Positioned at the historical intersection of Mahgrebi, Andalusian, Roman and Arabic influences, Morocco has developed into an absolute melting pot of architectural and artistic styles over the centuries. Today, the result is a country with a distinctive cultural fabric, with ancient history intertwined in the modern-day cities, towns and countryside.

The impact of this convergence of cultures can been detected in the unique language, culinary traditions and local community customs, plus the distinctive art, design and architecture of Morocco. This means the country is just overflowing with some of the world’s best historical landmarks!

We compiled this post after six weeks spent exploring the entire length of Morocco, investigating as many historical landmarks and distinctive attractions as we could. Whether you’re coming to Morocco for ancient Roman ruins, elaborate mosques, rammed earth ksars, hilltop castles, timeless walled medinas or elaborate palaces, this list has something for everyone.

For more inspiration, consider having a look at our 15 most beautiful cities in Morocco, our detailed Morocco budget or 11 outdoorsy adventures in Morocco.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you book through these links we may make a small commission at zero cost to you. It helps us pay for the upkeep of this blog. Thank you!

These historical landmarks around Morocco are spread out, but luckily, Morocco is a super easy country to get around!

We found the best way to explore the historical sites of this country was to rent a car. Morocco is one of the easiest places we’ve ever driven in, so if you’re interested, check out our honest driving guide for Morocco.

Using public transport is also a breeze in Morocco – trains, buses and city trams are all decent and easy to figure out. For intercity transport, our favourite travel aggregator 12GoAsia operates in Morocco and lists thousands of train and bus routes. Take a look for representative prices and routes.

For any historical landmarks outside of the cities, the best way to visit is to book through Get Your Guide (if you do not have a car). We like it because it’s easy to check reviews before you book.

A seagull stood on a coastal wall with the city of Essaouira at sunset in the background.
Essaouira’s ramparts

Morocco is home to the oldest university in the world, al-Qarawiyyin University in Fes.

The Hassan II Mosque is the 2nd largest in Africa.

The oldest riad in Morocco was built in the second half of the 16th century and is called Dar Cherifa, located in Marrakech.

Tangier was an international zone from 1925-56 and is known for hosting the most famous of Beatnik artists.

The Moroccan state was founded in the 8th century by the Idrisid Dynasty, introducing Islam to the country. Modern day Morocco was founded on the 7th of April 1956.

The Fes el Bali Medina is the oldest Islamic walled city in the world.

Morocco has four imperial cities – Fes, Marrakech, Meknes, and the current capital, Rabat.



RELATED POST   |   EXPLORING MOROCCO’S COAST – AN ITINERARY

Artist impression

We always rent our vehicles all over the world, including our recent trips in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Jordan and Morocco, with Discover Cars. They’re often the most affordable, plus they paid out immediately on an insurance claim we made when our car took some heavy damage in Sicily. We fully recommend them.

If you book through the link below, we make a small profit, at zero cost to you, which helps us write these posts with no advertising! We only endorse products and companies we actually use regularly. For more information, read our position on affiliates.



TAKE A LOOK BELOW OR CHECK CAR RENTAL

Below is a savable Google Map of all the landmarks we write about below, plus any extra locations mentioned – select the star next to the title to save it. Below are the colour coded layers:

Yellow | historical landmarks
Green | hotel recommendations
Red | nearby towns and cities

A few of the places on this list are located in Morocco’s ancient walled towns, or medinas. The medinas themselves are popular Moroccan historical landmarks, even if some have few specific attractions.

However, because they are historical landmarks of interest, I think some tourists forget that medinas are homes too. As visitors, it’s exhilarating to explore the back alleys, hidden streets, and souqs across Morocco’s beautiful ancient cities. It is worth remembering that people reside there, with their windows and doors facing right out on to the street. Often, the streets are a place for laundry and washing up, a place to socialise with friends and neighbours, or a place to grow plants. Kids walk down these streets to go to school.

Consider how it would feel if tourists with big cameras came loudly crashing past your house every day, pointing their mobile phones at your home like you were a historical object in a museum. It would get old, pretty quick.

