Top 15 UNIQUE Things to Do in Morocco!
The many incredible things to do in Morocco make this country an unforgettable travel destination! Especially stunning are the breathtaking landscapes, where deserts with mighty dunes, snow-capped mountains, the rugged Atlantic coast and the lush oasis with imposing gorges conjure up a true variety of unique impressions. On a visit to Morocco, you will also explore the famous royal cities such as Marrakech and Fez, as well as ancient clay villages and numerous film locations. All the places in this fascinating destination are extremely colorful, exotic, and diverse. Thus, you can look forward to many spectacular attractions and unforgettable excursions during a vacation. But what are the best Morocco attractions, what are the insider tips, and which places should you have seen?
In this travel guide, you will find the absolute best things to do in Morocco, as well as the best places to visit. In addition, we show you stunning pictures, tell you insider tips and where you can find really spectacular accommodations for your trip.
Good to know!
The best travel time to explore the wonderful attractions in Morocco is in spring and fall, when the climate offers ideal conditions for sightseeing and exploring.
You can easily explore the best places and attractions on your own in a rental car. Here is the perfect 2 weeks in Morocco itinerary including tips, route and information.
The cuisine in Morocco is a must-try on any visit. Delicious is the Tagine, a cooked dish with vegetables, fish or meat, as well as the sweet traditional mint tea.
Marrakech is a good starting point for exploring many of the best excursion destinations in Morocco. You can find guided tours and multi-day tours online on GetYourGuide.
Marrakech
Marrakech is one of the 4 royal cities in Morocco, and a visit is definitely one of the best things to do on any trip. Due to its red clay buildings, it is also called the red city. Here you visit colorful markets and experience the hustle and bustle including snake charmers, fortune-tellers and water vendors at Jemaa el-Fnaa, the city’s central marketplace. During a sightseeing tour of the old town, you will walk past magnificent buildings and beautiful palaces, such as the Bahia Palace, one of the most important attractions in Marrakech. Or visit the Jardin-Majorelle, an enchanting exotic garden, which is one of the most fascinating places in the city.
Tip: In Morocco, the best place to stay is in a riad, a traditional Moroccan house with a courtyard. A great recommendation is the Riad Kniza in an excellent location and with a beautiful pool.
Ait-Ben-Haddou
Ait-Ben-Haddou is an ancient-fortified city in the southeast of the country and is one of the most important and beautiful places to visit in Morocco. This unique mud city was built about 1,000 years ago and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Due to the imposing architecture of the adobe buildings and the fabulous ambience, Ait-Ben-Haddou was and is often the location of famous movies. Situated on the edge of the Atlas Mountains, only about 100 kilometers from Marrakech, it is a popular destination for day trips. But an overnight stay in this romantic mud city is also worthwhile. So you can also experience the city at sunrise and enjoy an incredibly beautiful atmosphere.
Tip: For Ait-Ben Haddou we can recommend the Paradise of Silence. This great accommodation inspires with beautiful rooms, a pool and really delicious Moroccan cuisine!
High Atlas Mountains
The High Atlas is the highest mountain range in the country and another spectacular place to visit in Morocco. Thus, this mountain range is a popular destination for trekking tours and hiking in nature. But skiing in Morocco is also possible in some areas of the High Atlas. A real highlight and one of the best things to do in Morocco, however, is a scenic drive to the mountain passes. When driving from Marrakech to the south of the country, one crosses the mountains over the Tizi n Tichka pass and at the same time admires a partly rough and partly very fertile landscape. Particularly worth seeing here are the clay villages, which were built directly into the mountain slopes.
Tip: Unforgettable hikes as well as multi-day trips to the Atlas Mountains, where you also get to know the locals and their traditions, can be found on GetyourGuide.
Fez
A visit to Fez, a royal city in the northeast of the country, is one of the best things to do in Morocco. Many also call it the cultural capital of the country because the medina is the undisputed religious, cultural and craft center of Morocco. In the old town of Fes el Bali, one gets lost in a huge labyrinth of alleys, a jumble of souks and stores. Hardly any other city in Morocco is more polarizing. This place is known for its extraordinary atmosphere, immense hustle and bustle, and numerous attractions. In addition to historic Koranic schools, impressive mosques and city palaces, the tanneries are among the city’s most important attractions. The finest leather goods have been produced in the colorful tanning and dyeing basins since time immemorial.
