Almost two years ago, I spent two months living in Casablanca, Morocco as part of a volunteer exchange program. I had predominately traveled to Western countries at that point and I experienced culture shock for the first time on that trip – I don’t mean that in a negative way whatsoever! I am so glad I got to travel to this beautiful country. I got to learn so much about Morocco during my short time there and I loved to pick my newly made friends’ minds about their perspectives on the world. I taught English to young children and teens on the weekdays at a cultural center in Casablanca, and I spent my weekends traveling to different parts of Morocco. I wanted to share with you some of my favorite cities I visited in Morocco:
8. Casablanca
Casablanca is Morocco’s largest and most populous city and an urban center. Although Casablanca was my home for two months, I didn’t spend too much time exploring because it is largely an industrial city. The highlight of Casablanca is the Hassan II Mosque which is one of the largest mosques in the world. You can pay to enter the mosque as a visitor and the interior is just as beautiful as the exterior. However, I would recommend skipping Casablanca if you don’t have a lot of time in Morocco.
7. Rabat
Did you know that even though Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city that Rabat is actually the capital? Rabat is only a little over an hour north of Casablanca and it is worth a visit if you are spending significant time in Morocco. I loved exploring the Kasbah of the Udayas and seeing the seaside views and visiting the Mausoleum of Mohammed V.
6. Tangier
Located in northern Morocco, Tangier is a port town on the Strait of Gibraltar and only a ferry ride away from southern Spain. The whitewashed walls contrasted against the deep blue ocean is a sight to be seen. You could explore and get lost in the medina for hours. Fun fact: Tangier was a filming location for Inception!
5. Fes
Fes is regarded as the cultural center of Morocco and famous for their tanneries and leather goods. It is also home to the oldest university in the world, however non-muslims are not allowed to visit. I recommend exploring the Fes medina, visiting the tanneries to see the leather making process (Note: to get a view of the tanneries you need to enter one of the many leather shops surrounding the tannery – if you a local offers to guide you, politely decline as they may request a hefty tip), and seeing the incredible architecture at Al Attarine Madrasa and Bou Inania Madrasa. However, I would visit Marrakesh over Fes if I had a limited amount of time as the goods were cheaper in Marrakesh and there are more things to do in Marrakesh.
4. Marrakesh
Marrakesh is an incredible city that everyone should visit at least one in their life. As soon as you step into the medina, you will be overwhelmed with all your senses; your eyes will be dazzled by the colorful scarves and intricate lamps, you will hear shouting from the store owners welcoming people into their shops, and you will smell spices floating through the air. Plus, be sure to taste the freshly squeezed orange juice sold all around the medina. There’s also plenty to do in Marrakesh other than the medina. Click here to check out the top things to do in Marrakesh.
3. Chefchaouen
Known as the Blue Pearl of Morocco due to its strikingly blue walls, Chefchaouen is any photographer’s dream. I couldn’t believe it until I saw for myself but the old town is actually painted blue. No one knows exactly why Chefchaouen was painted blue but one popular theory is that the blue keeps mosquitos away. If you visit Chefchaouen, you have to make a hike up to the Spanish Mosque to see panoramic views of this gem.
2. Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, and Merzouga
A trip to Morocco is not complete without a trip to the Sahara Desert. I highly recommend booking a private tour to fully enjoy this experience as I’ve heard some negative feedback about the large group tours. Typical tours to the Sahara Desert start from Marrakesh and stops at Ait-Ben-Haddou (a UNESCO World Heritage site and iconic filming location for movies such as Gladiator, The Mummy, and Prince of Persia), Ouarzazate (Morocco’s little Hollywood where you can visit sets for over 200 films, including Game of Thrones), and Merzouga (where you will take a camel ride and spend a night in the Sahara Desert). Some tours will take you back to Marrakesh and some will take you to Fes – depends on the tour you book.
1. Essaouira
Essaouira was my favorite city that I visited in Morocco, and I hadn’t even heard about it before arriving. I had done my research and planned out each weekend I had in Morocco but I had one free one left and randomly decided to visit Essaouira. I am so glad I did because this beautiful seaside town is absolutely charming and relaxing. There were significantly less tourists here and the shopkeepers were much nicer and friendlier as compared to those of Marrakesh and Fes. I recommend walking through the medina and going to the citadel and port for some sweeping seaside views. During my time there I also did horseback riding on the beach and booked a scrub at a hammam – both which were very inexpensive.