15 of the Best Cities to Visit in Morocco for an Unforgettable Trip

Last Updated: January 5, 2024 //  by Ashley Smith Leave a Comment

Before I finally visited, I had no idea which were the best cities to visit in Morocco / which ones deserved my time. I decided I’d simply check out as many as I could so I could make a more informed decision for my future visits. (And there will definitely be future visits!)

I spent a couple of awe-inspiring weeks in Morocco in 2023 and it quickly became one of my favorite countries ever. (And thankfully too because I had only the highest of expectations for my long-awaited trip to Agrabah.) On this list of the best cities to visit in Morocco are many that will hold space in my heart for a long time. So, let me tell you what makes them so great.

Table of Contents

Here are all the best cities to visit in Morocco together on one handy map to help you plan your trip. To save this map: Click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title to save in your Google Maps. To use this map: Open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved” at the bottom, then click “Maps.”

Now, here are what I believe to be the best cities to visit in Morocco, in no particular order (because choosing favorites here simply can’t be done).

To get the details on all the awesome things I did in Morocco, check out my full 2-week Morocco itinerary here! (It’s really so magical.)

Casablanca isn’t always on the top of visitors’ must-see lists when they come to Morocco, but I certainly believe it’s worth a visit. It’s mostly an industrial/port city on Morocco’s northern coast, so it often gets looked over for more well-known and tourist-centered cities.

Casablanca is one of the best cities to visit in Morocco if only for its mosque. It’s here that you’ll find the stunning and shockingly large Hassan II Mosque. Not only is this one of the largest mosques in the world, but it’s also the only one in Morocco that non-Muslims can visit.

The Hassan II Mosque –I recommend spending a good chunk of time just walking around the exterior of this place; every inch of it is stunning. Its location (sitting out halfway over the ocean) is truly unique as far as mosques in Morocco go. Then, you must take a tour of the inside—it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before!

Rick’s Café – While you’re in Casablanca you should also stop by Rick’s Café for dinner and drinks. Though the movie Casablanca is entirely fictional (as was the bar where it took place), this place has been transformed to resemble the one from the film. If you’re a fan of the movie (like I am!), you’d definitely enjoy a stop here.

In Casablanca I stayed at the Gray Boutique Hotel and it was fabulous. My room (suite actually) was enormous and had a wraparound balcony. The breakfast is great and the staff is super nice. And cats just come and go here as they please. It’s fantastic.

For more great places to stay in Morocco, check out my post on all the hotels, riads, kasbahs, and camps I stayed at this year!

Marrakech is arguably the most well-known and popular one on the list of best cities to visit in Morocco. If you go to Morocco for any amount of time, chances are you’ll visit the bustling, loud, and potentially overwhelming city of Marrakech.

Marrakech is a shock to the senses if you’ve been traveling around the rest of Morocco before you make it here. While the rest of the country is mostly chill, Marrakech is LOUD and pretty in-your-face. Some love it (like me) and others can’t get out of here fast enough. But, you won’t really know which way you’ll fall until you visit.

Though it can be overwhelming at times, Marrakech is also one of the most beautiful and fun cities I’ve visited in Morocco. It’s endlessly colorful; the shopping here is superior; and there’s just an excitement about it that engulfs you immediately.

Marrakech is definitely one of the best cities to visit in Morocco for its energy, its abundant sightseeing potential, and its food. (Make sure you eat some tanjia while you’re here!)

Some of the best things to see and do in Marrakech are:

In Marrakech I stayed at the Bab Hotel and it was perfectly fine. (With the exception of the incident that landed this stay on my list of worst travel moments of 2023, eek!)

There are tons of gorgeous hotels and riads in Marrakech and on my next visit I’ll stay somewhere more along the lines of Riad Kheirredine or Riad Idra. These are much more centrally located and just generally prettier and more the vibe I’m looking for.

Also check out: What to Pack for Morocco: What to Wear in Morocco as a Woman + Complete Morocco Packing List

Rabat is the country’s current capital and another on the list of the best cities to visit in Morocco that most people skip right past. It may not have as much to offer in terms of sightseeing or “things to do,” but it’s definitely a unique spot worth checking out.

While in Rabat, be sure to:

I didn’t stay the night in Rabat when I visited, but here are a few popular Rabat hotel options for you:

Fun fact: The taxis are a different color in each Moroccan city. In Casablanca they’re red; in Marrakech they’re orange-ish; in Ifrane they’re green; in Chefchaouen they’re blue (obviously!), and so on.

Chefchaouen is known as Morocco’s blue city and you’ve certainly seen a few [gazillion] photos of it, I’m sure. While this isn’t the easiest place to get to, I do think it’s one of the best cities to visit in Morocco for a couple reasons.

First and foremost, you should visit Chefchaouen simply just to see it. The entire city really is blue. Not just one street for tourism purposes… but the whole town. It’s bizarre, but you’ve gotta see it. There isn’t a whole lot to do in Chefchaouen, but getting lost here is a truly worthwhile experience.  