Tip: Highly recommended is the Hotel & Spa Dar Bensouda, a beautiful riad with impressive architecture, fabulous breakfasts and magnificent views from the roof terrace.
Tinghir Oasis & Todra Gorge
A really stunning place in Morocco and a scenic highlight is the spectacular Todra Gorge in Tinghir. Situated in the eastern Atlas Mountains, it is usually a fixed program point of every round trip through the country. This place is truly a must-see in Morocco. It is one of the most impressive canyons in the country and inspires with dramatic rock faces, ancient Kasbahs and beautiful oasis landscapes. The canyon begins at the picturesque oasis of Tinghir, whose lush palm gardens are perfect for nature walks.
Tip: Really nice and, moreover, an optimal starting point to explore the canyon is the Kasbah Restaurant Amazir with a wonderful pool and right next to a river landscape.
Dades Gorge
The 45 kilometer long Dades Gorge in Morocco is famous for its enchanting mountain landscape, the gigantic rock formations and the impressive traditional clay buildings, the so-called Kasbahs. This gorge is one of the best natural attractions in the country and a visit is certainly one of the best things to do in Morocco. The ultimate attraction of the Dades Gorge, however, are the spectacular switchbacks of the dizzying zigzag road that leads into the mountains. The steep and narrow rock walls at the end of the gorge are also worth seeing and should not be missed.
Tip: From the Café Timzzillite you can enjoy the most beautiful view over the Dades Gorge and admire the spectacular road.
Merzouga
One of the most famous things to do in Morocco is definitely a visit to Merzouga. It is part of the Sahara, the largest desert in the world, and a visit is definitely recommended. The desert tours offered there are really popular, with excursions to the dunes of Erg Chebbi, some of which are up to 180 meters high. Nowhere in Morocco is the desert more beautiful than in this region. During a camel ride, you will be amazed by a sea of golden-yellow, never-ending sand dunes and the eternal expanse of the Sahara. An unforgettable experience is to spend a night under the starry sky of the desert in a Berber tent and listen to the silence until deep into the night.
Tip: We recommend the Erg Chebbi Camp, one of the best desert camps in Merzouga. It is really outstanding what comfort you can find in the desert!
El Kelaa of the Mgouna (Rose Valley)
The Valley of Roses, also known as El-Kelâa M’Gouna, remains one of the insider tips of hidden places to visit in Morocco. Roses are grown in this beautiful oasis and their extract is used as ingredients for perfumes and cosmetics. The Rose Valley is particularly beautiful at the end of April to May because in this period the roses bloom in all their splendor. The rose harvest and the famous Rose Festival also take place during this period. But also outside this travel time, the oasis is really idyllic and enchants with beautiful landscapes and panoramas. During a hike along the M’Gouna River, you will experience quaint clay villages and immerse yourself in traditional Moroccan life in the countryside.
Tip: Perched high above the valley is Dar Timitar, a lovely guesthouse with breathtaking views over the Rose Valley. The Rose Valley here was a highlight of our Morocco trip.
Essaouira
Visiting the romantic harbor town of Essaouira is probably one of the most famous things to do in Morocco, and stars such as Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Cat Stevens have been regular guests of this enchanting city by the sea. Due to the strong trade winds, however, it is also known as the city of winds. The eternally long sandy beach, the good winds and sea conditions make this port city an absolute Mecca for surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing. But also people looking for peace and quiet feel comfortable here in Essaouira. In addition, the beautiful town offers many interesting attractions, a pretty Medina and a small fish market.
Tip: In Essaouira you will find many great hotels and riads that are ideal for a vacation. Beautiful is the Heure Bleue Palais – Relais & Châteaux with pool on the roof terrace.
