Rabat is the capital city of Morocco and a UNESCO site. In my opinion, it offers the same as Marrakesh but without the tourists or touts! Here are a few things to do in Rabat Morocco;
- Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V
- Kasbah of the Udayas
- Ancient Medina
- Chellah
- Royal Palace of Rabat Morocco
There are lots of Rabat hotels to choose from, varying from ridiculously cheap, to better quality hotels.
Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V
When you first visit Hassan Tower, you may think to yourself, what are all these columns, is it a ruin? Hassan Tower is in fact, the minaret to an incomplete mosque. Back in the 12th century this was to be the largest mosque in the world. Additionally, Hassan Tower was to be the tallest minaret in the world. Today, it’s one of the top things to do in Rabat Morocco and it also offers panoramic views over Kasbah of the Udayas.
Adjacent to Hassan Tower is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. You may wonder, who is Mohammed V? He was a 20th century Sultan and King of Morocco. You’re welcome to visit the mausoleum which is protected by royal guards on horses. As a matter of fact, you can photograph the royal guards as well as the interior of the mausoleum.
Kasbah of the Udayas
I have to make a note to photographers that a visit to Kasbah of the Udayas will guarantee brilliant photos! Chefchaouen is the Moroccan city famous for its blue buildings, however, you’ll also find several blue buildings on the narrow streets of the Kasbah of the Udayas. For this reason, Kasbah of the Udayas is a top Instagram spot in Rabat. You’ll also see girls dressed up posing in front of the blue buildings on these narrow streets. Finally, the history of this kasbah dates back to the 12 century.
Ancient Medina
Rabat is one of the better cities to visit in Morocco because there are not so many people heckling and pushing to sell you things like in other Moroccan cities such as Marrakech or Fes. Consequently, you can enjoy a peaceful trip to the Medina. Some more good news is that the Medina of Rabat is not such a maze so it’s unlikely you’ll get lost either.
Chellah
Chellah is a Medieval Fortress and Necropolis. A visit to Chellah is essentially a visit to an abandoned city. The ancient city of Chellah was abandoned almost 1000 years ago!
Royal Palace of Rabat
Officially known as Dar al-Makhzen, the Royal Palace of Rabat Morocco is the residence of the King. You could just view the exterior but if you plan in advance it’s possible to explore its gardens. Unfortunately, you cannot enter the actual palace.
How to get from Rabat to Agadir
CTM bus from Rabat to Agadir – 255 Dirhams
To get to Agadir by land you must take a bus from the CTM bus station in Rabat. I bought my ticket online, the only problem with buying online is that you must buy it 3 days in advance. You can buy a ticket from the ticket office in Rabat closer to your travel date though. I took the 9.45pm bus which arrived in Agadir bus station at 6am the following morning. CTM provide a modern bus service similar to that of Europe.
Visiting Agadir Morocco
Agadir beach and promenade
Agadir is the party city of Morocco. Things to do in Agadir are mainly located on the promenade. I stayed in Agadir for the day which gave me plenty of time to walk along the promenade to Agadir marina. If you stay overnight, there are many great value resorts and hotels.
Additionally, you can walk up to the Oufella ruins which might not be a good idea in the heat. For this reason, I recommend taking a taxi which are very cheap. The view of the city from the top is amazing and sunset is the best time to go. Another interesting place away from the promenade is the Souk, if you enjoy shopping then you must visit.
How to get from Agadir to Dakhla
CTM overnight bus from Agadir to Dakhla – 395 Dirham
The bus from Agadir to Dakhla takes 20 hours. It leaves from Agadir CTM bus station and you can buy your ticket there or online in advance. Throughout the journey, the bus stops quite often as the passengers in this part of the world have a strong need to pray as well as clean their feet. This means there are plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs and visit the bathroom. Be prepared though as the toilets in this part of the world are squat toilets.
Morocco is on my bucket list, your photos got me even more excited to visit! Thanks for sharing all these relevant details!
Thanks for all the information, it is always better travelling when someone has been there ahead of you and tested the transport, sights and food. It helps with our future decision making.
Thanks for sharing. I’m hoping to head to Morocco soon and will certainly use your advice. Happy travels.
Morocco goes on the list, than off, then back on again. Your trip has put it back on the old bucket list! Thanks for the advice and tips. I will definitely take a taxi up to the ruins!
Thanks, this is some great information that I’ll be bookmarking for a future trip. Morocco looks absolutely stunning!
I really love the culture and traditions of Morocco. would love to visit some day.
Morocco is on my list so I’ll be taking your tips in to account while planning my future visits.
Woah, 20 hrs on a bus?! That sounds like a travel nightmare. Rabat looks awesome though. I’ve had the same issue with getting a visa and not being able to access an office in operating hours. So stressful.
Would love to visit Morocco-sounds like a fascinating country. Surprised that Agadir has the last McDonalds’ until South Africa. I thought that McDonalds had made it to more countries but I guess that is not the case in Africa.
I love the sleeping on the waterfront pics. Only been to South Africa, which is a world away from North Africa.
I’ve heard great things about Morocco, would love to visit one day! Hassan Tower and Mausoleum seems like a beautiful spot to explore.
I loved visiting Morocco! It is such a diverse country. Unfortunately I didn’t get to visit Rabat nor Dakhla. It sounds like I have a reason to go back now! 🙂
Morocco is so beautiful. Rabat sounds interesting. Thanks for the great tips on getting around.
What a great post about an amazing destination. I really hope I can visit soon!
Hi James, I’m going from Agadir to Dakhla next week. Could you please tell me where is the CTM bus station in Agadir >dir> Dakhla. It’s not clear for me looking at Google map. Thank you! Radek
Hi Radek, here is the exact location on Google maps, https://goo.gl/maps/tzViodxYR9D2
Enjoy!
Thank you James! 🙂 All the best. R