When we inevitably ended up in the back streets of these medinas, we’d always whisper, tread lightly and make sure we were extra polite to anyone we bumped into. We’d also never point our cameras or phones at anything or anyone that felt invasive and kept them out of sight for the majority of the time.

It just feels like the decent thing to do.



WHAT IS A MORROCAN RIAD?   |   29 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR A MOROCCO TRIP

A blue wheelbarrow with blank stencil lettering in Essaouira's medina.
Wheelbarrow for luggage in a medina

Although this is a more well-known Moroccan landmark, many visitors (misguidedly) miss it off their Morocco itinerary because they are not interested in visiting the city of Casablanca, where this incredible mosque resides.

However, the Hassan II mosque is the second largest in Africa and 14th largest in the world (apparently), with arguably the most epic location of them all, perched on the crazy, windswept Atlantic coastline. With waves battering the sides and the sun catching the towering minaret amidst the sea mist, it’s easily one of the most impressive sights in Morocco.

Tip | although it may not be a widespread opinion, we really loved Casablanca. It has this gritty, approachable charm that we warmed to immediately. We’d personally recommend spending a night if you have time on your schedule.

Tip | guided tours are required to enter the Hassan II Mosque (it’s the only mosque in Morocco that you can visit as a non-Muslim). If you want to have a look around (and we would recommend you do!), take a look at tickets.

Best place to stay | Casablanca or day trip from Rabat

Our hotel recommendations | in Casablanca, we stayed in Hotel Odyssee Center, which is pretty upmarket for us, but this was at the end of our trip and we were tired. It was also in the exact location we needed, close to Casa Port train station and the tram lines. It’s a really lovely, high end business hotel that was super comfortable. No regrets, would wholeheartedly recommend. In Rabat, we stayed in Riad Dar Soufa. This small, central riad is run by a lovely lady who helped us plan several days in the city. It was within walking distance of everything, including both the train station and the bus stop to the airport. The owner was really friendly, spoke fantastic English and gave us lots of cake on arrival!

Tour | 130 MAD for adults, children under 6 are free

Cost | Free entry to the grounds, parking nearby from 5 MAD per 2 hours

Crowds | 6/10

Rental car necessary | No

Balcony on the Hassan II Mosque's tower lit up by the sun.
Hassan II Mosque
Promenade at Casablanca with the Hassan II Mosque occluded by sea spray.
Hassan II Mosque

The UNESCO designated site of Volubilis is a large Roman-Berber ruin in northern Morocco. Founded around the third century BCE, this partly excavated colonial city changed rule many times until it was chosen as the home for Idris I, the founder of modern Morocco. The ruins sit on a shallow slope, providing panoramic views across the plains, which is particularly pretty during late afternoon.

The ruins are worth a visit, especially if you’re visiting Meknes. If you’re driving between Meknes and Fes, it’s practically on the way!

Tip | visit the adjacent town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. It’s home to the tomb of Idris I, the first Islamic ruler and founder of modern-day Morocco.

Tip | situated just north of Meknes and a little west of Fes, Volubilis is easily reached as a day trip from either city. It’s also straightforward to book an organised tour to the site if you cannot drive – many go from Fes and include Volubilis, Meknes and Moulay Idriss in a day, which is great if you’re on a tight schedule. Check out day trips and prices.

Tip | if you’re a big Roman ruins fan, consider visiting Lixus as well. It’s located near Asilah and Tangier on Morocco’s northern Atlantic coast. It’s a little less impressive, but was entirely empty when we visited, so you may only have tortoises for company.

Best place to stay | Meknes or Fes

Hotel recommendation | in Meknes, we chose Riad Yacout due to its particularly strategic location. It was a great choice, right opposite the main city parking, located in the main square (next to the babs!). The room was high-end, far nicer than we were expecting, and the building and rooftop were beautiful. Would highly recommend for a visit to Meknes. Our choice in Fes was the superb Riad Toyeur, which had huge, luxurious rooms (the best of our entire trip), fantastic staff and a decent breakfast too. We especially loved the location – it honestly can’t be beaten. Be aware that this riad books out fast.

