234 Best Sights in Morocco

To better understand and appreciate how water is obtained in the desert, it's worth stopping to see the traditional underground water channel system. The channels, known as "khattarat," are an important part of this region's history. This is also a great stop to see baby camels. You'll be offered tea and a tour by someone from a local family upon arrival. There's no set price, but you should tip about 50 DH for their time and effort. 

Yacoub el Mansour built Marrakesh's towering Moorish mosque on the site of the original 11th-century Almoravid mosque. Dating from the early 12th century, it became a model for the Hassan Tower in Rabat and the Giralda in Seville. The mosque takes its name from the Arabic word for book, koutoub, because there was once a large booksellers' market nearby. The minaret is topped by three golden orbs, which, according to one local legend, were offered by the mother of the Saadian sultan Ahmed el Mansour Edhabi in penance for fasting days she missed during Ramadan. The mosque has a large plaza, walkways, and gardens, as well as floodlights to illuminate its curved windows, a band of ceramic inlay, pointed merlons (ornamental edgings), and various decorative arches. Although non-Muslims may not enter, anyone within earshot will be moved by the power of the evening call to prayer.

The Secret Garden, or Le Jardin Secret, opened to the public in 2016 after several years of intensive excavation, restoration, and planting. Once one of the largest private riads in the medina, the 16th-century site is home to beautiful Islamic architecture; the lush Exotic and Islamic gardens; an ancient, but still operational, water management and irrigation system; and the original watchtower that has commanding views over the whole medina. The restored Pavilions, which were once formal reception rooms, now house a small café and an exhibit of photographs that show the property's excavation and reconstruction. There are areas to sit and relax, a bookshop, a café, and exhibition rooms. Well-informed guides are on-site and provide free tours of the gardens. Entry to the Tower is an extra 40 DH.

Perched on a hilltop with stunning views over the Loukos Estuary, Lixus is a fascinating archaeological site, just 10 minutes from Larache and one hour from Tangier. Although the site may not as famous or imposing as the Roman ruins of Volubilis near Meknès, you’ll be able to explore without the crowds. Only a small portion of Lixus has been excavated, but the main attractions are an amphitheater, a column-lined road, and a mosaic of a sea god (half man, half crab). Also notable is the religious center of the town, at the summit, which retains the foundations for the places of worship of each civilization to have settled there—from Phoenicians in the 7th century to the Carthaginians to the Romans. The Romans believed it was here that Hercules picked the golden apples of the Garden of the Hesperides. A visitor center has an interesting display charting what’s known of the site’s history, and the guardians (Mohammed speaks excellent English) at the entrance are informative and happy to show you around; a tip of around 100 DH is appreciated. You can reach the site by petit taxi from Larache; arrange for your driver to pick you up after your visit.

Just north of the Zaouia of Sidi Mohammed Ben Naceur is a 17th-century medersa that still lodges 400 students preparing for university studies. The accompanying Koranic library once held the largest such collection in Morocco, with 40,000 volumes on everything from mathematics, philosophy, medicine, and astronomy to linguistics and Berber poetry. The remaining tomes are plenty impressive: a genealogy of the prophet Mohammed, manuscripts adorned with gold leaf, a medical book with afflictions written in red and remedies in black, and hand-illuminated manuscripts penned in mint (green), saffron (yellow), and henna (red) on gazelle hide. Ask for a look at the 13th-century algebra primer with Western Arabic numerals, which, though subsequently abandoned in the Arab world, provided the basis for Western numbers. There is no official admission charge, but a small donation is expected (20 DH).

Chefchaouen boasts one of the most picturesque medinas in Morocco. It's a delight to explore, with almost every building along its tangle of alleyways painted in a dazzling blue hue. Photo opportunities abound at every turn and you may have to wait in line to take your shot. At its heart is the cobbled main square, Place Outa el Hammam. Looming over the medina are the dusky red walls of the 13th-century kasbah, now home to a lovely Andalusian garden and a small ethnographic museum. Just beyond the medina's northeastern gate, is the Ras El Ma waterfalls and the public laundry; over the bridge steep steps lead to the Spanish Mosque, a popular sunset-watching spot.  Climb the kasbah tower for incredible views of the medina and the mountains beyond.

