Rabat

The relaxed capital

I spent only a couple of days in the Moroccan capital but I am glad I did.

It’s a big contrast to anywhere else in the country because of it’s relaxed atmosphere.

Rabat is the capital of Morocco and is home for about 1,3 million people.

It is much calmer than cities like Marrakech or Fes. Actually it feels a lot like a coastal city in Spain or Portugal.

What to see and do in Rabat

There aren’t so many tourist attractions in the Moroccan capital and you shouldn’t visit the city for them.

Rabat is the city you visit to explore the diversity of this North African country.

Hassan tower - Is the minaret of a mosque that never was completed. It’s beautifully located and a must visit in Rabat. There are also nicely dressed guards in the area and at the entrance they sit on beautiful horses.
Mausoleum of Mohammed V - In the area of the Hassan tower is a mausoleum of a very popular king and sultan, Mohammed V who died 1961. He was the symbol, and somewhat the leader, of the fight for independence of Morocco from the French colony. Morocco became independent in 1956.

Guard at the Hassan Tower

A side story about Mugammed V. During WW2 the Nazi puppet regime in France demanded that all jews should be deported from Morocco and given to the Nazis.

The king answered: “Jews? We only have Moroccaans in our country”.

Bab Oudaya - A nice area to visit within walking distance from the Medina. It was a Kasbah, like an old city center, and is over 1000 years old. It has a mixture of Moroccan, Arabic and Roman architecture.
Chellah - a medieval fortified Muslim necropolis and ancient archeological site.

Where to stay in Rabat

In the Medina or close to it is my recommendation. Then you will have walking distance to nearly everything.

I book my accommodation either on Booking or Agoda And I often compare prices and read reviews on both sites.

In Rabat I stayed in a small, cheap hotel, Hotel Darna. It was ok but not the best. Cold shower and poor breakfast for example. The location was excellent though.

You can check it out here: Booking. Agoda.