last edited Dec 11, 2019
What to See in Morocco
Location
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Morocco has 9 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:
- Aït Ben Haddou (1987):
- Portuguese City of El Jadida (2004):
- Essaouira Medina (2001):
- Fes Medina (1981):
- Marrakech Medina (1985):
- Historic City of Meknes (1996):
- Medina of Tétouan (1997):
- Volubilis (1997):
Mediterranean Coast
- Issaguen :
- Nador :
- Oujda :
- Saïdia :
- Tangier :
- Tetouan :
Spanish Enclaves
- Ceuta :
- Melilla :
Natural Heritage
Atlantic Coast
Northern Atlantic
- Asilah :
- Azemmour :
- Larache :
- Lixus :
- Mehdia :
- Rabat :
- Salé :
Natural Heritage
Southern Atlantic
- Agadir :
- Guelmim :
- Mirleft :
- Safi :
- Tarfaya :
- Tiznit :
Natural Heritage
The Atlas Mountains
Middle Atlas
- Azrou :
- Fez :
- Ifrane :
- Meknes :
- Midelt :
- Taza :
Natural Heritage
High Atlas
- Amizmiz :
- Imilchil :
- Imlil :
- Ouirgane :
- Telouet :
Natural Heritage
Anti-Atlas
- Amtoudi :
- Icht :
- Tafraout :
- Tata :
Natural Heritage
The Saharan Zone
- Erfoud :
- Figuig :
- Fint :
- Merzouga :
- M'Hamid :
- Rissani :
- Skoura :
- Tinejdad :
- Tinerhir :
- Zagora :
Natural Heritage
Western Sahara
- Boujdour :
- Dakhla :
- Laayoune :
- Smara :
Natural Heritage
Must-see & highly recommended
Aït Ben Haddou
★★★★ À quelques kilomètres de Ouarzazate, l'ancien village fortifié (ksar) est un site remarquable et unique classé au patrimoine mondial de…
Essaouira
★★★★ A city with undeniable charm, shaped by its former Portuguese presence, featuring a UNESCO-listed medina. Essaouira also hosts the…
Fez
★★★★ A stunning imperial city, on par with Meknes, with a rich cultural heritage and a medina listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Dadès Gorges
★★★★ These unique and spectacular gorges on the Ouarzazate-Errachidia route are explored along a small road winding between cliffs of…
Marrakech
★★★★ Known as Morocco’s "tourism powerhouse," Marrakech boasts a rich heritage, including a UNESCO-listed medina, vibrant atmosphere, and…
Marrakech Medina
★★★★ It is the historic heart of the city and one of the largest medinas in Morocco. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it alone justifies a trip to…
Toubkal National Park
★★★★ On the doorstep of Marrakech, it is home to the Toubkal massif, the highest point in Morocco (4,167 m). The area is prized for its…
Route of the 1000 Kasbahs
★★★★ This route (with its many variations) is one of the most beautiful and tourist-friendly in the country, offering a chance to explore the…
Recommended
Ouzoud Waterfalls
★★★ At 110 metres high, these are the most famous waterfalls in Morocco and the tallest in North Africa. They’re one of the major…
Chefchaouen
★★★ This holy city in the Rif region, near Tangier, is popular with tourists. Its craftsmanship, the blue color of its houses, and the…
Jebel Saghro
★★★ This remote region east of Ouarzazate, extremely desolate and sparsely populated, offers stunning lunar landscapes and numerous…
El Jadida
★★★ It’s thanks to its UNESCO-listed Portuguese ruins that El Jadida is a well-known tourist destination. The city overlooks a stunning…
Todgha Gorge
★★★ A magnificent mountain road winding into gorges where a few villages nestle, surrounded by majestic cliffs up to 300 metres high. The site…
Essaouira Medina
★★★ The medina, with its bustling activity, is the city's main attraction. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001.
Fes Medina
★★★ The Fes Medina has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981. It is the oldest district in the city, as well as the liveliest and most…
Meknes
★★★ It neighbors Fez and, like it, holds imperial city status with a rich historical and cultural heritage that earned it UNESCO recognition.
Merzouga
★★★ The village is famous for its Erg Chebbi dunes, the tallest in Morocco. The area also offers numerous hiking opportunities.
