Best Places to Visit in Morocco: 10 Places You Shouldn't Miss

Best Places to Visit in Morocco – The best places to visit in Morocco, from Marrakech and Fes to Chefchaouen, the Sahara dunes of Merzouga, Ait Ben Haddou, the gorges and Essaouira.

Morocco packs an amazing variety into one country: imperial cities with medieval medinas, a blue town in the mountains, kasbahs, deep gorges, Atlantic ports and the golden dunes of the Sahara. If you are planning your first trip, here are the 10 places we recommend most, with tips on how to fit them into your route.

1. Marrakech

Marrakech is the most famous city in Morocco and a great place to start your trip. In the evening, Jemaa el-Fna square fills with food stalls, musicians and storytellers. By day, explore the souks of the old medina, the Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace and the Majorelle Garden.

Tour idea: Desert tours from Marrakech

2. Fes

Fes el-Bali is one of the largest car-free medieval cities in the world, with thousands of narrow lanes. Visit the Chouara tannery, the craft workshops and the University of al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859. A local guide makes the medina much easier to explore.

Tour idea: Desert tours from Fes

3. Chefchaouen

High in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is famous for its blue-washed houses and peaceful atmosphere. Wander the medina, take photos in the blue lanes and walk up to the Spanish Mosque for a view over the town at sunset.

Tour idea: 10-day Morocco tour

4. Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes

For many travelers, the Sahara is the highlight of Morocco. At Merzouga, the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi rise more than 150 metres. Ride a camel at sunset, spend the night in a desert camp under the stars and wake up early to watch the sunrise over the dunes.

Tour idea: Merzouga desert trips

5. Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate

Ait Ben Haddou is a fortified earthen village on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has appeared in many films and series. Nearby Ouarzazate, known as the gateway to the desert, has film studios and the Taourirt Kasbah.

Tour idea: 3-day desert tour from Marrakech

6. The Dades and Todra Gorges

On the road between the High Atlas and the Sahara, the Dades Valley is known for its winding road and red rock formations. In the Todra Gorge, you can walk between limestone walls around 300 metres high. Both are classic stops on the way to Merzouga.

Tour idea: 4-day desert tour from Marrakech

7. Essaouira

Essaouira is a relaxed port town on the Atlantic coast, with a whitewashed medina, ramparts and a busy fishing harbour. It is a good place to slow down after the big cities, eat fresh fish and enjoy the sea breeze, which also makes it popular for kitesurfing.

Tour idea: Morocco tours

8. Casablanca

Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and the main arrival airport for many travelers. Its highlight is the Hassan II Mosque, built over the Atlantic, with one of the tallest minarets in the world. It is one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors on guided tours.

Tour idea: Tours from Casablanca

9. Meknes and Volubilis

Meknes, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, is known for the monumental Bab Mansour gate. Just outside the city, the Roman ruins of Volubilis have well-preserved mosaics and are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Both are easy to visit on the way from Casablanca or Rabat to Fes. On the hill next to Volubilis, the white town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Morocco.

Tour idea: Tours from Meknes

10. Rabat

Morocco’s capital is calmer than the other big cities. Visit the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, then walk through the blue and white lanes of the Kasbah of the Udayas above the ocean.

Tour idea: 7-day tour from Casablanca

How to fit these places into one trip

Most of these places are linked by a classic route: start in Casablanca or Marrakech, cross the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and the gorges, spend a night in the Merzouga desert and continue to Fes. With 7 to 10 days you can add Chefchaouen, Meknes, Volubilis and Rabat. All our tours are private and can be adapted to your dates.

Traveling with family, friends or students? The more people share the trip, the lower the price per person. See our Morocco special offer.

Not sure where to start? Contact us and we will help you plan the right route for your trip.