56 Best Sights in Rabat and Casablanca, Morocco

This lovely museum is hidden away in a splendid Art Deco villa. Permanent exhibits feature a collection of the nation’s treasures, including delicate crystal perfume bottles, Jacques Majorelle paintings, vintage travel posters, and 300-year-old jewelry from Fez. The museum has a café spilling out onto the rooftop, and a shop. Guided visits are available for 100 DH and there are creative art workshops in subjects such as photography, tapestry, and drawing and painting for children.

All that remains are ruins, but Chellah was an elaborate, independent city before Rabat ever existed. Thought to be founded by the Phoenicians, it dates from the 7th or 8th century BC. You'll see the remains of the subsequent Roman city, Sala Colonia, on your left as you walk down the path. Though these remnants are limited to broken stone foundations and column bases (with lots of resident storks), descriptive markers point to the likely location of the forum, baths, and market. Sultan Abu Saïd and his son Abu al Hassan, of the Merenid dynasty, were responsible for the ramparts, the entrance gate, and the majestic portals. The Merenids used Chellah as a spiritual retreat, and at quiet times the baraka (blessing) of the place is still tangible.

The entrance to the Merenid sanctuary is at the bottom of the path, just past some tombs. To the right is a pool with eels in it, which is said to produce miracles—women are known to toss eggs to the eels for fertility. The ruins of the mosque are just inside the sanctuary; you can still see the beautiful arches and the mihrab (prayer niche). Birds nest on the impressive minaret. On the far side of the mosque is a beautiful wall decorated with Kufi script, a type of Arabic calligraphy characterized by right angles. To the left of the mosque is the zaouia (sanctuary), where you can see the ruins of individual cells surrounding a basin and some ancient mosaic work. Beyond the mosque and zaouia are some beautiful, well-maintained walled gardens. Spring water runs through them at one point, and they give Chellah a serenity that's quite extraordinary considering that it's less than a mile from the center of a nation's capital. From the walled gardens you can look out over the River Bou Regreg: you'll see cultivated fields below and cliffs across the river. On the right is a hill with a small white koubba.

El Jadida's main attraction is the atmospheric Cité Portugaise, which was built for military purposes in the early 1500s, overtaken by the Moroccans in 1769, and registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. Impressive (and still imposing) stone walls make it difficult to miss. The Portuguese city was originally a rectangular island with a bastion on each corner, connected to the mainland by a single causeway. Take the entrance on the right where you'll see that the Portuguese street names have been retained.

This mosque dominates the city skyline, and through its monumental titanium doors, it’s a masterclass of Moroccan craftsmanship—hand-carved plaster, gilded cedar ceilings, exquisite zellige tilework, and acres of marble. Its foundations lie partly on land and partly in the sea. The main hall, with a retractable roof for summer months, holds an astonishing 25,000 people, with a further 80,000 in the courtyard. The minaret is more than 650 feet high, and the women's section on the mezzanine floor (about 6 feet above the main floor) seems dwarfed by the nearly 200-foot-high ceiling. Don’t miss the marble ablution room; there is also a small museum showcasing the crafts involved in its construction.

Funded through public subscription, designed by a French architect, and built by a team of 35,000, the mosque was erected between 1987 and 1993 and is one of the largest in the world. It was built in Casablanca primarily so that the largest city in the kingdom would have a monument worthy of its size. Except for the ruined Tinmel mosque in the High Atlas Mountains, this is the only mosque in Morocco that non-Muslims are allowed to enter. One-hour guided tours of the mosque are offered daily (six per day, Saturday to Thursday; four on Friday, with reduced hours during Ramadan). Be sure to dress conservatively, and note that you will be required to remove your shoes at the entrance.

If you fly out of Casablanca, try to get a window seat on the left for a good view of the mosque in relation to the city as a whole.

At the end of the 12th century, Yacoub al Mansour—fourth monarch of the Almohad dynasty and grandson of Abd al Mu'min, who founded Rabat—planned a great mosque. Intended to be the largest in the Muslim world, the project was abandoned with the death of al Mansour in 1199. A further blow to the site occurred with the strong tremors of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, and this tower is the only significant remnant of al Mansour's dream. A few columns remain in the mosque's great rectangular courtyard, but the great tower was never completed (which is why it looks too short for its base). Note the quality of the craftsmanship in the carved-stone and mosaic decorations at the top of the tower. From the base there is a fine view over the river. Locals come here at dawn to have their wedding photos taken.

Just 10 km (6 miles) north of Salé, you'll find the extraordinary Jardins Exotiques, which were created in the mid-20th century by a Frenchman named Marcel François, who used to play classical music to his plants. Planned to represent different regions (like Polynesia, Brazil, or Japan), the gardens are a haven for birds and frogs. There are two circuits of different lengths and the walkways and bridges make this a wonderful playground and educational experience for children, too. Since François's death in 1999, the property has been maintained by the government and a touching autobiographical poem forms his epitaph at the entrance. Many people combine a visit to the gardens with a day at the beach at Plage des Nations, another 10 km (6 miles) to the north, around 300 DH in a taxi.