Cost | 70 MAD for adults, 30 MAD for children

Crowds | 3/10

Car necessary | no

Volubilis
Detail at Volubilis

Aït Ben Haddou is one of Morocco’s picture-perfect postcards. The distinctive fortified village (or ksar) has been a UNESCO designated World Heritage site since 1987 and is one of the most popular tourist spots on the caravan route between Marrakech and the Sahara Desert.

The characteristic ksar is made solely from rammed earth, brick and wood. Although the fortified village has existed since the 11th century, most buildings date from the 1800’s. The village is, for the most part, abandoned, although walking through you’ll meet a lot of vendors.

Aït Ben Haddou is also legendary for serving as a backdrop in famous films and television shows across the ages. Recently, think Game of Thrones and, in bygone eras, Lawrence of Arabia, The Man Who Would Be King, the absolute hilarious classic The Jewel of the Nile and many more.

Yes, it’s busy, but definitely worth visiting, as an architecture, history or film fan!

For a detailed post with hints and tips on visiting, check out our dedicated Ait Ben Haddou guide.

Tip | Aït Ben Haddou is genuinely as picturesque as images online make it out to be, but with that perfection comes busloads of visitors. They all get dropped off by the bridge, so avoid that region if you’re crowd-averse, like us.

Tip | the modern village across the river is a great place to spend the night, allowing early morning and late evening access to the site after the tour groups leave.

Best place to stay | Aït Ben Haddou or Ouarzazate

Our hotel recommendations | okay, so this is, hands-down, my favourite hotel in the entirety of Morocco. Bagdad Café is situated in the little village opposite Aït Ben Haddou. It’s super stylish, in an understated, minimalist way, with beautiful rooms surrounding a pool and it’s all set in customary rammed earth style architecture. It’s so comfortable, I genuinely didn’t want to leave. There’s also parking and freshly made breakfast. In Ouarzazate, we oddly chose to stay in the motel-style Ibis, opposite the Kasbah. We wouldn’t usually recommend a branded hotel, but it has outrageous roof top views, an insane swimming pool, perfect location and super easy parking. It also had a very reasonable price-point. For a more personal service, consider Riad Dar Rita instead. It’s beautifully decorated, has a stunning rooftop and our friends who stayed there raved about it!

Tours | Aït Ben Haddou is included on every single tour from Marrakech to Merzouga’s sand dunes. Even if you do not want to drive yourself, it would be impossible to miss this stop! Check out example tours, prices and reviews.

Cost | free parking was included with our hotel but nearby places charge 10 MAD per day, or 50 MAD for overnight parking.

Crowds | 10/10 (potentially)

Car necessary | no

Ait Ben Haddou
Ait Ben Haddou

The walls of Essaouira, where they butt up against the Atlantic Ocean, are imposing, grand and, frankly, a little unbelievable. They are like something out of a fairy tale – a castle that rises from the ocean, with crenelated ramparts and cannons, protecting a princess in a tower.

I know that all sounds a bit outlandish, but it’s a truly striking, unique place. Game of Thrones even used the ramparts for a major filming scene – it embodies the fantasy world so well.

Tip | it’s common to visit Essaouira as a day trip from Marrakech, but we’d recommend at least two nights if you can fit it into your schedule. It’s a very easy self-drive, or you can even hop on a bus – check out options, prices and reviews with 12GoAsia, our favourite transport aggregator.

Tip | take a walk along the beach at sunset. The views from outside Essaouira’s walls are more impressive than from within!

Best place to stay | Essaouira

Our hotel recommendations | we chose the small but perfect Riad Dar Awil, situated in an ideal position between the square, public parking and the city walls. The breakfast was exquisite and the rooms were super comfortable (our room even had its own balcony and multiple external windows – a rarity in Moroccan riads). If our recommendation is booked up (it sells out quick), we’d recommend an alternative stay in Le Palazzo. This is the ideal property if you’re looking for a more contemporary room that’s still in the old town. It’s stunning.

