Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Atlantic coast · Morocco
The calm, green and surprisingly relaxed capital, with a blue-and-white kasbah above the river, an unfinished medieval minaret and a modern city of museums and boulevards.
Photo: Petar Milošević · CC BY-SA 4.0
Rabat has been the capital of Morocco since the French made it the seat of the protectorate in 1912, and it remained the capital after independence in 1956. It sits on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Bouregreg river, facing its twin, Salé. Unlike Marrakech or Fes, it is calm, green and easy to navigate, and it has a more relaxed pace.
Its history goes back much further. The Romans had a settlement at Chellah, the Almohad sultan Yacoub al-Mansour began a great mosque in the 12th century whose unfinished minaret, the Hassan Tower, is now the city's symbol, and the Kasbah of the Udayas dates from the same period. In 2012 UNESCO listed the city as 'Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City: a Shared Heritage', recognising both the historic monuments and the French-designed new city.
It is a good place to slow down, with pleasant cafés, a growing art scene, the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and an unhurried medina where shopkeepers rarely hassle. Many travellers spend a day here between Casablanca and the imperial cities.
Why visit
Rabat is one of the easiest and most relaxed Moroccan cities, with excellent monuments.
A 12th-century fortress above the river with a blue-and-white village and Andalusian garden.
An unfinished minaret and forest of columns face the elaborate tomb of Mohammed V.
Roman and Marinid ruins in a walled garden, with storks nesting on the walls.
Shopping without the pressure of Marrakech or Fes.
Rabat is on the main train line between Tangier, Casablanca and Fes.
Main attractions
The main sights can be seen in a day, with a second day for the Chellah and museums.
A fortified quarter above the river, entered by an ornate Almohad gate, with white-and-blue lanes, a small museum and the Andalusian Gardens. The café with terraces above the river serves mint tea.
Tip Go in the morning, and walk to the river viewpoint.
The minaret of a mosque begun in 1195 that was meant to be the largest in the world. It was left unfinished after the sultan's death, and rows of columns remain in the space.
Tip Visit with the Mausoleum next door.
A white marble tomb of the king who led Morocco to independence, and his sons, decorated with carved wood and tile, guarded by royal guards on horseback.
Tip Open to visitors, and free.
A walled necropolis on the site of a Roman town, later a Marinid burial ground, now overgrown with gardens and home to storks.
Tip Go in the morning, when it is quiet.
A calm medina with a long market street and old consuls' houses, along which the shops sell crafts.
Tip Bargain lightly.
A modern museum of Moroccan and international art, with rotating exhibitions.
Tip Check current shows.
Things to do
Rabat is a city for walking, with time for cafés and views.
Shady paths with orange trees and Andalusian design inside the Kasbah.
Tip Combine with mint tea in the café.
The Bouregreg promenade has views across to Salé and to the kasbah.
Tip Cross by small boat for a few dirhams.
Rabat's twin across the river has a historic medina and the Marinid Medersa.
Tip Go by tram or boat.
Ceremonial guards on horseback stand at the Mausoleum.
Tip Photographs are welcome from a distance.
Rabat's beach, by the river mouth, is popular with locals in summer.
Tip Currents can be strong.
The Ville Nouvelle has French-style cafés and restaurants, where Rabatis linger.
Tip Try the Avenue Mohammed V.
Local food
Rabat's food is fresh and simple, with strong seafood and pastry traditions.
Fish and prawns grilled or in tagines, from restaurants along the river and the port.
Where to try it Restaurants near the Bouregreg.
French-influenced Moroccan pastries.
Where to try it Bakeries in the Ville Nouvelle.
Standard versions, served in family restaurants.
Where to try it Restaurants in the medina.
The classic soup, with dates.
Where to try it Cafés.
Sandwiches, fried fish and sweets.
Where to try it The medina.
Accommodation
Rabat has a good mix of hotels and a few riads.
Transport
Rabat lies on the main north-south railway.
Rabat is compact, and a tram and taxis link the main sights.
When to go
Rabat has a mild, coastal climate, with cooler summers than the interior.
Mild and green.
Warm, with a sea breeze.
Pleasant.
Cool and rainy.
Worth planning around: Winter rain.
Itinerary
The main monuments on the first day and a slower second.
Kasbah and tower.
A slower day.
Travel tips
Rabat is easy, and a few tips help.
FAQ
Yes, for a day or two. It is more relaxed than the tourist cities, with excellent monuments.
Yes, since 1912. Casablanca is larger, and Marrakech and Fes are better known.
Yes, the Mausoleum is open to visitors, including non-Muslims, free of charge.
About 90 km, an hour by train.
Yes, it is one of the calmer Moroccan cities.
An unfinished minaret from the 12th century, part of a mosque that was to be the largest in the world.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Rabat, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Casablanca-Settat, Atlantic coast, Morocco
A modern port city with a monumental oceanfront mosque, French colonial Art Deco streets, a small old medina, seafood and a lively café and arts scene.
Don't miss The Hassan II Mosque at the edge of the Atlantic, its minaret rising above the waves.
Explore Destination — CasablancaFès-Meknès, northern Morocco, Morocco
A UNESCO-listed imperial city built by Sultan Moulay Ismail, with vast gates and granaries, plus the Roman site of Volubilis and the holy town of Moulay Idriss nearby.
Don't miss The mosaics of Volubilis, still in place, with the Roman arch and the Zerhoun hills behind.
Explore Destination — Meknes and VolubilisFès-Meknès, northern Morocco, Morocco
Morocco's spiritual and cultural capital: a 9th-century medina of thousands of lanes, the world's oldest surviving university, ornate madrasas and traditional crafts.
Don't miss A guided walk through Fes el-Bali, ending on a terrace above the tanneries.
Explore Destination — FesRead next
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