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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.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Rabat.
Museum
Conceived and funded by the present king, this museum opened in 2014 as the country's first national museum of modern and contemporary art. Alongside a permanent display of Moroccan artists dating from the 1950s to the present day, it plays host to temporary exhibitions from big-name international artists.
Archaeological Site
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, it lay abandoned until the 14th century, when a Merinid sultan built a necropolis on top of the Roman site. An elegant minaret, now topped by a stork’s nest, is all that's left of a once-impressive mosque and behind it, the sultan's tomb, complete with stone carving and mosaic traces.
Area
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 century, it is small enough to be easily explored in half a day, but tangled enough to make getting lost inevitable. The main market street is Rue Souika, with local shopping on its western stretch and shops geared largely to tourists in the covered Souq As Sebbat to its east.
Fortress
Rabat's historic citadel occupies the site of the original ribat (fortress-monastery) that gave the city its name. Predominately residential, its narrow streets are lined with whitewashed houses, most of which were built by Muslim refugees from Spain. There are scenic views over the river to Salé and out to the ocean from the Plateforme du Sémaphore, its highest point. The pretty Andalusian Gardens at its southern edge are a popular meeting spot for locals.
Historic Site
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 ambitious Almohad project to build the world's second-largest mosque (after Samarra in Iraq), but its patron Sultan Yacoub Al Mansour died before it was completed. The mosque was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755, and today only this tower and a photogenic forest of shattered stone pillars remains in testament to his grand plan.
Mausoleum
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 Moroccan craftwork, including colourful zellige (geometric mosaic tiles) and carved plaster. Its carved cedar ceiling is covered in gold leaf, and is quite magnificent. Royal guards wear traditional garb. Visitors must be respectfully dressed and can look down into the tomb from a gallery.
Museum
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 the centuries, the second focuses on its wonderful collection of ceramics, statuary and other artefacts from the Roman settlements at Volubilis, Lixus and Chellah.
Arts Centre
This beautifully restored, blindingly white art deco villa dates from 1929 and now holds well-curated contemporary art exhibitions with a focus on Moroccan artists, culture and heritage, alongside cultural events. The garden cafe is a pleasant spot for a sightseeing break.
Gate
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 just outside the original palace, made it more ceremonial than defensive and the gateway is elaborately decorated with a series of carved arches. These days, it is only occasionally open and most people enter through a much smaller gate next to it.