The main thing to do in Chefchouen is really just to walk and explore. The entire place is a large blue maze, but not so large that you risk never coming out. (Like Fez, yikes!) Really, just take the day and wander all the streets. There’s a lot of (blue) things to see and tons of cats to photograph. (You can tell where my priorities lie.)

Additionally, you can also:

In Chefchaouen I stayed at the Riad Hicham and I loved it! The entire property is so beautiful and unique and the staff is incredibly courteous. (Watch my reel here of what it was like just walking to my room!) The hotel restaurant is so good I ate here every night I spent in Chefchaouen. Highly recommend!

Meknes is another city you probably haven’t heard of, but still one of the best cities to visit in Morocco. It’s conveniently located between Casablanca and Rabat and actually used to be the capital of Morocco. Today, it’s one of the four imperial cities of Morocco along with Rabat, Marrakech, and Fez.

While this isn’t the most happenin’ city in Morocco, there are still some incredibly cool things to see here. Plus, since it’s not nearly as popular as cities like Marrakech and Fez, you’ll enjoy the freedom of a crowd-free visit.

My favorite things to see and do in Meknes are:

In Meknes I stayed at the Riad Ritaj and it felt like a totally hidden retreat within the city. The property is quintessentially Moroccan, the rooms are huge, and the staff is super nice.

On the list of best cities to visit in Morocco, Volubilis will certainly stand out from all the others. In fact, you’ll feel like you aren’t even in Morocco at all. That’s because Volubilis is actually a city made up of ancient Roman ruins.

Whether or not you’ve visited your fair share of Roman ruins before, these are pretty unique since you’re in Africa, remember? And if you’ve never visit an ancient Roman city before, then you’ll love it for just what it is.

There are numerous spots to check out here, like the triumphal arch, the mosaic tiled floors, and the aqueduct. There are bath houses and temples and ancient olive oil presses too. All the land around this area is beautiful and it’ll be a nice change to spend a day out in the countryside.

If you’d like to take a guided tour of Volubilis, know that most of them leave from Fes and include a tour of Meknes as well. In case you’re interested, here are some popular day trips:

Volubilis is kind of “in the middle of nowhere,” and the vast majority of people visit Volubilis from either Fez or Meknes. So, that’s definitely where you want to stay if you plan to visit Volubilis. For where to stay in those two cities, check out #5 and #7 in this post.

Of all the cities I’m declaring the best to visit in Morocco, Fez is definitely one of my favorites. Top Two, for sure. This is another that can quickly overwhelm people, so I definitely wouldn’t visit here without a guide who’s willing to quite literally hold your hand, as mine so graciously was.  

Fez is the second largest (behind Casablanca) and one of the most ancient cities in Morocco and just all-around awesome. The Fez medina is one of the largest pedestrian-only zones in the world and is said to be made up of 10,000 streets… without any sort of organization at all. It’s just a mess. A loud, disorienting mess. And I adore it.

Fez is also home to the 1200-year-old Chouara Tannery you may have seen pictures of before, and the University of al-Qarawiyyin, the world’s oldest university. You can also see how that iconic Fez pottery is made, take a tour of some different markets, and even get a custom leather jacket made and delivered to your hotel in just two hours.

While in Fez, be sure to :

In Fez I stayed at the Riad Palais Houyam and I absolutely loved it. It has a fantastic rooftop patio and delicious restaurant. The staff went out of their way for me and I was even able to get my laundry done here. The property is gorgeous and the location (just outside the medina) is perfect.

When you enter the city of Ifrane in the Middle Atlas Mountains, no part of you will be convinced you’re still in Morocco. Ifrane is known for its skiing and lodges, its forests and waterfalls, and its alpine-style architecture. All this gives it the popular nickname “The Switzerland of Morocco.”

Ifrane is one of the best cities to visit in Morocco because it’s just so different. (And perhaps because I’m already obsessed with the Alps as it is.) It’s so unlike the rest of the country. It was even dubbed the “second cleanest city in the world,” just behind Calgary, Canada. Come here and breathe some fresh air!

When in Ifrane, you must:

If you’d like to pop into Ifrane to see what it’s all about, check out this Middle Atlas Mountains and Cedar Forest Day Trip from Fez.

If you’d like to stay overnight in Ifrane, here are some great hotel options:

The village of Khamlia sits on the very edge of the Sahara Desert and is home to the Gnaoua—the direct descendants of slaves brought to Morocco centuries ago from Sudan.

Today, the Gnaoua welcome visitors into their village at Khamlia to experience their food, music, and culture. My day with the Gnaoua is one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life and Khamlia village is without a doubt one of the best cities to visit in Morocco.

My day in Khamlia went a little like this:

This incredible experience was included as part of my 2-week Morocco tour with Intrepid. You can drive here yourself though and have the same experiences; I saw a few people arriving as we were leaving.

If you’re not that adventurous though, there are a couple of tours that include a visit with the Gnawa of Khamlia. Check out these options:

Next on the list of the best cities to visit in Morocco is Merzouga, location of the Sahara Desert’s famous Erg Chebbi sand dunes. (And definitely my favorite day I spent in Morocco!) No trip to Morocco would be complete without a trip into the Sahara. (And via camel if at all possible.)

