234 Best Sights in Morocco

Built in 1910, Dar el Bacha was once the home of the infamous Thami el Glaoui who, during the French protectorate of Morocco, was considered one of the most powerful men in the south of the country. This palace was where he would host and entertain famous guests such as Josephine Baker, Winston Churchill, and Charlie Chaplin. The building was renovated and opened to the public for the first time in 2018 and features exemplary Moroccan craftsmanship. Zellij-tiled walls in multiple different styles, a traditional courtyard resplendent with citrus trees and local fauna, and rooms housing exhibits that tell the story of coexistence between the faiths in Morocco are some of the highlights.  

Fez's Royal Palace and gardens are closed to the public, but even from the outside they're an impressive sight; inside are various palaces, 200 acres of gardens, and parade grounds, as well as a medersa founded in 1320. From Place des Alaouites, take a close look at the door's giant brass knockers, made by artisans from Fez el-Bali, as well as the imposing brass doors themselves.  The street running along the palace's southeast side is Rue Bou Ksissat, one side of which is lined with typically ornate residential facades from the Mellah's edge.  Security in this area is high and should be respected. Guards watch visitors carefully.

On the coast at Temara, just south of Rabat, is a series of caves that are some of the earliest identified sites of human habitation. The easiest one to visit is on the landward side of the coastal road, across from Contrabandiers Beach, though you can't go inside. It's easy to spot, with a grassed area and iron railings in front, and is known as El Harhoura. Casts of the prehistoric human skeletons discovered here in the 1930s by Armand Ruhlmann are on display in the Museum of History and Civilizations, in Rabat.

Home to the active Essaouira-Mogador Association, Dar Souiri is the hub of cultural life in Essaouira, with a notice board outside the door with information on upcoming festivals, concerts, film screenings, and other cultural events. Inside, the building is an excellent example of 18th-century Mogador (a former name of the city) architecture and houses an art gallery and a library. 

Near the dunes, this seasonal salt lake is a surprising sight—sometimes you see pink flamingos in early spring.

Essaouira's beach is fine for an early-morning jog or a late-afternoon game of soccer, but serious sunbathers typically head south to quiet Diabat. Walking along the beach, cross over the mouth of the river and continue past the Borj el Baroud, a former Portuguese fortification. To your left, a few miles south of town nestled in eucalyptus fields, you'll see the ruins of the so-called Sultan's Palace. This building is said to have inspired Jimi Hendrix to write "Castles in the Sand," although he actually released the track a couple of years before his visit to this village, which has been trading on his name ever since. On a windy day the only escape is behind the Borj at low tide. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunset.

The house of Dionysus and the Four Seasons is about halfway down the Decumanus Maximus; its scene depicting Dionysus discovering Ariadne asleep is one of the site's most spectacular mosaics. Elsewhere along the Decumanus Maximus, the small spaces near the street's edge held shop stalls, while mansions—ten on the left and eight on the right—lined either side. 

The wonderfully panoramic oasis Route 6956/R108 (which becomes 3454/N12 after Tazzarine) is one of the safest, fastest, least crowded roads in Morocco, and it offers unparalleled views up into the Djebel Sarhro Massif and all the way over to the Tafilalt date palmery. Count on four hours for the 233-km (140-mile) trip from Route P31/N9 (the Ouarzazate–Zagora road) to Rissani, in the date palmery.

You can unlock the adventurer inside by scaling this peak, the highest in North Africa. There are several ways to make the ascent, from hikes lasting several days to shorter options. The classic hike is a two- or three-day round-trip from Imlil. On Day 1, you hike to the foot of the mountain, which is an eight-hour walk, ascending at a moderate incline. There are two well-equipped refuges to spend the night that offer food and hot showers, as well as a campsite. On Day 2, you usually get up very early and leave in the dark to get to the first big pass for sunrise, and then push to the top. You can then can either return to the refuge for another night and trek back the next day, or walk straight out back down to Imlil. While anyone can hike Toubkal it is best if you have some training and are in physically good shape to make the journey. It is required by the government to have a licensed guide, and there are police checkpoints along the way.

The road to Imlil is a left turn off the S501 (the Tizi-n-Test road that leads south from Marrakesh), just after Asni. The 17-km (11-mile) stretch is a spectacular expanse of scrub and cacti, which reaches out to the very foot of Ouanoukrim Massif.

The town's promontory, capped by an 11th-century Almoravid fortress, is an excellent sunset vantage point—it overlooks the Drâa palmery with the distant Djebel Sarhro Massif to the north and the Tinfou Dunes to the south. Djebel Zagora is reached via the first left turn south of the Kasbah Asmaa hotel; there's also a twisting footpath up the 3,195-foot mountain from the hotel itself. Most hotels in town will arrange for you to do the trip by camel, and it makes a nice sunset trek.