Cost | free, parking 30 MAD per day (31.510874, -9.766416, rather than the main car park, which is a bit more expensive)

Crowds | 9/10

Car necessary | no

Stood on Essaouira’s ramparts
View from Essaouira’s ramparts

Marrakech’s showstopper is the Bahia Palace, a labyrinthian, 19th century, 150-room building in Marrakech’s old town. Currently, the palace is unfurnished, so it’s the spectacular architecture and design that’s on show. Nowadays, it’s uninhabited and protected as a structure of historical importance, however it has previously been used a personal home and royal residence.

The building itself feels like an oasis of peace, filled with gardens and ornate courtyards, all sheltered from Marrakech’s never-halting, chaotic, noisy roads. Inside, Bahia Palace is known for its craftsmanship; complex Arabic stucco patterning, stained glass, painted cedarwood ceilings and opulent Andalucian Zellij tiling adorn the hundreds of rooms.

Tip | the Bahia Palace was our favourite stop in the Red City, however it’s worth being aware that it is one of the busiest tourist attractions in Morocco. However, we didn’t feel that it was particularly crowded at opening time, so we’d recommend highly recommend arriving early.

Tip | if you are a photographer looking for some quintessential Moroccan design, pattern and colours, the Bahia Palace is incredible. It’s one of the most intricately adorned spaces I’ve ever visited. Truthfully though, if you have kids, they might get bored. It’s very detailed oriented and definitely not for anyone uninterested in design and architecture.

Tip | there are only a few signs around, with little in English, so if you are interested in learning more about the history of the Bahia Palace, we’d recommend hiring a guide or joining a group tour.

Best place to stay | Marrakech

Our hotel recommendation | as mentioned previously, we loved Riad El Habib, right in the central medina, which was a really smart little riad, adjacent to Jamaa el Fnaa.

Cost | 70 MAD for adults, 30 MAD for children

Crowds | 9/10

Car necessary | no

Ceiling in the Bahia Palace
Ornate decor in the Bahia Palace

Okay, so everyone is probably going to visit the famous Kairaouine (al-Qarawiyyin) Mosque and University anyway if they stop in Fes. However, I still have to include it on this list as it’s so remarkable and noteworthy, even though you can’t go inside.

It’s not only elegant, it marks the introduction of Islam and Arabic architecture in Morocco and is considered the oldest and longest continually functioning higher learning institution in the world. It really has had an enormous historical significance and influence since being built in the 9th century, during the Idrisid dynasty, when Fes was the capital of Morocco.

Navigating around the outside of the mosque is fun. It’s right in the middle of the UNESCO designated Fes el Bali area – the largest and oldest medieval Islamic city in the world. This means the nearly 10,000 alleyways are a bit of an adventure and every corner is a discovery.

Tip | although you can’t enter the mosque, if you want a taste of some incredible Arabic architecture, check out a madrasa, an Islamic centre for education. These have fantastic, improbably beautiful interiors and it’s possible to visit for a very small entry fee. We went to several, and particularly loved Al Attarine Madrasa.

Tip | we find it fun to get lost in the Medina of Fes – it’s not as scary as some make out and it’s easy enough to find your way just using Google Maps. However, if you would prefer to have a guide, take a look at Fes guides and prices – every tour will all include the mosque on their itinerary.

Best place to stay | Fes

Our hotel recommendation | our choice in Fes was the exquisite Riad Toyeur, which had amazing rooms (the best of our entire trip), fantastic staff and a decent breakfast. We specifically loved the location – it honestly can’t be beat, right on the edge of the medina, adjacent to several safe car parking lots. It’s genuinely an outstanding hotel – we wouldn’t hesitate to book again. Be aware that this riad books out, fast.

