Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions

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“Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Morocco abounds in rich history, intense culture, dazzling natural beauty and bustling cities. In this country, sights await you everywhere, whether you travel by camel across the dunes of Erg Chebbi, admire the magnificent Bahia Palace in Marrakech, or take an excursion to the archaeological site of Volubilis.”

What are Morocco’s main tourist attractions?

A stay in Morocco is a wonderful journey for the senses. As you walk around, you can smell incense, perfume and mint. Hearing about Arabic music blaring from the stores and the call to prayer ringing out from the mosques. You’ll feel the warmth of North Africa on your skin, as your feet travel along cobbled streets or sandy shores. You’ll see colorful traditional garments and tower-high stacks of spices in places like Marrakech’s Jemaa el-Fna market square. Then You’ll discover magnificent beaches like Legzira, dreamy spots like the blue streets of Chefchaouen and breathtaking waterfalls like Ouzoud.

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Overview

• AL-QARAWIYYIN UNIVERSITY, FEZ

• HASSAN II MOSQUE, CASABLANCA

• VOLUBILIS, FÈS-MEKNÈS

• ERG-SHEBBI, SAHARA

• CAVES OF HERCULE

• TODRA GORGES

• MAJORELLE GARDEN

• OLD TOWN OF ESSAOUIRA

• AGADIR KASBAH

• BAHIA PALACE

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Fez

Fez, the city of craftsmen, potters and tanners, is the center of the Moroccan world. It is home to some of Morocco’s most famous sites such as the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque, a university founded in the 9ᵉ century that produced a number of talented theologians and philosophers. According to UNESCO and Guinness World Records, it was the first educational institution in the world to award a university degree and is considered the oldest university. Take time to stroll through the medina, the historic heart of the city, and visit the tomb of Idris II, the sultan who founded the city.

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Casablanca

The monumental Hassan II Mosque was built in Casablanca in 1993 and has become the country’s main symbol. It rises on a small artificial peninsula above the sea, and its architecture combines ancient and modern techniques. The mosque’s 210-metre-high minaret is the second-highest in the world. At the top, a laser beam points believers in the direction of Mecca. In total, the mosque can accommodate up to one hundred thousand worshippers, and is also open to non-Muslim visitors. At sunset, its ornate doors, wood carvings and mosaics make the building particularly photogenic.

Volubilis archaeological monuments, Fès-Meknès

The ruins of the ancient city of Volubilis, in the Fès-Meknès region, include a forum, a triumphal arch, houses and a palace. Archaeological excavations have revealed that a settlement on the site of the city already existed in Neolithic times, but was later destroyed by an earthquake. Today, the plans of the Roman town can be clearly seen, as can the remains of the fortification wall, Caracalla’s Arch, plinths and porticoes. The mountains and the vast green plain in the background provide the perfect backdrop for an epic hike, halfway between antiquity and nature.

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Erg chebbi

The immense Erg Chebbi sand dune massif, located on the edge of the Moroccan Sahara desert, 40 kilometers from Erfoud, is one of Morocco’s most remarkable sites. Covering a total area of over 100 square kilometers, the dunes are in perpetual motion, creating a unique and ever-changing landscape. The most popular and traditional way to explore Erg Shebbi is by camel. You’ll also have the unique opportunity to spend a few nights in real Berber tents, sampling their national dishes and witnessing spectacular sunrises and sunsets.

Hercules Caves, near Tangier

Not far from the city of Tangier, nature has carved interesting cavities in the rock. The caves of Hercules got their name from an ancient legend: Hercules is said to have spent the night there before undertaking the next of his 12 feats demanded of him by King Eurystheus of Tirynthe – the theft of the golden apples from the Garden of the Hesperides. In one of the caves, an opening to the sea recalls the outline of the African continent. The Grottes d’Hercule are not only of great beauty, they are also of archaeological, historical and mythological significance.

