How did I end up in Rabat for 36 hours?

An Instagram poll, of course.

When I was coming to Marrakesh for a house sit in mid-May 2026, I added a few days before the sit began to explore other parts of Morocco and asked IG if I should commit time to Fes or Rabat… and the results were dead split! So I knew there was only one thing to do: see both.

The only ‘problem’ was that I only had 4 days and had to account for transit from Marrakesh to Rabat, Rabat to Fes, and Fes to Marrakesh, which left pretty limited time to see Rabat and Fes.

Arriving in Rabat around 6:30pm and leaving at 7am two days later, gave me just about 36 hours to explore Morrocco’s capital city and get in as much sightseeing, and food, as possible before heading to Fes for 24 hours.

Even with very little planning, I really enjoyed Rabat, and was able to see and do a lot in my short time there. Here you will find information on how to get to Rabat, how to get around, what to see and do, and my complete one-day itinerary for Rabat, including where I stayed.

How to Get to Rabat

Getting to Rabat from other parts of Morocco is quite easy and efficient with many affordable and convenient options.

How you get to Rabat will likely depend on where you are coming from, budget, and desired comfort.

Here are details on all your options for getting to Rabat.

✈️Flying in to Rabat: Depending on where you are originating from, Rabat can be a great starting point to a trip to Morrocco with very affordable flights.

⭐Note that Rabat Airport is actually located in Salé, which is just a bit outside the city of Rabat. Plan transportation to Rabat accordingly, as the local taxis do not operate outside Rabat city limits

🚗Driving to Rabat is straight forward from nearby cities like Marrakesh (3.5 hours), Casablanca (approx 1 hour), or Fes (approx 2.5 hrs). Be sure to review and follow local traffic rules and be prepared for tolls along the way.

🚐Tour to Rabat. There are many tour options for visiting Rabat, whether it is a day trip from a nearby city or part of a larger tour across Morocco.

🚆Taking the train to Rabat very straightforward, easy, affordable, and (mostly) efficient. I booked my train to Rabat that morning and there was plenty of availability, but if you are on a tighter schedule, want to book first class, or traveling during peak season, it is a good idea to book in advance. Advanced bookings are also considerably less expensive.

Which train station in rabat is near the medina

🕰️ Trains run hourly from most cities to Rabat

💰Tickets from Marrakech range from approximately $5 when booked in advance to $22 when booked last minute for second class tickets.

🎟️Tickets can be purchased in person at the station, or in advance on line at the official website, here

⭐Flex tickets can be exchanged up to 5 times, as long as the change is made prior to train departure

💺Trains offer First and Second-class options, with some trains also offering a single bed option. Prices and availability vary based on class. I opted for second class for my trip from Marrakech to Rabat as it was a relatively short trip and tickets were pricy sense I booked last minute.

I found the seats comfortable and spacious but be aware there is no air conditioning in second class. Had it been much hotter outside, it may have made for a very uncomfortable ride.

🥤Refreshments (soda, juice, water, snacks, and simple sandwiches) are offered on the train for a very reasonable cost.

🚌Buses to Rabat are available from almost all major cities, however, are comparable price wise, have a more limited schedule, and I have heard they are not the most reliable. If you opt to take the bus, the official booking site is here.

Where to Stay in Rabat

While Rabat offers a range of hotel options, but I think the best experience is staying at a local riad or dar.

What is a riad?

A riad is a large home with an interior garden. Riads typically offer a small range of room options from singles with shared bathrooms to suites with private bathrooms and even terraces.

What is a dar?

A dar is a home without a garden and is typically similar to a guest house, often with a range of rooms from single to family rooms, and typically with share bathrooms.

I opted to stay at a dar in the heart of the Rabat Medina, and it was the perfect location to base my rapid-fire two-night stay in Morocco’s capital city.

My stay at Dar Bennis Medina was clean, comfortable, affordable, and perfectly located. The host was so kind and welcoming and gave fantastic local recommendations. This was a great budget friendly stay in Rabat, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a safe and comfortable stay in the Rabat medina.

How to Get Around Rabat

🚕Taxis in Rabat

Petit taxis (also refer to as Blue Taxis) are abundant in Rabat and operate within the city. They can be picked up at the taxi stands, which are clearly marked, abundant, and pretty well organized. I opted to talk from the train station, but there is a taxi stand there, as well as several located around the medina.

💰Always be sure the meter in the is on, or you set an established fare before beginning the ride. Taxis are cash only.

👪The taxis operate as a carpool or shared ride system so you may pick up other passengers along the way. The fare is split amongst the riders. You can also request a private ride.
🗺️Blue taxis can only operate within the city. If you need to go to the airport, or outside the city limits, there are shared shuttle options, public transportation, or private transfers.

🚃Rabat Public Transportation

I was really impressed by how well-connected Rabat and nearby areas are by public transportation. While I opted to walk everywhere while in Morocco’s capital city, I did learn a lot about the public transportation system from my tour guide and would feel comfortable and confident using it.

