Things to do in Rabat — A guide for travellers

Rabat rewards visitors who plan beyond a single day. Morocco's political and administrative capital since 1912, the city pairs an Almohad-era kasbah and a 17th-century Andalusian medina with the French colonial Ville Nouvelle designed by Henri Prost — all inscribed together by UNESCO in 2012 as 'Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City: A Shared Heritage.' Most visitors need two to three days: the first for the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Andalusian Gardens, and a boat crossing to Salé; the second for Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the walled necropolis of Chellah, where Roman columns sit beneath Marinid minarets and storks nest each spring.

The medina is smaller and calmer than Fes or Marrakech, which makes it an excellent introduction to Moroccan urban heritage for first-time visitors. Rue des Consuls — the traditional craft and carpet street — runs from Bab el-Had through the medina heart. Beyond it, the souks of the medina sell Rbati-style carpets (geometric designs in deep reds and blues), embroidered linens, and hand-tooled leather. For bookable experiences, MaJourneys operates guided medina walks, Kasbah tours, artisan workshops, and culinary tours led by local historians and licensed guides. All are pay-on-arrival — no online payment required.

Day trips from Rabat cover a remarkable range: Salé across the Bouregreg (10 minutes by tram, or a short wooden-boat crossing), Casablanca and the Hassan II Mosque (50 minutes by the Al Boraq high-speed train), Meknes (Morocco's least-visited imperial city, 1.5 hours by train) and the Roman ruins of Volubilis nearby, Temara and Skhirat beaches on the Atlantic coast (20–40 minutes south), and Kénitra and Mehdia beach to the north. This page lists Rabat attractions, food spots, hammams, and itineraries verified by our team; each entry includes location, opening hours where available, and tips for combining with nearby stops.