A pleasant culture shock awaits you as you arrive in Morocco. It is as culturally rich as it is geographically diverse and cannot fail to impress. Visiting some of its towns and villages and experiencing the generosity of its people will leave you hooked, as I was, by the Arabic experience.
Top Interesting Places to Visit in Morocco
Here is the list of interesting places to visit the next time you arrive in Morocco. You will have a lot of fun if you do.
Fez
Fez is the bustling cultural and spiritual center of Morocco. The main attraction is the Medieval Medina in the colourful old city, which has been continuously inhabited since the 10th century. It is busy with traditionally dressed Moroccans and rich with the noise of buying and selling, veiled women going about their work, and bell-ringing water sellers.
READ ALSO: 5 Google Search Tips To Help You Find Information Faster.
A guided tour is the easiest way to tackle the buzzing hive that is traditional Fez, but if you are brave, you can negotiate the tiny alleyways, too narrow for cars whilst risking getting lost and then haggling with a local to be guided back out!
The Tanneries: A visit to the souks will lead to a visit to Fez’s famous tanneries, where one of the oldest arts in the world is practiced to produce the soft leather do characteristic of Morocco.
You’ll need a strong stomach for the smells given off during curing, while you look down on the fascinating tanners’ yard and its impressive vats of different coloured dyes and piles of skins. Open 9-6, admission free.
ViewPoint: The best vantage point over the ancient walled city is from the ruined Merenid Tombs on a hilltop to the east of the city. From here you can see the skyline with its profusion of satellite dishes, and a general mass of palaces, green-roofed holy places, the tanneries, as well as the adjacent Karaouine Mosque.
Moulay Idriss ll: In the depths of the old city sits the shrine that houses the remains of the founder of the city of Fez, Moulay Idriss II. It is one of the holiest buildings in the city. Non-Muslims may not enter, but you can glimpse inside to see the saint’s tomb, which receives constant devotional visits from groups of women who burn candles and incense.
Marrakech
Walking through the alleyways and souks of Marrakech, particularly in the Medina of the old city, it is easy to believe you have been transported back in time to the “Arabian Nights”. It is this enchanting mood that brings thousands of sightseers to the most visited of Moroccan cities.
The Medina is characterized by much noise, hustle, and bustle with tradesmen and craftsmen going about their daily tasks of cloth dying, copper beating, or leatherworking, as well as herbalists, perfumers, and slippers makers.
READ MORE: Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing an Affiliate Program.
Snow-covered peaks of the High Atlas Mountains form a beautiful backdrop for the city, although they are often hidden by the heat haze.
Djemaa el-Fna: In the heart of the Medina. It is an irregular ‘square’ and a hub of action where tourists flock to soak up the busy atmosphere. Tourism, though, has not spoilt but rather added to the complete picture.
Marrakesh has a modern side with its luxury hotels, banks, and streets bursting with motor scooters, while it blends effortlessly with the past of the old city.
Marrakech was founded in 1062 by Youssef bin Tachfine of the Almoravide dynasty, and his son perfected the city by bringing in architects and Andalucian craftsmen from Córdoba to build palaces, baths, mosques, and a subterranean water system. The city walls were raised from the red mud from the plains.
READ ALSO: Top 100 Websites in Ghana | Based on Alexa Rankings.
Horse-drawn carriages: Known as calèches, are one of the best ways to view the city when you are not on foot exploring in the Medina.
Koutoubia Mosque: This is the city’s main landmark and the 69-meter high minaret towers over the labyrinth of streets and markets in the Medina. The red stone mosque was first built in 1147 but it was knocked down and rebuilt in 1199 because it was had not been built correctly aligned with Mecca. The mosque is large enough for thousands to pray in.
Djemaa el-Fna: This large town square is translated as “Square fo the Dead”. The square offers a colourful scene and is a magnet of performing artists, snake charmers, musicians, storytellers, and healers, all vying for attention. Passing tradesmen offer anything from boiled snails, vegetable soup, and kebabs to fresh orange juice. There are many cafés here from which to watch the busy scene, and from where you may then visit the souks to find some shade from the searing Moroccan sun.
SEE MORE: 5 Easy Steps to Understanding HTML.
Dar Si Saïd Museum: The Museum is housed in a palace on the Riad Ezzitoun El Jadid and shows the arts, crafts, and culture of the Berber people, including displays of some Moorish cedar wood furniture, elaborate door and window frames, and artifacts from everyday life in the Sahara desert.
