What to see in Rabat, Morocco
We finish our route through Morocco in the capital of the country. We tell you what to see and do during 24 hours in Rabat. The city that surprised us the most on our trip.
The 10-day route through Morocco came to an end, being the last city we visited Rabat. The capital of the country, and one of the four imperial cities of the country along with Meknes, Fes, and Marrakech.
We can tell you that it was perhaps the city that surprised us the most since we did not expect much of it. It was really worth spending a day visiting its streets and most emblematic places.
In Rabat we spent a little less than 24 hours so we had a lot to discover about the city. But what we saw we loved because being a less touristy city than others we visited you can breathe a little better the essence of a country like Morocco.
A day in Rabat, what to see and do
In this post we talk about what to see in Rabat in a one-day route through the city. Discover its historic center and some of its essentials such as the Kasbah of the Oudayas. Besides the complex where the Mausoleum of King Mohammed V and the unfinished Hassan Tower are practically glued.
The medina of Rabat
After visiting the imposing Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca we arrived in Rabat in mid-afternoon. With just enough time to leave our bags in the riad where we stayed. It was to stroll through the medina of the city. One of the things we always look for when selecting accommodation is that it is in an optimal location to visit the city. So this case was no less because of Riad Sakina, where we stayed. It was located in the medina near the Bab Laalou gate.
The medina of Rabat is undoubtedly the least touristy and crowded of all those we visited. So it is the one we keep a better memory for the authenticity that we could live in the place. In endless streets, most of them narrow and with a rather questionable order. We can enjoy the authentic essence of Morocco, and in our case make the last purchases of souvenirs and souvenirs.
Prices in Rabat are somewhat lower than in other medinas. So it is most advisable to buy souvenirs. Including argan oil that we found almost half the price than in the stores of Marrakech.
Inside the medina, which is surrounded by walls of just over 5 kilometers long, apart from stores and restaurants rather fast food. We can also contemplate the El Qoubba Mosque. Located on Rue Sidi Fatah and that like most mosques, if we are not Muslims. We will have to be content to see it from the outside. As a reference, the store where we bought the argan oil is located just opposite the main entrance to this mosque.
The jewish quarters
Another interesting place to see inside the medina of Rabat is the Jewish quarter of Mellah, which dates from the early 19th century. At this time, about 6,000 Jews who lived in the area were forced to move to this area of the city. It was for many years one of the main Jewish enclaves throughout the country.
As a detail, until the foundation of the modern state of Israel. Around (1948) between 250,000 to 300,000 Jews lived in Morocco. In the ’50s, almost all of this community left the country. Being the current population of Jews in Morocco of only 5,000, most of them settled in Casablanca.
The Kasbah of the Oudayas
Rabat hid a treasure to see that we had never heard of before arriving in this city. This treasure is the Kasbah of the Oudayas. Located about a 10-minute walk from the medina is one of the most beautiful places we visited throughout the trip. Its origin dates back to the eleventh century with the aim of protecting the city from pirates and enemies.
The Kasbah of the Oudayas is a walled neighborhood. Located in one of the high points of the city from which we can enjoy one of the best views of the merger of Rabat with the Atlantic. At the mouth of the river Bu Regreg.
The walls of the Kasbah of the Oudayas envelop a kind of village completely different from the rest of the city of Rabat. In it, we can walk through a maze of streets painted blue and white. In the purest sailor style, with ornamental details that give a special charm to the place. They say that this style of house is very similar to what we can find in Chefchauen. From what we see in the photos seems to be so, but we have to visit the latter to corroborate it in the first person.
Apart from enjoying the walk through the streets, we can not miss the Kasbah of the Oudayas:
- the Bab Oudaya, which is the impressive main gate of the walls of the citadel.
- the Andalusian Garden, with its Andalusian air and its orange trees.
- the terrace of the Café Maure, to have a tea with a view of the river in its mouth.
- the Jemâa Al Atiq mosque, which is the oldest mosque in Morocco.
The Royal Palace
After being impressed and more than surprised by the kasbah we headed to the Royal Palace of Rabat. It is located about 10 minutes by car. We went, as all the trip with our driver Hamza. But if you go on your own you can take a cab or even make the trip on foot if it is not too hot in the area.
From the Royal Palace, we can only see if door and this yes, at a safe distance. It is curious and even funny to see how the guards and police that are always on-site go to the tourists who come too close urging them. Not in a very good way, to move away from the entrance of the palace.
The visit, as you can see, does not have much tourist interest. The highlight apart from the facade of the palace is the so-called Mechouar. It is a large courtyard that is used for large public assemblies. And in which we can also see a mosque that, in theory, is where members of the royal family go.
Mausoleum of Mohammed V
In the so-called esplanade of the Hassan Tower. We will talk about below is one of the most imposing, beautiful. And historic buildings to see in Rabat and Morocco in general. The Mausoleum of Mohammed V, royal tomb with the remains of King Mohammed V, and his sons Hassan II and Mulay Abdellah.