Ifrane National Park
★★★ Just a few kilometres from Ifrane, the park is home to the largest cedar forest in the Maghreb. It offers stunning landscapes, several…
Essaouira to Agadir Route
★★★ Over more than 150 km, the road hugs the coast, offering stunning landscapes where the ocean blends with the foothills of the Atlas…
Tizi-n-Test Pass Road
★★★ This is the name of the road linking Marrakech to Taroudant along the western edge of Toubkal Park. This stunning route spans around a…
Tizi-n-Tichka Pass Road
★★★ This is the stunning mountain road connecting Marrakech to Ouarzazate via the pass of the same name.
Aït Bougmez Valley
★★★ One of the most beautiful valleys in the High Atlas. Amid stunning landscapes where traditional villages unfold, it offers numerous hiking…
Ammeln Valley
★★★ Also known as Almond Tree Valley. With Tafraout at its heart, it offers stunning landscapes and countless hiking opportunities.
Rose Valley
★★★ Stunning landscapes and a highlight for nature lovers and hikers. From here, you can reach the nearby Dadès Gorges on foot.
Draa Valley
★★★ South of Ouarzazate, nearly 200 kilometres along the Draa River, which irrigates palm groves and crops before vanishing into the desert…
Historic City of Meknes
★★★ With its high walls punctuated by monumental gates, this Hispano-Moorish-style part of the city is considered a remarkable example of…
Portuguese City of El Jadida
★★★ More precisely, the Portuguese city of Mazagan, which offers an exceptional testimony to the influences of European and Moroccan cultures…
Volubilis
★★★ This ancient Roman city near Moulay Idriss is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the best-preserved ancient sites in all of North…
Worth a look / Other
Agadir
★★ For decades, it has been the country's main seaside resort and its second most popular tourist destination after Marrakech. The only thing…
Amtoudi
★★ This Berber village, quite isolated, is a beautiful oasis nestled at the bottom of a gorge with a magnificent palm grove at the foot of the…
Asilah
★★ The tourist appeal of this seaside resort south of Tangier lies, beyond its beaches, in its stunning all-white medina. Moreover, the city…
Azemmour
★★ A small seaside resort south of Casablanca, known for its tranquility and old town. With its long beach, it’s also a favorite spot…
Cape Spartel and the Caves of Hercules
★★ Just a few kilometres from Tangier, Cape Spartel is a rocky promontory at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, towering over 300 metres…
Imouzzer Waterfall
★★ North of Agadir, the commune perched at over 1,100 m is home to a lovely waterfall. Several Amazigh villages nearby.
Ceuta
★★ The city is a Spanish enclave in Moroccan territory. It's a rather pleasant city with its waterfront and duty-free products.
Fint
★★ A small oasis about fifteen kilometres south of Ouarzazate.
Ifrane
★★ Nestled in the heart of the mountains, the town and its surrounding landscapes resemble Europe. Beyond its distinctive charm, Ifrane is…
M'Hamid
★★ Beyond Zagora, at the end of the road through the Draa Valley and before the desert and its dunes—including those of the Erg Chegaga…
Medina of Tétouan
★★ Though one of Morocco’s smallest medinas, it is also the most complete and the one where most buildings have remained free from…
Dakhla National Park
★★ This park located south of the city of the same name is known for the beauty of its coastline, where large colonies of pink flamingos…
Khenifiss National Park
★★ This site near Tarfaya borders the ocean and consists, among other things, of beautiful dunes. It is a nesting area for birds.
Khénifra National Park
★★ Morocco’s newest national park, set in a mountainous area perfect for hiking.
Talassemtane National Park
★★ A few kilometres from Chefchaouen, this forested site offers stunning landscapes perfect for hiking. It is also one of the places in…
Tazekka National Park
★★ This park near Taza is home to a large population of Barbary stags. A tourist circuit lets you discover its natural wonders (forests…
Eastern High Atlas National Park
★★ This is a mountainous and lake-rich area (Isli, Tislit) near Imilchil, known for its diverse wildlife (mouflons, monkeys, birds) and flora.