Opens at 8.30-11.45 and 2.30-5.45 except Tuesdays. Admission Dh20
Saadian Tombs: Built in the late 16th century, this beautiful necropolis has 66 lavishly decorated indoor tombs. The central mausoleum has a high vaulted roof that is exceptionally ornate, including carved cedar panels and Italian marble columns.
Opens at 9.00-11.45 and 2.30-5.50 except Tuesdays. Admission Dh15
Around Marrakesh
Oukaimeden: A ski resort in the desert with camels instead of ski lifts! Yes, thick snow envelops the Jabal Oukaimeden mountain peak during the winter months (usually January and February) and it is just a 46-mile (74km) drive from Marrakech. The town can be reached by taxi or car and is well equipped for skiers seeking restaurants, ski equipment hire, and comfortable hotels within a stunning alpine setting.
READ MORE: How to Get Paid Udemy Courses for Free.
Ouirgane: A village in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains about 1 ½ hour’s drive from Marrakesh. It is a popular place to visit, where summers are cooler and winters are less harsh. The Berber villages are enchanting whilst set in forests with wildflowers, including the famous rose gardens, fruit trees, and streams cascading from the High Atlas.
Essaouira: This popular resort town dates from the 18th century, and is easily reached by bus from Marrakech. The town is surrounded by a fortified wall and faces the sea. The beach is a wide, stunning stretch with pretty whitewashed houses, boat-builders workshops, and art galleries. Visitors come for the laid-back atmosphere and the high wind that makes it a very popular center for wind- and kite-surfing.
Essaouira is also famous for its wood carving tradition, mainly using local, fragrant Thuya wood. The harbour is a hive of activity at all times, particularly during the daily fish auction, attracting as many onlookers as buyers and sellers.
Agadir: This is a major seaside resort south of Marrakech. It is new and modern with magnificent sandy beaches. Its “newness” is largely due to an uncharacteristic earthquake that shook the town in 1961, and it has now been re-modelled as a popular package holiday destination as well as a major fishing port. Agadir boasts 300 days of sunshine and a huge supply of hotel beds, reputedly a quarter of the total in Morocco.
SEE ALSO: 3 Easy Steps To Locate A Real Bargain On Laptop Batteries.
Rabat
Morocco’s capital city is characteristically modern with wide, conservative boulevards, gardens, and large blocks of flats. The king lives here in a beautiful palace surrounded by trees and flowers.
Despite having a rich history dating back to the 7th century, Rabat is a far cry from the hectic backstreets of Fez and Marrakech. However, the old part of the city has a Medina and a Kasbah. Rabat is located on the Atlantic coastal plain, opposite its twin city of Sale, and it is near some beautiful sandy beaches. Rabat’s Dar Es Salaam Golf Course is world-renowned.
Kasbah des Oudaïas: A Kasbah is a “village within a city” and is a good place to take in the sights of the city. It is guarded by the impressive arched gate that was built in 1195. The Palace and Andalucian gardens and the terrace give beautiful views from the Kasbah mosque, over the river and sea. The Palace Museum and gardens date back to the 17th century. The museum houses Moroccan art such as Berber jewellery, costumes, and carpets.
ALSO READ: Top 10 Ghanaian Newspapers and Their Websites.
Citadel of Chellah: Located in the new town of Rabat, the ruins of Chellah, once a Roman port, provide interesting sightseeing. Just inside the gate are Roman ruins dating from 200 BC, which includes a forum, a temple, and a craftsmens’ quarter.
Hassan Mosque: You will see the towering 50 metre minaret of the Hassan Mosque from many parts of the city. Each façade of the minaret is intricately patterned with different motifs on each face.
Mausoleum of Mohammed V: The mausoleum was inaugurated in 1967. Located opposite the Hassan Mosque, it is one of the great monuments of modern Morocco. The deceased king lies in a white onyx tomb, surrounded by royal guards, while and hundreds of Moroccans pay homage each day.
The Medina: This medina was created by Muslim Andalucian refugees from Badajoz, Spain. It was essentially the first “seed” of the city until the arrival of the French in 1912 who began creating the new town.
READ THIS TOO: Full List of National Security Service Jobs in Ghana.