💰a single ride cost 7dh (approx .75)
🎟️Tickets are required and can be purchased via machines at the tram stops or from an agent at the kiosks
📱The Blassty app gives real-time bus and tram schedules, route planning, and ticket information. Google Maps is not a reliable resource for public transport

🚶🏼‍➡️Walking in Rabat

I found Rabat to be a very walkable city with ample (very clean) sideswalks, crosswalks, and easy to follow directions on Google Maps.

I walked throughout the city early morning day, and evening and felt very compfortable and safe.

In my 26 hours in Rabat, I walked a little over 21km.

What to Do in Rabat

While Rabat is a relatively small city, there is a lot you can see and do in 1-3 days, making it an ideal stop-over city on your way through Morocco.

Here are some of the top things to do in Rabat:

Take a Free Walking Tour

I love free walking tours and try to do when in every city I visit.

I booked free walking tour with Ayoub on Guru Walk and it was the perfect way to see the highlights of the city in a short period of time, while learning so much about history of the city and see different neighborhoods. Ayoub was a wealth of information, professional, and entertaining. In the course of 3.5 hours, we visited much of the city and I got some great recommendations for how to spend the rest of my time in Rabat, as well as some places to visit when I return.

I cannot recommend this free walking tour in Rabat highly enough.

Visit the Rabat Medina

The Rabat Medina is small in comparison to Fes and Marrakech, which comes with a lot of advantages. It is far easier to navigate with fewer twists, turns and narrow streets. It is also covered, which makes it great to wander in any weather. I was very impressed by how clean the Rabat Medina is.

If you are planning to do some shopping while in Morocco, Rabat is the ideal place to do so with upfront, fare pricing. While you can still negotiate and save a few dh, the pricing is typically based on local budget and norms, which makes it quite affordable.

The Medina features a large range of goods, souvenirs, fruit, local treats, and so much more, but even if you aren’t shopping, the medina itself is beautiful and vibrant with a great energy to take in as you wander through it.

Hassan Tower

Hassan Tower or Tour Hassan is the minaret of an incomplete mosque in Rabat, Morocco. It was commissioned by Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur, the third caliph of the Almohad Caliphate, near the end of the 12th century. The tower was intended to be the largest minaret in the world, and the mosque, if completed, would have been the largest in the western Muslim world

🗺️Bd Mohamed Lyazidi, Rabat

🕰️Daily 6:30a-6p

💶Free

This iconic, if incomplete, tower can be seen from many points throughout Rabat and is absolutely worth getting up close to take in.

With so many details, both big and small, I could have spent hours looking at this famed Rabat Tower. The history of it makes it all the more interesting.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

The Mausoleum of Mohammed V is a mausoleum located across from the Hassan Tower in Rabat, Morocco. It contains the tombs of the Moroccan king Mohammed V and his two sons, late King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah.

🗺️25FH+3C2, Rabat

🕰️Mon-Thurs 8a-6p, Fri 8a-1:20p/2:25p-6p, Sat-Sun 8:15a-5:45p

💶Free

Located on the same grounds as Hassan Tower, this stunning mausoleum is the burial site of Mohammed V of Morocco, Hassan II of Morocco, Prince Moulay Abdallah of Morocco, and Princess Lalla Aicha of Morocco.

Both the interior and exterior of the Mausoleum of Mohammed V are architecturally stunning and interesting with so many intricate details to take in. The interior can get a bit crowded but offers 360 views from the ceiling to the floor so the crowds don’t get in the way of enjoying the space.

St. Peter's Cathedral

St. Peter's Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located at Golan Square in downtown Rabat, Morocco. It was erected in the early 20th century in the Art Deco style. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Peter, and is the ecclesiastical seat of the Archdiocese of Rabat.

🗺️à la jonction des 2 lignes de tramway، ساحة الجولان, Rabat

🕰️Daily 10a-4

💰Free

We passed St. Peter's Cathedral on my walking tour but unfortunately were unable to go inside due to a funeral taking place. We were able to take a peek inside and it was absolutely stunning. I planned to go back after the tour but ended up wandering a bit and was too late to go inside. If my sneak peek was any indicator, this famed Rabat Church is well worth stopping in to.

Take a Walk Along the River Bouregreg

The river walk in Rabat traces the scenic Bouregreg River, which separates Morrocco’s Capital City and the neighboring city of Salé.

The river walk offers sweeping views of the Bouregreg, as well as the blue-and-white Kasbah and the Atlantic Ocean. The riverwalk offers easy to navigate, wide sidewalks for walking, running biking, and is lined with cafes and restaurants to pop in to for a drink or bite to eat while taking in the views.

You can take you time and spend hours walking the riverwalk or follow the route Bouregreg Marina to Kasbah Oudaya for a practical, but scenic route on the way to one of Rabat’s top attractions.

Kasbah of the Udayas

The Kasbah of the Udayas, also spelled Kasbah of the Oudaias or of the Oudayas, is a kasbah in Rabat, Morocco. It is located on a hill at the mouth of the Bou Regreg opposite Salé, and adjacent to the Medina quarter of Rabat. It is listed, along with other sites in Rabat, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

🗺️25J7+PGX, Rabat

🕰️Fortress closes at 6p, but the surrounding area remains open

While I didn’t have time to visit the interior of Kasbah of the Udayas or Chellah Necropolis while they were open, my Rabat walking tour guide encouraged visiting the outside of the Kasbah for sunset.

