Culture and historic cities

Oujda

The capital of the Oriental, between a Marinid medina and the Beni Snassen mountains

AI-generated illustration

Oujda is the main city of eastern Morocco and the capital of the Oriental region. People come less for grand monuments than for an authentic, little-visited atmosphere and a medina that still shows its Marinid past, such as the late 13th-century great mosque and the Bab Sidi Abdelouahab gate. The city is also a home of gharnati music, inherited from Andalusia. It makes a good base for the Beni Snassen mountains and the beaches of Saïdia, about an hour's drive away.

Ideal stay: 1 to 2 days
Best season: Mar – May, Oct – Nov
Budget per day: from 300 MAD
Region: Mediterranean coast
Travel style: Culture, Food, Budget, Family
Best for: Travellers exploring the Oriental, heritage and Andalusian music lovers, a stop before Saïdia

Why go

A lively, little-visited medina around Bab Sidi Abdelouahab
Gharnati music and Andalusian heritage
The Beni Snassen mountains and Saïdia's beaches close by

Things to see

Bab Sidi Abdelouahab
A monumental Marinid-era gate opening onto the medina and its large square.
Great Mosque (Jamaa El Kebir)
Founded in the late 13th century by a Marinid sultan, it is the oldest monument in the medina. The interior is reserved for Muslims.
Dar Sebti
A small 1930s palace linked to gharnati music, used for concerts and events.
Lalla Aïcha Park
The city's large tree-lined park, popular with families in the late afternoon.

On the map

Things to do

Stroll through the souks
The souks around the medina sell spices, fabrics and products from the Oriental, mostly to local shoppers.
Taste karane
Oujda's street-food speciality made from chickpeas, served warm in bread.

Food

Karane, berkoukes and home cooking from the Oriental, often close to that of neighbouring north-western Algeria.

Where to stay

City centre
Practical hotels near the medina, Boulevard Mohammed V and the stations.

Book a place to stay in Oujda

Riads, hotels and guesthouses: compare current prices and availability on Booking.com.

See places to stay

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Day trips

Saïdia
Day trip
The Oriental's long Mediterranean beaches, about an hour's drive away.
Beni Snassen: Tafoughalt and the Zegzel gorges
Day trip
Green mountains north-west of the city, with the village of Tafoughalt, the Camel Cave and the Zegzel gorges. A car is recommended.

Getting around

Oujda-Angads airport, about fifteen kilometres away. ONCF trains to Fes, Rabat and Casablanca, and a motorway to Fes. Saïdia and Nador are one to two hours away by road.

Book your transport

Official operator websites and coach station timetables: check your journey and book.