Rabat
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,…
Must-see attractions in Rabat
Rabat
Rabat's historic citadel occupies the site of the original ribat (fortress-monastery) that gave the city its name. Predominately residential, its narrow…
-
Musée Mohammed VI Art Moderne et Contemporain
Rabat
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…
-
Rabat
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…
-
Rabat
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…
-
Rabat
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…
-
Rabat
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…
-
Rabat
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…
-
Rabat
Created by French horticulturist Marcel François in 1951, these gardens were declared a Natural Heritage site in 2003. Recently renovated, they're filled…
-
Museum of History & Civilisation
Rabat
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…
-
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,…
-
Rabat
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…
-
Rabat
This beautifully restored, blindingly white art deco villa dates from 1929 and now holds well-curated contemporary art exhibitions with a focus on…
-
Rabat
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…
-
Rabat
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…
-
Rabat
Located at the end of the mechouar (a large parade ground), this palace dates from 1864 and is a principal residence of the royal family. It is off-limits…
-
Rabat
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…
-
Rabat
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…
-
Rabat
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…
-
Rabat
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…
-
Grande Mosquée de Rabat Medina
Rabat
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.
