Last updated: April 2026
Rabat is Morocco’s capital and its most undervisited major city. The combination of a UNESCO-listed medina, the Atlantic coast, Roman ruins, one of the best modern art museums in Africa, and a pace of life entirely free of the tourist hustle that characterizes Marrakech and Fes makes it one of the most rewarding cities in the country for visitors who make the 45-minute train trip from Casablanca.
Ten things is the honest number here. Rabat is not a city of exhaustive lists; it is a city of quality experiences and comfortable wandering. These ten cover what is genuinely worth seeking out.
At a Glance
| Days recommended | 1.5 to 2 days |
| From Casablanca | 45 min by Al Boraq train |
| Best entry point | Rabat-Agdal or Rabat-Ville train stations |
| Relaxed vs intense | Much calmer than Marrakech and Fes |
| Budget for food | 40 to 200 MAD per meal depending on restaurant type |
| Don’t miss | Oudayas Kasbah café for mint tea with Atlantic view |
1. The Kasbah des Oudayas
The white-and-blue whitewashed kasbah at the mouth of the Bou Regreg river is Rabat’s most beautiful spot. The Almohad gate, the narrow lanes, the Andalusian garden inside, and the café at the ocean-facing end combine into one of the most pleasant hours in any Moroccan city. Go in the morning before 11am.
2. Mohammed V Mausoleum and Hassan Tower
The 12th-century unfinished minaret tower and the marble mausoleum housing the tombs of Morocco’s modern kings are the city’s most iconic site. The ceremonial royal guard and the interior tilework of the mausoleum are genuinely impressive. Non-Muslim visitors can enter the mausoleum; the mosque adjacent is not open to non-Muslims.
3. The Medina
Rabat’s medina is compact, navigable, and refreshingly unhurried. Rue des Consuls, the historic diplomatic street, has the best craft shopping in Rabat at prices consistently lower than Marrakech. A two-hour walk covers the medina comfortably, including the carpet market and the mellah.
4. Mohammed VI Museum of Modern Art
Opened in 2014, this is one of the finest contemporary art museums in Africa. The permanent collection covers Moroccan modern art across 150 years. Temporary exhibitions rotate with international shows. The building is well-designed and the admission is modest. Worth two hours for anyone with an interest in Moroccan visual culture.
5. Chellah Necropolis
A walled site combining Roman ruins and a medieval Islamic necropolis on the southern edge of the city. White storks nest on the minaret stumps from February through May. The combination of layered history and genuinely atmospheric ruins makes it one of the more contemplative sites in Morocco. Small admission fee.
6. The Atlantic Corniche
The seafront walk north from the Oudayas Kasbah along the Atlantic coast gives one of the best urban coastal walks in Morocco. The beach at the base of the kasbah is a functioning local beach with lifeguards in summer.
7. Salé: The Other Side of the River
The twin city across the Bou Regreg is reached by the traditional wooden rowing boats from the Rabat side (a few MAD for the crossing). Salé’s medina is less visited and more authentically local with the Bou Inania Medersa and a functioning souk that serves residents rather than tourists.
8. The Oudayas Museum
Inside the kasbah walls, in the former 17th-century palace, the Oudayas Museum has a small but well-presented collection of traditional Moroccan arts and crafts including jewelry, costume, and ceramics. The building itself is worth the visit.
9. Dinner in the Agdal Neighbourhood
The Agdal district has Rabat’s most consistently good restaurant concentration, from traditional Moroccan to French bistro to Lebanese. A proper dinner at one of the mid-range Agdal restaurants, with wine, runs 200 to 400 MAD and is a significantly more relaxed experience than anything equivalent in Marrakech.
10. Day Trip: Salé Pottery and the Coastal Road North
The road north along the coast from Rabat passes through smaller towns with good beaches and minimal tourist infrastructure. Plage des Nations, 20 kilometres north, is a popular surf beach with a raw Atlantic character. The return via Salé gives a complete loop of the greater Rabat area.
A Two-Day Rabat Itinerary
Day one: start at the Kasbah des Oudayas in the morning when the light hits the blue and white walls. Walk down to the beach below the kasbah for a coffee at one of the cafes overlooking the Rabat-Sale river mouth. Continue to the Hassan Tower and Mohammed V Mausoleum (allow one hour). Lunch in the medina, which is smaller and calmer than Marrakech or Fes and excellent for first-time medina shoppers. Afternoon at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern Art (70 MAD). Evening walk along the Bouregreg marina promenade.
Day two: morning at the Chellah necropolis (70 MAD, allow 1.5 hours for a proper visit). Cross the river to Sale for the pottery workshops and the Grande Mosque area. Afternoon free for the Agdal neighborhood, Rabat’s most cosmopolitan district with excellent cafes, bookshops, and patisseries. If time permits, the tramway ride from Rabat to Sale gives a pleasant overview of both cities for 6 MAD.
Getting to Rabat
Rabat is one of Morocco’s best-connected cities. The main station, Rabat Ville, is served by trains to Casablanca (one hour, departures every 30 minutes), Tangier via the Al Boraq high-speed line (1.5 hours), Fes (2.5 hours), and Marrakech (4 hours). The CTM bus station connects to all major cities. Rabat-Sale Airport (RBA) has limited international flights, so most visitors fly into Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport and take the train north.
Practical Tips
- The train from Casablanca is the easiest and cheapest way to arrive. Trains run every 30 minutes during the day.
- The Oudayas café mint tea with the ocean view is the single best 30 dirham experience in Rabat. Go before 11am for a table at the edge.
- Rue des Consuls in the medina for craft purchases. Better prices and less pressure than Marrakech for similar or better quality.
- The Chellah stork colony is at its most impressive from February through April. The birds arrive from West Africa to nest and the ruins are alive with activity.
- Rabat is safe enough for solo evening walks in the corniche and medina area. More so than most other Moroccan cities.
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Accuracy note: Regulations, procedures, and practical information in Morocco can change. This article is a general guide only. Verify current requirements with the relevant authorities or institutions before making decisions.