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Rabat

Morocco’s political and administrative capital may be short on top-drawer tourist attractions, but it compensates with plenty of charm. The ville nouvelle's palm-lined boulevards are clean, well kept and relatively free of traffic – a blessed relief for those who have spent time in Casablanca. There's a clean central beach, an intact and evocative kasbah, and an attractive walled medina that is far less touristy than those in other large cities. All in all, the city is a good choice for a short sojourn.

Explore Rabat

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Rabat.

  • Archaeological Site

    Chellah

    First came the Phoenicians, then the Romans took control of this beautiful hilltop site above the fertile Bou Regreg river plain around 40 CE. From 1154,…

  • Fortress

    Kasbah des Oudaias

    Rabat's historic citadel occupies the site of the original ribat (fortress-monastery) that gave the city its name. Predominately residential, its narrow…

  • Mausoleum

    Mausoleum of Mohammed V

    The present king’s father (the late Hassan II) and grandfather were laid to rest in this marble mausoleum, which is decorated with exquisite examples of…

  • Area

    Rabat Medina

    When the French arrived in the early 20th century, this walled medina by the sea was the full extent of the city. Built on an orderly grid in the 17th…

  • Historic Site

    Tour Hassan

    Rabat's must-see sight – along with the neighbouring mausoleum – this iconic tower looms 44m above the Bou Regreg estuary. It was originally part of an…

  • Museum

    Museum of History & Civilisation

    Reopened after a major renovation, this small but perfectly formed museum is split in to two sections – the first showcases the history of Morocco through…

  • Arts Centre

    Villa des Arts de Rabat

    This beautifully restored, blindingly white art deco villa dates from 1929 and now holds well-curated contemporary art exhibitions with a focus on…

  • Gate

    Bab Oudaia

    The most dramatic entry to the kasbah is through the enormous Almohad gate of Bab Oudaia, built in 1195. Its location, facing the heart of the city and…

  • Beach

    Plage des Nations

    The clean, sandy strip of beach, around 25km north of Rabat, gets some serious wave action that's good for surfers, but the currents can be dangerous for…

  • Gardens

    Jardins Exotiques

    Created by French horticulturist Marcel François in 1951, these gardens were declared a Natural Heritage site in 2003. Recently renovated, they're filled…

  • Market

    Souq As Sebbat

    Recently restored, this covered souq at the eastern end of Rue Souika specialises in jewellery, rugs and leather goods, and is the only part of the medina…

  • Tower

    Plateforme du Sémaphore

    This plaza at the highest point of the Kasbah Les Oudaias offers wonderful views over the estuary and across to Salé. The elevated position once provided…

  • Gardens

    Andalusian Gardens

    These gardens, laid out by the French during the colonial period, are located within the Kasbah des Oudaias. Full of citrus trees, lofty palms and vibrant…

  • Mosque

    Mosque El Atiqa

    This small mosque is Rabat's oldest. It was built in the 10th century and restored in the 18th with funds donated by an English pirate known as Ahmed El…

  • Beach

    Témara Plage

    Wild and sandy Témara Plage, 15km south of the city, is popular with surfers and sunbathers in summer; there are dangerous rips so swimmers should be…

  • Church

    St Pierre Cathedral

    With an architecturally interesting exterior, this bright white cathedral dates from 1919 but its two art deco–style towers were added in the 1930s. They…

  • Lighthouse

    Fort de la Calette Lighthouse

    Built in 1920 and still working, this 31m-tall, white lighthouse rises above natural stone walls and the rocks below. It looks especially striking at…

  • Mosque

    Grande Mosquée de Rabat Medina

    This mosque, a 14th-century Merinid original much rebuilt in the intervening years, is located just off the Souq As Sebbat. It is closed to non-Muslims.

  • Theatre

    Grand Théâtre de Rabat

    Still under construction at the time of research, but set to open in 2021, this space-age structure by the Bou Regreg River was designed by the late,…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Rabat.