Find places in Morocco

Must-Haves

• Jemaa el Fna (Medina)
  The great square becomes an open air food hall and stage every evening.
• Hammam Mouassine (Mouassine)
  A traditional neighbourhood hammam for a proper scrub and steam.

Off the Beaten Path

• Agafay Desert (South of Marrakech)
  A stony desert with sunset dinners and camel rides an hour from the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Koutoubia Mosque gardens (Medina)
  Stroll beneath the city's most famous minaret in the evening light.

Must-Haves

• Jardin Majorelle (Gueliz)
  Cobalt walls, cactus and bamboo in the garden once owned by Yves Saint Laurent.
• Imlil and Toubkal National Park (High Atlas)
  Mountain village base for walks among Berber villages and towards Toubkal.

Fun for Everyone

• Le Jardin Secret (Mouassine)
  A calm Islamic garden and tower view right in the middle of the souks.
• Ourika Valley (High Atlas)
  River restaurants and waterfalls an easy day out from the city.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ouzoud Waterfalls (Azilal)
  Morocco's tallest falls, with olive groves and Barbary macaques.

Must-Haves

• Musée Yves Saint Laurent (Gueliz)
  A striking museum of the designer's work right beside the Majorelle garden.
• Bahia Palace (Riad Zitoun el Jdid)
  Painted cedar ceilings and tiled courtyards in a nineteenth century palace.
• Saadian Tombs (Kasbah)
  Richly carved burial halls of the Saadian sultans, hidden for centuries.
• Ben Youssef Madrasa (Medina)
  The finest carved stucco and cedar of any old Quranic school in the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Maison de la Photographie (Medina)
  Early photographs of Morocco in a restored house with a rooftop café.

Must-Haves

• Souk Semmarine (Medina)
  The main covered souk lane, leading into the spice, leather and metal souks.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Rahba Kedima Spice Square (Medina)
  Spices, woven baskets and apothecary stalls around a lively little square.
• Mellah Market (Mellah)
  A local covered market of spices, sweets and fabrics in the old Jewish quarter.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ensemble Artisanal (Avenue Mohammed V)
  Fixed price crafts where you can watch artisans at work without haggling.

Great for Date Night

• Le Jardin (Medina)
  A leafy courtyard restaurant in a restored riad, ideal for a relaxed dinner.
• Nomad (Rahba Kedima)
  Modern Moroccan cooking on a rooftop over the spice square.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Chez Lamine Hadj Mustapha (Souk Ablueh)
  The place for mechoui, slow roasted lamb, eaten with bread and cumin.

Must-Haves

• Al Fassia (Gueliz)
  A long running restaurant run by women, known for classic Moroccan dishes.

Must-Haves

• Café des Épices (Rahba Kedima)
  Mint tea on a terrace overlooking the spice square.

Fun for Everyone

• Bacha Coffee (Dar El Bacha)
  An opulent coffee house inside a palace that also houses a museum.

Great for Date Night

• Kabana (Near Koutoubia)
  Rooftop cocktails with a view of the Koutoubia minaret at sunset.
• Comptoir Darna (Hivernage)
  Dinner with live music and dancers in a glamorous setting.

Great for Date Night

• La Mamounia (Hivernage)
  The city's legendary grand hotel with famous gardens.
• Royal Mansour (Medina)
  A palace hotel of private riads near the Koutoubia.

Fun for Everyone

• Marrakech International Film Festival (Hivernage)
  Open air screenings on Jemaa el Fna alongside the official programme.

Must-Haves

• Bab Boujloud (Fes el Bali)
  The blue tiled gate that leads into the old medina.
• Chouara Tannery (Fes el Bali)
  The famous stone dye vats, seen from the leather shop terraces above.
• Merenid Tombs (Above Fes el Bali)
  The best sunset view over the whole medina.

Fun for Everyone

• Royal Palace gates (Fes el Jdid)
  Seven grand brass doors framed by mosaic, best in morning light.

Off the Beaten Path

• Volubilis (Near Moulay Idriss)
  Roman ruins with fine mosaics set among wheat fields and olive groves.

Must-Haves

• Bou Inania Madrasa (Talaa Kebira)
  Superb carved cedar and zellige in a fourteenth century school.
• Al Attarine Madrasa (Near Al Qarawiyyin)
  A jewel of Marinid decoration beside the spice souk.
• Al Qarawiyyin (Fes el Bali)
  Founded by Fatima al Fihri in 859 and still a place of learning.

Fun for Everyone

• Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts (Place Nejjarine)
  Woodwork displayed in a restored caravanserai with a rooftop café.

Off the Beaten Path

• Dar Batha Museum (Batha)
  Moroccan arts in a palace with a shady Andalusian garden.

Fun for Everyone

• Jnan Sbil Gardens (Fes el Jdid)
  A cool green park with fountains between the old and new medinas.

Must-Haves

• Seffarine Square (Fes el Bali)
  Coppersmiths hammer pots and pans in a little square near the university.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Souk el Henna (Fes el Bali)
  A tiny tree shaded square of henna, cosmetics and pottery.

Must-Haves

• Café Clock (Talaa Kebira)
  A friendly rooftop café famous for its camel burger and cultural events.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bissara stalls at Bab Boujloud (Bab Boujloud)
  Warm fava bean soup with olive oil and cumin, a true Fes breakfast.

Great for Date Night

• Riad Fès rooftop bar (Zerbtana)
  One of the few medina bars, with views over the rooftops.

Great for Date Night

• Riad Fès (Zerbtana)
  A palatial riad hotel with a pool on the edge of the medina.

