Best Tourist Attractions in Morocco

Morocco is no doubt one of the most popular of all the African countries and has a rich history and culture to back it up. The country boasts of a lot of things and in this article, and today, am going to be telling you about the best tourist attractions in Morocco

They are:

Hassan II Mosque

This is definitely one of the best tourist attractions in Morocco. Casablanca’s major point of interest and landmark building, the Hassan II Mosque is a lavish symbol not only of the city but also of Morocco itself. This modern mosque (finished in 1993) doesn’t do things by halves; the decoration detail covering every centimetre of the mammoth two-hectare site took 10,000 artisans to complete.

Intricately carved marble pieces, vibrant mosaics, and zellige tile details all pay tribute to traditional Islamic architecture ideals and the mastery of Moroccan craftsmanship and yet, at the same time, still manage to feel contemporary, the mosque truly lives up to its worth of being one of the best tourist attractions in Morocco.

Aït Benhaddou

Aït Benhaddou is one of Ouarzazate’s fortified cities along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. Inside the high mud walls are six kasbahs and a small number of homes. Most of the town’s inhabitants now live in a more modern village on the other side of the river although a few families still live within the city walls. Aït Benhaddou has appeared in several movies, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator and it is truly an awe-inspiring place worthy of being one of the best tourist attractions in Morocco.

Oudaias Kasbah

This is no doubt one of the best tourist attractions in Morocco; this place is a peaceful and perfectly quaint district that feels miles away from the city, despite being right in the city’s core. Inside the walls of this old fortress, the lanes of neat white-and-blue houses rimmed by colourful flowerpots and flapping washing have a lost-in-time atmosphere that’s hard to beat.

Even better, unlike the old town areas of Fes and Marrakesh, there are hardly any other tourists here, so exploring this pretty corner of the capital feels as if you’ve been let in on a well-kept secret worthy of keeping as the city is one of the best tourist attractions in Morocco.

Djemaa El-Fna

Djemaa El-Fna is the highlight of any visit to Marrakech and one of the best tourist attractions in Morocco. By day, this square at the heart of the medina is largely filled with snake charmers and people with monkeys, as well as some of the more common stalls. As the day progresses the entertainments on offer change: the snake charmers depart, and in the afternoon and evening, the square becomes more crowded, with storytellers, magicians, and peddlers of traditional medicines. As dark descends Djemaa El-Fna fills with dozens of food-stalls, and the crowds are at their height.

Fes

With a population of about 150,000 inhabitants, Fes is the largest carfree urban area in the world by population. Donkeys, carriages, and motorbikes transport goods. The entire medina is surrounded by high walls with a number of historic city gates with imposing nature that reminds you that the place is one of the best tourist attractions in Morocco. Several shops and restaurants have a rooftop terrace, which is a great way to escape the bustling streets. The views are particularly spectacular during sunset and after dark

Along with Marrakesh, Fes is another big cultural destination. However, unlike its sister Imperial City to the south, Fes hasn’t been trussed up for the tourists. Fes el Bali (old city) is an authentic muddle of a place, where it’s easy to get lost. The back alleys here, with their chipped plasterwork and gorgeous old doors, will have you stopping for photos on every corner, and visiting the stinking tanneries is one of Fes el Bali’s most popular things to do for those who can handle the smell.

Chefchaouen

In the beautiful Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is a gorgeous labyrinth of blue-on-blue buildings that has an incredibly photogenic glow. There isn’t much actual sightseeing to be done, and that’s one of the town’s main attractions. It is simply about wandering the medina alleys and lapping up all that colourful architecture. It’s a peaceful, easygoing town and a great place to recharge if you’ve been amid the cities for a while.

This is also one of Morocco’s main hiking and trekking destinations and a starting point and organization centre for Rif Mountains walks. It is one of the best tourist attractions in Morocco.

Todra Gorge

Todra Gorge is situated on the remote east side of the High Atlas Mountains. Both the Todra and neighbouring Dades Rivers have carved out cliff-sided canyons through the mountains. The final 600 meters of the Todra Gorge are the most spectacular as the canyon narrows to a flat stony track as little as 10 meters (33 ft) wide in places with sheer and smooth rock walls up to 160 meters (525 ft) high on each side. This gorge truly deserves its place on the list of best tourist attractions in Morocco.

Bab al-Mansour

This mammoth gateway (which guards the entrance to Meknes’ Imperial City district from the medina) is noted for its stunning decoration. Meant as a monumental reminder of the sultan’s might, the Bab al-Mansour is a magnificent relic of Meknes’ glorious era as the capital of Morocco. It is widely regarded as Morocco’s grandest and best-preserved gateway and also one of the best tourist attractions in Morocco.

Come in the late afternoon to photograph the gate in the soft light, and then wander through Meknes’ small maze of a medina, which is a much more laid-back affair than the medina of nearby Fes.

Ait Ben Haddou

This golden-stoned adobe Kasbah (fortress) thrusts dramatically out of the earth amid scenery that wows all who visit. It is a fairy-tale place, and unsurprisingly the orange-hued turrets and curvy lanes inside have become a favourite film location for Hollywood due to the surreal beauty of the place. You can even sleep within the Kasbah if you want the full Ait Ben Haddou experience, though those who like their creature comforts should be aware that there’s no electricity within the fortress itself.

If you’re heading out into Morocco’s inland regions, it should definitely be on your must-visit list. Try to come in the early morning or later in the afternoon, as the tour bus crowds descend from around 10 am to 2 pm. It is a place I recommend if you really want to enjoy one of the best tourist attractions in Morocco.

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Written By: William Nwokoji

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