Visiting Morocco

Morocco is the Northwest corner of the African continent. Bounded to the East by three mountain ranges and the edges of the Sahara dessert, to the West by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by the Mediterranean, and to the South by the desert, Morocco is blessed by fertile plains and oasis valleys. Marrakech is two hours inland from the coast, and 45 minutes North of the High Atlas Mountains, the tallest in North Africa.

Marrakech is easy to get to, and is well-served by all major European airports and airlines.

Morocco has one of the richest histories of any nation of the world, having dominated North Africa and most of the Iberian peninsula for nearly a thousand years. Marrakech is one of the Imperial Cities, along with Rabat, Meknes, and Fes. Other Moroccan cities of interest include Tangiers, Essaouira, El Jadida, Agadir, and Safi. Marrarkech is a convenient base to visit many of Morocco's sites, and a convenient hopping off place to visit the desert.

We have added a few useful tips and tools to make your trip to Morocco more enjoyable.

Places to Visit on your Trip to Morocco

Marrakech

• Badia Palace / ancient Saâdi palace now in ruins.
• Bahia palace (19th century, 8 ha).
• Agdal Gardens (20 hectares with basins, pools, and ancient olive groves)
• Necropolis of the Saâdian kings
• Majorelle gardens
• Near-eastern souks
• Jemaa El Fna square, a lively place night and day
• Koranic school - Medersa Ben Youssef
• Ménara
• The Marrakech Museum

Essaouira

• Traditional fishing port
• Jewish quarter

Agadir

• Kasbah
• Port (largest sardine-fishing port on Earth)
• Beach of fine sand

Ouarzazate

• The two famous kasbahs (18th and 19th century fortified Berber castles)
• The Feint oasis (meeting with the village chiefs customary)

Zagora

• Palm grove (800,000 date palms). · Ksar Diasrir Nimelchane (fortified adobe village) · Famous Sharienne Library of Transportation - 400 manuscripts (astronomy, physics, medicine).
• Tinghir sand dunes (unusual sight).

Errachidia

• Fortified villages, blue spring (Ain Meskine).
• Merzouga sand dunes - 35 km of pink sand (Hammada sand and rock desert)

Fes

• Medina dating back to the end of the 8th and beginning of the 9th century
• The largest souk in the kingdom--35,000 craftsmen
• The Medersas, the Koranic Schools
• The ancient institutes of technology that date back to the 14th century (Merinid Period).
• The Batha crafts museum

Meknes

• Stables (for 12,000 horses, built in the 17th century)
• Bab El Mansour gate
• Museum of traditional art (40 km of ramparts)
• Agdal pools (imitation of the pools at Versailles castle).
• My Ismail Mausoleum: the only mosque that non-Muslims can visit.
• Volubilis (ancient capital of Roman Tanjitane Mauritania, discovered from its ruins).

Casablanca

• French Art Deco downtown
• Hassan II Mosque
• Ancient Mahkama

Rabat

• The Hassan tower (unfinished 11th century mosque; Almohad Dynasty).
• Chella: 14th century Merinide necropolis
• Oudaya kasbah-an ancient fortress overlooking the sea

Tangiers

• Malcolm Forbes Museum (miniature soldiers representing all the world's battles, battle of the three kings).
• Kasbah Museum 17th century My Ismail fortress (Museum of antiquities and crafts-rugs, costumes, ironwork).
• The large and small socco (ancient peasant marketplaces)

Tetouan

• Bab Oukla museum (entrance to the medina)
• Ancient manor transformed into a museum of traditional art (famous for its Muslim and Jewish wedding dresses)
• The city and its craftsmen: 'sevetiers'

Oujda

• The old town (medina and craftsmen)
• 8 km away, the Sidi Yahya Ben Youness oasis

Calendar of Festivals

These are some of the events that take place throughout the year in Morocco. For a more complete list, consult the sites indicated below:

• Tafraout Almond Blossom Festival: February
• El Kelâa M'Gouna Festival of Roses: May
• Salé Wax Lantern Festival: May
• Immouzzer Honey Festival (Agadir region): May
• Ouarzazate Desert Symphonies: June
• Séfrou Cherry Festival (Fès region): June
• Marrakech Crafts Festival: July
• Essaouira Gnaoua Festival: June
• Guelmim Camel Festival: July
• Asilah Cultural Festival: August
• Imilchil Tribal Marriage Festival: September
• Tissa Equine Festival (Fès region): September
• Erfoud Date Festival: October
• Fès Sacred Music Festival: May/June
• Agadir Festival: December
• El Jadida Moussem Moulay Abdellah: August
• Moussem Moulay Idriss Zerhoun (Meknes region): August
• Marrakech film festival: December

For a full listing of cultural events in Morocco, please visit one of these two sites:

• Moroccan Travel Information
• Moroccan Tourism