The resting place of King Mohammed V, who died in 1961, this mausoleum is adjacent to the Hassan Tower and, thanks to a commanding position above the river, is similarly visible to anyone approaching Rabat from Salé. The tomb itself is subterranean; the terrace that overlooks it is approached by steps on each side. Looking down, you're likely to see someone ritually reading the Koran. Beyond the central sarcophagus of King Mohammed V are those of his sons Prince Moulay Abdallah and King Hassan II; the latter was interred here in July 1999 as world leaders stood by for his state funeral. Designed by a Vietnamese architect and built between 1962 and 1966, the tomb is cubical, with a pyramidal green-tile roof, a richly decorated ceiling, and onyx interior walls. A mosque, built at the same time, adjoins the tomb.

Fresh from a renovation, the mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail, who died in 1727, is a beautiful structure which he had constructed during his lifetime. Off a serene courtyard, a heavily decorated anteroom is filled with striking zellij tilework, painted wood, elaborately carved stucco, graceful arches, and marble columns. His tomb sits in a sacred chamber, which non-Muslims can look in to but cannot enter. 

Ceuta's monumental Royal Walls date back a millennium and have been added to over the years by the Arabs, Portuguese, and Spanish to strengthen the town's fortifications. The strikingly modern Museo de los Murallas Reales, set in the walls, displays interesting art exhibitions. Crossing the San Felipe moat gives you a fine view over the walls.

This striking must-see museum is an exquisite showcase of contemporary art pieces from across the country. The permanent collection charts the evolution of Moroccan artwork from the 20th century onward, while the skillfully curated temporary exhibitions focus on fascinating themes. There's a nice café here, too.

This small but beautifully maintained public garden is more of a local spot than a tourist attraction. Paved pathways wind through cactus plantations, rose gardens, and exotic flowerbeds, past ornamental fountains, and through striking cascades of bougainvillea. It's the perfect escape from the city mayhem. 

This outfitter offers engaging cultural tours, from unveiling the medina's secrets on the Architecture and Islamic Gardens Tour to culinary adventures on the excellent Souk Tasting Trails tour. Or join a family as they shop for produce in their local souk, pick up bread at their neighborhood farran (bakery), then learn how to preserve lemons, make mint tea, and conjure up typical salads and a tagine of your choice in the kitchen of their traditional dar. You’ll end by sitting down with the family to share the meal in true Moroccan style. Day trips beyond Fez—take a Roman picnic to Volubilis, barter at the carpet auction in Khenifra, or hike through the Rif Mountains—and longer excursions to the Sahara, the High Atlas, the coast, and all major Moroccan cities are also available.

The lovely Andalusian-style square is at the heart of the old city and worth exploring. Check out the memorial that honors soldiers who took part in the Hispano-Moroccan war of 1859. Flanking the main plaza is a pair of impressive churches, both built on the sites of former mosques: to the north is the baroque Nuestra Señora de África (Our Lady of Africa), and at the southern end is the larger and even more ornate cathedral.

Built in 1769 in the reign of Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah by an Englishman who had converted to Islam, Essaouira's port is still going strong in the southwest corner of town, and it's the one must-see sight for any traveler coming here. Trawlers and other boats bob along the quay, and middlemen and independent sailors sell the daily catch of sardines, calamari, and skate from small dockside tables. You'll be selling yourself short if you don't have a meal of the freshest fish imaginable at one of the shoreside grill restaurants. As Moroccan ports go, it's also one of the most beautiful, not to mention accessible and tourist-friendly.

Just across from Bab el Okla, this prestigious school was founded in 1919 to preserve Morocco's rich craft heritage. Here you can watch the masters passing on their skills—including wood painting, brass etching, and embroidery—and also buy directly from the artisans. Dar Sanaa, a Moorish-Andalusian building is a work of art in itself, with a colonnade inscribed with Kufic inscriptions, stained-glass details, and vibrant zellij tiles; there's also a small museum.

Skoura's weekly souk is one of the largest in Morocco and takes place every Monday. It's the perfect spot to get a glimpse at local life as people from the surrounding villages come here to pick up their fruits, vegetables, and meat. It's also a good place to pick up snacks, souvenirs, and various household items. This souk doesn't see as many tourists as the ones in cities like Marrakesh and Fez, so it's best to dress conservatively out of respect for the more conservative rural culture.

