Wandering through Morocco - Rabat

The blue of Morocco's capital, Rabat, will delight anyone who visits this city. The bustling medina, stately mosques and beautiful sandy beaches attract thousands of tourists from all countries each year.

All the paths are said to lead to Rome. Traveling through the next kilometers of Moroccan land, sooner or later we will reach the most important administrative city, i.e. Rabat. The capital of Morocco is situated right on the ocean, at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River. Despite having such an important function, it is neither the largest nor the most crowded city in the country. It is surprisingly clean and calm, there are not so many touts or hustle and bustle here. The police are diligently patrolling the streets, making sure that tourists can feel safe and fully enjoy their vacation in their beautiful country.

In all probability, if we start our tour of Morocco from Rabat, we will be much more pleased with the visit to this country than if we visit it after seeing, for example, Fez dye works, its crowded medina and poor areas. Otherwise, the city may seem too clean and too beautiful to some. As it is the capital city, Rabat is more representative. Poor districts are hidden from the eyes of tourists - they are fenced off or are out of sight of those visitors who stick to the main routes. Of course, avid travelers who prefer to get to know the world without being guided by the suggestions from guides will easily find less attractive areas of the city, but the so-called Most of Rabat will have memories of pictures taken straight from travel agency catalogs. Everyone can judge for himself whether it is a defect or an advantage.

Blue Discount

It cannot be denied that the city is beautiful and eye-catching. You should spend at least a few days to get to know all its monuments, otherwise we will be left with a lot of insufficiency. Rabat is clean, tourist-friendly and ... blue. Optimistic blue and white streets , blue doors and shutters - in the old part of the city, the medina, we will encounter a whole sea of blue. A walk through the streets of Rabat is a real pleasure for the eyes.

Let us not forget that we are on the coast. There are many beautiful sandy beaches here, attracting thousands of tourists from different countries. North of Rabat is the famous Beach of the Nations , home to Les Jardins Exotiques, magnificent exotic gardens. In turn, in the south, visitors are tempted by the sand of Temara and Skhirat beaches. Apart from the views and excellent sunbathing conditions, the advantage of the area is a very well-developed infrastructure with numerous clubs, cafes and restaurants.

What's worth seeing in Rabat?

As in other Moroccan resorts, the walls surrounding the medina and beautiful, richly decorated gates deserve attention. One of the city's most famous landmarks is the Hassan Tower , towering stately over the bridge that connects the banks of the Bou Regreg River. It towers over Rabat, standing proudly like the guardian of the capital and at the same time being a testimony of the past. It is the only surviving part of the never completed mosque from the reign of Caliph Jacob al-Mansur. A big attraction for visitors to the city is the entrance to the top of the minaret - it offers a magnificent view of the entire Rabat.

Right next to the ruins of the mosque stands the Mausoleum of Muhammad V. This monumental tomb is the resting place of the Sultan and his two sons (Moulay Abdullah and Hassan II). The green roof of the impressive building with rich decorations catches the eye of the onlookers. Tourists can also see the tomb itself from the gallery hanging above it, but they must remember about appropriate clothing. Admission is free.

Apart from the tower and the mausoleum, the city's greatest attractions are undoubtedly the 14th-century baths, the royal palace of Dar el-Makhzen and Szella, a complex of ancient and medieval ruins in the suburbs. The mentioned ruins are the necropolises of the Merinid dynasty. Today, in front of its walls, we encounter musicians dressed in traditional Moroccan costumes. It is Gnaoua, beating a steady rhythm on the drums, ringing castanets, dancing so vigorously that the pompoms attached to their caps flash like streaks of light. The past is intertwined here with the present, and the peace of silent ruins with dance and sounds of music.

Where to stay

The main street of the city, Ave Mohammed V , is lined with numerous hotels, and the wide promenade is enhanced by rows of palm trees. In Rabat, no tourist will have problems with finding accommodation of a suitable standard. The more that the main train station (Rabat Ville) is also located on the above-mentioned street, so those who came to the city by train can find a hotel almost immediately.

You can also stay at the campsite. About 14 km from Rabat is Camping Harhoura , which is a stone's throw from Temara Beach. The place is exceptionally beautiful, the views are delightful, and besides, the location makes it relatively easy to reach the next points that we intend to get to know during our stay in Morocco. It is best to ask about prices on site - it may turn out that in the case of a longer stay or overnight accommodation of a larger group, we will receive a favorable discount.

The tower of the unfinished mosque, beautiful beaches, colorful dancers and the blue of the streets are just a fraction of the attractions that we will encounter when visiting Rabat. Regardless of whether we are just starting our journey around Morocco or we are already returning to the European continent, we will not forget this trip.