Morocco is a country of everything, which means it’s for everyone. Mountains, desert, sea and ideal weather all year round. As you’ll see, there’s no shortage of experiences. You’re more likely to struggle with how to plan it all so you don’t miss anything. To my surprise, and perhaps out of ignorance, Morocco is unusually large. If you’re wondering what to see in Morocco, definitely don’t underestimate how long the trip will take and pick out your itinerary well in advance (at least a rough framework).
We’ve tried every place mentioned here ourselves – well, apart from the surfing. We can’t do it, but we’d love to. We keep talking about it, just like about the next talk we’re going to give, and so far we haven’t done either.
Whether you’re going on a road trip or just a long weekend, Morocco will offer you more than you expect. Here’s my personal pick of the most beautiful places you should see in Morocco.
The capital, Rabat
The current capital is surprisingly calm, clean and green. We did the capital in a rush, though – faster than you could say Jack Robinson. We didn’t manage to see much, but if you’re still keen to see a little, the various guidebooks recommend:
- The Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Hassan Tower
- The medina
- The Kasbah fortress
Casablanca
Known mainly thanks to the cult 1942 film Casablanca (in black and white). I mention it because not everyone is a fan of black-and-white films (me, for instance). Casablanca ought to be a bit more interesting when it comes to sights and experiences.
We moved from Rabat to Casablanca by train. Public transport in Morocco is very reliable, but it’s worth keeping in mind that long-distance trains carry Moroccans right across the country. So you need to reserve your seat. (link to the tips and advice article). As soon as we got off, we hurried to our accommodation and then straight to the biggest highlight – the Hassan II Mosque.
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Completed in 1993, at Ramadan the mosque can hold up to 105,000 people across its whole area who come to pray. The mosque is unique for several reasons:
- It connects three elements – water, air and earth
- A roof that opens during Ramadan, linking all three elements
- The tallest minaret in the world (200 metres high).
Definitely go and see the mosque, it’s a spectacular experience. Admission is around €8 and includes a guide – and if you turn up late for the tour, a lift in a golf buggy too.
We didn’t spend much time in the city. We set off on a coastal walk from the poor district all the way to where the wealthy live. The whole coastline is almost entirely sandy, with the mosque in view. The next morning we visited the old medina and headed for the station.
Marrakesh
The mecca of commerce and tourists. The concentration of foreign tourists is easily highest in this city. From Rabat you can get here by train in under 4 hours. Marrakesh, like every city, is essentially the same – mosque, medina and markets. The real adventure happens elsewhere, but more on that shortly.
In Marrakesh we headed to the old medina straight after checking in, because that’s where one of the biggest markets in Morocco is. It was the first time I got to see a snake charmer controlling a cobra while playing a flute. To this day Zdenička thinks they were just fakes, and battery-powered ones at that. We differ on this. I think a hissing snake that moves is alive enough for me.
With its sheer size, the market and the whole medina are an opportunity to haggle! The reason we headed to Marrakesh was the chance to experience a night in the Sahara (more about that experience here)
Tangier
Tangier is like a gateway between two worlds. When you stand on the shore and look across the Strait of Gibraltar, you see Spain, and at the same time you hear the muezzins calling. This city has always been a bit different – cosmopolitan, free, slightly mysterious. A good experience!
Chefchaouen – the blue town in the mountains
Chefchaouen is a fairy tale. The lanes painted in every shade of blue have a calming effect – they say the colour keeps mosquitoes away but draws in the soul. We visited the town on our second trip to Morocco and it definitely shouldn’t be missing from your itinerary.
Because we made the second visit from Spain by ferry, we were much closer to this town than on the first trip, when we were too far south.
Dades Valley – the road of a thousand kasbahs
The Dades Valley is like a gallery of nature – red rocks, oases and winding hairpin bends that look like the body of a snake.
The road links Ouarzazate with Todra Gorge and is popular with road-trippers.
The Atlas Mountains
We only drove through the mountains, but even those views were worth it. The Moroccan mountains are an opportunity for climbers and keen hikers. If you have the time and the right transport, definitely head for Morocco’s highest peak – Mt. Toubkal. More about the climb here.
Ait Ben Haddou
Next on the list of what to see in Morocco is definitely North Africa’s film-making paradise. Never heard of it? Neither had we until then. But you’ll certainly know the films The Mummy, Gladiator and Prince of Persia. Film-makers have taken to this place of pilgrimage so much that they’ve been coming back regularly since 1960. Ait Ben Haddou is a small town split into an old and a new part. The original inhabitants of the old part lived in conditions that didn’t allow them to live with dignity in a modern world, so a new part was built.
The old part is used by film crews (it’s a very cheap location for them) and by local guides to earn a few dirhams. While walking through the old part, definitely try Berber whisky. Even the great Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) was hooked on it. Tea is the most popular drink in the local culture.
A short way from here there’s also a kind of second Hollywood. The nearby city of Ouarzazate is home to the largest film complex with many studios. If you’re lucky you might even bump into Brad Pitt – he bought a house here for peanuts.
The trip into the Erg Chebbi desert
Just picture it – a caravan setting off on a hot, sunny afternoon towards the sand dunes. You, a fearless “European Berber”, sit on a dromedary’s hump and take in the endless dunes. At sunset the caravan reaches a spot like a desert oasis, makes camp and spends the night in tents – no electricity, no water, no civilisation. Is that something you’d like to experience? This place is the answer to the original question of what to see in Morocco!
A yoga class
The south of Morocco is mainly about a certain kind of ease – the sea, surfing and yoga. Moroccan and foreign instructors alike offer so-called yoga retreats in every coastal town. Week-long stays during which you usually practise yoga twice a day.
One of the sessions is most often early in the morning at sunrise and the second at sunset. If you don’t want to do a whole week-long retreat, as we didn’t, the solution is to walk up to a building clearly marked “YOGA” and ask about a single yoga class.
Surfing
Morocco’s southern coast is a surfing paradise that draws everyone who loves the sport. Based on recommendations and our own experience, we can suggest Taghazout and Imsouane.
We definitely wouldn’t pick Agadir itself for surfing, but rather the towns further north within easy reach. A taxi there costs roughly 150 dirhams. By bus it’s under 30 dirhams. You do have to factor in the time you’ll spend travelling, though.
The city of Agadir
Agadir is a city under reconstruction and you can really tell – diggers everywhere you look. This is where we just topped up on alcoholic drinks and headed for Taghazout. Liquor stores are very concentrated here.
Also worth a mention are the sunset on the biggest beach, one of the largest Moroccan markets – Souk El Had – or a visit to the historic Kasbah Agadir Oufella. But watch out! The kasbah sits at 216 m above sea level and the climb is dangerous enough in places that a cable car was built.
If you go to visit Souk El Had, definitely set aside one to three hours. The market will swallow you up with its size; I’ve never seen anything like it. Haggling is allowed at every stall. You could haggle your way to a bed with hand-carved decoration, for instance. You can comfortably walk to the market.
Hopefully this article with tips on what to see in Morocco has met your expectations and your urge to visit this country is that much stronger! 🙂