The vast labyrinth of narrow streets and derbs at the center of the medina is the souk—Marrakesh's marketplace and a wonder of arts, crafts, and workshops. Every step brings you face-to-face with the colorful handicrafts and bazaars for which Marrakesh is famous. In the past, every craft had a special zone within the market—a souk within the souk. Today savvy vendors have pushed south to tap trading opportunities as early as possible, but the deeper in you venture, the more you will be rewarded by better prices and by seeing artisans at work---metalworkers, carpenters, tailors, and cobblers, just to name a few. Look for incongruities born of the modern era. Beside handcrafted wooden pots for kohl eye makeup are modern perfume stores; where there is a world of hand-sewn djellabas at one turn, you'll find soccer jerseys after the next; fake Gucci caps sit beside handmade Imazighen carpets.

As you wander through the souk, take note of landmarks so that you can retrace your steps without too much trouble. Once the shops' shutters close, they're often unrecognizable.

The farther north you go the more the lanes twist, turn, and entwine. Should you lose your way, retrace your steps to the busiest thoroughfare and then look for the brown painted signs (usually found at key intersections) indicating the direction of Jemaa el-Fnaa. But mostly you'll rely on people in the souk to point the way. If you ask a shopkeeper rather than a loitering local, you'll be less likely to encounter a "faux guide."

Consecrated in 1905, this towering Anglican church—famously painted by Matisse in 1912--13 from his room at the Grand Hotel Villa de France—gives a sense of the flourishing interfaith relations that Tangier was once famous for. The Lord's Prayer is engraved in Arabic behind the altar, and quotes from the Koran appear across the Moorish-style walls. The church is built on land donated by Sultan Hassan. A cemetery surrounds St. Andrew's and holds the grave of British journalist Walter Harris (1866–1933; he lived in Tangier and wrote about Morocco), as well as British and Commonwealth soldiers who died fighting in North Africa during World War II. The caretaker is almost always on-site, and for a small donation to the church, he will share his knowledge about the church and those buried here.

Lining virtually the entire Drâa Valley from Agdz to Zagora are some two dozen ksour and kasbahs on both sides of the river. Perhaps the most amazing ksour in this region are at Tamnougalt, 6 km (4 miles) south of Agdz—the second group of red-pisé fortifications on the left. The resident Amazigh tribe, the Mezguita, governed its own independent republic from here until the late 18th century; the crenellated battlements and bastions were a necessary defense against desert nomads. For a deeper understanding of the tribe’s traditional way of life, peruse the displays of farming and household implements in Tamnougalt’s Kasbah des Caids du Mezguita museum. Occupying a restored 16th-century edifice, it is run by Hassan Aït el Caid (a descendant of the original caids who controlled the trade caravans passing through the region). Hassan can also take you on a walking tour through the village and the oasis, and explain the local Amazigh tribes and their origins en route. Donkey treks and picnics can be arranged as well.

As the first public real estate and the only U.S. National Historic Landmark outside the country, the Tangier American Legation Museum pays testament to the long-standing relationship between Morocco and the United States. Since the stately building was donated to the U.S. government by Sultan Moulay Suleiman in 1821, the museum has amassed a large collection of paintings, books, maps, and portraits. Exhibits to look out for include the original correspondence between George Washington and the sultan, and an amusing letter home from a panicked ambassador who was given an unusual goodwill gift by the Moroccan people: a now-extinct Barbary lion. Don't miss the Paul Bowles wing, dedicated to the American author's life in Tangier.

Just outside Ounagha, about 35½ km (22 miles) east of Essaouira, is Morocco's first organic vineyard. Established by Charles Melia, an experienced winemaker of the Rhône valley in France, it covers 128 acres, 100 of which are under cultivation. The vineyard produces a selection of ranges and labels featuring red, white, rosé, and—typical in Morocco—vin gris (a pale pink variation of rosé made from red grapes) wines. Many of the wines here are commonly featured on wine lists in Essaouira and Marrakesh restaurants. Tours and tastings can be arranged in French, English, or Arabic, and the restaurant on-site has a panoramic view of the vineyard and olive trees.

Opened in late 2017, the stunning Yves Saint Laurent Museum is an ocher- and brick-color construction of cubic forms and curves, with patterns resembling threads of fabric. Inside, there is a vast collection of fashion and haute couture accessories as well as temporary exhibits and a reference library of botany, fashion, and Amazigh culture. It's next to the Jardin Majorelle, which contains the Villa Oasis, where the designer lived. A combination ticket for the garden and museum is available. 