Fun for Everyone

• Palais Faraj (Bab Ziat)
  A hillside hotel with panoramic medina views.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Dar Seffarine (Seffarine)
  A restored old house run with care in the heart of the medina.

Must-Haves

• Fes Festival of World Sacred Music (Bab Makina)
  Sacred music from around the world in the palace courtyards.

Must-Haves

• Plaza Uta el Hammam (Medina)
  The main square, with cafés facing the Kasbah and mosque.
• Spanish Mosque (Hillside east of town)
  A short climb to the best sunset view over the blue town.

Must-Haves

• Kasbah Museum (Plaza Uta el Hammam)
  A red-walled fort with a garden, museum and tower views.

Fun for Everyone

• Ras el Maa (Medina)
  The spring and stream at the top of town where locals still wash clothes.

Must-Haves

• Akchour Waterfalls (Talassemtane National Park)
  River trails to waterfalls and the rock arch of God's Bridge.

Off the Beaten Path

• Talassemtane National Park (Rif Mountains)
  Fir forests and limestone peaks for longer guided treks.

Great for Date Night

• Casa Hassan (Medina)
  A long standing restaurant with a cosy, candlelit room.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Cafés on Plaza Uta el Hammam (Medina)
  Mint tea and people watching in the heart of town.

Must-Haves

• Blanket and weaving shops (Medina)
  Woven wool blankets and jellabas from local workshops.

Fun for Everyone

• Dar Echchaouen (Above the medina)
  A peaceful hotel with views and a pool.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Lina Ryad and Spa (Medina)
  A small riad hotel with an indoor pool in the blue lanes.

Must-Haves

• Erg Chebbi dunes (Merzouga)
  Morocco's highest dunes, glowing orange at sunset and sunrise.
• Todra Gorge (Tinghir)
  Towering canyon walls just wide enough for a river and a road.

Fun for Everyone

• Dades Valley (Boumalne Dades)
  Kasbahs, rose fields and winding hairpin roads.

Must-Haves

• Camel trek to a desert camp (Erg Chebbi)
  Ride into the dunes for a night of drums and stars.
• Ait Benhaddou (Ouarzazate Province)
  The fortified clay village seen in many films, on the road to the desert.

Fun for Everyone

• Sandboarding (Erg Chebbi)
  Slide down the big dunes, fun for all ages.

Off the Beaten Path

• Gnawa musicians of Khamlia (Khamlia)
  Hear the hypnotic music of the Gnawa community in their village.

Fun for Everyone

• Atlas Studios (Ouarzazate)
  A film studio where you can walk through famous movie sets.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Rissani market (Rissani)
  A traditional market town, busiest on market days, with a donkey park.

Off the Beaten Path

• Rose Festival, Kelaat M'Gouna (Dades Valley)
  The valley celebrates the rose harvest each May.

Must-Haves

• Skala de la Ville (Medina)
  Sea ramparts lined with old cannons and crashing waves.
• Fishing harbour (Port)
  Blue boats, boatyards and the daily catch coming in.

Fun for Everyone

• Kitesurf lessons (Essaouira Beach)
  Steady trade winds make this a classic place to learn.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Harbour fish grills (Port)
  Choose your fish and have it grilled right in front of you.

Great for Date Night

• Taros (Place Moulay Hassan)
  Rooftop drinks and dinner with sea views.

Must-Haves

• La Table by Madada (Medina)
  Polished modern Moroccan cooking with fresh seafood.

Must-Haves

• Bayt Dakira (Mellah)
  A house of memory telling the story of the town's Jewish heritage.

Must-Haves

• Thuya wood workshops (Skala)
  Craftsmen carving the fragrant local wood into boxes and bowls.

Off the Beaten Path

• Argan cooperatives (Road to Marrakech)
  Women's cooperatives that make and sell argan oil.

Fun for Everyone

• Cafés on Place Moulay Hassan (Medina)
  The town's living room, ideal for coffee and people watching.

Great for Date Night

• Taros rooftop bar (Place Moulay Hassan)
  Sunset drinks and live music above the square.

Fun for Everyone

• Essaouira Beach (Town)
  A long sandy bay for walks, football and kitesurfing.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sidi Kaouki (South of Essaouira)
  A quiet surf beach with long empty sands.

Must-Haves

• Gnaoua World Music Festival (Medina)
  Gnawa trance music and international guests fill the squares in June.

Great for Date Night

• Heure Bleue Palais (Bab Marrakech)
  An elegant riad hotel with a rooftop pool.

Fun for Everyone

• Le Jardin des Douars (Outside town)
  A countryside hotel with gardens and pools.

Must-Haves

• Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V (Hassan)
  An unfinished twelfth century minaret beside the royal mausoleum.
• Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Ville Nouvelle)
  Morocco's leading museum of modern art.

Fun for Everyone

• Chellah (Chellah)
  Roman and medieval ruins full of storks and wild gardens.

Off the Beaten Path

• Archaeological Museum of Rabat (Ville Nouvelle)
  Bronzes from Volubilis and finds from across Morocco.

Must-Haves

• Kasbah of the Udayas (Udayas)
  Blue and white lanes and an Andalusian garden above the sea.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Café Maure (Kasbah of the Udayas)
  Mint tea and almond pastries overlooking the river mouth.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Rabat medina souks (Medina)
  A relaxed, low pressure medina for shopping.

Fun for Everyone

• Rabat beach and Corniche (Corniche)
  Seafront walks and surf schools by the ocean.

Must-Haves

• Mawazine Festival (Various stages)
  One of Africa's biggest music festivals, with free stages.

Great for Date Night

• Villa Mandarine (Souissi)
  A peaceful garden hotel in a quiet district.