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Tinghir

In the eastern Atlas Mountains, the waters of the Dades and Todra rivers have carved out narrow gorges. The Todra Gorge stretches over the last 40 km of the riverbed. Starting in the oasis of Tinghir, a small Berber town whose palm gardens form the gateway to the Todra Gorge, the journey takes in ancient kasbahs and small clay villages. Dramatic rock faces await you, forming a canyon whose gap between the walls, which rise to 160 metres, narrows to 10 metres in places.

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Marrakech

In the heart of Marrakech, the realm of heat, noise and bright colors, an oasis of freshness and calm stands out: the Majorelle Garden. French artist Jacques Majorelle, impressed by the luminosity and originality of Marrakech, built a Moorish-style villa and next to it designed a magnificent garden with plants from India, Mesopotamia, California and the Mediterranean basin. Today, the Jardin Majorelle, with its almost 4,000 square meters, is one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. In addition to the lush plants from different continents, it’s the ponds that are the most sensational.

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Essaouira

The seaside resort of Essaouira, on the Atlantic coast, is characterized by a mild climate and light, warm winds. The port of Essaouira was once a fishing center and, even today, fishing boats can be seen on the coastal waters and grilled sardines can be enjoyed in the town. Essaouira is home to a huge, beautiful sandy beach with numerous water sports and beach activities. The old town (medina), listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, is famous for its many riads (a type of guest house), its crafts and its fortress adorned with bronze and iron cannons.

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Agadir

The Agadir kasbah is one of Morocco’s top tourist attractions, even though little remains of the original structure. This kasbah (Arabic for fortress) was built in 1540 on a hill to protect against enemy attack, but a severe earthquake in 1960 irreparably damaged the edifice, leaving only a crenellated wall.

The ruins of the fortress, situated on a mountain overlooking the city of Agadir, are well worth a visit for the incredible panorama they offer. The view over the whole of Agadir, the beach and the port, is particularly enchanting at sunset.

Bahia Palace, Marrakech

A true masterpiece of Moroccan architecture, the Palais de la Bahia, built by order of the Vizier Ahmed ben Moussa for one of his wives, reveals both Andalusian and Moorish influences. The palace was built at the end of the 19th century and, during the construction process, new land was acquired, rooms were added and the layout was constantly updated. As a result, the building’s interior resembles an immense labyrinth. A beautifully landscaped garden runs through the center of the complex, leading to a colossal inner courtyard with a marble floor.

Talassemtane National Park, Chefchaouen

Thalassemtane National Park, located in the Rif mountains, was originally created to preserve the spruce forest that grows in the region. Today, it’s a great place for activities such as hiking and horseback riding. Popular walking excursions include the Pont de Dieu, a natural stone arch bridge formation over the River Farda, and the Akchour region. A walk in the park will allow you to enjoy its rich biodiversity and majestic landscapes. You’ll find cliffs, gorges, waterfalls and dense forests.

Place Jemaa al-Fna, Marrakech

Jemaa al-Fna, Marrakech’s largest square, is one of Morocco’s most important places of interest, where you can breathe in the mystical air of the ancient Orient like nowhere else. Probably once a place of execution, the square is now a meeting place for locals and tourists alike. It represents Moroccan culture through food, shows, art and other forms of entertainment. All day long, street artists perform here and there, there are strolling snack bars, and the sounds of Oriental bazaar and national music mix.

Drâa river valley, South

Located in southern Morocco, the Drâa Valley stretches from the town of Ouarzazate to the Sahara Desert. This fertile land is a veritable oasis, with Berber villages, magnificent kasbahs, rolling dunes, verdant plains, snow-capped mountains and, of course, the Drâa, Morocco’s largest river. In the past, this river flowed through the desert until it emptied into the Atlantic Ocean. Today, much of it has dried up, but the river still flows through this fascinating landscape. The Berbers of the Drâa Valley you’ll meet on your visit still live much as their ancestors did.

