Top Destinations in Morocco
Choosing the best places to visit in Morocco is not easy. In a country this varied, you can wander through the medieval medinas of Fes and Marrakech in the morning, cross the High Atlas in the afternoon and watch the sun set over the Sahara dunes at night. This guide introduces the top destinations, what makes each one special, what to see and how to combine them into a trip.
Use the buttons below to jump to a destination. Most travellers combine several regions, and you will find suggested routes at the end of the page. If you would like help, our team can design a private tour around the best destinations in Morocco for your dates and interests. See our tours in Morocco or contact us.
Jump to a Destination
Marrakech: The Red City
Known as the “Red City” for its ochre walls, Marrakech is the most visited city in Morocco. Founded in the 11th century, it is home to one of the busiest squares in Africa, Jemaa El Fna, where storytellers, musicians and food stalls fill the evening. Behind it lies a maze of souks selling carpets, lanterns, spices and leather. Read more about the medina of Marrakech.
Don’t Miss
- Jemaa El Fna square, especially at sunset
- The Koutoubia Mosque and its gardens
- Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs
- Ben Youssef Madrasa and the souks
- The Majorelle Garden
Marrakech is also the best base for the Atlas Mountains, Essaouira and the Sahara. See our day trips from Marrakech and our 3-day tour to the Sahara.
Fes: The Spiritual Capital
Fes is the cultural and spiritual heart of Morocco and its oldest imperial city. Its medina, Fes el-Bali, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world, a maze of thousands of lanes filled with workshops, fountains and madrasas. The Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859, is regarded as the oldest continuously operating university in the world.
Don’t Miss
- The Chouara tanneries
- Bou Inania Madrasa and the Nejjarine Fountain
- Bab Boujloud, the blue gate of the medina
- The Mellah (Jewish quarter) and the pottery cooperatives
- The viewpoint over the whole medina
Explore it on our 5-day tour from Fes to Marrakech or our 3-day tour from Fes to Marrakech.
Chefchaouen: The Blue Pearl
Set in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is famous for its blue-washed houses, steep lanes and relaxed mountain atmosphere. Its medina, with Andalusian influences, invites slow wandering, and the main square, Outa el Hammam, is lined with cafes facing the kasbah and the Great Mosque with its octagonal minaret. Hiking trails and waterfalls in the surrounding mountains are close at hand.
Chefchaouen is included on our Imperial Cities to Sahara Desert tour and our New Year’s Eve tour.
Don’t Miss
- The blue lanes of the medina
- Outa el Hammam square and the kasbah
- The Ras el Maa spring and waterfall
- The viewpoint at the Spanish Mosque, especially at sunset
Essaouira: The Atlantic Port
Essaouira is a relaxed Atlantic port with a UNESCO-listed medina, whitewashed walls and blue shutters. Its ramparts (the Skala), its fishing harbour full of blue boats and its strong trade winds make it a favourite for windsurfing and kitesurfing, while the old town is known for thuya woodwork, argan oil and the Gnaoua music festival.
Don’t Miss
- The Skala ramparts at sunset
- The fishing harbour and the fresh grilled fish
- The medina lanes and woodwork workshops
- The long beach and the Gnaoua World Music Festival, usually in summer
It is an easy trip from Marrakech on our Marrakech to Essaouira day trip.
Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou: The Door of the Desert
Ouarzazate, our home town, sits on a plateau south of the High Atlas at about 1,160 metres and is known as the “door of the desert”. It is the gateway to the Draa Valley and the Sahara and the centre of Morocco’s film industry. Nearby, the fortified village (ksar) of Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has appeared in films and series such as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and Game of Thrones.
Don’t Miss
- Ait Ben Haddou, at sunrise or sunset
- Taourirt Kasbah and the Atlas Studios
- The Fint Oasis
- The Skoura palm grove
See our Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou day trip, our Fint Oasis day trip and our 3-day tour from Ouarzazate.
Merzouga and the Sahara Desert
Watching the sun rise or set over the dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga is often the highlight of a trip to Morocco. The dunes rise to about 150 metres and change colour through the day. Ride a camel into the dunes, spend the night in a desert camp under the stars and wake for sunrise. In spring, a seasonal lake near Merzouga can attract flamingos and other migrating birds, and the nearby towns of Rissani and Erfoud offer markets and fossil workshops.
Don’t Miss
- A camel trek at sunset
- A night in a desert camp
- Sunrise over the dunes
- The Rissani souk and Gnawa music
See our 3-day Marrakech to Sahara tour, the Morocco desert tour from Marrakech and the fossils and minerals tour.
Casablanca and Rabat: The Modern Face of Morocco
Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and economic capital, a modern port city famous for the Hassan II Mosque, built on the Atlantic shore, and for its Art Deco buildings and the Habous quarter. Rabat, the capital, is calmer and greener, with the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the Kasbah of the Udayas and the Chellah necropolis. Rabat is a UNESCO World Heritage city.
Don’t Miss
- The Hassan II Mosque (guided visits for non-Muslims)
- The Corniche and the Habous quarter in Casablanca
- The Hassan Tower and the Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat
See our Morocco imperial cities tour and our guide to getting to Morocco.