Cost | free

Crowds | 9/10

Car necessary | no

Detail on the Kairaouine University and Mosque

The 15th century, Portuguese-built Qalâa Torres, perched high on a precipice around a one-hour drive west from Al Hoceima, was not on our original travel plan. However, with its vast, sweeping ocean panoramas and beaches hundreds of metres below, it ended up being one of our favourite stops on Morocco’s Med coast.

This castle is definitely a bit random – it was totally empty when we visited and there’s no information on site. The short road up is rough and a bit steep – we just saw a sign and it piqued our interest. There might be man there to show you around – if you’re lucky!

Tip | it’s a photogenic little spot and if you wanted to spend a bunch of time getting the perfect photos, this would be an ideal location.

Tip | take a peek at nearby Spain! There are some super weird exclaves on the coast of Morocco, one not far really from Qalaa Torres. Head for Plage de Bades, just to the east of the castle if you’re interested.
 

Best place to stay | Al Hoceima

Our hotel recommendation | we stayed in the Mira Palace, which was incredible value for money in the shoulder season, with super-modern rooms, easy dedicated parking fresh-cooked breakfast and some of the best hotel room views we’ve ever had. Although it’s not a traditional Moroccan-style riad/guesthouse, it was a nice change, and we’d definitely stay again.

Cost | free entry, free parking

Crowds | 0/10 (literally)

Car necessary | yes

Thick, pale yellow, walls of Torres Castle overlooking the coast.
Qalaa Torres

So, this is more modern than ancient, however it still definitely counts as a historic landmark! Asilah is home to Morocco’s first ever street art festival, the International Cultural Moussem of Asilah, which has been a yearly summer occurrence since 1978.

The small 15th century walled section of the city butts up against the Atlantic Ocean, however the white-washed walls are more reminiscent of Greece and the Mediterranean. As you wander around the quiet alleys, you cannot fail to see the enormous number of local murals adorning almost every wall. Some are artistic, others political, some are just about cats – there’s something for everyone and there’s no better canvas than the prominent, starkly white ramparts of Asilah.

Tip | the art is changed yearly, so if you’ve already been previously, go again!

Tip | it’s easy to visit Asilah as a day trip from Tangier (a very easy drive, short bus or grab a tour). It’s also possible visit on the way from Tangier to Rabat (check out our coastal Morocco itinerary for more coastal route information). If you’d like to stay overnight, our accommodation preference is Riad Casa Bahia Asilah – surprisingly modern, has a great included breakfast and best of all – parking.

Best place to stay | Tangier

Our hotel recommendations | in the Tangier Kasbah area, we’d recommend the traditional Kasba Blanca. Situated on the peripheral of the medina, it’s classically decorated rooms and rooftop breakfast are impeccable – get an upgraded room though, as some come without windows. For a more budget-conscious option, consider Dar Rif Kebdani, with an impeccable location, lovely staff and cute rooftop. For a modern option outside the medina (with included parking), the Pestana Tanger ticks every box (it’s also adjacent to the train station). Rooms in this super-modern and clean aparthotel have large, fully fitted kitchen and living areas, plus private laundry facilities. We particularly loved the super convenient (and free) underground parking for our car.

Cost | free entry, 20 MAD parking

Crowds | 4/10

Car necessary | no

Street art in Asilah
Street of Asilah

Meknes, one of the lesser visited imperial cities of Morocco, has some spectacular gates (or ‘abwab’). These abwab are part of the UNESCO designated Meknes Medina, and no photo will do them justice, I promise. They are monumental, intricate and utterly awe-inspiring.

There are twenty abwab along the city walls, but the ceremonial Bab Mansour (Bab is Arabic for the singular gate and Mansour translates to ‘he who is victorious’) is the most prominent. Completed in 1732, this incredible historical landmark is embellished with white and green Zellij tiles and elaborate Koranic script, supported by pillars from nearby Volubilis on either side.

So, when we were visiting Meknes, the abwab were unfortunately getting a bit of a makeover, so we didn’t get to see them in all their glory. However, they are most definitely glorious and worth going for.

