but the garden itself has matured beautifully. Wide paths run between old olive and orange trees, palms, cacti, roses and flower beds, with fountains, benches and lawns, and the shade is welcome on hot afternoons. Families, students and couples come to stroll, sit and chat, which makes it a good place to watch everyday life rather than tourist life. Entry is free, and the park is open during the day. It is not a destination garden in the way the Majorelle is, but as a free, central and peaceful stop it is hard to beat, especially with children who need to run.

How to use it: walk through the Cyber Park on your way between the Koutoubia and Gueliz or the Jardin Majorelle along Avenue Mohammed V; it turns a hot, busy road walk into a shady one. Stop at a bench with a drink, let children run on the paths, and look out for the old fountains. There are entrances along Avenue Mohammed V and near Bab Nkob.

Etiquette: the park is a family space and a popular spot for young couples, so dress modestly and keep behavior discreet. Paths are flat and suitable for strollers and wheelchairs on the main routes. Toilets and facilities are limited, so plan accordingly.

Pairing: combine the park with the Koutoubia and its gardens, which lie just south, and continue to the La Mamounia gardens if you are dining or staying there, or north to Gueliz for cafes and galleries. If you want more garden time, the Menara is a short taxi ride west and the Majorelle a short ride north. The park also makes a good meeting point: its fountains and benches are easy to find, it is close to taxi ranks on Avenue Mohammed V, and the small cafes along its edges serve mint tea and fresh orange juice at local prices. In the evening the paths fill with families, which gives a much better sense of ordinary Marrakech than the square, and the view south through the trees to the illuminated Koutoubia minaret is one of the prettiest free sights in the city. In the hottest months, come after five, when the shade is long and the benches are cool.