Our road trip in Morocco began in the splendid Casablanca, where we landed with our Royal Air Maroc flight from Italy: Casablanca is located on the west coast of the country and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean.
Casablanca is one of the most important and largest cities in Morocco, where tradition blends with modernity.
You will often hear it said that, apart from the Hassan II Mosque, in Casablanca there is nothing to see. Certainly, the Mosque is one of the most interesting attractions of the city but Casablanca also offers some other gems worthy of a visit. We liked it a lot and we think it was worth stopping even if for a short while, especially at the beginning of the itinerary. It is in fact a good starting point for a trip to Morocco as the first impact with the country is not as drastic as it could be the one with a city like Fès.
Casablanca is, as a matter of fact, a perfect mix between ancient and modern, where the old Medina alternates with modern palaces and commercial buildings. For me, a half-day or a day in Casablanca should be included in the itinerary.
We arrived in Casablanca on Friday evening, stopped for the night and dedicated ourselves to exploring the points of interest that we had marked the following morning. Around lunch we then left with our car towards the administrative and political capital of Morocco: Rabat.
Rabat was a real surprise: smaller than Casablanca, and with an extremely fascinating medina overlooking the sea.
We loved it immediately, with its Kasbah des Oudaias which offers a wonderful view of the blue sea from the Cafè Maure, and then the Andalusian gardens, its colorful souk (where among other things you will find everything you want to buy in Marrakech but at half the price) and then the Hassan Tower and Mohammed's Mausoleum... a big yes for us!
Rabat, like Casablanca, also definitely deserves at least a half-day or full-day stop, at your discretion, but it certainly cannot be missing from your itinerary!
This first part of our road trip in Morocco ends with a quick stop in Meknes, one of the 4 imperial cities of Morocco. Unfortunately (but also fortunately for the tourists who will come) the city is almost completely under renovation (at least until the end of 2024): it was a real shame to have to practically skip it. The entire historic city and almost all the attractions are closed and unusable, covered by large tents that prevent any peeks. However, I am sure that once the work is finished it will be a real gem not to be missed.
In any case, Meknes is located on the road to reach Chefchaouen from Rabat so we still stopped for a couple of hours to visit the music museum and the Moulay Ismail mausoleum, both very close to the car park.
Volubilis
A few kilometers north of Meknes, exactly on the road that leads to Chefchaouen, there are the Roman ruins of Volubilis: it's an ancient Roman city where the best preserved and most visited archaeological remains in Morocco are found.
In 1997, the area was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A visit to Volubilis requires at least 2 hours of time and we honestly preferred to skip it and make time for the trek north of Chefchaouen to the Akchour waterfalls. After multiple visits to Rome and many visits to various splendid Roman ruins scattered across the Mediterranean, it seemed a little repetitive and we preferred to focus on something newer and more characteristic.
Let's now see the itinerary we planned for this first part of the journey: as you can see in the map below, we started our Morocco road tour from Casablanca and then headed to Rabat on the first day (①), and on the second day we spent the morning in Meknes and then arrived in Chefchaouen in the afternoon ( ②).
If you want to know more about how to plan your Morocco travel itinerary then READ ALSO: Perfect Morocco itinerary for a 8-days-car trip
Don't miss all the insights on the various stages of this incredible trip:
part 2 - days ② and ③ : Chefchaouen, Morocco's Blue Pearl and Akchour Waterfalls
part 3 - days ③ and ④ : Fes, Morocco's Imperial Pearl
part 4 - day ⑤ : The Dunes of Erg Chebbi, Merzouga Desert
If you have already defined your itinerary and are thinking about the more organizational and logistical part of your trip READ ALSO: How to plan a road trip in Morocco in a few simple steps
Casablanca
Casablanca, thanks to its port, is the commercial capital of Morocco; a city that manages to combine urban life with traditions.
Casablanca is a cosmopolitan, modern and frenetic city that is also known by the name Casa or Dar El Baida. It was built in 1906 where previously stood a Berber city destroyed by an earthquake in the second half of the 18th century and is still partly enclosed by the ancient original walls where a labyrinth of small streets follow one another between stone houses.