Archeology Museum: Here you can find a collection of Roman bronze figures, dating from the first and second centuries and recovered from Volubilis. Also, other artifacts from Phoenician, Carthaginian, and Roman settlements throughout Morocco are to be viewed here. Open 9.00-11.30 and 2.30-5.30, closed Tuesdays. Around Rabat
Volubilis: Located between Rabat and Fez, it was built on top of a previous Carthaginian city and dates back to around the 3rd century BC, being a centre of Roman administration in Africa. Volubilis was inhabited until the 18th century when it was carelessly demolished to provide building materials for the palaces of Moulay Ismail in Meknes. This meant a great deal of Morocco’s Roman architectural heritage was lost. However, today the ruins include some well-preserved columns, a basilica, a triumphal arch, and about 30 high beautiful mosaics.
Casablanca: This is a huge, busy European-style port city and has attracted much immigration from the Moroccan countryside. People are modern with little sign of traditional dress or modesty. The old town is small but similar to all the other bazaars found in Morocco. The impressive Hassan ll Mosque is the 3rd largest religious monument in the world, with fantastic views over the Atlantic Ocean.
ALSO FROM US: 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Password.
Temara: Lies on the coast, some 13Km from Rabat. It is a favourite weekend spot for city dwellers. Temara has a sandy beach, along with many hotels, nightclubs, restaurants, a zoo, and other leisure facilities to entertain visitors.
Tangier
Tangier was once a playground for the rich and famous seeking a fashionable café culture as well as a tax haven. When Spain relinquished Tangier back to Morocco in 1960, its duty-free status went with it, along with the fashionable crowd. The decayed grandeur of today still has much to offer and slowly Tangier is regaining its splendor as an attractive tourist destination.
Grand Socco: Socco means Souk in Spanish and it is named so due to its Spanish heritage. A Souk is a market to us and is an interesting place to watch passing Rif people in colourful costumes selling vegetables and fresh mint. It begins at a bustling square and the medina is entered from the square, through a large arched entrance.
American Legation Museum: is located in the middle of the medina. It is an American cultural centre, museum, and conference venue, as well as a library. The museum is housed in the American Embassy which was built in 1777 when Morocco became the first power to recognize the USA as an independent country!
SEE RELATED: How to Find Jobs on LinkedIn [The Best Way]
Kasbah: dates back to the 17th century and it is interesting to wonder through its little alleyways, patios, and hidden terraces. The Kasbah Mosque boasts an unusual octagonal minaret.
Sultan’s Gardens, Rue Riad Sultan, just north of the Kasbah Mosque, are a pleasant place to visit and watch the local craftsmen at work while sipping mint tea and enjoying views across the Straits of Gibraltar to Tarifa on the Spanish coast, only 14.5 Km away.
Dar el Makhzen: This is a 17th-century palace containing an impressive collection of art from all regions of Morocco.
Forbes Museum: This is located in the Marshan Villa district, about a 20-minute walk from the medina. The museum is the former palace of United States multi-millionaire and media magnate, Malcolm Forbes. The house is open to the public and houses Forbes’ collection of 8,000 miniature soldiers!
READ RELATED: 2 Common Email Problems and How to Fix Them.
Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen was first settled by Spanish Muslim refugees in the middle-ages and has retained its distinctive Spanish character. It is just an hour’s drive from Tangier in the Rif mountains.
The medina is beautiful and bustling with craftsmen working diligently and tradesmen selling the usual fare of carpets, leather goods, pottery, and copper utensils. The Great Mosque, in the middle of the medina dates to the 17th century, sits on a picturesque square with restaurants and cafes.
Asilah
Located south of Tangier, Asilah is a very popular seaside resort, famous for its nearby Paradise Beach. Paradise Beach is a short taxi or a fun horse and cart ride from the village and is famous for its enormous expanse of unspoilt white, sandy beaches.
SEE MORE: Top 100 Websites in Ghana | Based on Alexa Rankings.
Despite growing numbers of visitors, Asilah has retained its relaxing atmosphere. Asilah is known as the Artists’ Village and here you can find many locally painted canvases adorning the souks of its 15th-century medina. The town is small enough to explore on foot or by donkey cart and is renowned for its great seafood restaurants.
Was this article helpful? Kindly share this on forums, Twitter, Facebook, Whatsapp, Telegram, and other social media or messaging platforms. Help others have access to this information too. Thank you!
