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White arch in the Kasbah of the Udayas

Rabat

A relaxed capital: the Kasbah of the Udayas, museums and seafront

© Hicham Zineddine / Unsplash

An imperial city and the administrative capital, Rabat is spacious, green and easy to visit. Its heritage is UNESCO-listed: the Kasbah of the Udayas above the Bouregreg estuary, Hassan Tower and the Chellah necropolis. Its museums are among the best in the country and the tram links the main sights. Two days are enough, and the city combines easily with Casablanca, or Meknes and Fes, by train.

Ideal stay
2 days
Best season
Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
Budget per day
from 400 MAD
Region
Imperial cities
Travel style
Culture, Family, Couple
Best for
A calm cultural city break, families, travellers moving by train

Why go

  • UNESCO-listed heritage without the crowds
  • Leading museums, including the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
  • A calm city that suits families

Culture & heritage

  • Kasbah of the Udayas

    Blue-and-white lanes, an Andalusian garden and a Moorish café facing the ocean.

  • Hassan Tower and Mohammed V Mausoleum

    An unfinished 12th-century minaret and the royal mausoleum.

  • Chellah

    Roman and Marinid ruins among gardens, known for their storks.

  • Mohammed VI Museum

    The reference for modern and contemporary Moroccan art.

On the map

Things to do

  • Cross the Bouregreg by rowing boat

    To reach Salé and its medina for a few dirhams.

  • Surf and beach

    Surf schools on Rabat beach and toward Témara.

Food

Pastries at the Udayas café, grilled fish by the sea and refined home cooking.

Where to stay

  • Medina and Udayas

    Quiet riads within walking distance of the sights.

  • Hassan and Agdal

    Modern hotels well served by the tram.

Shopping

Rue des Consuls in the medina for rugs and crafts.

Day trips

Getting around

Two stations (Rabat-Ville and Rabat-Agdal), Al Boraq to Tangier, a tram between Rabat and Salé, and Rabat-Salé airport.

Budget

Budget
400 MAD≈ 40 €
Mid-range
1,000 MAD≈ 90 €
Premium
2,600 MAD≈ 240 €

Per person per day, excluding flights. Includes accommodation, food, local transport and visits.

When to go

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr ✓
  5. May ✓
  6. Jun ✓
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep ✓
  10. Oct ✓
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

April to October; winters are mild but rainy.

2030

FIFA World Cup 2030

Morocco co-hosts the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. Our practical guide to the host cities.

Sports
Jun

Mawazine Festival

One of Africa's largest music festivals, with stages across the capital.

Concerts
The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca

Casablanca

The economic capital: Art Deco architecture and an ocean seafront

Courtyard of the madrasa in Meknes

Meknes

Moulay Ismail's imperial city, next to Volubilis

Dye vats of a traditional tannery in Fes

Fes

The world's largest car-free medina, and Morocco's craft capital

Plans that stop here

Casablanca and the Hassan II Mosque
3Mid-range · Fast

Morocco in 3 Days

Three cities, three faces of Morocco: the metropolis, the capital and the red city, linked by train.

  1. Casablanca
  2. Rabat
  3. Marrakech

from 3,000 MAD
per person

View plan
Hassan Tower in Rabat
7Mid-range · Moderate

Imperial Cities

Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech: the four historic capitals, by train.

  1. Rabat
  2. Meknes
  3. Fes
  4. Marrakech

from 6,500 MAD
per person

View plan

Tips

  • The tram and walking are all you need to get around.
  • Rabat is a good base for a day in Meknes and Volubilis.

Transport · 8 min read

How to travel between Moroccan cities

Train, high-speed rail, bus, shared taxi, car: the right transport for every route.

Where next?

Build my tripDiscover plans

Updated October 5, 2026