So you’re looking for the best places in Morocco to visit? Look no further! We’ve compiled our list of the best destinations in Morocco you must visit. Our top 12 picks are a mix of cities and countryside destinations like the unforgettable Atlas Mountains. Here they are!
1. Atlas Mountains
Stretching some 2,500 kilometres across Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, the Atlas Mountains have long been home to some of North Africa’s most remote villages. It was only a decade ago the electricity and running water made its way to these mountains and in still in some parts these luxuries are unheard of.
2. Essaouria
If the sights and sounds of the busy souks have left you weary, Essaouria is the logical next stop on your Moroccan adventure. Unhurried and charming in the way only a seaside village can be, Essaouria is the type of town you could spend a week catching sun rays on a beach chair without worry for time, as it effortlessly passes you by.
3. Marrakech
There’s no city in the world quite as chaotically mesmerising as Marrakech. This is most evident when you find yourself wading through crowds in the souks, trying to find your way back to Jemaa el-Fna.
Be sure to check out La Mamounia hotel, constantly voted the world’s best luxury hotel, with endless photo opportunities with the perfectly placed mosaics around the property.
4. Meknes
While travelling through the North of the country, be sure to make a stop at Meknes, a city known for its imperial past and the impressive Bab Mansour, a huge gate lavishly adorned in mosaic tiling.
5. Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen or “the blue city” as it is now better known, has quickly become one of the most visited cities in Morocco. There are a number of theories as to why the walls of the city were painted blue, one of the most popular being that it was a deterrent for mosquitos. The blue colouring is said to represent the sky and heaven, encouraging locals to live a spiritual life.
6. Tamnougalt
The village of Tamnougalt is a date palm oasis in the middle of the desert in the Atlas Mountains. The village has become the star attraction of the Draa valley with thanks to its iconic 16th-century fortified city walls that make it so scenic and surreal.
7. Fes
The city of Fes is commonly considered the cultural capital of Morocco thanks to its vibrance and liveliness on the busy city streets. The souks are bustling and vibrant, though it can be easy to get lost in the chaos of it all. With so much to see and do inside the city walls, you will need at least three days to fully appreciate all Fes has to offer.
8. Sahara
As the largest hot desert in the world, the Sahara is comparable in size to China or the United States and stretches across most of North Africa. It is here where you can fully experiences desert culture, meet berbers and understand the nomadic way of life in the North of Africa.
9. Aït Benhaddou
On your way to the Sahara desert from Marrakech, be sure to stop at Aït Benhaddou, a desert village that looks as if it is straight out of a movie set.
10. Volubulis
Another interesting city in Morocco with a difference is Volubilis, a partly demolished Berber city near Meknes that was once the ancient capital of the kingdom of Mauretania. This was an important outpost for the Roman Empire and shows a detailed history into Roman times in North Africa.
11. Casablanca
As the largest city in Morocco, Casablanca is a bustling metropolis located on the Atlantic Ocean. Pictured is the Hassaan II Mosque, the most visited attraction in the city with an impressive towering minaret detailed in mosaic tiles.
12. Ouarzazate
Another beautiful desert city that appears like more of a mirage than actual life is Ouarzazate, the gateway to the Sahara. The city is home to a 19th-century palace with views over the rugged terrain below, making this city feel incredibly surreal and serene.