Outside the medina is the Nouvelle Ville built by the French and characterized by avenues, shopping centers, banks, large hotels and modern shops. The seafront area, called "La Cornice", is also ideal for a walk, to admire beautiful sunsets or try one of the many discos that liven up this area.
Casablanca, thanks to its position on the Atlantic, enjoys a mild but cooler climate than that of Marrakech or Fez. As we have already said, Casablanca was our starting point for this Moroccan road trip: we arrived here by flight from Italy, we rented the car that accompanied us for our entire itinerary and we spent the first night staying at the Hôtel Astrid. For all information relating to flights, car rental and accommodation I recommend you READ ALSO: How to plan a road trip in Morocco in a few simple steps
In the introduction, I told you that we only spent half a day in Casablanca: contrary to what many people think, there are various things to see in the city in addition to the splendid and very famous Hassan II Mosque, but they are all quite close and can be visited in a few hours. This is the itinerary of our morning in Casablanca - there are few things but in my opinion unmissable once in the city, and above all they allowed us a first approach to Moroccan culture which was not too drastic.
Place Mohammed V + Grand Theatre de Casablanca
Parc de la Ligue Arabe
Sacre Coeur Cathedral
visit at the Mosquée Hassan II
Rick’s Cafe
Breakfast Sqala
walk across Ancienne Medina
Habous District: Souk, le Grand Marché d’Olives, Patisserie Bennis Habous
Parc Isesco and Eglise Notre Dame de Lourdes
Let's now look at everything in detail!
Place Mohammed V and Grand Theatre de Casablanca
Place Mohammed V is one of the most important squares in Casablanca and is located in the center, a few steps from the hotel where we stayed.
It is named after Mohammed V, sultan of Morocco from 1927 to 1953, and is characterized by an enormous fountain in the center of the square and the Moorish-style state public buildings that surround it. On the square it is impossible not to notice the splendid and elegant Grand Theatre, recently built: it is in fact the largest theater built in Africa and should be inaugurated shortly!
Parc de la Ligue Arabe
The Parc de la Ligue Arabe is located a few steps from Piazza Mohammed V and is one of my favorite things about Casablanca: it is a well-kept park with a totally exotic charm and with a splendid view of the Sacre Coeur Cathedral.
The park is public and is the largest in the city; access is free and it is the ideal place to stroll in the shade of the splendid avenue lined with palm trees (Moulay Youssef Boulevard).
Sacre Coeur Cathedral
Located next to the Parc de la Ligue Arabe, the Sacre Coeur Cathedral was the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Rabat of the Catholic Church in Morocco.
The Church was deconsecrated after Morocco gained independence from France in 1950 and now occasionally hosts some public events; unfortunately, it is closed to the public. The church is imposing and clearly inspired by the Gothic style of European cathedrals even if its white color recalls the oriental style. It is a splendid and very elegant building.
Mosquée Hassan II
The Hassan II Mosque is without a shadow of a doubt the pearl of Casablanca, its symbol and, for many, the only noteworthy attraction of the city: I agree with everything except that it is not the only point of interest to visit, but certainly the most breathtaking and impressive.
The Hassan II Mosque was built at the behest of King Hassan II on the Atlantic coast, right on the sea, and was inaugurated in 1993 (after 6 years of work): it is the largest mosque in Morocco and the third largest in the world after that of Medina and Mecca.
It is the only mosque in the country accessible to non-Muslims.
Entrance to the Mosque costs 130 MAD (€12.10) with a guided tour in English which includes the Prayer Hall, the Minaret Hall and the Ablution Hall - with a university card the price is half!
From March 15th to September 15th:
from Saturday and Thursday entry at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 15:00, 16:00
Friday entry at 9:00, 10:00, 15:00, 16:00
From 15 September to 15 March:
from Saturday and Thursday entry at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 15:00
Friday entry at 9:00, 10:00, 15:00
I recommend that you always check the special times during Ramadan on the official website.
I suggest you visit the Mosque early in the morning to avoid excessive queues at the ticket office and crowds of tourists inside the building; we got there in time for the first entrance and it was the best choice - little and quick queue for tickets and not too many people inside.
