Morocco’s capital doesn't have the wow-factor of Marrakech; Nor does it have the hordes of tourists. Rabat is sedate but has a star attraction – the old Kasbah des Oudaïas, perched high above the Atlantic rollers.
Rabat has a long and chequered history. Along with its twin city Salé, it was once the haven of the Barbary pirates, the notorious ‘Sallee Rovers’ who preyed upon European merchant ships and kidnapped Cornish villagers. Nowadays Rabat is a quiet, impeccably clean city with palm-lined boulevards and none of the traffic problems that bedevil Casablanca, making it an increasingly popular destination for tourists. When considering where to take a short break in Morocco, a holiday in Rabat certainly shouldn't be counted out.
Overlooking the mouth of the Bou Regreg river is the fortress of the Kasbah des Oudaïas. You can spend a pleasant hour or two strolling down the streets of blue and white houses, admiring the 12th century fortifications and exploring the Andalusian-style garden. Next door, the Café Maure is a great place to sip a mint tea and admire the view over the Atlantic. With a wide array of accommodation options, you can choose to stay in a simple hotel in Rabat or an elaborate riad packed with Moroccan charm.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN RABAT
Parliament of Morocco
Royal Palace
Saint Pierre Cathedral
Mohammed V Mosque
Medina of Rabat
Hassan Tower
Kasbah of the Udayas
Mausoleum of Mohammed V
City Centre
The Lawrence of Morocco map displays the locations of the destinations and accommodation that we have selected and visited; for each item, hovering over or clicking the marker will display a short summary and photo of that place or hotel, and hotel pricing. Follow the links in the info box to the full page listing which has much more information.
Note that the online map offers both a satellite view (click satellite in the top right) and, for some locations, a street level view (Drag the person in the top left onto the map). These let you explore the country; and when you wish to explore in person, or if you have any questions about the places you see, give our staff a call, or request a quote. Our staff regularly visit the places and accommodation that we feature.
When you book a holiday with us we will provide full driving instructions for reaching your accommodation, where necessary; these can be used by yourself, or you could enjoy the luxury of a driver. Alternatively we will arrange private (car rather than coach) transfers for you; helicopter transfers are also possible for some destinations.
We could not have been looked after better.
Dear Max
Thanks for arranging such a great trip for us. Splitting our time between the mountains & Marrakesh was just what we needed.
Maroc Lodge was fantastic. We could not have been looked after better. The highlight was the guided tour with Latife. She was exceptionally knowledgable and we really enjoyed hearing a woman's perspective on life in the …
Freelance travel writer, Susannah Osborne, travelled to Marrakech with Lawrence of Morocco in September 2012, writing for the Financial Times.
We really know Morocco and have had the pleasure of making many people's dream trips become reality over the years. It has been our privilege to be asked to manage holidays, weddings and productions for so many fantastic and discerning clients. We remain small and dedicated to providing excellent honest advice to enable you to sit back, relax and enjoy the fun bits without having to manage the unpredictability of this fascinating country.
If you want it done right, look no further!