Rabat offers a variety of ways to enjoy a stay: architecture, museums, gardens and its location on the Atlantic. Its sights range from the centrally located Medina to green spaces and a fortress overlooking the beach. You can explore the city according to your interests, rather than reducing all its impressions to a single theme.
Architecture, the Medina and city walks
The Hassan Tower is Rabat’s surviving 44-metre-tall minaret. Its architecture resembles the Koutoubia in Marrakesh and the Giralda in Seville—a comparison that draws attention to its architectural form while also placing the tower in a broader architectural context. The Mausoleum of Mohammed V overlooks the Hassan Tower esplanade.
The Medina lies in the heart of the capital. Another distinctive city street is Rue des Consuls: this recently restored pedestrian street is ideal for strolling and finding special souvenirs. You can take your time enjoying these sights without having to combine them into a particular route.
The Kasbah of the Udayas lies on the left bank of the Bouregreg. It is a 15-minute walk from downtown Rabat; the actual duration may vary depending on the route. Chellah is 2 kilometres from the city centre, outside the Almohad walls. The Medina, the Kasbah and Chellah thus offer different points of reference for exploring the city.
Museums and cultural highlights
The Oudaïa Ethnographic Museum, dedicated to preserving traditional Moroccan craftsmanship, is located in the Kasbah of the Oudaïas. The Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art has a different focus: it opened in 2014 and was Morocco’s first public museum of modern and contemporary art. Its collection includes more than 400 works by Moroccan artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
If you are interested in crafts, a visit to the OudaĂŻa Museum takes you into the Kasbah. For modern and contemporary art, the Mohammed VI Museum offers a fitting contrast in subject matter. The two institutions therefore differ above all in their focus and the history of their respective collections.
Gardens, urban forest and Atlantic views
The Andalusian Garden of the Oudaïas brings together Mediterranean plants such as bougainvillea and orange trees; from there, you can enjoy a view of the Atlantic. Rabat’s Botanical Garden is laid out differently: landscape architect Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier created it in 1914. It covers 17 hectares, with more than 600 plant species growing in themed collections, and also includes a Moorish house.
For a sense of scale, the Ibn Sina Urban Forest, also known as Hilton Forest, is a green space of more than 60 hectares in the Souissi district. Rabat thus has a botanical garden with themed plant collections alongside a much larger urban forest, offering two different kinds of green space. The garden combines botanical diversity with an architectural feature; the urban forest is defined by its location in Souissi and its size.
The Plage des Oudayas also brings the coast and the cityscape together. The beach is in the city centre; the fortress, perched on a rock, faces the sea and overlooks the sandy beach below. This offers another distinct perspective on Rabat, alongside its gardens and architecture.
Getting around and activities
The tram is the preferred mode of transport for getting around Rabat. The same applies to Salé and Casablanca. This may help you choose how to get around during your days in the city. Kayaking and windsurfing are available at sites operated by the Rabat Nautical Club; check current operating arrangements before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Khémisset, Skhirat, Aguelmouss, Bouknadel, Souk Larbaa Essehoul, Aïn El Aouda, Oulmes.
For the broader travel overview: Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer.