Rabat
★★ The capital of the Kingdom and, along with its "twin" Salé, a historically significant city whose most remarkable monuments showcase…
Rif Mountains
★★ This mountain range and plains stretch along the Mediterranean coast from Tangier to the Algerian border. It is increasingly popular for…
Route to Mauritania
★★ This is the route that runs along the Moroccan coast down to Mauritania and beyond. A "classic" (regulated) route for those looking to…
Saïdia
★★ With the Plan Azur, this small coastal village has become a major seaside resort in Morocco.
Tafraout
★★ At an altitude of 1,200 m, the town is dominated by striking granite cliffs. In addition to its orchards, Tafraout is known as the heart of…
Taghazout
★★ A small fishing port renowned for its surfing and the beauty of its beaches. It’s also the planned site for what may one day become…
Tangier
★★ A city with a rich history stretching from the Phoenician era to its unique status as an international zone in the 1920s–1950s.
Taroudant
★★ Nicknamed the "little Marrakech" with its ramparts and walled city, Taroudant is a great stop for travellers en route between Agadir and…
Tetouan
★★ The city is renowned for its medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Mediterranean beaches and the Rif Mountains are also nearby.
Tinerhir
★★ Perched at 1,300 m in a stunning panorama, Tinerhir is one of the most beautiful and richest oases in the country.
Ourika Valley and Oukaïmeden
★★ A small valley east of Toubkal Park, inhabited by Berbers and relatively preserved in terms of nature and traditions. Very close to…
Paradise Valley
★★ A lovely valley along a wadi in the hinterland of Agadir, perfect for a short hike.
Al Hoceima
★ The city is primarily known for its beaches and the nearby Al Hoceima National Park.
Amizmiz
★ This Berber highland town, southwest of Marrakech, is known for its weekly Tuesday souk.
Azrou
★ This town built at over 1,200 m is primarily a base for exploring the surrounding area, particularly Ifrane National Park with its fishing…
Beni Mellal
★ A major town in the country’s centre with a rather beautiful kasbah.
Boujdour
★ This small town south of Laâyoune has grown in one of the region's most beautiful natural settings.
Boumalne-Dadès
★ Thanks to its location near the Dadès and Todgha Gorges, as well as the Djebel Saghro and the Valley of Roses, the village has become a…
Casablanca
★ It's the country's largest city and economic capital. Almost all its buildings date from the 20th century, and its new districts, with…
Zaouia d'Ifrane Waterfalls
★ Located in a quiet spot not far from Azrou, this village is nestled in a pretty setting with several waterfalls that can be discovered on a…
Dakhla
★ A major fishing port at the end of a peninsula. Its climate and landscapes, where sea and desert meet, make it a popular holiday spot for…
El Ouatia
★ Better known and more popular than its neighbor Tan-Tan, this small fishing port, also locally called Tan-Tan Plage, has developed a…
Erfoud
★ The last "big" city before the desert, on the route to the Erg Chebbi dunes. Erfoud is best known for its date festival held at the end of…
Errachidia
★ The main city of Tafilalet. However, the place doesn’t hold much tourist interest.
Figuig
★ A lost oasis in the far east of the country, on the Algerian border, surrounded by small mountains.
Guelmim
★ Traditionally known as the gateway to the Grand South, the city was once a major caravan hub on the route to Timbuktu.
Icht
★ A village with underground alleyways between Tata and Guelmim.
Imilchil
★ This high-altitude village is known for its proximity to the High Atlas Park, but above all for its betrothal festival (moussem), which…
Imlil
★ Cette bourgade du massif du Toubkal est LE point de départ de nombreuses randonnées et un lieu d'hébergement pour partir à la découverte de…
Issaguen
★ This is the new name for Ketama, formerly at the heart of the cannabis-producing region, with efforts to rebrand the village as a tourist…
Laayoune
★ Though founded by the Spanish less than a century ago, Laayoune is the main city and "claimed capital" of Western Sahara. For travellers…
Lake Lalla Takerkoust
★ This artificial lake is located a few kilometres west of Toubkal Park. A favourite among Marrakech residents, it offers opportunities for…
Larache
★ The town is primarily known for the Roman ruins of Lixus on its outskirts and, secondarily, the Merja Zerga National Park, as well as the…
Lixus
★ These Roman ruins, 2 or 3 kilometres from Larache across the river, represent the second ancient site in Morocco after Volubilis. The site…
Mehdia
★ This coastal town near Kenitra is popular for surfing as well as the nearby Sidi Boughaba Lake Park.
