Rabat travel guide
Capital · Atlantic coast.
- by road from Marrakech, without stops
- 3:30h
- of road from the medina
- 330km
- UNESCO World Heritage listing
- 2012
Marrakech to Rabat: 330 km of road.
Fixed written quote within 24h
- Stop 1: Marrakech
- Stop 2: Rabat
Things to do in Rabat
9 places, photographed where they stand.
Kasbah of the Udayas
Kasbah · UNESCO-listed
Rabat medina
Quarter · UNESCO-listed
Hassan Tower
Monument · UNESCO-listed
Mausoleum of Mohammed V
Tomb · UNESCO-listed
Chellah
Archaeological site · UNESCO-listed
Museum of History and Civilizations
Museum
Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
Museum
St Peter's Cathedral
Church
Royal Theatre of Rabat
Theatre
Rabat tours and itineraries
- Imperial cities, privately8 daysGet a quote
- Casablanca & Rabat day tripFull dayGet a quote
Rabat travel guide: the details
Where is Rabat?
Capital · Atlantic coast. 330 km from Marrakech by road, about 3 h 30 min without stops.
- by road from Marrakech, 330 km
- 3 h 30 min
- people, 2024 census
- 516,000
- places in our guide
- 15
- nearest airport: Rabat-Salé (RBA) or Casablanca (CMN) + 1h train
- RBA
About Rabat
Rabat is Morocco's political capital and one of the easiest cities to see in a single day — which is exactly how most travellers visit it. It is an hour by train from Casablanca and 2h30 from Tangier on the high-speed line, so it slots neatly into a coastal itinerary as a day trip or a one-night stop. A full day covers the headline UNESCO sights: the blue-and-white kasbah of the Udayas above the Bou Regreg river, the unfinished Hassan Tower and marble Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the storks and ruins of the Chellah. The medina is gentle and refreshingly hassle-free after Marrakech or Fes, which makes Rabat an ideal first or last day in the country.
- Drive from Marrakech with normal stops
- 3:45 with one motorway stop
- How long to stay
- 1 day
- Nearest airport
- Rabat-Salé (RBA) or Casablanca (CMN) + 1h train
- Getting there
- 1h by train from Casablanca, 2h30 from Tangier on the Al Boraq high-speed line
- Best for
- A calm capital stop, monuments, an easy first or last day
Highlights of Rabat
Kasbah of the Udayas
A 12th-century fortified quarter of blue-washed lanes above the river, with an Andalusian garden and a café over the Atlantic — the first stop on a one-day visit.
Hassan Tower & Mausoleum of Mohammed V
The minaret of a mosque never finished, facing the exquisitely decorated royal mausoleum with its mounted sentries — a quick, central pairing.
Chellah necropolis
Roman and Merinid ruins reclaimed by storks and gardens — the most atmospheric stop of a Rabat day and worth lingering over.
Medina & ville nouvelle
A low-key medina for carpets and crafts, plus the art-deco avenues of the French protectorate — easy to fold into the same day.
Rabat travel questions
Is Rabat a good day trip from Casablanca?
Yes — it is an hour each way by frequent high-speed train, and a single day comfortably covers the kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and mausoleum, and the Chellah ruins. Many travellers pair it with the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca on one private day.
How long do you need in Rabat?
A full day covers the kasbah, the Hassan Tower and mausoleum, the Chellah and a wander through the medina. An overnight lets you enjoy the riverfront and beaches at a slower pace, but the city is easily seen as a day trip.
Places near Rabat
- Casablanca, 85 km as the crow flies
- Moulay Bousselham, 108 km as the crow flies
- Volubilis & Moulay Idriss, 119 km as the crow flies
Read before you go
- Can You Visit the Sahara Desert as a Day Trip from Marrakech? The Honest Answer
- Can You Do Day Trips from Marrakech Without a Tour? Which Ones Work by Bus, Taxi or Self-Drive
- What Are the Best Day Trips from Marrakech and Fes, and How Do You Choose Between the Atlas Mountains, the Desert and the Coast?
Private, with your own driver
Private tours to Rabat
Your date, how many of you: a fixed written quote within 24 hours.
