Morocco’s vibrant cities each have a unique personality, from Casablanca’s Atlantic-wide vistas to Fez’s medieval medina. This city guide offers insider tips for travelers of every style – luxury, mid-range, or budget – blending modern comforts with local flavors. Each city section includes what to see, where to eat, and how to get around, plus seasonal advice and itinerary ideas.
Marrakech
Marrakech, the “Ochre City,” is a feast for the senses. What to see: Start in Jemaa el-Fna square – markets by day and a huge open-air restaurant by night. Visit the Koutoubia Mosque, the ornate Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs. Stroll the colorful souks (spice and craft markets) and relax in the peaceful Majorelle Garden or Menara Gardens.
Where to eat: Marrakech is famous for street food: try a tagine or kebabs at a rooftop market stall, and hearty harira soup or grilled meats with mint tea in the square. For sweets, sample Moroccan pastries under the orange trees.
Where to stay: Options range from palatial luxury (La Mamounia, Royal Mansour) to charming riads near the medina; budget travelers can find hostels around Jemaa el-Fna or guesthouses in Gueliz.
Sample itinerary (Marrakech): Day 1: Morning at Majorelle and Menara Gardens; afternoon exploring Bahia Palace and the souks; dinner on Jemaa el-Fna. Day 2: Excursion to the High Atlas (e.g. hike around Imlil and Mt. Toubkal) or Aït Benhaddou en route to Essaouira.Seasonal: Marrakech is extremely hot in summer (often >40 °C), so spring (Mar–May) or autumn (Sep–Nov) is more comfortable.
Meknès
Meknès is Morocco’s quieter imperial city, with grand monuments and nearby ruins. What to see: Admire the ornate Bab Mansour gate and Place El-Hedim (a smaller Jemaa el-Fna). Tour the massive stables (Heri es-Souani) of Sultan Moulay Ismail’s 17th-century palace and visit Moulay Ismail’s Mausoleum. Outside Meknès are the Roman ruins of Volubilis (a UNESCO site) and the holy town of Moulay Idriss.
Where to eat: Meknès cuisine features pastilla (sweet savory pie) and roast lamb. Try a local fondouka (old-style restaurant) in the medina for tagines.
Where to stay: Stay near Place El-Hedim; options include small riads and guesthouses or simple hotels like Zahrat Al Jabal. Travel tip: Meknès is very walkable on foot or by “petit” (orange) taxis, and CTM buses connect to Fez, Rabat, and Casablanca.
Sample itinerary (Meknès): Morning: tour Bab Mansour and the old medina. Afternoon: drive to Volubilis (Roman ruins) and Moulay Idriss, return to Meknès for dinner in the Place El-Hedim.
Rabat
Rabat, Morocco’s capital, is a laid-back city by the Atlantic. What to see: Start at the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V (an elegant marble complex). Walk through Oudayas Kasbah’s blue-and-white lanes overlooking the river. Visit the Chellah necropolis (Roman and medieval ruins in gardens). Also see the Royal Palace (exterior) and the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern Art.
Where to eat: In the medina, Atay Café is famous for mint tea and snacks. Nearby Dar Zaki offers Moroccan classics on a terrace; riverside, seafood grills are popular.
Where to stay: Luxury hotels like La Tour Hassan or Kenzi Solazur (riverfront); mid-range Ibis or The View; budget Ibis Salé or rentals in Agdal. Transport: Rabat is compact and has a tram line to Salé, but most attractions are best reached on foot or by taxi.
Sample itinerary (Rabat): Morning: Hassan Tower and mausoleum, then Oudayas Kasbah and medina. Afternoon: Chellah ruins and the Mohammed VI Museum. Evening: stroll the Bouregreg riverfront.
Casablanca
Casablanca is Morocco’s bustling economic hub, where palm-lined boulevards and Atlantic breezes meet Art Deco architecture.
What to see: Don’t miss the Hassan II Mosque (with a marble courtyard over the sea) and the lively old Medina by the port. Explore the Habous quarter for spice markets and artisan crafts, and admire the 1930s Art Deco buildings around United Nations Square. The Ain Diab Corniche is perfect for a seaside walk.
Where to eat: Rick’s Café (inspired by the classic film) is an iconic lunch spot. In the Medina, the riad restaurants Dar Dada and La Sqala serve classic Moroccan tagines and salads.
Where to stay: Luxury options include the Four Seasons or Kenzi Tower Hotel; mid-range: Novotel or Hotel Le Doge; budget: hostels and guesthouses near the Habous quarter. Transport: The city has a modern tramway (4 lines) and plenty of petit taxis; the train station connects you to Rabat, Fez and Marrakech easily.
Sample itinerary (Casablanca): Spend your first morning at Hassan II Mosque and the Habous markets. Afternoon: Art Deco tour (UN Square, Central Market) and shopping. Evening: seafood dinner by the port, then a Corniche stroll.
Fes
Fez is the medieval heart of Morocco, famed for its UNESCO-listed Fes el-Bali old city.
What to see: Wander through Bab Boujloud into a labyrinth of alleys. Visit the Qarawiyyin Mosque-University (one of the world’s oldest) and the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas. Don’t miss the Chouara leather tanneries (dyed in open-air pits). Explore the new Ville Nouvelle (French colonial quarter) for cafés and gardens.
Where to eat: Fez specializes in rich dishes like pastilla (meat pie) and harira (spicy soup). Dine in a medina riad for authentic Moroccan cuisine.
Where to stay: Accommodations range from luxury riads in the medina (e.g. Riad Fès Luxury Palace) to modern hotels in Ville Nouvelle, and budget hostels around Bab Boujloud. Travel tip: The Fez Festival of World Sacred Music each May brings concerts in the ancient squares and is a great cultural bonus.
Sample itinerary (Fez): Morning: explore Fes el-Bali (Bab Boujloud, tanneries, medersas). Afternoon: tea at a terrace café, then visit the Ville Nouvelle or the Marinid Tombs for sunset.
Béni Mellal
Located at the foot of the Middle Atlas, Béni Mellal is a local market town and gateway to the mountains.
What to see: Climb to the Kasbah Bel-Kush above town for panoramic views. Visit Hommage Park downtown and swim at the Ain Asserdoun spring. For day-trippers, the Ouzoud Waterfalls (60 km north) are spectacular (see Natural Escapes page).
Where to eat: Local specialties include tagines with honey or preserved lemons, and hearty lentil-olive stews. Simple eateries in the medina serve these earthy dishes.
Where to stay: Options include Hotel La Coupole (4-star) or Dar Arfa guesthouse; nature lodges like Auberge Biougra (near the springs) and campsites by the reservoir are peaceful. Transport: CTM and Supratours buses link Béni Mellal to Casablanca, Marrakech and Fez; within town, petite taxis operate.
Sample itinerary (Béni Mellal): Day 1: Explore Kasbah Bel-Kush and the city market. Day 2: Drive to Ouzoud Falls – hike around the cascades, swim at the base, and watch the Barbary macaques.