10 ESSENTIAL PLACES TO SEE IN MOROCCO

Send

There are many essential places to see in Morocco, a country with a culture and traditions very different from those of its nearby Europe, which we are sure, will catch you as soon as you arrive. Less than 20 kilometers from Gibraltar you will find places as different as cities with labyrinthine medinas in which to get lost, deserts of large dunes to spend the night surrounded by stars, arid landscapes of mountain ranges and gorges, fishing villages bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and others adobe anchored in time, all always with a mint tea in hand.
In our case we have visited Morocco several times, and we will surely return some more, so based on our experience and future trips, we have made a list of what we believe, are the 10 essential places to see in Morocco. We start!

1. Marrakech

Most travelers who go to Morocco for the first time have their first contact in Marrakech. In our case we fulfill the tradition and visit it during the trip we made to Marrakech and Essaouira in 5 days.
This fascinating and sometimes exhausting city, in which it is an obligation to stay in a riad in the medina and have a tea at sunset while watching the life and changes of the Jamaa el Fna Square, is a symbol of the country, in addition to a essential visit.
There are many other things to see and do in Marrakech, city of palaces, markets, gardens, mosques and medersas, although it is best to lose aimlessly through its labyrinthine streets and find the true essence of the city.
A good option to have a first contact with the Medina and Jamaa el Fna Square is to book this free tour of Marrakech Free! or a private tour in which you choose the itinerary, both with a guide in Spanish.

Marrakech

2. Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou

In Ouarzazate, the door to the great Sahara desert, is the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, one of the most essential places to see in Morocco. Ait Ben Haddou is a wonderful village of clay and adobe, stopped in time in an arid and rocky area, which we are sure, will surprise you.
We visited him on the route of the kasbahs we did during 4 days by rental car and, we have to admit, it was one of the cherries of the trip.
In addition, as an anecdote, we will tell you that this Ksar, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, has been the scene of famous films such as Lawrence of Arabia Y Gladiator.
To get to Ait Ben Haddou from Marrakech you can do it by car, taxi or bus, the ksar is less than 200km from Marrakech although you have to cross the Atlas Mountains and there are many curves, which can take you about 5 hours.
A more comfortable option if you do not want to drive or depend on public transport, is to book this Ouarzazate excursion with a guide in Spanish with which you will be picked up directly at the hotel ...

Ksar Ait Ben Haddou

3. Sahara Desert

Spending the night in a jaima under a starry night in the middle of the Sahara desert, is one of the best excursions in Marrakech that you can do.
Keep in mind that there are two main areas of the Sahara desert that can be easily visited from Marrakech: Zagora and Merzouga. The Zagora desert is about 7 hours from Marrakech, crossing the wonderful Draa Valley and although its dunes are not as spectacular as those of Merzouga, if you do not have many days, it is the perfect option to live the experience of spending a Night in the desert.
The other option would be Merzouga, one of the most beautiful deserts in the world, in which a sea of perfect dunes are the protagonists of the landscape in which you can spend one of the best nights of your life under the stars.
You can make any of these excursions by rental car or taxi and once at the destination hire one of the tours in 4 × 4 through the desert, which are offered at the entrance.
Another more comfortable and safe option is to hire one of these excursions in Marrakech with a guide in Spanish where they will pick you up directly at the hotel.
Some of the best depending on the days you have are:
- 3-day excursion to the desert of Merzouga in Spanish
- 4-day excursion to the desert of Merzouga in Spanish
- 2-day excursion to the Zagora desert in Spanish
- 3-day Merzouga desert excursion ending in Fez
- 4-day excursion to the desert of Merzouga ending in Fez

Merzouga Desert

4. Fez

Fez, with a medina of the eighth century declared a World Heritage Site and considered the largest in the world, is one of the most essential cities to visit in Morocco. Unlike the popular Marrakech Fez, it allows you to enjoy its labyrinthine streets, visit its Koranic schools and buy in its souks, with more tranquility, something we have to confess, it is appreciated and much.
The most prominent place in the walled medina is the Chouwara Tannery, a show of smells and colors, among many other things to see and do in Fez.
And after touring the city, how could it be otherwise, we can not forget the cuisine and more in a place like Morocco, so we recommend you go up to one of its terraces, overlooking the medina, while we devour the best Couscous and tagine of the city.
A good option to know the history and details of the city is to book a guided tour in Spanish through the Medina of Fez or this visit that includes a panoramic tour.
If you have more time in the city you can make some of the best excursions from Fez.

