Lady’s Lovely Guide to Things to Do in Rabat

Morocco’s capital has never been on my radar screen. Everyone talks about visiting Marrakech, but Rabat doesn’t get much air time as a travel destination. It should, though, as the city has a lot going for it. I’m here for the day and I’ve found a lot of exciting things to do in Rabat.

Rabat, Morocco

On Morocco’s Atlantic coast, Rabat has been a strategic port for millennia. The Phonecians and Romans left their marks here, and the city was established with the building of ramparts in the Kasbah of the Oudaias in 1150.

In the early 17th century, Rabat became even more important when thousands of Muslims arrived after fleeing Spain. After that, everyone from sultans to pirates vied for control of the city.

Today the Moroccan capital is a bit calmer, but the narrow streets of the Medina and ancient Roman ruins in Chellah testify to Rabat’s storied past.

Things to Do in Rabat

I arrive in the city after an hour-and-a-half drive from Casablanca. I’m here on a day trip with a friend, and there are enough things to do in Rabat to keep us busy the whole time.

The Medina

We start in the Medina. This maze of narrow streets is full of market stalls selling everything from fragrant spices to colorful dyes.

Vendors call out as we pass by, and narrow alleys with wrought iron lanterns and wooden shutters pique my curiosity along the way.

Kasbah of the Oudaias in Rabat

Once out in the open, we walk across Avenue Al Marsa to the Kasbah of the Oudaias. This walled area on the Bou Regreg River is home to historic streets painted in bright blues and whites.

Flower pots with big leaves line the lanes and colorful details adorn the doors. Wandering through and getting lost in the maze is one of the prettiest things to do in Rabat.

But the streets of the Kasbah of the Oudaias are just the beginning. There’s a summer palace with an Andalusian garden here, and seeing the flower beds surrounded by the ramparts is a highlight of visiting this part of Rabat today.

Bou Regreg River in Rabat

From the Kasbah, it’s a short walk down the hill to the river. There’s a big dhow boat moored on the banks, giving a nod to the ships that plied the waterway in times past.

The Bou Regreg itself is the brightest blue. Colorful fishing boats dot the water and nets in all hues sit on the banks.

Across the way, we can see the Grand Theatre de Rabat. It was designed by the late Zaha Hadid in a form inspired by the river itself.

El Tropic in Rabat

All the sightseeing has made us hungry, so our next stop is lunch. We’ve gotten a recommendation for a restaurant in Rabat from a local, and we head south to El Tropic with high expectations.

As soon as we arrive, I know I’m going to like this place. El Tropic is a chic concept store with a restaurant and terrace downstairs. Everything is design-led from the chairs to the tile-covered tables.

We settle into a sofa on the terrace, tucking into heaping quinoa bowls and eggs Florentine. It’s a colorful feast, and the sunny setting makes us want to stay all day.

Chellah

But there are a lot more things to do in Rabat, so we head to Chellah next. This area is where the Roman ruins in Rabat are located, not to mention 14th-century minarets and a whole lot of resident storks.

As we walk through the ruins, we spot mosaic fragments and smell the sweet scent of orange blossoms. The clacking of stork bills keeps us looking up at their huge nests as we climb over stones and explore the necropolis built by the Marinids.

Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V

From Chellah it’s a quick drive to the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V. The tower, which was commissioned in 1195, is reminiscent of the Koutoubia in Marrakech and the Giralda in Sevilla.

Hassan Tower is surrounded by 200 stone columns that were meant to support the roof of a mosque. The mosque was never finished, but in 1971 the Mausoleum of Mohammed V was constructed on the site.

The mausoleum glistens white in the sun, its green roof pointing skyward. Inside we see the tombs of King Mohammed V and his two sons from a viewing gallery above.

Best Things to Do in Rabat

When we’ve finished walking through the columns, we start our journey back to Casablanca.

I’ve been amazed at how much we’ve seen and how there are so many impressive things to do in Rabat. I can’t believe I’d never had this city on my radar screen before, but now that it’s there it’s going to stay.

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