Visiting Rabat: What are the best things to do and see in Morocco's second-largest city?
Located on the Atlantic coast, Rabat is the political and administrative capital of Morocco and the second-largest city in the kingdom. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013, the Imperial City was founded in the 12th century by the great Almohad Sultan "Abd al Moumen". The ribat (a religious and military camp with a citadel and huge ramparts) was nothing less than the starting point for Arab incursions into Spain: from then on, the Muslims who settled in Andalusia made the golden age of the city, giving it a leading commercial and artisanal role. At the beginning of the 20th century, however, it was only to a small town of 25,000 inhabitants that Marshal Lyautey conferred the status of the political and administrative capital of the French protectorate.
Benefiting from an oceanic climate, the place is at the antipodes of what we can imagine when we think of the cities of the Maghreb: the thermometer rarely exceeds 25° C during the summer, which makes it an ideal city to visit for Europeans who are not used to stifling temperatures. But Rabat is also a striking contrast: that of an urban and trendy metropolis with an impressive list of monuments, cultural and heritage sites that will be very pleasant to contemplate.
Wondering what to do during your stay in Rabat? Here's the answer with our 7 must-sees to visit Rabat and taste its pleasures without losing a crumb!
1. The Kasbah of the Oudayas
The kasbah of the Oudayas is a former fortified military camp, built in the 12th century, today inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. One of the first palaces built by the Alaouites, the royal dynasty that still rules today.
After entering the kasbah through one of the massive gates that act as the grandiose guardians of the place, we let ourselves be captivated by the small bluish streets with whitewashed walls, the astonishing silence contrasting with the frenzy of the modern city center and the quietness reigning in the place. Many guides will help you understand this place full of history: if you do not know what to do in Rabat, do not hesitate, go to the kasbah.
Moreover, if you do not stay in Rabat, you can go there to discover all its historical wonders such as the kasbah. From Casablanca for example, for a day, take a complete guided tour that will plunge you into the heart of the capital!
2. Rabat Zoo
A zoological garden is a popular place not to be missed when visiting Rabat: it holds the largest number of Atlas lions in captivity and forms an artificial biotope housing more than 130 animal species native to the Atlas Mountains, the typical North African desert and savannah. An interesting visit to make with the family!
3. The Museum of History and Civilizations
Formerly known as the "Archaeological Museum", the Museum of History and Civilization is a witness to the rich history of Morocco from Prehistory to the Islamic period, and displays ancient objects from excavations, as well as extremely detailed descriptions of the ancestral way of life of the tribes of the Maghreb. For a small fee, you will be able to admire the tools of prehistoric men, statuettes from the Neolithic period, such as Roman deities, or ceramics, vestiges of the dawn of the Muslim period; the bronze busts of Juba II, and the great Caton, the famous statue of the crowned ephebe, or the dog of Volubilis.
4. St. Peter's Cathedral
Built-in 1930 in the Hassan neighborhood, on the Golan Heights Square, St. Peter's Cathedral is the seat of the archdiocese of Rabat. Morocco has always seen the different religions of the Book cohabit in peace, and it is therefore quite natural that Christian and Jewish religious buildings found their place within it. What is more astonishing is to visit Rabat and come across a cathedral built in the purest art deco style: it's the very particular geometric shape and its immaculate whiteness reminds one of the snow crystals! It can be visited and the interior is equally surprising.
5. The botanical test garden
Created on the initiative of Marshal Lyautey in 1914, the botanical test garden was intended to highlight more than 250 fruit trees and ornamental plants from various regions of the world.
Today, this ecological micro-system in the heart of the city is home to an impressive collection of cacti and it is fun to come across many birds that have come to take shelter in the trees lining the park's shady alleys! Although it is never very hot in this Moroccan city, thanks to the presence of the nearby ocean, it is nevertheless pleasant to enjoy a quiet walk in the lush green valleys of the park; a must for those still looking for what to do in Rabat.
6. The necropolis of Chellah
Located on the site of the ancient Roman city of Sala Colonia, 2 km south-east of the city center, the necropolis of Chellah is considered by all travelers visiting Rabat as a place full of mystery and ... the most romantic place in the country.
It offers a splendid view of the river Bouregeg, and although some tombs inside the site are now used as landmarks for storks and other birds, the remains of this necropolis are anything but gloomy! Many inhabitants come to walk there at sunset, wandering in the ruins of this ancient city. A must for travelers ... and lovers, looking for what to do in Rabat.
7. The souk of Rabat
The last one takes place on the street of the Consuls and leads to the Kasbah of the Oudayas; although it is not as majestic as the one in Marrakech or the medina of Essaouira, it still serves as an appreciable stopover when you come to visit Rabat! It stretches over more than a kilometer and, an important detail that will seduce the dizziest: the absence of winding alleys will prevent them from getting lost as in Marrakech, for example, where dozens of tourists are struggling to find their way!