Turn left around the corner of the Great Mosque, and you'll see on your right the Abou el Hassan Medersa. Built by the Merenid sultan of that name in the 14th century, it's a fine example of the traditional Koranic school. Like the Bou Inania in Fez or the Ben Youssef in Marrakesh, this madrassa has beautiful intricate plasterwork around its central courtyard, and a fine mihrab (prayer niche) with a ceiling carved in an interlocking geometrical pattern representing the cosmos. Upstairs, on the second and third floors, you can visit the little cells where the students used to sleep, and from the roof you can see the entire city.

The beach here swings around a crescent from southeast to northwest; you're more likely to find a quiet spot if you wander south, although be careful to avoid the private beaches of the resorts. The most crowded areas, frequented year-round by families and locals, are to the north. Along the flanking thoroughfare, known as the Corniche (promenade), are cafés, bars, and restaurants. At the very northern end is the swanky marina development where private yachts are moored. The promenade comes alive at dusk, when families and youngsters take their evening walks, but as night falls, it can become a little sketchy. Nonetheless, from the shelter of a café terrace, it's still a good spot to stop and watch the world go by. The northern tip is also the place to rent a Jet Ski, catamaran, or surf equipment. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: sunset.

This combination ethnological museum and bazaar is the dream of Moroccan-born Italian decorator-architect Coco Polizzi, who wanted to replace the medina Agadir lost to the 1960 earthquake with a new one on his own land. Located in Ben Sergao, a few miles south of Agadir, on the Inezgane road, the remarkable 13-acre project was completed in 2007 by hundreds of Moroccan craftspeople who used centuries-old techniques. Each stone was laid by hand, and the buildings are made of earth, rock from the Souss, slate from the High Atlas, and local woods such as thuya and eucalyptus. Decorations follow both Amazigh and Saharan motifs. You can find a few mosaic craftspeople, painters, jewelers, metalworkers, and carpenters in workshop nooks throughout the medina. The medina also houses some restaurants and shops.

Stretching a full 3 km (2 miles) south of the Royal Palace, the Jardin de l'Aguedal comprises vast orchards, a large lagoon, and other small pools, all fed by an impressive, ancient system of underground irrigation channels from the Ourika Valley in the High Atlas. Until the French protectorate's advent, it was the sultans' retreat of choice for lavish picnics and boating parties. Sadly the Agdal Gardens have suffered from neglect in recent years and now have little charm for visitors. The largest basin, the 12th-century "Tank of Health," and the small pavilion next to it are still accessible on Friday and Sunday, but the vast orchards and olive groves, where Moroccans once strolled, are now closed to the public.

Perhaps Azemmour's most renowned resident artist, Ahmed el-Amine has been painting in and around the medina for nearly two decades. He still lives here, working out of this studio.

The village of Akchour in Talassemtane National Park—a 50-minute grand taxi ride northeast of Chefchaouen—is the starting point for two beautiful and relatively easy hikes. Take the left-hand path at the hydroelectric dam, and the Akchour waterfall is around a 45-minute walk away. From there you have the option of continuing on a four- to five-hour round-trip hike to another, much larger waterfall. You can also choose to go right at the dam; on the other side of the river, you can head up on a steep path to God's Bridge, a natural stone arch. Several small cafés offering mint tea and tagines sprinkle the paths, as do wildflowers. Be aware that some locals might try to sell you things, some of them illegal.

You may have dodged a few donkeys laden with skins from the tannery as you explore the medina, and this long-established nonprofit organization is dedicated to improving the lives of these working animals—donkeys, mules and horses—by offering support to them, their owners and vets. Visitors are welcome; just contact the fondouk to arrange a tour of the clinic and meet the animals (morning is best). Ask about the organization's new project, Mules of the Medina, a stable just a 10-minute drive from the clinic. 

Three kilometers (2 miles) south of Zagora, Amezrou is famous for its Jewish silversmiths, who made decorative jewelry in this small village until the creation of the Israeli State in 1948, when all but 30,000 of Morocco's 300,000 Jews left for Israel. Craftsmen continue the tradition in the Mellah here. It's a worthwhile stop if you don't mind the clamor of children eager to be hired as your guide. You may also be able to find some interesting Jewish antiques if you ask.