Rabat
Morocco's capital — Andalusian gardens, a blue-and-white kasbah, and a gentler pace than Casablanca next door.
Rabat rarely makes the highlight reel, and I think that's a mistake. As the seat of government it's calmer and better kept than Casablanca, with a walled medina, a genuinely lovely riverside kasbah, and the unfinished Hassan Tower standing over four centuries of history in one square. It's Morocco without the hustle, for a day.
I like sending guests here who want one gentle day between the intensity of a big medina and the road south — the Andalusian Gardens are as close to a Moroccan afternoon nap as a public space gets.
Kasbah of the Udayas
Blue-and-white lanes, Andalusian gardens, and views over where the river meets the Atlantic.
Hassan Tower & Mausoleum
An unfinished 12th-century minaret standing guard over the royal mausoleum below.
Chellah necropolis
Roman ruins and a medieval royal graveyard, now home to storks nesting on the old towers.
Gardens in full bloom and comfortable walking weather throughout.
A calmer, cooler echo of spring.
Warm but softened by the Atlantic, rarely oppressive.
Mild and quiet, with the gardens still worth a wander.
Rabat between the coast and the capital cities
Rabat sits naturally between Casablanca and Tangier or Fes, an easy stop on the way north without a detour.
Mustapha often builds a quiet day in Rabat between the coast and the road north.
Ready to explore Rabat?
Tell Mustapha your dates and he will build Rabat into a journey that is yours alone.