In this car trip that we have made through the north of Morocco, we did not want to miss Rabat, the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco. While Travelling In Morocco, It can be easily reached from Casablanca or from Fes without many problems, except for the traffic, speed, and controls.
What to visit in Rabat:
The city of Rabat is composed of neighborhoods with an architecture that stands out for bringing together the past and the modern present. You will find areas of the city much more modern than others, especially those outside the Medina, with older structures.
The Medina:
The Medina of Rabat, partially surrounded by a very extensive wall, is not really beautiful and does not have the beauty of other more exotic medinas such as Fes or Tangier. Although it is not architecturally interesting, its streets are rectilinear and it is easier to find one’s way around. In addition, the vendors at the markets and stalls are not as insistent as they can be in other cities. This city does not deserve the help of a guide and with a map, one can easily get to know the city, unless you are very interested in historical and detailed information about the city.
The main street of the medina of Rabat is the Rue Souika with numerous craft stores. At the end of this long street heading north, we will find the Rue des Consuls or Rue des Consuls, which is covered with decoration and the place is full of stores selling carpets, jewelry, jewelry, and decorative items where we can put into practice our bargaining skills.
Kasbah of the Udayas:
If we continue heading towards the sea along with the Rue des Consuls, we will end up arriving at the famous Kasbah of the Oudayas, which is like a small village slightly removed from the chaos of the Medina and the city. Upon arrival, we will find a fortification that protects the Kasbah: the Alcazaba of the Oudayas and inside the Andalusian Gardens. It is very common that before entering someone sticks to you while you visit tourist areas and in exchange for a few dirhams they act as unofficial guides. We tried in different ways to follow our way freely but a man kept guiding us.
Once inside, you feel that you are not in Rabat, not even in a city. The narrow streets, the alleys, the nooks and crannies, and its corners make you think you are in a typical Andalusian village. The white and blue color of the walls will remind you of the northern cities, also in Andalusian styles, such as Chefchaouen and Asilah. The area is unspoiled, as it does not seem to be affected by the big city and its noises. The tranquility of the Kasbah is total.
Cafe Maure:
If you want and you have been walking for a while, Café Maure is a well-known place as a semi-obligatory stop for a Moorish tea and some sweets while enjoying its incredible views.
From the top of the Kasbah, on a cliff in the Alcazaba of the Oudayas, you can enjoy views of the sea and the neighboring city of Salé, just above the banks of the river Bu Regreg.
THE HASSAN TOWER & THE MAUSOLEUM OF MOHAMED V:
Once we had seen the Medina and the Kasbah of the Oudayas, we went to the other side of the city, to visit the Hassan Tower, a minaret that was never finished. The tower measures 44 meters of its 60 projected and was to be the tower of a great mosque initiated by the Almohad Sultan Yaqub Al-Mansur (XII century) but after his death, the project was abandoned without being resumed. Today the Hassan Tower and 200 columns on a large esplanade remain.
In the same esplanade where the tower is, we also find the Mausoleum of Mohamed V, grandfather of the current Moroccan monarch, Mohamed VI. The mausoleum built of white marble and wood and plaster decorations is a place of great tourist affluence. Guarding its entrances we will find traditional Moroccan soldiers and inside, at a lower level, inaccessible to the public, we will find the sarcophagi of the king and his two sons, guarded by religious who recite the Koran continuously.
With good organization and without going into museums or guided tours, the city can be visited in one day. We did not have much time on this trip with stops in several cities, so in Rabat, we only stayed one day and one night, which by chance it rained during most of the visit. If you intend to visit more cities in Morocco, we can only encourage you to visit our exclusive section for this country with entries on various cities and wish you a very happy trip!
Willing to visit Rabat?
If you are willing to visit Rabat, you can book your Morocco tours at very decent rates, a local agency can make their staff under your needs and customize the best plan for you!
You might be interested to read about top Morocco attractions.