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Ksar d’Aït-Ben-Haddou

Ksars are a group of earthen constructions surrounded by high walls that constitute a traditional pre-Saharan habitat. Houses are huddled together inside defensive walls reinforced by corner towers. Aït-Ben-Haddou, in the province of Ouarzazate, is the best-known example of this type of architecture in southern Morocco. All the town’s buildings are made of brown earth, have straight roofs and the sloping streets are horizontal, i.e. parallel to the foot of the hill. The town, recently restored, has been used several times as a location for oriental films.

Bab Mansour in Meknes, Meknes

The “city of a hundred minarets” is one of Morocco’s royal palace cities, and home to an unrivalled number of historic monuments. The Bab Mansour will take your breath away – its gigantic gateway is decorated in the finest Islamic art and is the largest gateway in North Africa. You should also visit the royal stables and granary, the Dar Jamaï museum, the mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail and the Christian prison. In Meknes, there’s a serene atmosphere that invites you to stroll among the acrobats, fakirs and snake charmers.

Ouzoud waterfall, Tanaghmeilt, Azilal

Many people imagine Morocco to be a vast, arid desert, and think it impossible to find lush forests and waterfalls here. However, the Ouzoud waterfalls in the High Atlas are the second highest in Africa, falling from a height of 110 meters. They consist of a series of cascades surrounded by reddish rocks and green valleys. The name of the waterfall means “olive”, which is not surprising, since visitors can walk to the foot of the falls on paths lined with olive trees.

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Sidi Ifni

Morocco is a country full of hidden gems, and Legzira Beach is undoubtedly one of them. Located on the southern Atlantic coast, this magnificent 8 km-long, rocky beach is distinguished by its red cliffs and magnificent natural stone arches. Although two of the arches have unfortunately collapsed, one remains to be admired. The best time to contemplate the splendor of Legzira Beach is at sunset, when the cliffs turn an intense red. The windy conditions also attract enthusiastic surfers and paragliders.

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Chefchaouen

At the foot of the Rif mountains lies a town that seems to drown in the blue sky. Chefchaouen is famous for its buildings painted in azure and deep blue tones in the ancient medina. Some locals believe the blue tones refer to the Ras el-Maa waterfall, from which the town’s inhabitants draw their drinking water, but not everyone agrees. In Chefchaouen, walk down to the river and watch people beating and washing carpets, enter the old kasbah compound, and see the Great Mosque and its octagonal minaret.

Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech

Just a few minutes’ walk from bustling Jemaa al-Fna Square lies the famous Koutoubia Mosque, an impressive monument dating from the 12ᵉ century. This Moorish mosque, with its elaborate tiles, salmon-colored walls, vast arches and impressive minaret, has served as a model for other religious sites, including the Hassan Tower in Rabat and La Giralda in Seville, Spain. It’s a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and, although non-Muslims aren’t allowed inside the building, it’s possible to admire its sculpted details from the outside and stroll through the adjacent lush gardens.

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Rabat

Step behind the high, sand-colored walls of the Kasbah des Oudaias. This early Christian urban fortress was built in the 12th century to protect the Moroccan capital Rabat from nomadic attacks. Stroll the streets around the ancient citadel: many of the houses are painted white and blue, and Spanish influences can be seen everywhere. Inside the fortress complex, you can admire pretty Andalusian gardens and the imposing, decorative Bab Oudaia gateway. The kasbah also houses the country’s oldest mosque and an observation platform overlooking the sea.

Morocco’s 21 most beautiful attractions: Oualidia

Between Casablanca and El Jadida, on the Atlantic coast, lies Oualidia – a small fishing village renowned for its fresh seafood. Due to its isolation, this village was not represented on maps for many years. Today, visitors flock here to enjoy the beautiful seafront and beach of Oualidia, a tranquil lagoon where you can snorkel, try your hand at fishing, pedal-boat or kayak. In spring and autumn, the lagoon is an ideal spot for watching migratory birds such as flamingos and herons. Contact us to know more Morocco’s most beautiful attractions.