Rabat in 5 days

Morocco's calm capital: an ocean-facing kasbah, Almohad ruins, wide boulevards and zero hustle. Best time to visit: March-June, September-November. Average daily budget: $60 to $120 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Kasbah des Oudayas, The blue-washed clifftop fortress with Andalusian gardens and river views.

Morning: Kasbah des Oudayas. Wander the blue lanes, Andalusian garden and cafe terrace above the Atlantic.

Afternoon: Explore Kasbah des Oudayas, The blue-washed clifftop fortress with Andalusian gardens and river views.

Evening: Hassan Tower & Mausoleum. See the 12th-century unfinished minaret and Mohammed V's marble mausoleum.

Eat: Grilled Atlantic fish at the Rabat port stalls

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: The Medina, A compact, low-pressure old town of souks and the Rue des Consuls carpet street.

Morning: Chellah necropolis. Explore Roman ruins, Merinid tombs and nesting storks in a walled garden.

Afternoon: Explore The Medina, A compact, low-pressure old town of souks and the Rue des Consuls carpet street.

Evening: Mohammed VI Museum of Modern Art. Morocco's flagship contemporary art museum, in the Ville Nouvelle.

Eat: Rfissa, chicken with lentils on shredded msemen

Day 3, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Hassan & Yacoub El Mansour, The Hassan Tower, royal mausoleum and the Grand Théâtre by Zaha Hadid.

Morning: Rowboats across the Bou Regreg to Salé for a few dirhams.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Hassan & Yacoub El Mansour, The Hassan Tower, royal mausoleum and the Grand Théâtre by Zaha Hadid.

Evening: Café Maure's mint tea terrace inside the kasbah walls.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Sardine tagine, an Atlantic coast specialty

Day 4, Day trip or nature

Base: Agdal & Hay Riad, Modern districts with cafes, restaurants and the city's business life.

Morning: The Rue des Consuls carpet auction on Thursday mornings.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Agdal & Hay Riad, Modern districts with cafes, restaurants and the city's business life.

Evening: Plage des Nations and the Sale beach dunes north of the city.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Pastries and nous-nous coffee on an Avenue Mohammed V terrace

Day 5, Slow finish

Base: Salé, The older sister city across the Bou Regreg, reached by tram or rowboat.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Salé, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Salé, The older sister city across the Bou Regreg, reached by tram or rowboat.

Evening: Dinner at Grilled Atlantic fish at the Rabat port stalls, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Salé.

Eat: Grilled Atlantic fish at the Rabat port stalls

Hidden gems

Rowboats across the Bou Regreg to Salé for a few dirhams.
Café Maure's mint tea terrace inside the kasbah walls.
The Rue des Consuls carpet auction on Thursday mornings.
Plage des Nations and the Sale beach dunes north of the city.

Getting around

Rabat-Salé airport sits 10km northeast, and the Al Boraq high-speed train links Casablanca in 50 minutes and Tangier in 1h20. A clean two-line tram connects Rabat with Salé, petit taxis are cheap and metered, and the medina and kasbah are easily walkable. Trains to Fes and Marrakech run several times daily.

Safety

Rabat is widely considered Morocco's safest and least hassling city, with a strong police presence as the political capital. Petty theft is uncommon but possible in the medina and on packed trams. Atlantic currents near the kasbah beach are strong, so swim only where lifeguards operate. Modest dress is appreciated in the old town and near mosques.

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