Things to Do in Rabat

1. What to do in Rabat

**The historic core.** Hassan Tower, the unfinished minaret of a mosque whose construction began in 1195, is visited together with the Mohammed V Mausoleum right beside it, on the same esplanade. The Kasbah of the Oudayas, at the mouth of the Bouregreg, is crossed on foot: white-and-blue lanes, Andalusian gardens inside the ramparts, and a terrace facing the Atlantic and the river. Chellah, away from the centre, brings together Roman ruins and a medieval necropolis inside a walled enclosure, with storks nesting on the ruins. The royal palace is not open to visitors: only the outside and the gates can be seen.

**Museums.** The Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, opened in 2014, shows Moroccan and international art, with temporary exhibitions alongside a permanent collection. The Museum of History and Civilisations holds archaeological objects found in Morocco. Inside the kasbah, the National Museum of Adornment shows jewellery and decorative arts. Check the current exhibition on the National Foundation of Museums site before choosing between these three museums.

**The medina and food.** Rabat's medina is walked on foot, between Rue des Consuls and the souks, including Souk Es Sebbat, known for babouches. The central market, near Avenue Mohammed V, sells fish, fruit, and fresh produce. For eating, grilled sardines, tagines, and harira are the most common dishes, and the cafés of Agdal and Avenue Mohammed V are part of the outing as much as the meal itself.

**Water and the outdoors.** Rabat beach, at the mouth of the Bouregreg, is used for swimming, surfing, and bodyboarding, with schools offering lessons. The Bouregreg quays suit walking, and traditional boats, the floukas, cross the river to Salé: the far bank is another city, not a district of Rabat. The corniche, along the Atlantic, is walked or cycled. The botanical test garden offers shaded paths and a small zoo. The National Zoological Garden of Rabat, south of the city, shows species from Morocco and Africa. The Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, also to the south, is the city's golf course.

**With family.** The open sites suit children best: the kasbah gardens, the botanical garden paths, the Hassan Tower grounds, and the beach. Chellah needs more walking and care, with its ruins and uneven paths.

2. Seasonal notes

In spring, the gardens are at their best, and walks are at their most pleasant. In summer, the beach and water activities take over, and evenings outdoors last longer. The Mawazine festival, an annual music festival held in Rabat since 2001, usually takes place in late spring or early summer, on several stages across the city, some of them on the far side of the river, in Salé. Its dates change every year: check the current edition's programme before planning a trip around the festival. In winter, days stay mild on the Atlantic coast, and museums and covered monuments take over from outdoor activities.

3. Practical notes

• Check the current access of each ticketed place before setting out: the sources consulted disagree on hours and prices, and a place may close for works or for an event.
• In the kasbah, remember that people live there: walk slowly, do not block doorways, and ask before photographing someone.
• In the mausoleum, wear respectful dress, shoulders and knees covered, and follow the staff's instructions.
• Do not assume an ordinary mosque is open for sightseeing: only visits marked as such are.
• At the beach, ask on the spot about the day's swimming conditions, and avoid isolated beaches after dark.
• This page gives general information. It is not a listing, and it verifies no seller, place, or provider in particular.