Chefchaouen (The Blue City)
The Blue City of Chefchaouen is high on the itinerary of many Morocco round trips and is certainly one of the most worth seeing cities in the country. The reason for this is the gorgeous old town with its charming narrow streets, the small squares, which are all covered in blue color. According to stories, the blue is supposed to protect from evil eyes. During a walk through Chefchaouen, you will discover something new at every corner, browse in small regional stores and enjoy delicious mint tea in one of the pretty cafés.
Tip: A really nice Riad, located in the heart of Chefchaouen and with a great roof terrace, is the Dar Swiar.
Casablanca
Casablanca is the largest city in the country, but often is simply left out on many trips through Morocco. It is a pity because there are beautiful attractions to discover, such as the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world. Located directly on the Atlantic coast, the mosque also enchants with impressive architecture and many beautiful mosaics. But also the beach promenade La Corniche is worth a detour. Here you can relax in one of the many outdoor pools and enjoy a unique atmosphere in one of the many restaurants and cafés. A real insider tip, a bit off the typical tourist route.
Tip: A real insider tip is the apartment “Marina“, a great vacation apartment from which you can enjoy a spectacular view of the mosque.
Atlantic Coast in Morocco
One of the most unique places in Morocco is the almost 2,000 kilometers long Atlantic coast, characterized by steep cliffs, the roaring ocean and the fantastically beautiful beaches. But also the picturesque coastal cities like Essaouira, Rabat, Casablanca, El Jadida and Safi fascinate visitors. Especially beautiful are the lagoons and beaches of the seaside resort Oualidia, a really idyllic place and insider tip among Moroccan travelers. On many beaches of the Atlantic coast you can surf, kitesurf and wakeboard due to the optimal wind conditions. If you plan a round trip by car through Morocco, then at least a part of the breathtakingly beautiful Atlantic coast should not be missed.
Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate is a city worth seeing about 200 kilometers south of Marrakech and is especially known for the numerous film studios like the Atlas Corporation Studios. For example, scenes from Game of Thrones, Gladiator and the Medicus were filmed in these studios. When a film production is not in progress, these studios can be visited. Another highlight of Ouarzazate is the Kasbah Taourirt, a huge castle made of rammed earth, located on the outskirts of the city. This sight can also be visited from the inside, which is also really very impressive and recommended.
Tip: Le Petit Riad Maison d’hôtes is a lovingly designed riad with a pool and impresses with delicious breakfast and dinner!
Rabat
Rabat, the Moroccan capital, is located on the Atlantic coast and is one of the 4 royal cities of Morocco and should not be missed on any sightseeing trip. The white royal city enchants with a quiet flair and a picturesque location by the sea. The medina and the souks are also really worth seeing and invite you to stroll. Especially beautiful is a walk along the harbor and the fortification wall. From here you have a beautiful view of the deep blue sea, the old town and the neighboring village Sale. The main attraction of Rabat and a real must-see is the 44-meter-high Hassan Tower and the mausoleum of Mohammed V.
Tip: The Riad Meftaha delights vacationers with warm hospitality, fabulous tips for excursions and dining, and of course, tastefully furnished rooms.
Ouzoud Waterfalls
The spectacular Ouzoud waterfalls are a very popular excursion destination from Marrakech and are one of the most worth seeing natural attractions in Morocco. About 200 kilometers northeast of the red city lies the village of Ouzoud and its impressive waterfalls of the same name. Here, the river Oued Ouzoud plunges into the depths over 3 steps, a natural spectacle that really impresses. The Ouzoud waterfalls also offer impressive, rich flora and fauna. You can go hiking or take a beautiful boat tour. With a little luck, you will also discover a few cheeky monkeys here, which have lost their shyness towards humans due to the numerous tourists.
Tip: The Ouzoud waterfalls are a popular excursion destination in Morocco thanks to their proximity to Marrakech. You can also book wonderful day trips online!
More about Morocco:
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2 Weeks in Morocco: A perfect Road Trip Itinerary
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Merzouga, Morocco: Plan a Desert Tour & Camel Trekking
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Marrakech in 3 days: Itinerary and Tips for Marrakech
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By Ferry from Spain to Morocco
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