Melilla
★ Another piece of Spain when following the coast toward Algeria. The city still has its old quarters and a unique atmosphere with its Art…
Midelt
★ A medium-sized town (and stopover) between Meknes and Errachidia. You can explore the Jaffar Cirque in the surrounding area.
Mirleft
★ A small town between Tiznit and Sidi Ifni known for its beaches and surfing.
Moulay Bouzerktoun
★ A small fishing port a few kilometres north of Essaouira. It’s a place that remains somewhat wild and, above all, a top spot for…
Moulay Idriss
★ This holy city in Morocco is primarily known for the Roman ruins of Volubilis located on its outskirts.
Nador
★ Despite its lagoon, Nador's main appeal is as a gateway to the seaside resort of Saidia, a hundred kilometers further east.
Ouarzazate
★ Now known for its film studios, the "gateway to the desert" has always been a crossroads city between the Sahara and the Atlas regions…
Ouirgane
★ A small town on the Tizi-n-Test road, at the gateway to Toubkal National Park. It serves as a starting point for various hikes in the…
Oujda
★ Beyond its medina, the city offers little of tourist interest.
Oukaïmeden
★ Morocco’s top ski resort, located in Toubkal National Park.
Al Hoceima National Park
★ A combined terrestrial and marine park with beautiful coastal landscapes, high cliffs, and a mountainous hinterland.
Iriqui National Park
★ A desert park between Tata and Zagora. You can see many migratory birds, gazelles, mouflons, and various reptile species there.
Souss-Massa National Park
★ Located almost at the gates of Agadir, the site is primarily renowned for birdwatching.
Merja Zerga Reserve
★ This spot, south of Larache, is a wintering area for many birds. As the park is by the sea, around a lagoon, boat trips are available.
Sidi Boughaba Lake Reserve
★ Right next to Mehdia, this coastal forest park is home to colonies of rare birds.
Rissani
★ Once a major caravan center on the route to Timbuktu, the town is now primarily a possible starting point for the Merzouga dunes. A circuit…
Ouarzazate to Guelmim Route
★ Over just over 400 kilometres, this route explores the oases of the south-east (Tissint, Akka, Amtoudi...).
Safi
★ An industrial and port city, Safi has limited tourist appeal, though it retains several remnants from the Portuguese era.
Salé
★ The city faces Rabat, with which it is "indissociable." Its monuments and cultural heritage are among the attractions of the Rabat-Salé…
Sidi Harazem
★ A thermal spa in the outskirts of Fes, highly popular with Moroccans and renowned for the healing properties of its mineral water.
Sidi Ifni
★ One of the last formerly Spanish cities to gain independence in 1969. Touristically, it offers only moderate interest despite its partly…
Skoura
★ This small Berber town is home to remarkable rammed-earth buildings and, above all, a vast palm grove.
Smara
★ It is the major inland city of Western Sahara.
Lalla Mimouna Springs
★ A few kilometres from Tinejdad, a set of carbonated springs and a small museum dedicated to local traditions.
Taliouine
★ A high-altitude town halfway between Ouarzazate and Taroudant, known for its saffron production.
Tamegroute
★ This town, about twenty kilometres south of Zagora, hides a 17th-century zaouïa (religious centre). It is also known for its small…
Tarfaya
★ This town in the former Spanish territory of Cape Juby is famous for hosting the "aviator-writer" Antoine de Saint-Exupéry for 18 months…
Tata
★ The "big" city of the region's south. Worth seeing if you have time: its palm grove and the Messalit caves a few kilometers away.
Taza
★ While the town itself has limited tourist appeal, the surrounding area is well worth a visit for its landscapes, particularly the nearby…
Telouet
★ This slightly off-the-beaten-path Berber village on the Marrakech-Ouarzazate route is home to an ancient kasbah over two centuries old.
Tinejdad
★ This large town at the entrance to the Tafilalet region is home to the Oasis Museum. The sparkling water springs of Lalla Mimouna are…
Tiznit
★ This Berber city, about fifteen kilometres from the Atlantic, is primarily known for its late 19th-century ramparts that surround the…
Zagora
★ The "major" city of the Draa Valley boasts a vast palm grove at the edge of the desert. It is primarily the starting point for numerous…