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Rabat, the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco… Somehow, it’s always overlooked by Casablanca as a major city while by Marrakech and Fes as tourist destinations. It has a special place in my heart though, serving as home base for my 6 week trip in Morocco. Of those weeks, 4 were in Rabat learning French and Arabic in a language school. So with that connection, I wanted to shoutout the city! It’s the first contender in this city ranking post type thing I will continue in the future! So if you’re reading this when there is a Super Smexy Six Sights in Pyongyang, this is the first! And I’m German so it’s the wurst! Hahah let’s just move on…
١. Kasbah des Udayas
قصبة الاوداية
The Kasbah des Udayas is undoubtedlythe crown jewel of Rabat. It’s the heart of the city’s historical core. The Kasbah houses the old medina’s whitewashed cubed homes, lush groves and seaside views atop high stone walls. If you’re a history buff or cultural aficionado, this characteristic Moroccan Kasbah should undoubtedly be at the top of your list.
The promenade from the opening of the Bab Udayas down to the seashore is stunningly beautiful, especially at sunset. Be sure to make your eastward through the major covered markets of the area down to the sea. There, if you feel like testing the gangsta of strangers, you can basicallyhaggle endlessly over typical Moroccan ingredients. And between you and me this was where I was hooked on Moroccan Mint Tea and lost touch with reality.
٢. Hassan Tower
صومعة حسان
Hassan Tower itself is only a piece of the puzzle here. In truth, the tower itself is not the sole attraction. Rather, it’s the entire square, including the magnificent Mausoleum of Mohammed V, one of independent Morocco’s most prestigious leaders. The tower itself is a marvel though, whose red sandstones gleam in the sun wildly. Designed in the 12th century, it was evidently never completed. However, you can still see the lines of columns that would have made up the mosque alongside the unfinished minaret.
I recall the immaculate colors inside the mausoleum itself. Its‘ grandeur wrapped around the area and therefore engulfed the smaller white tomb in a sea of color. Outside the open space provided for us to incessantly take photos, posing with the Tower as the sun ricocheted. One of those photos correspondingly lived a long life as my Workaway profile pic too.
٣. Salé Medina
مدينة سلا
They, whoever they really are, might argue Salé is its own city. Should it not be included in a list about Rabat? I don’t care!They’re connected by tram and are just across the water from one another so whatever.
That across-the-water thing emphatically blesses Salé’s beaches with voluptuous views of the Rabat skyline. This includes the ramparts of the Kasbah des Udayas as they overlook the water. Instead, Salé itself feels grittier with less glitzy modern architecture. It’s gotmore of an authentic old town feel with twisting streets intersecting mosques that seem to sprout out of thin air. Salé rewards those willing to dig. Go a little deeper and you find wide pensive cemeteries, imposing walls and gates, and plenty of spectacular seaside viewpoints.
I went to Salé twice. Once alone and once with a friend. Oh, wait maybe three times. I’m not paid to have a memory. I remember feeling more uneasy about being there than in Rabat. Salé has the distinction of being known as one of the most dangerous cities in Rabat. But the more I let myself go free, I found myself enjoying it more and more. Around every corner there seemed to be something to discover and take in. Altogether, the cutting edge of danger looming made me feel like every second I spent simply enjoying my time there was a little victory over life’s machinations.
٤. Chellah
شالة
Sort of tucked away from the Royal Palace, Chellah can be hard to find. However, it’s instantly recognizable as a result of its massive walls and gate. Venture in, and the splendor of extensive gardens and ruins dating back to the Roman Empire invite you into the surroundings. It’s a nice quiet place to spend an hour or two just walking leisurely through while immersing yourself in all the quaint beauty of the secluded scenery. While there, wash away in the massive breadth of history featured within the walls of Chellah.
One of the appeals of Chellah to me is just how different it feels from the rest of the city. Most of the historical sites in Rabat link to the early Islamic period. Instead, in Chellah theygrasp at the leaves of the ancient Roman crown. It really nails in how old the city is.
I went to Chellah on a blissful day trip after returning from the town of Chefchaouen. It was surprisingly perfect for a sunset walk away from the mad bustle of downtown Rabat. While nothing there really blew me away to the degree of other landmarks in Rabat, it was a welcome source of silent wonderment that filled my evening with glee.
٥. Downtown Rabat
وسط مدينة الرباط
This segment includes everything from Bab Laalou down Avenue Mohammed V featuring the city’s main commercial thoroughfare with offshoots to the Royal Palace, the Rabat Ville Train Station (the city’s main station of 2) as well as the Assouna Mosque. Follow it far enough and it will lead to the route towards the Kasbah. Centered in the city this area may seemas just a go-between or middle man spot but don’t be fooled! It offers riches in its own right!
