Morocco Travel Guides
Morocco Destinations
Morocco packs imperial cities, Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines, high mountains and Saharan dunes into one country – but not into one week. This guide to Morocco destinations explains what each region offers and how to combine them sensibly for the time you have.
Morocco’s main circuits: Marrakech and the High Atlas, the imperial cities of Fes, Meknes and Rabat, the Sahara at Merzouga, the Atlantic coast from Essaouira to Agadir, and Chefchaouen in the Rif.
The imperial cities
Morocco Destinations: The Imperial Cities
Four cities have served as Morocco’s capital over the centuries. Each has a historic medina, and each has a different character.
Marrakech
The most visited city and the usual first stop: the Jemaa el-Fna square, dense souks, gardens and palaces, with the Atlas Mountains close enough for day trips. Lively, sometimes intense, easy to reach.
Fes
Home to one of the oldest and largest car-free medinas in the world, with medersas, tanneries and craft workshops. More traditional and less polished than Marrakech – many travellers’ favourite.
Rabat
The present-day capital on the Atlantic: calmer and greener, with the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and a walkable medina. A relaxed day or two, well connected by train.
Meknes
Quieter than its neighbour Fes, with monumental gates and walls, and the Roman ruins of Volubilis nearby. Often visited as a day trip from Fes.
Coast & north
Coastal Cities and the North
Casablanca
Morocco’s largest city and main international gateway. A modern, working city rather than a sightseeing one, best known for the Hassan II Mosque on the seafront. Many travellers pass through rather than stay.
Essaouira
A breezy Atlantic town with a fortified medina, a working fishing port and a long beach popular with wind and kite surfers. A favourite for a slower few days after Marrakech.
Agadir
The main beach-resort city in the south, rebuilt in modern style after a 1960 earthquake. Sun, a wide sandy bay and resort hotels rather than historic sights; a base for the Souss region and the Anti-Atlas.
Tangier
The port city facing Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar, much renewed in recent years, with a hillside medina, a revived seafront and a literary past. The natural entry point if you arrive by ferry from Europe.
Chefchaouen
The small blue-washed town in the Rif Mountains that fills so many photographs. Easy-going, walkable in an afternoon, with hiking nearby. Usually reached from Tangier or Fes.
Tetouan & the Mediterranean
Tetouan’s whitewashed medina shows strong Andalusian influence, and the nearby Mediterranean coast is where many Moroccans holiday in summer – less visited by international travellers.
Mountains & desert
The Atlas Mountains and the Sahara
High Atlas
Berber villages, terraced valleys and North Africa’s highest peak, Jbel Toubkal. The Imlil and Ourika valleys are reachable as day trips from Marrakech; multi-day treks need a guide and proper preparation.
Ouarzazate & the kasbah route
Over the Tizi n’Tichka pass from Marrakech lies the fortified village of Ait Benhaddou, the film studios of Ouarzazate and the Dades and Todra gorges – the classic road towards the desert.
Sahara: Merzouga & Zagora
Merzouga’s Erg Chebbi has the tall orange dunes most people picture; Zagora is closer to Marrakech with smaller dunes. Both usually mean a camel ride and a night in a desert camp, and both are a long drive from the cities – plan at least two nights for the round trip.
Combining places
Choosing Morocco Destinations for Your Trip Length
The mistake to avoid is treating the map as small. Marrakech to Fes, or Marrakech to the Merzouga dunes, is a full day’s travel each way. A good rule: one region per three or four days, with the desert counted as a region of its own. Trains link Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Meknes and Fes well; the mountains and desert need a car, a driver or an organised tour.
See Getting Around for transport between these places and Things to Do for what to fill the days with.
Sample combinations
- 4-5 days: Marrakech + a High Atlas day trip, or Marrakech + Essaouira
- 7-8 days: Marrakech – kasbah route – Merzouga desert – Fes
- 7-8 days (north): Tangier – Chefchaouen – Fes – Meknes/Volubilis – Rabat
- 10-14 days: the northern loop plus Marrakech, the desert and the coast
- Beach-led: Agadir or Essaouira as a base with a Marrakech excursion
Good to Know
- Seasons matter by region. Summer is very hot inland and in the desert but pleasant on the coast; winter is mild in the cities, cold at night in the mountains and desert. Spring and autumn suit most itineraries.
- Medinas are car-free. In Fes and much of Marrakech you will walk the last stretch to your riad. Pack accordingly and see Where to Stay.
- Fewer places, done well. Two or three Morocco destinations in a week beat six cities glimpsed from a car window.
- Visa first. Confirm whether you need a Morocco eVisa before booking non-refundable travel. Entry decisions are made by the Moroccan authorities.
- Help with the arrangements. Travel Entry can arrange tours, transfers and hotels on request; nothing is booked or charged until you confirm.
Morocco Destinations: Frequently Asked Questions
Which city should I fly into?
Casablanca has the widest international connections; Marrakech is the most convenient for a first trip focused on the south. Fes, Tangier, Agadir and Rabat also have international airports. Choose the airport closest to the Morocco destinations you plan to start with, then travel by train, car or transfer.
Marrakech or Fes – which one if I can only do one?
Marrakech if you want energy, gardens, easy day trips and the widest choice of hotels and restaurants. Fes if you want the more traditional, atmospheric medina and crafts. Many itineraries include both, linked by train or via the desert.
Is the Sahara worth it on a short trip?
With fewer than five days, usually not – the drive to Merzouga is long in both directions. Zagora is closer but the dunes are smaller. With a week or more, a desert night is one of the highlights of Morocco.
Is Chefchaouen a day trip?
It can be done from Tangier or Fes in a long day, but an overnight stay lets you see the town in the quiet early morning and evening, which is when it is at its best.
Do I need a visa to visit these places?
Entry requirements depend on your nationality, not on where in Morocco you go. Check the Morocco eVisa requirements before you plan.
Can Travel Entry plan a route for me?
Yes. Send your dates and interests through our tours and activities request and we will propose a connected itinerary with transport and activities. Requests are free.
Decided Where to Go?
Sort your visa, then let Travel Entry help with tours, transfers and hotels along the route. Back to all Morocco travel guides.