Tip | Meknes is worth coming to see, even if the gates are still under renovation. The medina was one of the nicest we visited, with zero hassle, lovingly crafted, covered sections, tonnes of cats and super hospitable residents. The whole city had a buzz that we absolutely loved.

Tip | Meknes is a very easy organised day trip from Fes, often including a trip to Volubilis as well. This is a good option if you do not have a rental car.

Best place to stay | Meknes

Our hotel recommendation | we choose Riad Yacout due to its particularly strategic location in the Meknes Medina. It turned out to be a great choice, right opposite the main city parking, located in the lovely main square (next to the gates!), with some particularly friendly attendants. The room was far nicer than we were expecting, and the building and rooftop beautiful. Would highly recommend for a visit to Meknes.

Cost | free entry, 20 MAD parking

Crowds | 6/10

Car necessary | no

Bab of Meknes

One of our favourite stops on our journey, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V took ten years to build and was completed in 1971. The tomb was built on the order of King Hassan II, for his father, King Mohammed V, who died in 1961. King Hassan II, who was king of Morocco for nearly 40 years until 1999, is also buried here.

Multiple scalloped archways and columns frame the four ornate exterior walls of the mausoleum, and inside is the white onyx cenotaph, plus a Quran reader who sits in the corner. The domed ceiling is simply exquisite. The tomb is manned on all sides by royal guards, who were particularly friendly and happy to pose for photographs.

On the opposite side of the courtyard is the partially finished Hassan Tower, which is the sandstone minaret of an unfinished mosque. This ambitious project would have been one of the largest mosques in the world, however construction halted when the Caliph died.

It’s a lovely area, set atop a hill which overlooks the Grand Theatre de Rabat and the insanely tall and modern Mohammed IV Tower.

Tip
| you can walk from the medina to the mausoleum along the river, from the Kasbah des Oudayas, and if it’s open, you can pop in and see the Grand Theatre (when it opens – it’s been under construction forever!).

Tip | be careful what you take photos of around the Mausoleum. Don’t take pictures of people or guards around the mosque area – we saw someone get in trouble for it. You can take photos of the mausoleum and architecture, though.

Best place to stay | Rabat

Our hotel recommendation | as mentioned above, we stayed in a lovely riad in Rabat’s old town, called Riad Dar Soufa. It was within walking distance from everything, including both the train station and the bus stop to the airport. The owner was really friendly, spoke fantastic English and gave us lots of cake on arrival!

Cost | free entry

Crowds | 5/10

Car necessary | no

View of the part-built mosque from the Mausoleum
Royal guard

Although Ait Ben Haddou gets all the love in this region, we really appreciated the prominent, rammed earth citadel at Ouarzazate, too. Built in the 17th century by the Imzwarn family and run by the influential Glaoui Clan through the 19th century, this fortification is genuinely quite formidable, plus an easy addition to any itinerary between Marrakech and the desert.

The Kasbah’s name ‘Taourirt’ means ‘little hill’ in Amazigh and has an advantageous position above the new town of Ouarzazate. Historically, this location was a strategic choice, set at the crossroads of several important river valleys and also along the vital, prosperous caravan routes that ran through north-west Africa, all the way to Sudan.

The kasbah is partly restored, with geometrically adorned mudbrick walls and intentionally narrow, rectangular windows. The labyrinthine kasbah itself has 300 rooms, some exquisitely renovated with traditional tiling, ornate stucco, floral patterns and intricately painted ceilings. There’s even a Tataoui, a traditional woven reed ceiling system.

Tip | the area was damaged in the September 2023 earthquake, but we visited after, and the damage did not make it less worth a trip.

Tip | if you’re into movies, check out one of the several museums in the area. Morocco has been a filmmaker’s favourite for decades! The Taourirt Kasbah, specifically, has been featured in recent, well-known films such as Gladiator and Prince of Persia.

Tip | this fortification is positively radiant at sunrise – its matte, mud exterior is improbably luminous. It’s worth getting up early for – the rooftop of the nearby IBIS hotel has outstanding views.