Downtown is the most modern part of Rabat, accordinglylined with wide avenues and beautiful palm trees. There’s ample eating and shopping here, supplemented by several nice little parks to escape the heat. With museums lining the bulk of the area, you need not go far for cultural enrichment either. So, in other words, no matter what you’re exactly looking for, Downtown Rabat has you covered and then some! The some in this then is that it’s just beautiful in its own right! Sometimes it be that simple!
The school I went to was located on one of the side streets coming off Avenue Mohammed V. I walked past Bab Laalou every day. This area was the start of every journey when on the train or tram. It holds the special distinction of looking familiar enough to give comfort while being exotic enough so newcomers like me could get their first taste of the city’s true character. Because of the friends I made around the center, I would’ve been an idiot not to include Downtown Rabat! But I still am an idiot though.
٦. Villa des Arts
قرية الفنون
While this is definitely not a spot most would recommend at the top of any Rabat-based travel list, I have to vouch for it as the nicest museum I had the pleasure of visiting. It’s not that big so you don’t need to set aside a whole day’s worth of time to accommodate. However, it keeps its small domain packed with treasures of all kinds. We see everything from photographic pop art to ornate models of everyday objects. It truly has something for everybody. Unless you don’t identify as part of Everybody of course.
I found the façade on the outside just as rich and colorful as the inside, if not less. It evokes the age of European domination over Morocco. It mixes styles but keeps that Maghreb majesty, flanked all around by lush palms. It’s actually very similar to another building in the critically acclaimed city of Marrakech. But that one be blue though.
You know who wasn’t blue? Me when I visited this museum. Hence, I wasn’t dabba dee dabba dah either. I just sort of chose this as a last-minute activity during my last week in Rabat. It was at the point where I was like I haven’t really been to a museum yet and this fitsthe bill. It left me full of wonder. Like I still wonder to this day why that girl’s face is shooting out so many times like that.
Possible Day Trips from Rabat
Meknes
مكناس
ⴰⵎⴽⵏⴰⵙ
Meknes is one of the four Imperial Cities of Morocco. It shows abundantly clearly when you step out into El Hadime Place situated around the Bab Mansour. Known for the benevolent faded green hues of its buildings, stick to the old indeed. This means the medina, the Qara prison, and Bou Inania Madrasa. They’ll provide your fill of a distinctly dry, inland breed of medieval Moroccan heritage. A very walkable city, you can reach it via bus, taxi or train from Rabat. Two hours later, spend an entire day, or just a few hours gawking at all the sights and sounds.
Volubilis
وليلي
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Volubilis is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Why? Because it’s one of the best-preserved testaments to the Roman Empire left in the region. Once a thriving Berber-Roman settlement, the years have done their fair share of work on Volubilis. Now, it’s a collection of ruins in the midst of rolling hills as far as the eye can see. It has all the works you’d expect from Roman ruins; columns galore, enchanting mosaics, arches, and baths. It showcases the historical spread of Christianity in the region before Islam became dominant. I went on a shared tour including Meknes and its close proximity basically made the spot an absolute no-brainer.
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
مولاي إدريس زرهون
It’s known sometimes as simply Zerhoun. I’mma call it Moulay Idriss cuz my mom said she will put me on time out if i don’t. We absolutley can’t have that. This town has religious significance since its the site of the tomb of Morocco’s first Islamic ruler Idris I. Situated on a set of hills, it’s sometimes difficult to navigate. This is chiefly due to the unwanted attention given to obvious-looking tourists trying to scale up the city. However, the rewards are immense with regal views overlooking the old town and historic mosques and madrasas abound. When I was there, one hour was enough to filter the pros out and enjoy the town’s appeal.
In Conclusion
In writing about travels, it’s evidently impossible to truly convey the emotions of an experience to the reader 100%. Therefore, with a post of this length I could barely attempt it. I’d probably need to write a full post focusing on my time in school in Rabat. So yeah… look out for that. Or don’t… it’s not actually gonna hit you. That’s just a saying. English.
I say all that because Rabat, Morocco holds a very special place in my heart. It’s almost unmatched by any travel destination. Consequently, that’s why I chose this as the first post of this kind. I need to show the city love or I would be swept away in a flood of tajine. It wasn’t my first trip ever. However,it was the pointwhen I really started to figure outhow I would operate in this traveling game. So uh yeah with that said… i wrote the shit out this post. You read it. We done here. See ya!
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