4 min read
Rabat: why Morocco's capital deserves more than a drive-through
Quieter than Fez, calmer than Marrakech, and consistently underrated.
Rabat has been Morocco's capital since 1912, and it carries itself differently from the country's other major cities: wider streets, less hustle around its medina, and sights you can see without fighting crowds for space.
The Kasbah of the Udayas, a 12th-century fortress overlooking the Bou Regreg river, is the highlight for most visitors: whitewashed and blue-doored streets inside, with a garden and a café terrace at the top with a river view.
The Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V sit together near the city center: an unfinished 12th-century minaret next to the resting place of Morocco's modern royal family, which makes for an odd but genuinely interesting pairing.
Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2012, and it's usually visited as a stop between Casablanca and Fez rather than a destination on its own: a shame, since a full day here is time well spent, not just time in transit.
Planning around Rabat? Read the Rabat destination guide or see 6-Day Imperial Cities Tour from Marrakech, a sample itinerary that includes it.
A few common questions
Ready to see this in person?
6-Day Imperial Cities Tour from Marrakech
The four imperial cities without a single night in the desert: for travellers who came for the architecture, the history, and the medinas, and would rather spend the extra days there than in a 4x4.
More from the blog
Private or group: what actually changes on the road
The difference isn't comfort so much as control over the day.
By Omar Hafidi
Read article
A first-timer's route through the Marrakech medina
Where to start when every street looks the same as the last.
By Anouar
Read article
When to go: Morocco by season, region by region
The country is large enough that 'best time to visit' depends on where you're headed.
By Omar Hafidi
Read articleTours that include this
4-Day Imperial Cities Tour from Fez
The shortest way to see three imperial cities and the best Roman ruins in the country, without touching the desert or the coast further south: a good add-on to a Fez-based trip rather than a trip on its own.
4-Day Coastal Tour from Fez: Rabat and Casablanca
A short run out to the Atlantic coast and back: Rabat's quiet historic core and the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, for travellers based in Fez who want the coast without a longer commitment.
4-Day Morocco North Tour from Casablanca: Rabat and Chefchaouen
A short northern loop for travellers who want Chefchaouen's blue medina without committing to a longer trip: Rabat on the way up, the Rif on the way back.