Rabat is Morocco’s political capital and one of its most balanced cities, combining historic quarters and monumental architecture with broad avenues, gardens and an Atlantic setting. It feels calmer than Casablanca and less intense than the great inland medinas.
Historic Rabat
The Kasbah of the Udayas overlooks the mouth of the Bouregreg River, while the Hassan Tower and nearby mausoleum form another of the capital’s defining ensembles. The Chellah adds Roman and later Islamic history within atmospheric walled gardens.
A living capital
Rabat’s appeal also comes from contemporary city life. Museums, restaurants and landscaped public spaces make it easy to combine cultural visits with a less hurried pace.
Where Rabat fits
The city sits conveniently between Casablanca and northern Morocco and can be combined with Fez by road or rail. For travellers interested in history but wary of an overloaded itinerary, Rabat is particularly rewarding.
