Rabat
Visited in November 2018
At a glance
- Country
- Morocco
- Region
- Rabat Prefecture
- Population
- 515,619
- Best time to go
- March to May, September to November
- Main airport
- Rabat–Salé (RBA)
- Coordinates
- 33.97°N, 6.84°W
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Overview
Morocco's capital is calmer and greener than Marrakesh or Casablanca, an elegant, orderly city on the Atlantic at the mouth of the Bou Regreg river. Its medina is easy to navigate and the hassle is minimal.
History is everywhere: a blue-and-white kasbah above the sea, an unfinished 12th-century minaret and Roman ruins overgrown with storks' nests. Add wide boulevards, a modern tram and good museums, and it is one of the country's most rewarding cities to explore slowly.
Things to see
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Photo: Davide Cesare Veniani, CC BY-SA 3.0 Kasbah of the Udayas
A fortified quarter of whitewashed, blue-trimmed lanes above the river mouth, with a quiet Andalusian garden inside.
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Photo: Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0 Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V
The great unfinished minaret of a 12th-century mosque faces the richly decorated tomb of the present king's grandfather.
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Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to , CC BY-SA 4.0 Chellah
A walled necropolis with Roman and medieval ruins, gardens and storks nesting on the old minaret.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0 Rabat medina
A compact, relaxed old town for browsing carpets, leather and spices along Rue des Consuls.
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Photo: Boubloub, CC BY-SA 4.0 Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
Morocco's leading modern art museum, showing the country's painters alongside international exhibitions.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
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Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 Cross the river to Salé
Take a small rowing boat across the Bou Regreg to explore Salé's older, more traditional medina.
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Walk the corniche
Stroll along the ocean road below the kasbah as surfers ride the waves and the sun sets over the Atlantic.
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Photo: WiLPrZ from Rabat, Maroc, CC BY-SA 2.0 Surf lesson
The beach beneath the kasbah has gentle waves and several surf schools for beginners.
Find tours -
Photo: Chah.salah, CC0 Day trip to Casablanca
Fast trains reach Casablanca in about an hour, for the Hassan II Mosque and Art Deco streets.
Where to stay
Medina
Traditional riads with courtyards, close to the kasbah and the river.
Hotels in MedinaHassan
Central, with modern hotels near the main boulevards and the tram.
Hotels in HassanAgdal
A lively, modern district with cafés and restaurants, next to the high-speed train station.
Hotels in Agdal
Getting around
Two tram lines link central Rabat with Salé, and the blue petits taxis are cheap for short hops. The centre and medina are easy on foot.
The airport is about 10 km from the centre, a 20-minute taxi ride. High-speed trains from Tangier and regular trains from Casablanca stop at Rabat Agdal and Rabat Ville.
When to go
Spring and autumn are sunny and mild. Summers are warm but tempered by the sea breeze, while winters are cool and can be wet. Check the dates of Ramadan, when some restaurants close by day.
Plan your trip to Rabat
- HotelsBooking.com
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Attraction ticketsTiqets
- Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
- Car hireAuto Europe
- Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
- GuidebooksAmazon
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Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.