The best places to See in Morocco

The best places to See in Morocco

Where to sleep in Agadir?

The best places to See in Morocco: If you don’t yet know where to sleep in Agadir, I invite you to read my dedicated article on the subject, but you’ll find a little taste with 2 of my favorite addresses in Agadir 👇

Villa du Souss isn’t right in the center of Agadir, but you’ll enjoy unparalleled comfort along the Oued Souss. Each room also has a balcony or patio, and an overnight stay costs from €70 per night, including breakfast.

zephyr Agadir what to do in Morocco

The Hotel Zephyr Agadir was my favorite accommodation during my stay in this city. It’s a modern 4-star hotel with an outdoor pool just a few meters from the beach. If you’re looking to unwind during your vacation in Morocco, this is the place to go. A night costs around €65, depending on the time of year.

What to do in Morocco Stroll around Essaouira

The best places to See in Morocco: The second must-see seaside resort in Morocco is Essaouira! In fact, Essaouira is easy to get to from Marrakech if you’re planning a road trip to Morocco. The town is located a little further north of Agadir, still on the Atlantic coast.

There are many things to see and do in Essaouira, starting with a stroll around the harbor, where a large number of fishing boats are moored. You can also buy the day’s catch in the souks (fish market, spice market, La Joutia flea market, and many others) of the white medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site. After your stroll around the port and souks, I also invite you to take a tour of the ramparts around Essaouira, which date back to the 18th century. Go there at dusk to admire one of Morocco’s most beautiful sunsets. A word of advice: get your cameras ready.

Essaouira is a great place to live all year round, but it’s particularly popular with visitors in the summer months, from June to September. If you want to enjoy a quieter vacation, I’d advise you to avoid this time of year, as relaxing on the beach will be complicated.  For visits and excursions, I advise you to always book in advance.

Where to stay in Essaouira?

Perhaps you’d like to stay a little longer in Essaouira? Here are a few essential places to stay in Essaouira!

Riad Marosko, 700 meters from Essaouira Beach, offers a traditional stay in a typically Moroccan building. A night costs from €50 and includes breakfast.

Riad Baladin what to do in Morocco

The best places to See in Morocco: Riad Baladin is the second traditional accommodation I recommend in Essaouira. Here, too, you’ll be very close to the beach and enjoy all the benefits of a whirlpool bath, if you wish. The night costs around €90 and includes breakfast.

Casablanca

If you don’t know what to do in Morocco, the next city I’m going to tell you about is Casablanca.

If you’re looking for what to do in Casablanca, the first thing I’d advise you to visit is the Hassan II mosque, one of the few in the country to be open to visits by non-Muslim tourists. Open to the general public doesn’t mean that there are no rules to respect. To get there, you’ll need to cover your shoulders and knees, as well as your hair for girls and women.

This building is particularly impressive, as it gives the impression of floating on the ocean and is one of the tallest mosques in the world, with a minaret over 200 metres high. And here you won’t expect it, the Hassan II mosque, like a convertible car, has a sunroof 😮 To visit it with a guide, go here and it costs €26 per person.

After passing by the mosque, take the opportunity to visit the city’s library and museums. Throughout your visit, you won’t be able to ignore the influence of both Arab and European architecture. You’ll find both Moorish and Art Deco styles.

Casablanca is also a city where you can buy souvenirs for all your loved ones, whatever you’re looking for. For handicrafts, head for the souk, and for other purchases, head for Morocco Mall.

Finally, take advantage of nightfall to discover the festive atmosphere in Casablanca. Taste local dishes and Moroccan specialties in the restaurant before finishing your evening in a bar or club until the end of the night. Casablanca isn’t a very touristy city, and I think that’s a shame, as it has a lot of potential and is home to some of Morocco’s cultural treasures.

Where to stay in Casablanca?

The best places to See in Morocco: Don’t hesitate for a second to stay several days in Casablanca, as there’s plenty to see and do. And if you’re wondering where to stay in Casablanca, here are two addresses:

The Hotel de Paris in Casablanca is a safe bet. It’s just a few minutes walk from the Hassan II mosque and the Morocco Mall. All from €50 per night, breakfast included.