Fez

5. Chaouen, one of the places to see in Morocco

Chaouen or Chefchaouen, known as the blue city, located at the foot of the Rif Mountains, is considered the most beautiful city in Morocco. Its most famous feature is the dominant presence of blue of different ranges in its houses and streets, something that makes it unique and charming at the same time.
Its old medina is a paradise for photography lovers, where you can not stop capturing charming corners as well as enjoying the closeness and hospitality of its people. Although walking and getting lost in the blue medina is one of the best things to do in Morocco, you can not stop going to see the Alcazaba, the Great Mosque or the laundry rooms, other essential points of the city.
Chaouen is located near the cities of Tangier or Tetouan and you can reach it by shared taxi in case you don't want to rent a car. Although if you are staying in Fez, a good alternative is to book this excursion to Chaouen with a one-day Spanish guide.

Chefchaouen, one of the places to see in Morocco

6. The Gorges of Dadés and Todra

The valleys of Dadés and Todra offer some of the most spectacular landscapes in Morocco, with its gorges and karst canyons. The Dadés gorge located in the High Atlas, the first one you will find if you go in the direction of the Merzouga desert, is the one that offers the greatest variety of landscapes and we could say, it is more spectacular.
The road that takes you to the top of the gorge is spectacular, in which some of its most prominent places are the capricious rock formations known as "monkey fingers"or the kasbahs scattered around this arid and eroded environment.
In addition, the Todra Gorge, located on the east side of the High Atlas, with rocky canyons with walls up to 300 meters, is a paradise for climbers.
These two valleys can be visited in one day and are part of the route that will take you to the Merzouga desert from Marrakech.

Dades Gorge

7. Essaouira

Essauoira, is known as the pearl of the Atlantic besides being one of the most beautiful and essential places to see in Morocco. Located less than 200 kilometers from Marrakech and declared a World Heritage Site, it is an oasis of tranquility perfect to disconnect from the sometimes stressful Marrakech.
This white fishing town stands out for its medina where you can buy good crafts and taste delicacies based on fish and seafood in one of its many restaurants. The city is fortified and from the port area you can take some spectacular photos of Essaouira bathed by the great waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
To get to Essoauira from Marrakech you can do it by bus from the main station, in a journey of approximately 2 hours.
Another option is to book this guided tour in Spanish to Essaouira, where you will be picked up directly at the hotel.

Essaouira

8. Ouzoud waterfalls

The Ouzoud Waterfalls, located 150 kilometers from Marrakech, in the Atlas Mountains, are the most spectacular in Morocco and North Africa. Its waterfalls are over 100 meters and come from the Ouzoud River, in which in addition to taking a bath in its cold waters you can enjoy an environment of vegetation very different from the typical landscapes of Morocco. During the walk through the waterfalls you can surround the waterfalls on both sides and see some of its most curious inhabitants, the monkeys.
To get to the waterfalls from Marrakech you can do it by car, taxi or by booking this tour with a guide in Spanish, where you will be picked up at the hotel and in less than 3 hours you will already be in this wonder of nature.

Ouzoud waterfalls, one of the places to visit in Morocco

Recommended travel cards
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.

9. Volubilis

Volubilis, located less than 90 kilometers from Fez, is considered the best preserved Roman site in North Africa. This ancient Roman city, included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, retains remains of important places such as the Basilica and the Temple of Jupiter, the hot springs, the forum and what most caught our attention when we visited it , its magnificent mosaics.
In addition, about 4 kilometers from Volubilis is the sacred city of Mulay Idrís, where you can visit its medina before going to the site.
You can reach the ruins of Volubilis from Meknès in about 30 minutes by shared taxi, although another good option is to book a guided tour in Spanish from Fez where you visit Volubilis, Mulay Idrís and Meknès.

Volubilis

10. Meknès

Meknès, the least famous of the four imperial cities of Morocco, has a beautiful old town full of souks and magical corners, which we are sure, will make you fall in love.
This city was one of our stops during our trip to Casablanca, Meknés and Fez by train and after the experience, we have no doubts in placing it among the best places to see in Morocco.
The best thing about the city is to stroll through the labyrinthine streets of the medina, where you can see artisans work iron or weaving as centuries ago. Other of its most interesting places are the Hedim Square, the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Mulay Ismaíl mausoleum, the Madrasas or the Bab Mansour, the great gateway to the medina.