The Mosque is simply breathtaking, a true spectacle of white marble rising out of the ocean with the majestic 210 m high minaret (the tallest in the world) dominating the horizon.
The Mosque is deliberately built on the sea to recall a verse from the Koran which states that "the throne of Allah was built on the water". Like all mosques, it faces Mecca.
The interior of the building is astonishing and is of a literally impressive size: it can accommodate 25,000 worshippers inside + 5000 women on the wooden balconies and 80,000 outside.
The peculiarity of this Mosque lies in the fact that the roof, 3400 m2 of inlaid cedar wood, is mobile and can be opened thanks to a motorization system to ventilate the Mosque when full of people and let in sunlight.
The interior is made up of almost all materials from Morocco: cedar wood (resists ocean corrosion), Moroccan marble and a small part of Carrara, while the 57 chandeliers are made of Murano glass. Titanium doors are light and resistant but above all stainless.
The Ablutions room is splendid: it is an underground part, divided into men and women, where the wirshippers go before prayer to wash and therefore purify themselves.
Rules to follow when visiting the Mosque: wear clothes that cover your shoulders, torso and knees (women must not cover their heads) and remove your shoes at the entrance.
Breakfast at Sqala and Rick’s Cafè
Having visited the Hassan II Mosque at the first available entrance (the one at 9:00) we left breakfast for later, choosing a nice little place on the road to the old medina: Sqala. La Sqala restaurant is located inside the ancient ramparts of the old medina built in the 18th century.
La Sqala is famous for its sensational Moroccan breakfast which we obviously couldn't miss: without a shadow of a doubt the best of all the breakfasts we would have had on our road trip to Morocco. Definitely recommended!
On the way to Sqala we also passed in front of the famous Rick's Café which appears in the film 'Casablanca' but where they didn't actually shoot the film: the place in Casablanca is a tribute to the café from the film, which in reality was almost entirely shot in a Hollywood studio. I don't feel like advising you to visit it and pass by: the atmosphere of the film is not present in the Casablanca building at all.
Ancienne Medina di Casablanca
The ancient medina of Casablanca is a central district of the city characterized by a labyrinth of narrow streets and buildings from the era preceding French colonialism. We crossed it coming from the Mosque and the Sqala to head towards the Habous District.
The cultural impact, walking through the ancient medina, is remarkable but I am very grateful for this first approach which was however much more delicate than what I would have experienced in a city like Fès, and preparatory to the subsequent stages of this journey.
The streets of the medina are in fact home to a traditional souk with stalls and street vendors selling leather goods, tools, fruit and vegetables, spices and lots of fresh mint, but also fish and meat with a strong, pungent smell. A mixture of colors and smells finally welcomed us to Morocco and to what is the truest and most traditional side of this splendid country.
Habous District: Souk, le Grand Marché d’Olives, Patisserie Bennis Habous
The Habous district corresponds to the New Medina of Casablanca and is famous for the Bennis Habous pastry shop of the same name, its colorful Souk and the Great Olive Market. It is located further north than the hotel where we stayed, and the points of interest seen so far but a nice walk is definitely worth it... it is an incredibly fascinating place and the typical Moroccan sweets based on almonds or dates from the artisanal pastry shop Bennis Habous they will be a nice reward!
The Olive Market is also unmissable: a small internal courtyard a little hidden from the usual tourist tour but which reserved a splendid surprise for us: enormous piles of very fresh olives of all types and condiments color the courtyard... a true paradise for lovers of olive lovers who will also be pleased to discover that in Morocco they are sold for only €3 per kilo!
Parc Isesco and Eglise Notre Dame de Lourdes
The Parc Isesco is located in the Habous district and retains its garden features from the early 1900s. It's not as beautiful as Parc de la Ligue Arabe but it is still very nice and a good alternative to rest for a few moments on one of the garden benches and relax while taking a break from the Casablanca sun.
The Church of Notre Dame de Lourdes is located on the road back to our Hotel coming from the Isesco Park: it is impossible not to notice it... it is an imposing building which in my opinion also inspires a bit of fear. It is in fact a Modernist Church that dates back to the mid-20th century and is not particularly aesthetically pleasing, at least to my taste. If you want, you can visit it for free.