Rabat's early history is based around this kasbah: built strategically on high ground over the mouth of the Bou Regreg River and the Atlantic, it was originally constructed for defensive purposes. Still inhabited, it once comprised the whole of the city, including the castle of Yaqoub al Mansour.

Walk up the steps to the huge, imposing ornamental gate, built, like Bab Rouah, by the Almohads. The gate's interior is now used for art exhibits. Enter the kasbah and turn right into Rue Jama (Mosque Street). The mosque, which dates from Almohad times (it was built in the mid-12th century), is on the left; it was supposedly reconstructed in the late 18th century by an English Muslim—Ahmed el Inglizi. Continue to the end of the road past a house called Dar Baraka, and you'll emerge onto a large platform overlooking the Bou Regreg estuary. Here there is the magnificent view across the river to the old quarter of Salé, and you can walk down to the water's edge. Go back along Rue Jama until you come to Rue Bazo on the left; this winds down the kasbah and past picturesque houses.

Turn left, walk to the bottom of the street, and proceed down to the banks of the Bou Regreg to see the beautiful Andalusian Gardens, a walled retreat filled with citrus trees, lofty palms and bright bougainvillea, where you can stop for mint tea-break at Café Maure. The garden was laid out by the French in the early 20th century, but its enclosure dates from the beginning of the present Alaouite dynasty in the 17th century. At the top of the garden is the National Museum of Jewelry & Adornment, with a collection of glittering jewelry, elaborate costumes, and a 12th-century Koran.  

The resting place of King Mohammed V, who died in 1961, this mausoleum is adjacent to the Hassan Tower and, thanks to a commanding position above the river, is similarly visible to anyone approaching Rabat from Salé. The tomb itself is subterranean; the terrace that overlooks it is approached by steps on each side. Looking down, you're likely to see someone ritually reading the Koran. Beyond the central sarcophagus of King Mohammed V are those of his sons Prince Moulay Abdallah and King Hassan II; the latter was interred here in July 1999 as world leaders stood by for his state funeral. Designed by a Vietnamese architect and built between 1962 and 1966, the tomb is cubical, with a pyramidal green-tile roof, a richly decorated ceiling, and onyx interior walls. A mosque, built at the same time, adjoins the tomb.

This striking must-see museum is an exquisite showcase of contemporary art pieces from across the country. The permanent collection charts the evolution of Moroccan artwork from the 20th century onward, while the skillfully curated temporary exhibitions focus on fascinating themes. There's a nice café here, too.

Turn left around the corner of the Great Mosque, and you'll see on your right the Abou el Hassan Medersa. Built by the Merenid sultan of that name in the 14th century, it's a fine example of the traditional Koranic school. Like the Bou Inania in Fez or the Ben Youssef in Marrakesh, this madrassa has beautiful intricate plasterwork around its central courtyard, and a fine mihrab (prayer niche) with a ceiling carved in an interlocking geometrical pattern representing the cosmos. Upstairs, on the second and third floors, you can visit the little cells where the students used to sleep, and from the roof you can see the entire city.

Perhaps Azemmour's most renowned resident artist, Ahmed el-Amine has been painting in and around the medina for nearly two decades. He still lives here, working out of this studio.

Currently an art gallery, this city gate was built by Yaqoub al Mansour in 1197. To see it, go outside the city walls and look to the right of the modern arches. Originally a fortification, the gate has an elaborately decorated arch topped by two carved shells. The entrance leads into a room with no gate behind it; you have to turn left into another room and then right into a third room to see the door that once led into Rabat.

A heavily fortified town for centuries, Salé still has many traces of its eventful history preserved within the old medina walls, and many landmarks are national heritage sites or monuments. The magnificent Bab el-Mrissa is one of the oldest and largest gates in the country; built by an Almohad sultan in the 13th century, it was linked to the river by a canal. On the northern wall next to the Bab Sebta, there’s an 11th-century, square-shape fortress. Looking over the mouth of the Bou Regreg River, is the Borj Adoumoue or Bastion des Larmes (Bastion of Tears); the current building dates from the 18th century, and cannons gaze over the water to this day.

This bay is one of the prettiest in the region and much loved by both Rabat and Casablanca locals. For this reason, it gets exceptionally crowded when the weather is hot: crowds hit the golden sands and surfers stream into the waves. It’s a lovely place out of season, too—perfect for picnicking and exploring the tide pools. During summer, there is a good selection of restaurants and cafés. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

Walking down Rua da Carreira, you'll see on the left the old Portuguese Church of the Assumption. Erected in 1628, it's a fine example of late-Gothic Manueline-style architecture.

Connected to Temara Plage by a walkway across the rocks, pretty Contrabandiers Beach draws throngs of sunbathers, swimmers, and surfers in summer. As is always the case on this coastline, currents can be extremely dangerous, so don't plan to take a dip unless you're a strong swimmer. Locals will rent you a beach umbrella, and there are usually several vendors who walk up and down the sand selling ice cream and other snacks. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (in summer); parking. Best for: swimming; surfing; walking.

