About the city
Rabat has been the capital of Morocco since 1912 and a UNESCO World Heritage city since 2012. With around 600,000 inhabitants, it is a calm, leafy Atlantic city with wide boulevards, palaces, embassies and universities. Rabat blends capital-city appeal with a relaxed atmosphere — much more laid-back than Casablanca or Marrakech.
📜 History
Rabat has a rich history dating back to Roman Sala. The present city was founded in the 12th century by the Almohads as a military base for their Spanish campaigns. The unfinished Hassan Tower recalls an ambition to build the world's largest mosque. In the 17th century Rabat sheltered Andalusian Moors — and even pirates. It has been the official capital since the French era.
🗺️ Things to do
- ✓Visit the Kasbah of the Udayas with its blue-and-white lanes and sea view
- ✓Discover the imposing Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V
- ✓Wander the Chellah, a Roman-Merinid necropolis full of storks
- ✓Explore the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
- ✓Stroll the medina and the mellah (old Jewish quarter)
- ✓Cross the Bouregreg river to picturesque Salé
- ✓Relax on the city beach or in the Andalusian gardens
🍴 Food & drink
Rabat offers both classic Moroccan and refined modern cuisine. Try rfissa (a festive chicken dish), seafood pastilla and "trid" (layered pancake). The medina has great street food; Hassan district has modern brasseries and art-deco cafés.
🏘️ Neighbourhoods
The medina and Kasbah are historic and charming. Hassan and Agdal are the upscale, modern districts with embassies. Souissi is residential and green. Across the river lies Salé, with a beautiful medina of its own.
☀️ Best time to visit
April–June and September–October are ideal. Winter is mild but rainy; summer pleasant thanks to the ocean breeze.
✨ What makes it special
Rabat combines capital-city appeal with a relaxed, almost provincial vibe. Less hectic than Casablanca or Marrakech, but with just as much culture, history and lush greenery. For anyone who wants to know the official Morocco — and is looking for a calm city base — Rabat is the perfect choice.
📷 City photos