Meknes and Volubilis: Imperial and Roman Morocco
Meknes was the imperial capital of Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century and is known for its monumental gate, Bab Mansour, its granaries and its royal stables. A short drive away, Volubilis is the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, a UNESCO World Heritage site with beautiful mosaics set among olive groves. The holy town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun overlooks the ruins.
Don’t Miss
- Bab Mansour and the Heri es-Souani granaries
- The Roman mosaics of Volubilis
- The views over Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
Both are on our 11-day imperial cities and Sahara tour.
The Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains cross Morocco from south-west to north-east and offer some of the country’s best scenery. In the High Atlas, Toubkal (4,167 metres) is the highest peak in North Africa, and the village of Imlil is the classic starting point for walks and treks. Further north, the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas around Ifrane and Azrou are home to Barbary macaques, and the Ouzoud Waterfalls tumble through olive groves. The Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 metres) crosses the High Atlas on the road between Marrakech and Ouarzazate.
Don’t Miss
- Imlil and the Toubkal National Park
- The Ouzoud Waterfalls
- Ifrane and the Azrou cedar forest
- The Tizi n’Tichka pass
See our Imlil and Toubkal day trip, the Ouzoud Waterfalls day trip and our High Atlas trek.
Dades, Todra and the Roses Valley
South of the High Atlas, the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs” links the dramatic Todra Gorge, with its steep rock walls, and the Dades Gorges, known for their strange “monkey finger” rock formations. Further west, Kelaat M’Gouna is the centre of the Roses Valley, where rosewater and rose products are made and a rose festival is held each spring, and the Skoura palm grove hides the Amridil kasbah.
Don’t Miss
- A walk through the Todra Gorge
- The rock formations and viewpoints of the Dades Valley
- Rose products in Kelaat M’Gouna
- The Amridil kasbah in Skoura
See our Roses Valley and Dades Gorges day trip and our 7-day tour from Ouarzazate to Fes.
More Places Worth a Visit
If you have more time, add one of these destinations to your route.
Tangier
A port city on the Strait of Gibraltar, with a historic kasbah and medina, Cap Spartel and ferry links with Spain. A good gateway to Chefchaouen.
Asilah
A whitewashed Atlantic town with ramparts, colourful murals and an annual arts festival, popular for a relaxed seaside break.
Agadir and Taghazout
Sunny beaches, a modern seaside resort and one of Morocco’s best surf spots. Agadir is also close to the Souss-Massa National Park.
Zagora and M’Hamid
Gateway to the Draa Valley and the dunes of Erg Chigaga, for travellers who want a quieter desert experience.
Suggested Routes
Here are four ways to combine the best places to visit in Morocco. Every itinerary can be adapted to your dates and interests.
3 Days: Marrakech to the Sahara
Cross the High Atlas, visit Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, and ride a camel into the dunes. See the 3-day tour.
5 to 7 Days: Fes and the Sahara
Travel through Ifrane, the cedar forest and the Ziz Valley to the Sahara, then on to Marrakech or Ouarzazate. See the 5-day tour or the 7-day tour.
11 Days: Imperial Cities and the Sahara
Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Meknes and Volubilis, Fes, the Sahara and Marrakech. See the 11-day tour.
12 Days: Trek the High Atlas
Walk through Berber villages to Ighil M’Goun, with the Achabou Gorges and the Roses Valley. See the trekking tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best places to visit in Morocco for first-time visitors?
Most first-time visitors choose Marrakech, Fes, the Sahara Desert near Merzouga, the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, Chefchaouen and Essaouira. These give you a mix of imperial cities, mountains, desert and coast.
How many days do I need to see the best of Morocco?
Plan 7 to 10 days to see Marrakech, the Atlas, the Sahara and Fes. With 3 days you can reach the Sahara from Marrakech, and with 11 days you can add the northern imperial cities and Chefchaouen. See our tours in Morocco.
Which is better, Marrakech or Fes?
Both are unmissable. Marrakech is lively, colourful and easy to enjoy, with a strong base for day trips. Fes is older, more traditional and more like stepping into the Middle Ages. Most travellers visit both.
Is Chefchaouen worth visiting?
Yes. Its blue-washed lanes, mountain setting and relaxed atmosphere make it one of the most photogenic and peaceful places in Morocco. It works well on a route between Tangier, Fes and Casablanca.
What are the best beach towns in Morocco?
Essaouira, Asilah, Agadir and Taghazout are the most popular seaside destinations. Essaouira and Taghazout are especially known for windsurfing, kitesurfing and surfing.
Which places in Morocco are UNESCO World Heritage sites?
They include the medinas of Marrakech, Fes and Essaouira, the historic city of Meknes, the Roman site of Volubilis, the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou and the city of Rabat.
Where is the best place to see the Sahara Desert?
Merzouga, at the Erg Chebbi dunes, is the most popular place and is reachable from Marrakech or Fes. Zagora and M’Hamid, with the Erg Chigaga dunes, offer a quieter alternative.
Keep Exploring
More Morocco travel guides:
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