On the coast at Temara, just south of Rabat, is a series of caves that are some of the earliest identified sites of human habitation. The easiest one to visit is on the landward side of the coastal road, across from Contrabandiers Beach, though you can't go inside. It's easy to spot, with a grassed area and iron railings in front, and is known as El Harhoura. Casts of the prehistoric human skeletons discovered here in the 1930s by Armand Ruhlmann are on display in the Museum of History and Civilizations, in Rabat.

The area of the city bordered by Avenue des FAR, Place des Nations-Unies, Boulevard Mohammed V, and Rue Abdullah Al Mediouini contains some beautiful examples of Mauresque and Art Deco architecture built by the French in the early years of the Protectorate (1912--56). While much has gone, large swathes of these buildings are being restored, including the Central Market and the enormous Hotel Lincoln, both on Boulevard Mohammed V. Some excellent examples are Le Petit Poucet bar on the same street, the Cinema Rialto on Rue Bouchaib, and the Bank Al-Maghrib on Boulevard de Paris. Many apartment blocks in this area sport pretty wrought-iron balconies and swags of cement flowers and fruit on the buildings. Casamémoire ( casamemoire.org) is a Moroccan nonprofit dedicated to the protection and promotion of the city's 20th-century architecture; it organizes architectural Heritage Days in May and can offer private architectural tours in English if booked in advance.

At the end of Rua da Carreira (Rue Mohammed Al Achemi), you can walk up ramps to the walls of the fortress. Looking down from the heights, you'll see a gate that leads directly onto the sea and, to the right, El Jadida's fishing harbor.

The medina's original gallery exhibits the work of artists from across the nation. It was founded by Abderrahmane Rahoul, former director of the Ecole Supérieure des Beaux Arts in Casablanca, who is a well-known and highly respected visual artist himself.

Beyond the Portuguese Cistern on Rua da Carreira is a fine old mosque, and its original construction makes it one of the focal points of the city. The beautiful white minaret is unique in that it has five sides, all with rounded edges.

Perched on the banks of the Bou Regreg River, the sinuous white curves of this Zaha Hadid--designed structure contrast with the nearby ancient Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum. Billed as the largest in Africa, the theater will seat 1,800 people in its auditorium when it opens. There will be a second, smaller theater as well as a restaurant, cafés, a bookstore, and outdoor auditorium that seats 7,000. 

A few steps from the tomb of Sidi Abdellah ben Hassoun is the Great Mosque, also known as Masjid al-Tal'a. Built by the Almohad dynasty in the 12th century, this beautiful structure is the third-largest mosque in Morocco, after the Hassan II in Casablanca and the Kairaouine in Fez. Non-Muslims cannot enter.

The most frequented beach in Dar Bouazza is a great place for swimming and surfing in the summer. On the far side, there’s a tidal pool area and, when tides are low, the long stretches of soft sand are ideal for strolling and exploring the coast. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (in summer); parking. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

El Jadida was once home to a very large Jewish population—traces of which are still visible in the city's Mellah, the Jewish quarter of the old medina. If you walk around the walls to the other side of the fortress, you get clear views over the Jewish cemetery.

Just off the beach about 28 km (17 miles) south of Oualidia, the koubba of an unnamed saint is built on a rock in such a way that it's only accessible at low tide and some of the cliffs here are truly magnificent.

Get a feel for Casa's Atlantic Ocean setting with a stroll along the lovely landscaped waterfront walkway between the Hassan II Mosque and the historic El Hank Lighthouse. It’s a favorite with couples and families enjoying the breeze, sun, and sunset. On weekends, the area heaves with people settling in to the line of cafés and restaurants, basking in the beach resorts, and promenading up and down the wide pavement. In the evenings, along the stretch from the lighthouse to the Tahiti Beach Club, nightclubs and bars open their doors for all kinds of partygoers. 

When you need a break from the city bustle, this environmentally friendly farm makes a very pleasant getaway for both adults and children. On-site you can discover organic plants and herbs, as well as visit and look after animals. Food and drinks are available if hunger hits.

Built in the 1980s by King Hassan II in honor of his granddaughter, this mosque is proof that the tradition of Moorish architecture that produced the Court of Lions in Granada's Alhambra is alive and well. Notice the exquisite sandstone work on the walkways surrounding the mosque, and look up at the colorfully painted geometric designs on the ceilings. The mosque is surrounded by immaculately kept gardens. Non-Muslims may not enter, but there's plenty to admire from outside.

Moulay Bousselham sits at the head of the Merja Zerga National Park, a vast lagoon stretching over 17,000 acres. This region is one of the most important wetland reserves in North Africa and is a major stopover for countless birds migrating from Europe to Africa: the birds fly south at the end of summer and winter at Merja Zerga before continuing on to western Africa and even southern Africa. They stop off again on their way back to Europe in spring, so spring and fall are the times for bird-watching. It's home to between 50,000 and 100,000 waders at any one time, including shelduck, marbled teal, coot, pied avocet, and slender-billed curlew. The pink greater flamingos on their way to and from Mauritania are particularly spectacular.