Relax Hotel Casa is equivalent to the previous hotel in terms of proximity to the city’s attractions. It offers similar comfort and facilities, also at a price of €50 per night.

What to do in Morocco Visit the capital Rabat

It’s often confusing to say that Morocco’s capital is actually Rabat, not Marrakech, which is far more touristy. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit Rabat at least once during your stay in Morocco. Not sure what to do in Rabat? Here are some ideas of things to do in Rabat

The city is located on the Atlantic coast, where the Bouregreg River flows into the ocean. It therefore boasts an extensive coastline where visitors in search of idleness can stretch out on the beaches or in the more rocky coves. The area around the town is also ideal for hiking.

The town and medina are protected by impressive ramparts, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within these ramparts, you’ll find the following tourist attractions:

The Kasbah des Oudayas is an ancient military camp built in the 12th century by the Almoravid dynasty. Later, under the Almohad dynasty, it housed soldier monks who set out to conquer Andalusia. The white and blue walls are a reminder of this Andalusian influence. You’ll also find the Oudayas Gardens, the Kasbah Palace, and the Café Maure.

The Hassan Tower is an equally emblematic building, measuring no less than 45 meters. It too was erected in the 12th century by Sultan El Mansour and has obvious Hispanic influences. It can be compared, for example, to the Giralda in Seville and the Koutoubia mosque in Marrakech.

The Mohammed V Mausoleum is the resting place of King Mohammed V and his 2 sons. Surprisingly enough, this tomb is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it well worth a visit if you’re staying in Rabat. Its 1,500 m2 structure is made of white marble and green tiles, representing the Moroccan flag 🇲🇦 Visits are free, except on Fridays.

The El Chellah necropolis was built in the 13th century on the ruins of a Roman city: Sala Colonia. Tourists consider it a romantic spot in Morocco, which is quite surprising for a necropolis. Abandoned for many years, it has only been listed as a historic monument since 1913.

Where to stay in Rabat?

To take the time to visit all these places, you’ll surely need to spend a night or more in the Moroccan capital. Here are a few places to stay in Rabat.

Riad Amaris is just a 10-minute walk from the Kasbah des Oudayas and the Hassan Tower. You’ll also enjoy a typically Moroccan night, with breakfast included in the €100 nightly rate.

Riad Dar Rabiaa is also just a 10-minute walk from the city’s major attractions and features a soothing, pastel-colored building. Take advantage of its proximity to the beaches to take a dip during your stay. Price per night? Around €85 including breakfast.

Meknes

The best places to See in Morocco: Perhaps you didn’t know it, but Morocco has 4 imperial cities. We’ve already talked about 2 of them: Marrakech and Rabat. The third, which I recommend you visit at all costs, is Meknes. Several dynasties have succeeded one another in the city and, like other cities, Meknes is surrounded by ramparts that house many treasures of Moroccan culture. For all these reasons, Meknes is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Inside the city, of course, is the medina, nicknamed the city of a hundred minarets. The reason is quite simple: Meknes is home to a large number of mosques, the Palais Dar Jamaï and the mausoleum of Moulay Ismaïl. Of course, you can also visit the Palais Dar Jamaï, its inner courtyard, and Andalusian gardens. Today, this palace is a museum of indigenous arts, but it was once the home of Sultan Hassan, perfectly illustrating the life of the great Moroccan families of the time.

Finally, don’t miss splendid panoramic views over the whole medina from the terraces of the Bou Inania medersa, the equivalent of a theology faculty in France.

What to do in Morocco? Volubilis, of course!

Not far from Meknes, you’ll find Morocco’s most important ruins, Volubilis. These are the remains of the ancient capital of Mauritania, where you’ll find the capitol, Caracalla’s triumphal arch, the thermal baths, the basilica, and the main street, lined with magnificent mosaics and ancient dwellings. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but I guess that doesn’t surprise you anymore.

From Meknes, you can get to Volubilis easily enough on your own, but there are also excursions to Volubilis from Fez. If you choose the option from Fez, a bus will collect you from your hotel and take you first to Volubilis, then on to Moulay Idriss, one of Morocco’s most sacred cities. This tour costs €35 per person and lasts a full day.

