Skip to content
WhatsApp
View over the Fes medina and its minarets

Guide

Places to visit in Morocco

The best places to visit in Morocco, region by region: the imperial cities, the north around Chefchaouen and Tangier, the High Atlas and its kasbahs, the Atlantic coast and, in the south-east, the desert. For each one we cover what not to miss and how it fits into a trip, with links to the day trips and tours that go there.

Morocco has nine sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, and you will find all of them in this guide.

The imperial cities: Fes, Meknes, Rabat and Marrakech

All four have been Morocco’s capital at some point in its history, and all four have their historic centre on the UNESCO list.

  • Fes. The Fes el-Bali medina, a World Heritage Site since 1981, is a maze of lanes where tanners, coppersmiths and weavers still work. You enter through the blue Bab Bou Jeloud gate, and it makes much more sense with a local guide.
  • Meknes. Moulay Ismail’s city, with the Bab Mansour gate and the royal stables (listed since 1996). Close by are the Roman ruins of Volubilis and their mosaics (1997).
  • Rabat. Today’s capital, calm and by the sea: the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Kasbah of the Udayas (listed since 2012).
  • Marrakech. Jemaa el-Fna square, the Koutoubia, the souks, the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the Majorelle Garden. Its medina has been listed since 1985.

From Fes, you can see Meknes and Volubilis on a day trip. For a trip built around them, see our imperial cities tours.

The north: Tangier, Chefchaouen, Tetouan and Asilah

The north is the gateway if you cross by ferry from Spain, and it feels different from the rest of the country: whitewashed houses, Andalusian influence and green mountains.

  • Tangier. The medina and kasbah above the Strait, Cape Spartel, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, and the Caves of Hercules.
  • Chefchaouen. The blue city of the Rif, small and made for walking. Everything you need is in our Chefchaouen guide.
  • Tetouan. A white medina of Andalusian origin, a World Heritage Site since 1997, with craft souks and buildings from the Spanish protectorate era.
  • Asilah. A white, walled medina above the Atlantic, with murals on its walls.

From Tangier, all four make easy day trips:

The Atlas Mountains and the road of the kasbahs

South of Marrakech, the road climbs over the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass and drops into a landscape of mud-brick villages, palm groves and red mountains.

  • Ait Ben Haddou. Morocco’s best-known mud-brick ksar, a World Heritage Site since 1987 and a filming location for movies such as Gladiator.
  • Ouarzazate. The gateway to the desert, with film studios you can visit.
  • Skoura and the Valley of Roses. Oases, palm groves and kasbahs such as Amridil.
  • The Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge. Red mountains, sheer rock walls and kasbahs along the river.
  • The Middle Atlas. Between Fes and the desert: Ifrane and the cedar forests of Azrou, home to Barbary macaques.

Without an overnight stay, you can reach Ait Ben Haddou, the Ourika Valley or the Ouzoud waterfalls from Marrakech, and the Middle Atlas from Fes.

The Atlantic coast: Essaouira, Casablanca and El Jadida

  • Essaouira. A walled medina (a World Heritage Site since 2001), a fishing harbour and cannons facing the sea. On the way from Marrakech, argan trees and argan oil cooperatives.
  • Casablanca. The Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world, built out over the Atlantic, and the Corniche seafront.
  • El Jadida. The old Portuguese city of Mazagan, a World Heritage Site since 2004, on the coast south of Casablanca. It isn’t on our tours, but ask us if you are interested.

Rabat and Asilah are on the coast too: the Atlantic is never far on any route through western Morocco.

The desert: the Merzouga dunes

In the south-east, the Merzouga dunes are where many routes end: you ride a camel to camp at sunset, sleep in the desert and watch the sun come up over the sand. Nearby are Rissani, with its market, and Khamlia, the village of Gnawa music. For a tent with a private bathroom, see Tassili Luxury Desert Camp.

What to see in Morocco in 2 or 3 days

With a long weekend, stay in one city and add a day trip:

With 3 days and a wish to see the desert, there is a route from Marrakech to Fes with a night in the dunes.

How to combine it all

The regions link up naturally: the north and the imperial cities on one side, the Atlas and the desert on the other, with Marrakech as the hinge. Some combinations that work well:

To work out how many days each combination needs, read our Morocco itinerary guide.

Before you book

Frequently asked questions

Still have a question?Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll answer you in your language.

WhatsApp
What are the must-see places in Morocco?

For a first trip: the Fes medina, Marrakech and Jemaa el-Fna, Chefchaouen, the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah and a night in the dunes. Those five cover the north, the centre and the south.

How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites does Morocco have?

Nine: the medinas of Fes (1981), Marrakech (1985), Tetouan (1997) and Essaouira (2001), the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou (1987), the historic city of Meknes (1996), the archaeological site of Volubilis (1997), the Portuguese city of Mazagan in El Jadida (2004) and Rabat (2012).

Is Tangier worth visiting?

Yes, especially at the start of a trip if you arrive by ferry: the medina, the kasbah and Cape Spartel fit into a day. See Tangier in a day, or start one of our tours from Tangier.

What is there to do near Marrakech?

On a day trip: the Ourika Valley and the High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, Essaouira, the Ouzoud waterfalls or Casablanca. We compare them in day trips from Marrakech.

Is Morocco worth visiting without going to the desert?

Yes. The north and the imperial cities are a full trip on their own, like our Tangier to Casablanca tour in 5 days. The desert is a great extra, not a must.

Sources · Reviewed on 08/10/2026

If your trip goes to the desert

The dunes of Merzouga

We are the same team as Tassili Luxury Desert Camp. If your trip goes through Merzouga and you want to sleep in the dunes, in a tent with a private bathroom, here is their website.

We speak your language

Shall we help you plan your trip?

Tell us your dates, how many of you are travelling and where you’d like to start. We’ll send you a route and a price on WhatsApp.

  • Your dates
  • How many of you
  • Where you start
Plan your trip on WhatsApp Plan your trip

or call +212 661 614 125 · info@moroccotrips.net

Plan your trip