The central sights — Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum, the Kasbah des Oudayas and the Medina — are close enough together that most visitors get around on foot, with the odd short taxi ride for Chellah.
Discover Authentic Rabat: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Rabat, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Hassan Tower, the Kasbah of the Udayas and Chellah, alongside our Mercure hotel.
Top 5 Things to Do in Rabat
Kasbah des Oudayas
A 12th-century fortress above the river with blue-and-white lanes, an Andalusian garden and ocean views toward Salé. Stop at Café Maure inside for mint tea or a ns-ns (half coffee, half milk) looking out over the water — it's the classic way to end a walk through the Kasbah.
Chellah
A walled necropolis on the edge of the city, built over a Roman settlement with Merinid-era ruins and storks nesting on the old minarets. It's the most atmospheric spot in Rabat and rarely crowded, even in high season.
Rabat Medina
Cleaner and calmer than many Moroccan medinas, with Rue des Consuls the main stretch for rugs, spices, brassware and antique furniture. Good for bargaining, low-pressure browsing, and a real sense of the old city's rhythm.
Hassan Tower & Mausoleum of Mohammed V
The unfinished 12th-century minaret stands across from the marble mausoleum of the late king, guarded by royal sentries in traditional dress. Both sit close together and are easy to combine in one stop.
Plage de Rabat
The city's beach, about 3km from the center, where locals come to walk the promenade or catch the sunset over the Atlantic — a good change of pace after a day in the medina.
Explore Rabat's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Rabat
We've mapped local spots around Rabat, from Almohad monuments to Morocco's first museum of modern art.
Monuments
Hassan Tower
The 44-metre Hassan Tower is Rabat's symbol: the minaret of what Almohad sultan Yacoub al-Mansour planned in the 12th century as the largest mosque in the Muslim world, left unfinished after his death in 1199.
Bouregreg esplanade · Monument · Perfect for history
Mausoleum of Mohammed V
On the Hassan Tower esplanade, the royal tomb of Mohammed V and his sons Hassan II and Moulay Abdellah. Built from 1961 to 1971 by 400 Moroccan artisans – look closely at the craftsmanship.
Hassan Tower esplanade · Royal mausoleum · Made for craftsmanship
Kasbah of the Udayas
Fifteen minutes' walk from the centre, a 12th-century fortress at the mouth of the Bouregreg: whitewashed, blue-trimmed lanes, an Andalusian garden and the Café Maure, made for mint tea and almond pastries.
Mouth of the Bouregreg · Kasbah · Perfect for strolling and ocean views
Chellah
Beyond the Almohad walls, the ruins of a 13th-century Marinid necropolis and the Roman remains of Sala Colonia, among lush gardens. Storks keep watch.
South of the medina · Archaeological site · Ideal for a peaceful visit
Medina of Rabat
The historic old city, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed in 2012. Wander the souks.
Medina · Old town · Great for a stroll
Saint-Pierre Cathedral
An Art Deco cathedral by architect Adrien Laforgue, inaugurated in 1921 in the Hassan district.
Hassan · Cathedral · Perfect for architecture
Museums
Museum of History and Civilisations
Reopened in 2017, the former national archaeology museum shows finds from Volubilis and beyond, including its famous Hall of Bronzes.
City centre · Museum · Made for archaeology
Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
Opened in 2014, Morocco's first museum of modern and contemporary art – and, since 2021, Africa's first green museum, powered by solar panels.
City centre · Art museum · Perfect for art lovers
Bank Al-Maghrib Museum
More than 30,000 coins and banknotes telling the Kingdom's history, plus a gallery of over 800 artworks.
Museum · Great for history and art
Villa des Arts de Rabat
A cultural venue of the AL MADA Foundation, opened in 2006, devoted to contemporary art in constant dialogue with Moroccan culture.
Art centre · Ideal for contemporary art
National Photography Museum
In the 19th-century Fort Rottembourg on the corniche, exhibitions tracing photography in Morocco from its beginnings.
Corniche · Museum · Perfect for photography
Parks & family
Rabat Botanical Gardens
Created in 1914, the city's largest public garden: 17 hectares and more than 600 plant species. Find a shady bench.
Agdal · Garden · Made for a quiet walk
Rabat Zoological Garden
A zoo devoted to Moroccan, Saharan and African wildlife, recreating habitats from swamp to Atlas mountains.
Zoo · Great for families
Arribat Center
Rabat's largest shopping centre, around 150 shops in Moroccan-inspired architecture.
Agdal · Shopping · Perfect for shopping
Food & drink
Dar Zaki
Classic Moroccan cooking – tagines, couscous and salads – in an intimate room in the old medina.
Medina · Restaurant · Ideal for Moroccan food
Dar Naji
A popular Rabat institution for generous traditional Moroccan food. Share everything.
Agdal · Restaurant · Great for casual dining
Al Marsa
Seafood and Mediterranean dishes at the Bouregreg Marina, looking back at Rabat.
Bouregreg Marina · Restaurant · Made for seafood
Le Dhow
A restaurant and lounge aboard a wooden boat moored beneath the Kasbah of the Udayas.
Bouregreg · Restaurant and lounge · Perfect for an evening out
Boho Café
A bright, plant-filled café for all-day brunch and speciality coffee.
Café · Ideal for brunch
Hatch
A modern all-day café in Agdal: speciality coffee, brunch and healthy plates.
Agdal · Café · Great for coffee
FAQ
Tagine and mint tea are the staples — try the tea at Café Maure inside the Kasbah des Oudayas for the view as much as the drink.
About a 15-minute drive.
It is the 44-metre minaret of a 12th-century mosque that was planned as the largest in the Muslim world but never finished. It is the symbol of Rabat.
Yes. This UNESCO-listed 12th-century fortress has blue-and-white lanes, an Andalusian garden and the Café Maure overlooking the river mouth.
The Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, opened in 2014, is the first of its kind in Morocco.
Where to Sleep in Rabat
This Mercure hotel appears on our map:
- Mercure Rabat Sheherazade