Tangier’s first botanical garden, close to Parc Perdicaris, is a hit with nature lovers. It’s made up of small, themed gardens, including Moroccan and Chinese, along with pollinators' favorite plants and a fragrant mint maze. The chalkboard menu at the foliage-fringed café focuses on tasty traditional dishes using produce plucked from the vegetable gardens. Pick up some local crafts or delicious organic preserves and condiments at the gift shop, perhaps orange blossom marmalade or fiery harissa paste.

The area of the city bordered by Avenue des FAR, Place des Nations-Unies, Boulevard Mohammed V, and Rue Abdullah Al Mediouini contains some beautiful examples of Mauresque and Art Deco architecture built by the French in the early years of the Protectorate (1912--56). While much has gone, large swathes of these buildings are being restored, including the Central Market and the enormous Hotel Lincoln, both on Boulevard Mohammed V. Some excellent examples are Le Petit Poucet bar on the same street, the Cinema Rialto on Rue Bouchaib, and the Bank Al-Maghrib on Boulevard de Paris. Many apartment blocks in this area sport pretty wrought-iron balconies and swags of cement flowers and fruit on the buildings. Casamémoire ( casamemoire.org) is a Moroccan nonprofit dedicated to the protection and promotion of the city's 20th-century architecture; it organizes architectural Heritage Days in May and can offer private architectural tours in English if booked in advance.

This 16th-century palace was once a playground for Saadian princes and visiting diplomats—a mammoth showpiece for opulent entertaining. Today it's a romantic set of sandstone ruins, policed by nesting storks. Sultan Ahmed el Mansour's lavish creation was ransacked by Moulay Ismail in the 17th century to help him complete his own palace at Meknès. But it's not hard to see why the palace, whose name translates as "The Marvel," was once among the world's most impressive monuments. A huge swimming pool in the center (still there today, but empty) is flanked by four others, along with four sunken orange orchards. The main hall was named the Koubba el Khamsiniyya, referring to its 50 grand marble columns. Along the southern wall is a series of belowground corridors and underground dungeons. It's a vast, calm, and mystical place. Also on display is a collection of goods from the minbar (pulpit from which the imam gives services) of the Koutoubia Mosque. If you use an on-site guide (otherwise unpaid), who can bring the place to life, you should also tip 30 DH to 50 DH.

At Ceuta’s longest and most popular city beach, the sand is nothing special but the clear water is relatively calm year-round. It gets crowded in summer. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming.

Apart from La Mamounia, the only casino of note in Marrakesh is the one in the gardens of the Es Saadi hotel, set apart from the main building. Established in 1952, it was the city's first casino, though it's been renovated since then, and has a mixture of one-armed bandits and tables for roulette and blackjack. There are also poker games and tournaments that go until the early hours of the morning.

Essaouira's main beach is a sweep of sand along the bay that has provided shelter to seafarers from Atlantic storms since antiquity. Although temperatures are moderate all year and the sun is nearly always shining, the wind is consistently strong, making sunbathing or swimming less attractive than farther south in Agadir. Nonetheless, sunbed rentals are relatively inexpensive or even free if you eat at one of the cafés at the southern end of the beach.

The wind comes from the north and creates three main areas. The most northerly part, tucked up into the armpit of the port, has wind that comes in gusts. Just south of this the wind strengthens, with fewer gusts. Farther south are the steady, strong trade winds the town is known for, and that make it a mecca for wind and kitesurfers. The range of areas makes the bay perfect for every level of water-sports enthusiast.

The surrounding islets, the Iles de Mogador, are home to nine bird species, including the endangered Eleanora's falcon. They are closed to visitors during breeding season (April to October), but otherwise you can get a boat trip from the port, with boats leaving morning and afternoon depending on weather conditions. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (summer only); toilets; parking (fee); water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Based out of Essaouira and Ouarzazate, Fikra Travel offers personalized tours of Morocco, specializing in the south and desert regions. It will tailor tours to suit your traveling needs and often deals with small groups and families traveling by 4x4, but can also offer routes by bus, camel, or even donkey.

This ceramic-tile, cedar-ceiling public fountain is one of the more beautiful and historic of its kind in Fez el-Bali. The first fountain down from Bab Boujeloud, Fontaine Nejjarine seems a miniature version of the nearby Nejjarine fondouk, with its geometrically decorated tiles and intricately carved cedar eaves overhead.