This building, dominated by a white color that remains almost pristine despite the passage of time, was built between 1961 and 1971. Its decoration involved more than 400 Moroccan artists.
We can say that King Mohammed V is perhaps the most important personality in the history of Morocco. Being him, on his return from exile in Madagascar. And when he was known as Sultan Mohamed Ben Yusef, who declared the independence of the kingdom of Morocco on November 18, 1955. In the same place where years later thousands of visitors go to the place to venerate his remains and those of his descendants.
The visit to this Mausoleum is simply essential, both outside and inside. From this we can see the tombs of the kings from a small viewpoint built for the occasion.
The mausoleum is always guarded by several royal guards. They are photo fodder for the hundreds of visitors who crowd the place almost every moment. It is also important to watch the opening hours of the mausoleum and to be lucky not to coincide with the visit of any important personage. Since in this case the access doors to the mausoleum are closed for an undetermined period of time.
The Tower of Hassan
As we have mentioned the Mausoleum of Mohammed V is located on the esplanade of the so-called Hassan Tower. It is the unfinished minaret of the mosque of the same name located touching the mausoleum.
The Hassan Tower was the icing on the cake of what was to be one of the largest mosques in the world. It was ordered to be built by the ruler Yacoub al-Mansour. The aim was to be the second largest in the world only behind that of Samara in Iraq.
The problem lies in the fact that upon the death of the ruler. The construction of the mosque was stopped due to the great economic cost involved and the construction of the tower was stopped abruptly. Remaining at a height of 44 meters instead of the more than 60 that were projected. From the mosque project, apart from the tower, there remains a forest of unfinished columns that give a mystical air to the esplanade.
As a curiosity, the Hassan Tower was designed as a “brother” of two world-famous minarets. It is like the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech and the nearest and dearest Giralda of Seville.
Mohammed V Avenue
The plane does not wait, although sometimes it is late without warning. So our visit of a few hours in Rabat was coming to an end. Before heading to eat almost to the first restaurant we found, gave us some time to stroll down the Avenue Mohammed V. It is a completely different area to those we had visited as the small narrow streets become modern and wide avenues.
This avenue is where we can locate the vast majority of institutions. Including the Spanish embassy, the central post office, and even the train station. We did not use but can be a more than valid means of transport to go to the cities of Meknes or Fez.
In this style of street, we can also locate the so-called Ville Nouvelle. It is the first area built by the French in the early twentieth century at the time of his protectorate.
The necropolis of Chellah
We must say that in almost all the cities we visit in Morocco we left something to see. In this case, for lack of time we did not visit the so-called Necropolis of Chellah. A complex of Phoenician-Roman origin located in the ancient city of Salé. It is about 2 kilometers from the historic center of Rabat.
This Chellah, is a large fortification, with an imposing gateway, inside which we can awaken the archaeologist in us and discover in Indiana Jones plan some remains of Phoenician. Roman and Arab ruins as a deteriorated forum, a Hamman and some houses of the time.
This place was abandoned for many years until the Arabs occupied it and built a mosque, sanctuaries, and even a madrasa.
This is one of the few places in Rabat where you have to pay the entrance fee. Yes, we will not have to scratch many pockets as the entrance fee to the Necropolis of Chellah is only 10 dirhams, less than 1 €.
Sleeping and eating in Rabat
The offer of riads in Rabat is quite wide. So not being a very touristy city, in theory, it should be the one you have fewer problems to find accommodation. We stayed in the medina area, as we like to be in the thick of things whenever we visit a city. In the case of Rabat, the only problem with staying in the medina is that since we can not enter by car we will have to carry our luggage for a long time. But nothing we can not bear.
Riad Sakina
The accommodation in which we slept in Rabat was the Riad Sakina. A relatively young establishment run by a Frenchman (Gilles) who explained some of its history and how he had come from France to run a riad in Rabat.
It is a more than adequate accommodation, clean, comfortable and with a very complete breakfast. Undoubtedly a good choice to spend a night or two in the capital of Morocco.
The Boat of Rabat (Le Dhow)
Moored in the Bu Regrer River, we found this Restaurant Bar Lounge where we had dinner on our last night in Morocco. It is a wooden boat built in India (see the construction process of Le Dhow Rabat). With the idea of immersing the customer in a world similar to the one, you might find on Captain Hook’s ship. Although the initial idea for the boat was to take it to Dubai. It was finally installed in Rabat. definitely, one of the most visited places of leisure and gastronomy in the city.
The ship has different environments for dining, from a sophisticated restaurant where French cuisine predominates and whose average price does not fall below 40-50€ per diner to a more Irish style. We went to it, where we could enjoy a good burger and beer for just over 10€ while listening to some live music.
It is not a very Moroccan experience to end the trip. But we cannot deny that it is a different place with a lot of visual magic.
We hope you liked our post about what to see and do in Rabat. We encourage you to visit this city that will surely surprise you.
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