Best place to stay | Ouarzazate

Our hotel recommendation | there are several places in Ouarzazate. First is the standard, motel-style Ibis, opposite the kasbah. Now, we wouldn’t normally recommend a branded hotel, but it has some outrageous views from the roof top, a genuinely incredible pool, ideal location adjacent to the kasbah and super easy parking. We wanted to hate the place, but just couldn’t. It also had a very reasonable price-point. For a more personal service, consider Riad Dar Rita instead, it’s beautifully decorated, has a stunning rooftop and our friends who stayed there raved about it!

Cost | free to wander the surrounding village alleys, entry to the kasbah is 20 MAD

Crowds | 3/10

Car necessary | no

Kasbah Taourirt

Taroudant is not a heavily visited city, which seems peculiar to me as it’s less than 1.5 hours away from the popular hub of Agadir. It’s one of the oldest in Morocco, surrounded by eight-kilometre-long, rammed earth walls that encircle the old town medina. These walls, built in the 16th century, are some of the best preserved in Morocco and are absolutely colossal – towering to 14 metres high at points.

This pre-Islamic city is very low-key, without masses to do, as such. However, we had a lovely time wandering about with no hassle, and the historic fortifications are genuinely impressive. They give the entire place a grand, commanding feel, and are particularly remarkable at sundown.

Tip | the walls have five main gates: Bab al-Khamis, Bab Zougan, the main one – Bab El Kasbah, Bab Targount and Bab Ouled Bounouna. To walk around the walls, including the gates, takes around 2-3 hours.

Tip | we found Taroudant to be one of the far more traditional places we visited in Morocco – exercise caution with clothing choices and dress conservatively.

Tip | although it’s possible to day trip to Taroudant from Agadir, we’d recommend staying for the night – the city comes alive in the evening along the city walls, particularly around the eastern side near 20 August Place.

Best place to stay | Agadir or Taroudant

Our hotel recommendation | One of the most popular places to stay (especially for tour groups) is Dar Tourkia. It’s a large, well-reviewed, gated mini-resort style hotel with simple but clean rooms. It’s also got unsecured parking out the front – we stayed here and it was decent. A nicer, more traditional option is Riad Amnay, a stunningly decorated property in central Taroudant with super comfy beds, lovely hosts and public parking just down the road. This one can sometimes sell out fast, since it only has seven rooms. A hidden gem a few miles outside Taroudant is Palais Claudio Bravo, an incredible hotel, museum and former residence of a 20th century Chilean artist of the same name. It’s exquisite and I wished we could have stayed there on our trip!

Cost | free

Crowds | 3/10

Car necessary | no

Taroudant’s Walls

If you are visiting Morocco without a car, on a time-sensitive schedule, like to throughly check reviews or just prefer to have things organised in advance, consider booking a tour through Get Your Guide. This can also just be useful for checking representative prices.

There are all sorts of tours, including most of the spots on this list! There are also food tours, multi-day desert tours, city walking tours and more, which can help to fit more in during your trip, if that’s your style.

Powered by GetYourGuide

Morocco’s envious position at a geographical and cultural crossroad is truly special. Its proximity to Europe, the Middle East and Africa has made this country a highly distinctive blend of three contrasting continents and numerous cultures – influences that have resulted in a long, fascinating history that is just enchanting to learn about.

On a personal note, Morocco really blew me away with the huge variety of unexpected little moments. If I’m honest, I had expected to love the famous ancient medinas of the large cities, but the country delivered far, far more than the usual spots I’d seen online. I didn’t anticipate that at all and I’m so grateful that we chose to visit.

If you are looking for more inspiration and information for your Morocco trip, consider having a look at our Moroccan coastal itinerary, mountains itinerary, our guide to choosing a riad or 29 essential things to know before you take your trip.

Thanks for reading and I hope you have a fantastic Moroccan getaway!


Hi, thanks for visiting our blog! If this post has been of help to you, or you’ve just enjoyed our random ramblings and musings, say thank you by buying us a coffee! It helps keep The Restless Beans blog up and running without ads.

Thank you, Claire + Nick


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *