Morocco's cities

Morocco's cities are strikingly different from one another, and which ones you choose shapes the whole character of your trip. The imperial cities — Marrakech and Fes — are the headline acts: dense, ancient medinas that each reward two or three days. On the Atlantic, Rabat and Casablanca are the modern, administrative face of the country and easily seen in a day. Tangier guards the strait where Africa meets Europe; Chefchaouen, in the Rif mountains, is the famous blue town; Essaouira is the breezy walled port; and Merzouga is the gateway to the Sahara dunes.

Each guide below covers what to see, where to eat and stay, how long to spend, and how to get there. Not sure how to combine them into a route? Start with how many days you need in Morocco.

Which Moroccan cities should you visit?

For a first trip, the classic pairing is Marrakech and Fes — the two great imperial medinas — with one excursion into the desert or mountains between them. Marrakech is the more accessible of the two, with a dense concentration of sights, gardens, and day trips, and the widest choice of flights from Europe; Fes is older, quieter, and more labyrinthine, with the best-preserved medieval medina in the Arab world. Add the Sahara at Merzouga or a day in the Atlas and you have a complete week. If you're weighing the two head-to-head, our Fes vs Marrakech comparison lays out the differences.

On a second visit, or if you want a gentler pace, the coast and the north come into their own. Essaouira is the laid-back Atlantic port — walled medina, fishing harbour, and constant Atlantic wind — and an easy day trip or overnight from Marrakech. Chefchaouen, the blue-washed town in the Rif mountains, pairs naturally with Tangier and Fes in the north. Rabat and Casablanca — the political and economic capitals — are the modern face of the country, 45 minutes apart by train and easily combined into a single coastal stop.

Whichever you choose, most Moroccan cities share the same basic shape: an ancient walled medina of narrow, car-free lanes at the historic core, wrapped by a French-built ville nouvelle of wide boulevards, cafés, and modern hotels. Knowing which part you're staying in changes the whole feel of a visit — the medina for atmosphere and proximity to the sights, the ville nouvelle for space, quiet, and easier arrivals by car. The guides below note where to base yourself in each city, and the transport guide covers how to travel between them.