No matter how you spend your time in Merzouga, this is such an awesome and unforgettable experience. Here are a few ways I spent my night in the desert:

Again, this experience was part of my 2-week Morocco trip, but since this is such a popular activity, there are tons of options for tours that will take you here. Check out:

While visiting the area I stayed at the Golden Camp Sahara. This is a “luxury” Sahara camp and, though I have nothing else to compare it too, I would certainly agree. The staff was super accommodating and the property is gorgeous but the rooms were the best part.

Even though these are technically “tents,” they still have showers with hot water, a sink, an actual flushing toilet, lighting, heating, comfy beds, and tons of space to chill out in. I would definitely recommend the Golden Camp Sahara to anyone.

The Ksar of Aït Benhaddou is a centuries-old fortified village and UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Tons of movies and TV shows have been filmed here like The Mummy, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. (They were even filming Gladiator 2 when I was there!)

First of all, if you’re a fan of any of these shows/films, you’ll definitely want to see this place in person. Beyond that, it’s a fascinating little village to explore. It really does feel like you’re in some ancient fantasy world.

When in Aït Benhaddou you should definitely:

Visiting Aït Benhaddou is best on a tour so you can learn all the neat info and history about it, so check out these options:

After my visit in Aït Benhaddou I stayed at the Kasbah Cigogne which was totally unique. Besides being greeted with a truly unforgettable sunset (followed by a sky filled with stars), the staff here is so, so nice. My room was pretty simple but I don’t require much so it was fine. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again.

Zaida is going to be one of the most remote, random, and real of the best cities to visit in Morocco, thanks to our local guide Mohamed who loved showing us his country’s most hidden gems.

Well, the reason you’re going to want to visit Zaida is for lunch. Specifically, what they call “barbecue.” Mohamed told us that’s what Zaida is known for, and he’s not wrong. Pulling into Zaida you’ll notice the whole town is shrouded in a delicious-smelling cloud of smoke.

Once your eyes adjust, you’ll then notice all the… umm… animal corpses hanging from the storefronts. Obviously, a visit to Zaida may be hard for some to stomach, but it’s also an unfiltered look into how the people live and make a living here.

Grab a seat at one of the eateries and go nuts. (I ate at a place I believe is called Xaluca.) Ask your server for what he recommends or do like we did and just order a little bit of everything. Beef, goat, lamb, tagine (of course), and, my personal favorite, kefta.

Also, Zaida is located in the Midelt region, aka the apple capital of Morocco. There will be produce stands all around you so pick up some apples while you’re here!

This place is so off-the-radar that I can’t find a single tour that’ll get you here. If you’re checking out all the best cities to visit in Morocco in your own (rented) vehicle, that’s probably the only way you’ll be able to visit Zaida. But if you can, it’s worth this interesting look into rural Moroccan life. (It’s on the way to Merzouga and the Sahara from Fez, if you’re heading that way.)

My time in the Dades Valley was such a treat, and because I’m going to recommend you visit a bunch of different places around here, I’m listing the “Dades Valley” as one of the best cities to visit in Morocco instead of picking just one.

The Dades Valley is a great place to slow your Morocco trip down a bit. There aren’t any must-see sites or must-do adventures; it’s just chill. The people here are some of the nicest and most welcoming I met in all of Morocco (a country filled with nice and welcoming people). The scenery is beautiful and the whole area’s mantra is one of happiness and smiles. It’s such an uplifting place to visit.

While here, you can:

If you want to visit the Dades Valley, you’ll most likely need to take one of Morocco’s awesome multi-day tours that include a visit here. Here are some good ones:

While visiting the Dades Valley I stayed at the Hotel Riad Bahammou and it was one of my favorite Morocco hotels, largely because the staff here is the best I’ve encountered anywhere! The property is huge and super interesting. (Watch my reel of it here!) Plus, the meals here are different from everything else you’ll eat in Morocco. Definitely try this one out for yourself!

Depending on how you travel throughout Morocco, you may have the chance to visit some other off-the-beaten-path areas. If you have your own rental car, for instance, think about passing through these cool areas:

I’m recommending a visit to Erfoud specifically for the date market. Best (and most ridiculously affordable) mouthwatering Medjool dates I’ve ever had in my life. I still dream about these dates. I bought a kilo for the equivalent of about $10. Erfoud is on the way to Merzouga / the Sahara from both Fez and Marrakech.

Ouirgane is just a little bit outside Marrakech (less than an hour and a half) and would make a great day trip from Marrakech. You can do a little bit of easy hiking and check out the Ouirgane Dam, one of Morocco’s largest. This day tour from Marrakech covers this cool day trip and includes a traditional lunch.

I hope I’ve been able to help you find some of the best cities to visit in Morocco and sort out your itinerary. Like this post? Have questions about traveling around Morocco? Ask away in the comments below. Have fun in Morocco!

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Filed Under: Elsewhere Travel, Morocco