Best places to visit in Morocco 2024

With the Atlas mountains and sections of the sprawling Sahara desert, pure magnificence dominates Morocco’s map. But it’s additionally the atmospheric alleys, snake-charmer squares and tiled riads of this north African nation’s ports and cities that beg to be explored.

Infused with a mix of custom and artwork, cities on this land of coastlines, festivals – non secular and musical – and full-flavoured delicacies are each numerous and enchanting. And it’s not simply the charms of up-and-coming capital Rabat or the palm and parasol-fringed seashores of Agadir that deserve to attract in vacationers.

From the vigorous Marrakech medina to the medieval mosques of Fes and the Atlantic breeze-swept coastlines of Essaouira and Taghazout, there’s procuring, browsing and historic crafts to be found.

Because the nation enters one other scorching spring, listed here are six of the most effective vacation hotspots and the place to remain – all lower than a four-hour flight from the UK.

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Marrakech

Marrakech is a imaginative and prescient of dusky terracotta buildings within the shadow of the towering Koutoubia Mosque and the Atlas mountains. An internet of alleys, riads and spice-scented souks lie contained in the medina partitions, and the colourful environment, which buzzes from daybreak to nightfall, doesn’t boring till you attain the palm grove oasis and luxurious vacation resorts of Palmeraie to the north of the town. Take pleasure in a charcoal-cooked merguez sausage within the central sq. Jemaa el Fna, wander across the Bahia Palace, or immerse your self in Moroccan historical past on the Maison de la Photographie, earlier than stress-free with a candy mint tea at one of many rooftop cafes or hidden gardens.

The place to remain

There’s a cool minimalism to Riad UP’s six stress-free rooms amid the medina’s splashes of color. Full with a patio, plunge pool and roof terrace studded with solar loungers, it’s a really perfect spot to wrap up in a Berber blanket for nights spent overlooking the town.

Fes

Morocco’s second metropolis is a mix of influences together with Arabic, Moorish, Ottoman Turkish and French. From the Mediterranean aptitude of Fassi delicacies to steamy non-public hammams and craft workshops, together with bookbinding and leather-based embossing, Fes fascinates with its trendy edge to historic methods of life. Town is dwelling to the world’s largest medieval medina district – with 9,000 alleyways to meander, you’re sure to discover a store or souk to whereas away the hours.

The place to remain

Hillside on the sting of Ville Nouvelle, the up to date Lodge Sahrai oozes luxurious. Stays in impartial suites accented with stone and wooden have entry to an infinity pool overlooking the medina, a zen spa, and a French brasserie for critically suave steak frites.

Taghazout

Surf-seekers are in for a deal with in the event that they observe the tide to Taghazout on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, simply 20 minutes from the fly-and-flop resort metropolis of Agadir. The fishing village within the foothills of the Atlas mountains is blessed with highly effective level breaks, staggering swells and barrel waves off a beachfront scattered with blue wood fishing boats. Suppose surf-centric hostels throughout the tangle of pastel homes, Brit-run camps for classes on the board, and communal meals along with your wave comrades full with genuine plates of tagine and paprika fish.

The place to remain

Dar Surf hostel hugs the swell-battered shoreline of Taghazout Seaside with a shared kitchen for refuelling after surf periods and free wifi to doc days on the waves. The surf camp gives rooftop yoga, home-cooked Moroccan meals, and seashore bonfires for company.

Tangier

Bohemian Tangier is far more than the gateway from Europe to Africa. Although instances have modified since Tangier’s louche previous lit up writers, hippies and musicians, the cafe tradition and people-watching posts stay. With one of the numerous populations in Morocco, the business port attracts home weekenders to the town’s fortified kasbah partitions, Roman ruins and Sixties-style boutiques. Take your spot at a storied coffeehouse or the legendary Cafe Baba to see Tangier because the Beat writers, Jimi Hendrix and Mick Jagger did.

The place to remain

For genuine, spacious rooms, a elegant rooftop terrace and delectable breakfasts punctuated with mint tea, go to Riad Al-Qurtubi. Sat lower than 2km from Tangier Seaside, it’s ideally located for exploring the sands, museums and medinas of northwestern Morocco.

Casablanca

Casablanca is Morocco’s largest metropolis, with a Hollywood heritage, beginner-friendly waves, and bars constructed for nursing a cocktail. On its coast, Africa’s second-largest mosque, Hassan II Mosque, dominates the waterfront, and inland, the souks of Quartier Habous, stalls of the outdated medina and central market are mazes of worldwide candy treats, lamps, ceramics and spices. Eager to expertise Casablanca as seen on display screen? Head to Rick’s Cafe, impressed by the film, for a jazzy gin cocktail on the roulette desk.

The place to remain

Every of the 25 vibrant suites at Artwork Palace Suites & Spa is impressed by a celeb or worldwide icon, together with Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin and Cleopatra. The resort in Gauthier additionally has a spa pool within the basement and a tiled Moroccan hammam for a scrub-down.

Essaouira

On Morocco’s Atlantic coast, the windswept port metropolis of Essaouira is a hotspot for kitesurfing, French fusion feasts, and strolling the partitions of the pocket-size medina. Look out for 18th-century ramparts and thuya wooden carvings as you weave by means of the aromatic Unesco-listed grid of boutiques promoting argan oil, carpets and leather-based. Stretch out on the sands of Essaouira Seaside with a cup of à la menthe – a sugary mint cocktail – when taking a break from browsing the famed winds recognized in Berber as taros.

The place to remain

Blanketed in technicolour Moroccan zellige tiles, Salut Maroc is within the coronary heart of the medina, with eccentric bedrooms, freestanding copper tubs and enviable views out to the ocean from the rooftop terrace.

Need to vacation like Mick Jagger? The hedonistic, boho-luxe of Seventies Marrakech is again