We then got back to our hotel where we stopped to collect our luggage and then we left Casablanca for the capital Rabat. To know more about our travel itinerary READ ALSO: Perfect Morocco itinerary for a 8-days-car trip
Casablanca Walking Tour
If you are interested in a guided tour of the ancient Medina of Casablanca, then I propose an interesting walking tour with an English guide to discover the magic and charm of the old medina.
The tour can be booked every day at 9.30am or 1pm for a duration of 3 hours: it is free and you can book it without paying anything... you are only required to leave a tip at the end of the tour! There is the possibility to cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance.
This tour can be booked on the freetour.com platform, I leave you the link - book your walking tour of the ancient medina of Casablanca. The meeting point is in front of the Sqala restaurant and then enter the medina and discover the history of the oldest neighborhood in the city.
Rabat
Rabat is the capital of Morocco although it is actually smaller than Casablanca; it is also located on the Atlantic coast of the country, overlooking the sea.
Rabat is a modern city which, however, has maintained its cultural and traditional identity well, especially within the ancient medina that, compared to nearby Casablanca, is evidently more well-kept, spacious and clean.
Located on the coast and surrounded by walls built by the Andalusians, it has six entrance doors, the most important of which is Bab Bouiba.
Unfortunately, Rabat is often cut off from the classic tourist circuits but in our opinion it is an unmissable destination to include in an on-the-road itinerary in Morocco. There are some splendid historical monuments, and a marvelous souk (one of the most beautiful visited on this trip) but above all very cheap compared to those of the other cities we stopped.
In short, Rabat really deserves a visit: we stopped for the afternoon and night of the first real day in Morocco and we were totally satisfied with this choice. If I were to go again I would probably make the same choice... at most a whole day, but no more!
As you already know, we arrived in Rabat by car and parked outside the medina, near the closest access door to our accommodation, the Riad Dar Karima. For all information relating to car rental, parking and accommodation, I recommend you READ ALSO: How to plan a road trip in Morocco in a few simple steps
This is the itinerary of our afternoon in Rabat: we managed to visit all the main attractions of the capital during a long and splendid walk with departure and return to our Riad in the medina.
Kasbah des Oudaïas
Café des Oudayas
Andalusisn Gardens
Rabat Old Market and Souk Es Sebbate
Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V
Place Moulay el Hassan
Ave Mohammed V : Street Food from 18:00
Sunset at the beach
Let's now look at everything in detail!
Kasbah des Oudaïas
The Kasbah des Oudaïas is a real fortified village in the heart of the imperial city.
After passing the Bab-al-Oudayas entrance gate, you enter a maze of narrow streets with white and blue houses decorated with wrought iron embellishments and massive doors and finally get to the Andalusian Gardens with the famous fountain of fortune.
The Spanish influence is immediately perceived in the colors and atmosphere of these cobbled streets overlooked by many small shops selling splendid craftsmanship. Stroll along the streets and get lost among the stalls until you reach Café des Oudayas.
Café des Oudayas
Café des Oudayas is one of the most beautiful corners of Rabat and is located inside the Kasbah not far from the Andalusian Gardens.
It is a small outdoor café on the walls of the fortress, inside the Kasbah, with a series of tables overlooking the splendid sea and beach of Rabat.
It is without a doubt the ideal place to take a short break tasting some Gazelle Horns (typical Moroccan sweets) while sipping a glass of mint tea enjoying the amazing postcard view you have from the little tables of the Cafè.
Andalusian Gardens
The Andalusian Gardens are a true pearl enclosed within the Kasbah des Oudaïas, an unmissable stop during a visit to the capital.
Not everyone knows that Andalusian Arab families were forced to flee the Iberian peninsula after the conquest of the kingdom by "Castile and Aragon": having settled in some cities of Morocco, including Rabat, they began to build neighborhoods and alleys imitating the culture and the architecture of the places they had abandoned. The Andalusian Gardens of Rabat, in fact, take up the architectural style of the gardens of the Alhambra palace in Granada.
These tropical gardens are free to access and are the perfect place to stop for a drink, rest on a bench, or have a picnic among the wonderful plants and colorful exotic flowers.