Visit Fez

In my opinion, Fez is Morocco’s rare gem, and that’s why I’d advise anyone to go there if you don’t know what to do in Morocco. Not sure what to do in Fez? Don’t worry, I’ve got just what you need, and once you’re there you’ll see for yourself just how authentic the city is. 

Fès is the last imperial city in Morocco that I wanted to tell you about, and some say it’s the most Moroccan city in Morocco. Here you’ll find a medina unchanged for almost 1,000 years, the Karaouiyne mosque, the tanners’ quarter where ancestral leather-making has remained unchanged, and many other incredible places…

The city is divided into 2 parts: the Karouanese Bank and the Andalusian Bank. The former is home to all the city’s major historical monuments, while the latter is home to museums. To enter the medina, you should absolutely pass through the Bab Boujloud Gate.

The best way to make sure you don’t miss anything in this culturally rich city is to opt for a half-day guided tour of the Fès Medina with a professional guide. This experience costs €15 per person.

Where to sleep in Fès?

For an authentic night in Morocco, I suggest you set down your luggage in Fez and discover with me where to sleep in Fez during your stay

Riad Soultana is located on the banks of the Karouanais, not far from Place Batha, and offers all the comforts you need for a short stay in Fès. The price per night ranges from €65 to €85, depending on whether or not you choose the breakfast option.

Riad Sidrat Fes is also close to all the city’s major attractions. The setting is both traditional and modern. It’s a real “coup de coeur” for me, from €90 per night including breakfast.

The blue city, Chefchaouen

The best places to See in Morocco: Chefchaouen is nicknamed the Blue City, and once you’re there, you’ll quickly understand why: everything is blue! The walls, the alleys, the doors, the windows – in short, everything in Chefchaouen is blue. The town lends itself particularly well to a photo shoot.

But did you know that there’s a scientific explanation for all that blue? Blue, like white, reflects the sun’s rays, keeping the houses cool, and it’s the mixture of copper sulfate and lime that gives this blue color, a mixture that keeps insects away!

Take a stroll through the narrow streets of the medina, where you’ll find all the local handicrafts you can imagine, and make your way to the top of the town for a breathtaking panorama. You’ll also come across historic monuments such as the Place Outa El-Hammam, the Kasbah and the Great Mosque. Excursions from Fez or Tangier are also available. Find out more by clicking on the button below.

What to do in Morocco? Visit Tangier, of course!

Tangier is located in the very north of Morocco, where the Strait of Gibraltar separates Spain and Morocco. You can take a dip in either the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea.

The city’s must-sees include the medina, where you can stroll through the various souks, the kasbah, and, for a cultural visit, the Dar-el-Makhzen or Sultan’s palace. Finally, Tangier is also a major port city, so don’t hesitate to take a trip to the harbor.

Where to stay in Tangier?

If this is where you want to spend your Moroccan vacation, here are some of my favorite places to stay in Tangier.

Marina Bay Tangier is right on the fishing port. You’ll also be close to the Forbes Museum and the Museum of Moroccan Arts. Rooms are warm and well-equipped, and you can even enjoy local dishes and cocktails in the on-site bar restaurant. Rates start at €110 per night.

Dar Tanja is located halfway between the seaside and the Cap Spartel reserve. This 5-star guesthouse offers a truly magnificent setting and promises to provide you with the best vacation possible. One night’s accommodation costs around €90.

Getting to Figuig

The best places to See in Morocco: To round off our escapade in Morocco, I’d like to take you to Figuig, on the border with Algeria in eastern Morocco. This village was once home to mines, but today they’re deserted. For diplomatic reasons, Figuig is landlocked and rarely visited. If you’re looking for the calm and freshness of a rich, lush oasis, hence its nickname: the pearl of the desert. In short, it’s a must-see in Morocco.

And that’s it, we’ve reached the end of this article on what to do in Morocco! I hope it will help you organize your trip, and I remind you that you can follow this guide in the order suggested for a road Morocco Tours.