Top attractions in Morocco
Jemaa El Fna, Marrakech
Medieval medinas, souk shopping, fabulous beaches, mountain passes...here are our highlights for the best things to see and do in Morocco.
1. Marrakech and the thrilling Jemaa el Fna
Both African and Arab, eastern and western, Marrakech is an exotic and exciting city. Join the nightly spectacle on the Jemaa el Fna. Read more about Marrakech.
2. Windswept beaches of Essaouira
This windswept, fortified town on the Atlantic coast has been inhabited since Phoenician times, and is now popular with artists, writers and kite- and windsurfing enthusiasts. Read more on Essaouira.
3. Pretty Chefchaouen and the Rif mountains
Nestled amidst the peaks of the Rif mountains, blue-washed Chefchaoen is a vibrant arts and crafts centre with a relaxed Spanish feel. It's a great base from which to explore the Rif.
4. Favourite expat city of Tangier
Iconic hangout for writers and artists, Tangier is one of Morocco's best-loved cities, with a great medina, an elegant corniche and beaches nearby. Read more on the highlights of Tangier.
5. Exploring the High Atlas
Majestic snow-capped peaks, breathtaking valleys, dizzying mountain passes, biblical Berber villages, trekking, hiking, skiing; the Atlas has it all. This is Morocco untouched by the modern world. Read more here.
6. The medieval time-warp of Fez
Step back in time to the old city of Fez el Bali – a golden-hued, mysterious labyrinth of medieval markets, palaces, mosques and madrassas.
7. The Imperial city of Meknes
Meknes, one of the four great Imperial cities, was built by the Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century. Read about Meknes's ancient walls, gates and palaces.
8. Souk shopping
The souks are packed wth gorgeous items to bring home with you. Take a look at our guide to the best souk buys.
9. Volubilis
About 30km (19 miles) north of Meknes lies the World Heritage Site of Volubilis, the former capital of the Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana and now the site of the most extensive and impressive Roman ruins in Morocco. You can hire a grand taxi in Meknes to take you to both Volubilis and nearby Moulay Idriss.
Volubilis was a flourishing Roman city from the time of Christ until the end of the 3rd century, when the Romans began to withdraw from Morocco, but it remained an outpost of Christian culture until the Arab conquest in the 7th century. It was a rich and prosperous place, and many vestiges of its heyday survive.
A tour of the ruins at Volubilis
Volubilis is small and easy to cover, but there is very little shade. Guides can be hired for a small charge at the entrance to the site. The most important remains are clearly labelled and red arrows point the way. After passing a number of olive-oil presses – olives were central to the economy of Volubilis – you reach the House of Orpheus, a luxurious Roman villa containing mosaics of Orpheus, the Chariot of Amphitrite and the Nine Dolphins.
Beyond, a broad, paved street takes you past the 3rd-century Baths of Gallienus, originally the most lavish public baths in the city, to the modestly proportioned Forum, where the remains of the Capitol and the Basilica dominate the site.
Ahead is the massive Triumphal Arch, built in honour of the Emperor Caracalla. An inscription suggests that it was once topped by a huge chariot and horses. The arch marks the western end of the city’s main street, Decumanus Maximus, where ruts worn by cart wheels can still be seen in parts of the stone paving. The remains of villas lining this street contain many fine and well-preserved mosaics. The splendour of the villas indicates that Volubilis was a cultured, prosperous town – as do the superb bronzes recovered from the site, which are now on display in the Salle des Bronzes in the Archaeological Museum in Rabat.
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