At the end of Rua da Carreira (Rue Mohammed Al Achemi), you can walk up ramps to the walls of the fortress. Looking down from the heights, you'll see a gate that leads directly onto the sea and, to the right, El Jadida's fishing harbor.

The medina's original gallery exhibits the work of artists from across the nation. It was founded by Abderrahmane Rahoul, former director of the Ecole Supérieure des Beaux Arts in Casablanca, who is a well-known and highly respected visual artist himself.

This exhibition space belongs to Tangier’s Institut Français and hosts revolving temporary exhibitions with the spotlight on emerging and established contemporary Moroccan artists. Close to the El Minzah Hotel, it’s free to enter.

The prehistoric gazelle rock carving just 2 km (1 mile) south of Tafraoute is an easy walk or bike ride from town, and although the sparse etching has been retouched, it still gives you an idea about how long these desolate mountains have sustained human cultures. To get here, follow signs to "Tazka" from behind Hôtel Les Amandiers; go through the village to the palm and argan fields beyond. You may have offers to guide you from local children: if you accept, then be sure to thank them with a small gift, such as a pen or toy, but avoid giving money. Although everyone calls it a gazelle, locals in the know will tell you that the celebrated rock carving is in fact of a mouflon (wild sheep). Those energetic enough can visit more cave paintings at Ukas, south of the town of Souk Had Issi, 50 km (31 miles) southeast of Tafraoute.

Among the medina's many hidden palaces, the extraordinary Dar al Glaoui is one of its most atmospheric. The Pasha of Marrakesh’s second home—he ruled over most of southern Morocco in his day—has fallen into disrepair since Morocco's independence from France in 1956, when his power waned. But amid the crumbling ruins of the late-19th-century structure, evidence of former grandeur is visible in the exquisite cedarwood doors, intricate stucco, tiled salons, and the carved wooden balconies that line its patios. The large estate comprised 17 buildings and two gardens, with ornate salons, an enormous kitchen, Koranic school, garages, stables, a harem, and a hammam. Abdou—an artist and one of the remaining family members—or his sister will show you some of its treasures.

With its perforated cupola, the Grand Mosque is a historically significant UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating from the 12th century, the mosque, founded by Sultan Abd el-Moumen, is possibly the oldest Almohad structure in existence and believed to predate the mosque at Tin Mal. Of architectural importance are the mosque's inscribed three-ton chandelier and intricately designed windows and doorways.

Entrance to the mosque is restricted to Muslims only.

Beyond the Portuguese Cistern on Rua da Carreira is a fine old mosque, and its original construction makes it one of the focal points of the city. The beautiful white minaret is unique in that it has five sides, all with rounded edges.

The towering white-and-green-tiled minaret of the largest mosque in the city makes it one of the most recognizable sights in the medina. Built on the ruins of a European-built church in 1685 by Sultan Moulay Ismail, it was a tribute to and celebration of Morocco's return to Arab control.   Only Muslims are allowed to enter the mosque, but the neighboring terrace and its panoramic vistas makes a great photo stop.

Perched on the banks of the Bou Regreg River, the sinuous white curves of this Zaha Hadid--designed structure contrast with the nearby ancient Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum. Billed as the largest in Africa, the theater will seat 1,800 people in its auditorium when it opens. There will be a second, smaller theater as well as a restaurant, cafés, a bookstore, and outdoor auditorium that seats 7,000. 

The minaret of the Grande Mosquée is the oldest example in Morocco of a Saharan–style minaret, an architectural feature more commonly seen in Niger and Mali. Perches poke out from all sides, making it look like someone forgot to take out the scaffolding after it was completed. These perches are said to assist the dead in their ascent to paradise. Non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque. 

A few steps from the tomb of Sidi Abdellah ben Hassoun is the Great Mosque, also known as Masjid al-Tal'a. Built by the Almohad dynasty in the 12th century, this beautiful structure is the third-largest mosque in Morocco, after the Hassan II in Casablanca and the Kairaouine in Fez. Non-Muslims cannot enter.

This little henna market is one of the medina's most picturesque squares, with a massive, gnarled fig tree in the center and rows of spices, hennas, kohls, and aphrodisiacs for sale in the tiny stalls around the edges. The ceramic shops on the way into the henna souk sell a wide variety of typically blue-and-white Fassi pottery. At the square's end is a plaque dedicated to the Maristan Sidi Frej, a medical center and psychiatric and teaching hospital built by the Merenid ruler Youssef Ibn Yakoub in 1286. Used as a model for the world's first mental hospital—founded in Valencia, Spain, in 1410—the Maristan operated until 1944.