Rabat Old Market and Souk Es Sebbate
The ancient market of Rabat and its Souk, inside the medina of Rabat, are both very nice and tidy but above all the most convenient you will find in Morocco.
Here they have the same exact artisanal products as all the Moroccan souks but at almost half the price: whatever you are looking for in Morocco, from leather poufs to slippers, or colored ceramics...if you want to save money buy them in Rabat and you won't egret it. The quality is the same but the prices are incomparable.
Let yourself be guided by the colors and scents of these ancient markets and get lost in the alleys where street vendors and craft shops alternate.
Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V
The Hassan Tower and Mohammed's Mausoleum are one of the most spectacular points of interest in Rabat.
The Hassan Tower is the minaret of what was one of the largest mosques in the world whose construction began in 1195 and which remained unfinished when the sultan who had ordered its construction died in 1199.
What remains of the tower is surrounded by 200 columns partially destroyed by the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, making the place truly magical and almost suspended in time.
Opposite, you can find the Mausoleum of Mohammed V: a pantheon made of white Italian marble and finely decorated with worked stone and ceramic tiles which houses the royal tomb of Mohammed V of Morocco and his sons Moulay Abdellah and Hassan II. The Mausoleum has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2012.
Place Moulay el Hassan
Place Moulay el Hassan is a modern square that reminded us a lot of Las Setas in Seville, but in obviously smaller proportions. It is in fact a small square covered by a modern structure under which small restaurants and benches are concentrated, ideal for resting for a few minutes.
Ave Mohammed V
Avenue Mohammed V is certainly the most beautiful avenue in the capital and is characterized by its beautiful fountain and various palm trees that line it, offering an exceptional walk.
Some very important public buildings overlook the avenue such as the Parliament and its red facade, the Grande Poste and the Banque du Maroc facing each other.
The most interesting part of Ave Mohammed V is the part that crosses the old medina, where from 6 pm you will see countless street vendors setting up their Moroccan street food stands where you will find so much choice. From savory to sweet you will surely find some delicacy for your palate.
Sunset at the beach
Rabat is located on the Atlantic Ocean and boasts beautiful beaches on which to relax and enjoy. Among the most popular seaside beaches are Temara and Skirat which extend for over 25 km of coastline while the reference beach for surfers is Plage des Nations.
We didn't experience Rabat beach during the day but we stopped by just in time to enjoy a breathtaking sunset from the cliff overlooking the ocean.
Rabat wished us good night with these colors and after spending the night in our Riad, on the morning of our second day in Morocco we headed towards Meknes. Read more about our travel itinerary READ ALSO: Perfect Morocco itinerary for a 8-days-car trip
Meknès
Meknès is one of the 4 imperial cities of Morocco and is located in the Saiss plain, between the Middle Atlas and Rif mountains, in the northern part of Morocco, about 130 kilometers from Rabat.
Meknès is also known as the Versailles of Morocco and as "the city of a hundred minarets" but its real name derives from the Berber tribe Meknassa who dominated the eastern part of the country since the eighth century. Meknes owes its splendor to Moulay Ismail ibn Sharif, who made it the capital of Morocco under his reign (1672 - 1727) and made it experience a true golden age to which we owe almost all the wonders that Meknes offers.
Meknès is a wonderful example of the fusion between Spanish and Arab architecture and is considered an exemplary testimony of the fortified cities of the Maghreb: surrounded by high and thick walls that extend for 40 km, imposing bastions and 9 magnificent monumental gates. Unfortunately, practically nothing of all this can be seen at the moment and it will be like this at least until the end of 2024: a large part of the medina is in fact darkened and inaccessible due to massive renovation works. They had advised us to skip it but we still preferred to quickly pass by and take a look.
We managed to visit:
Dar Jamai Museum
Moulay Ismail Mausoleum
This is practically all that you can see in Meknès at the moment besides the Souk in the medina, which however we decided to skip (we had already seen so many and had just as many much more impressive ones planned) and save time for the next stages.
If you can, I highly recommend you visit both the Museum and the Mausoleum: they are two attractions that will take you an hour and a half in total and are worth it.