He was absolutely right that it was an amazing vantage point for the sunset. The area around the Kasbah is beautiful with shops and cafes, charming streets, and local vendors and performers.

I am sure this is a great spot during the day, but it was truly magical watching the sunset from here.

Chellah Castle

The Chellah or Shalla is a medieval fortified necropolis and ancient archeological site in Rabat, Morocco, located on the south side of the Bou Regreg estuary. The earliest evidence of the site's occupation suggests that the Phoenicians established a trading emporium here in the first millennium BC

🗺️254H+HVC, Rabat, Morocco

🕰️Daily 9a-6:30p

💶Foreigner rates: Adult 70MAD, Youth/Student (under 25) 50MAD, Child (7-14) 30MAD

🌐For tickets and more information

Due to time restraints, I didn’t make it to the interior of the Chella Castle, but the exterior and location alone are stunning. This historic castle in Morrocco holds much history, incredible views, and beautiful architecture and will definitely be on the top of my list for when I return to Rabat.

Visit the Mellah (Jewish Quarter)

Rabat's Jewish Quarter, known as the Mellah, was established in 1808 by Sultan Mou[ly Slimane.. It is a historic, walled enclave located on the eastern edge of the Rabat Medina overlooking the Bou Regreg River. Once a vibrant hub of the city’s Jewish community, the quarter has since been rehabilitated to highlight its unique cultural heritage.

A walk through Rabat's Jewish Quarter was highly recommended by my walking tour guide, but unfortunately time didn’t allow for a proper visit.

This unique neighborhood offers a step back in history, as well as impressive street art, and a glimpse in to the Jewish heritage of Rabat and Morocco as a whole.

If time allows, a visit to the Mellah should be on your Rabat itinerary.

Nouzhat Hassan park

🗺️Nouzhat Hassan park

🕰️Daily 7a-7p

I was too busy chatting with my guide and other tour members to take photos, but Nouzhat Hassan park is a beautiful little oasis right in Rabat. With a wide range of trees, flora, and fauna, as well as lovely walkways, statues and fountains, this park is the perfect escape in the middle of the city.

Whether you just take a stroll through, enjoy lunch, or take time to sit and read a book or do some people watching, Nouzhat Hassan park is absolutely worth stopping in to on your visit to Rabat.

My Rabat Itinerary

My trip to Rabat was an absolute whirlwind, but in the best way!

Here is an hour by hour break down of my 36 hours in Rabat:

Day 1 in Rabat

6:30p arrived at Rabat Ville Train station (after 1.5 hour train delay) and walked to my accommodation along Avenue Mohammed V and through the medina.

7:00p arrived at Dar Bennis Medina, had a coffee, chatted with the host and headed to a restaurant she recommended

8:00p 🍽️Dinner at Yamal Acam Medina

9:15p Walked back to my dar, stopping and browsing through the medina

10:00p arrived back at dar, shower, take away baklava in bed, sleep

Day 2 in Rabat

8:00a wake up, shower, coffee at the dar, head out to breakfast

9:00a 🍳walk to Kitch for breakfast through the quiet medina, taking some photos, and along Avenue Mohammed V

11:00a Joined my free walking tour in Nouzhat Hassan park

Highlights included:

Nouzhat Hassan park
Cathedral
Hassan Tower
Murals
Mausoleum of Mohammed V
River Walk

2:45p Said goodbye to my tour and headed across the street to lunch at Dar Naji

4:00 Strolled through that medina, did a little shopping and got an amazing coffee at OKFE

5:30p Stopped by my accommodation to pack, rest briefly, charge phone

6:30p Walked toward the Kasbah of the Udayas for the sunset.

9:00p Walked back to my accommodation

10:00p Sleep

Day 3

6:00a Wake up, shower

6:35a Walk to Rabat Ville Train station

7:20a Train to Fes

Is One Day in Rabat Enough?

Yes, and no.

If you have limited time and want to see the highlights? Then, yes! Rabat is worth visiting for the day, or taking a day trip from Marrakesh or Fes.

If you really want to sink in and enjoy Rabat at a more leisurely pace, I think 2-3 days in Rabat is ideal.

Why Visit Rabat?

Rabat is one of the cleanest cities I have been to, and is very well organized which makes it an ideal small city to visit. Morrocco’s capital also offers a range of things to do from visiting the beach to having a cultural and historical experience.

I also think Rabat is an ideal place for first time visitors in Morocco, as it is much calmer and easier to navigate than other cities within the country. I felt very safe and comfortable, was never approached for money or unwelcomed advances and found the people very welcoming.

Another benefit to Rabat is the amazing shopping in the medina, which features wider streets, upfront fair pricing, and an overall really pleasant experience, especially compared to Marrakesh or Fes.

So whether you are a first-time visitor to Morocco or North Africa, or just looking for a slower, calmer pace stop on your travels through Morocco, Rabat is an ideal stop.

36 Hours in Rabat, Morocco: The Ultimate City Guide

How to Get to Rabat