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Rabat: why Morocco's capital deserves more than a stopover
Quieter than Fez, calmer than Marrakech, and consistently underrated.
Written by Morocco Tailored Tours.
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.
Want to see how this works on a real route? Our 7-Day Casablanca to Marrakech Tour via Fez and the Sahara and 10-Day Imperial Cities and Sahara Tour from Casablanca to Marrakech are private itineraries we can adjust to fit.
Planning around Rabat? Read the Rabat destination guide, or see 7-Day Casablanca to Marrakech Tour via Fez and the Sahara, a sample itinerary that includes it.
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7-Day Casablanca to Marrakech Tour via Fez and the Sahara
A private 7-day Casablanca to Marrakech tour that runs through the imperial cities and out into the Sahara. You see Rabat, Volubilis and Meknes on the way to Fez, spend a night in a desert camp at Erg Chebbi, and come back over the High Atlas past Ait Benhaddou, finishing with a full guided day in Marrakech.
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Read articleTours for this trip
7-Day Casablanca to Marrakech Tour via Fez and the Sahara
A private 7-day Casablanca to Marrakech tour that runs through the imperial cities and out into the Sahara. You see Rabat, Volubilis and Meknes on the way to Fez, spend a night in a desert camp at Erg Chebbi, and come back over the High Atlas past Ait Benhaddou, finishing with a full guided day in Marrakech.
Visits Rabat · Fez · Sahara Desert · Todra and Dades Gorges · Ait Benhaddou · Marrakech · +5 more
From€1,741(≈ $1,945 USD)€2,048 (≈ $2,290 USD)15% off, reserve by 17 Feb 2027per person, double or twin room
10-Day Imperial Cities and Sahara Tour from Casablanca to Marrakech
A private 10-day Morocco tour from Casablanca to Marrakech that links the Atlantic coast, the blue Rif, the imperial cities and the Sahara. You get two nights at Erg Chebbi, a full day in Fez, a night in Ouarzazate and a morning in Marrakech before you leave, with no day rushed.
Visits Chefchaouen · Fez · Sahara Desert · Todra and Dades Gorges · Ait Benhaddou · Marrakech · +6 more
From€2,625(≈ $2,935 USD)€3,088 (≈ $3,450 USD)15% off, reserve by 17 Feb 2027per person, double or twin room
15-Day Morocco Tour from Casablanca via Rabat, Asilah and Ait Benhaddou
A private 15-day Morocco tour from Casablanca that gives each region its own night: Rabat, Chefchaouen with an Akchour hike, Fez, two nights in the Sahara, a night in Ouarzazate, Marrakech and Essaouira. The coast road through Asilah and El Jadida bookends the trip, so you finish in Casablanca where you began.
Visits Chefchaouen · Fez · Sahara Desert · Ait Benhaddou · Marrakech · Essaouira · +8 more
From€7,625(≈ $8,520 USD)€8,970 (≈ $10,020 USD)15% off, reserve by 17 Feb 2027per person, double or twin room