Once the renovations are finished and Meknès has returned to its original splendor we will certainly return to visit:
Bab Mansour Gate - a grand entrance to the city, the most majestic of Morocco's imperial gates, and immediately recalls the charm and splendor of Moulay Ismail's creations. The Gate is located at one end of the impressive El-Hedim Square;
Medrasa Bou Inania - a Koranic school built in the 14th century during the reign of the Merinid;
Heri es Souani - also known as Dar el Ma, a series of warehouses, stables, granaries, warehouses and barns used by Sultan Moulay Ismail to store food in case of drought or siege.
Once we got to Meknés by car we easily found parking a few steps from the now under renovation Bab Mansour gate and we reached our destinations in just a few steps. For all information relating to car rental and parking, I recommend you READ ALSO: How to plan a road trip in Morocco in a few simple steps
Even if Meknés had not been under renovation we would still have dedicated half a day or so to it. Now let's see what we managed to visit!
Dar Jamai Museum
Dar Jamai Museum is the museum of Moroccan music and is located in front of El Hedim Square.
The visit in itself is very interesting and allows you to immerse yourself in the particular traditional Moroccan music and admire splendid pieces of musical art for only 30 MAD each (around €2.80).
Beyond the exhibition, in my opinion, what would be worth the ticket price in itself is the building that hosts the exhibition: built in 1882, it was the residence of the Jamai family until 1920, then transformed into a museum. The building and its Andalusian garden are simply sensational, with rooms meticulously decorated with painted wood and sculpted plaster alternating with exquisite painted windows, tiles and a small sanctuary upstairs.
In my opinion, the museum is absolutely worth a short stop in Meknés as is the other stop on our visit to the city: the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail.
Moulay Ismail Mausoleum
To my enormous amazement, the Mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail, a fundamental figure in the history of Meknès, is free to enter and can also be visited by non-Muslims.
The sultan was responsible for the transfer of the capital of the kingdom from Fès to Meknés in 1675. He is a figure much loved by the locals and is buried inside the mausoleum in the Medina and represents one of the three Moroccan sanctuaries that can also be visited by non-Muslims.
The sanctuary is accessed through a series of elegant and sober courtyards, with rooms decorated with tiles and stucco; the heart of the mausoleum, however, is the sumptuous room full of splendid Moorish motifs in which the central fountain stands out. It really deserves a stop!
From here we went back to our car and set off towards Chefchaouen passing the Roman ruins of Volubilis. As already mentioned, we preferred to skip it and dedicate more time to the north but the choice is totally personal.
We have therefore reached the end of this first part of our on the road in Morocco which contains the first day and a half of travel.
Don't miss the next posts with all the insights on the various stages of our road trip in Morocco. For a general overview of all destinations and the complete itinerary READ ALSO: Perfect Morocco itinerary for a 8-days-car trip
Don't miss all the insights on the various stages of this incredible trip:
part 2 - days ② and ③ : Chefchaouen, Morocco's Blue Pearl and Akchour Waterfalls
part 3 - days ③ and ④ : Fes, Morocco's Imperial Pearl
part 4 - day ⑤ : The Dunes of Erg Chebbi, Merzouga Desert
If you are planning your trip to Morocco, don't miss the article with all the advice, information and tricks to organize a perfect on the road in this splendid country.. you will find information regarding flights, accommodation, car rental car, parking, fuel, and many other useful tips for which READ ALSO: How to plan a road trip in Morocco in a few simple steps
Did you just book a trip to Morocco but don't know where to start planning your time there? Then, let me present to you my digital map of the country which includes: Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Chefchaouen, Fez, Merzouga, the Street of a Thousand Kasbahs, and Marrakech.
Thanks to this map you will be able to build your entire road trip in Morocco.
This is a private map on Google Maps on which you will find:
more than 100 places to visit including the best souks, madrasas and museums
the best photo spots
attractions and activities customized based on my experience
where to stay overnight and where to park the car
where to eat (restaurants, cafes, and much more)
To receive the map for FREE, you can choose one of these two ways:
☞ follow me on Instagram and request the map directly via DM
☞ subscribe to the mailing list and request the map below in the comments or by sending me an email to: lethergo.it@gmail.com
For any questions or further information do not hesitate to write to me either in the comments or in private. Have a good trip!
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