Region
Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
الرباط سلا القنيطرةⵕⵕⴱⴰⵟ-ⵙⴰⵍⴰ-ⵍⵇⵏⵉⵟⵕⴰ
Oudayas blue and white
At a glance
- Recommended stay
- 2 to 3 days
- Best season
- April to November
- Population
- 5,132,639 (2024)
- Best for
- UNESCO Almohad monuments · Calm coastal medina & museums · Roman-Marinid gardens at Chellah
- UNESCO World Heritage
- whc.unesco.org ↗
- Key landmarks
- Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City (UNESCO World Heritage)Kasbah of the Udayas and the Andalusian GardensHassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed VChellah: Roman Sala and the Marinid necropolisSalé medina and its Marinid madrasaMohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary ArtExotic Gardens of BouknadelSidi Boughaba lake reserve near MehdiaMerja Zerga lagoon at Moulay Bousselham
The capital region: Rabat's Kasbah of the Udayas and an easy-going Atlantic coast.
Getting there
Rabat–Salé Airport (RBA) and Al Boraq high-speed trains (50 min from Casablanca, 1h20 from Tangier)
The Regal and Cultural Capital
Rabat-Salé-Kénitra is Morocco’s political capital and a UNESCO World Heritage cultural center. Rabat showcases an elegant, tree-shaded blend of ancient Almohad monuments and refined twentieth-century urban planning, presided over by the 12th-century Hassan Tower and the majestic Mohammed V Mausoleum.
Kasbahs Overlooking the Bouregreg
The picturesque Kasbah of the Udayas guards the mouth of the Bouregreg River with cobblestone paths, whitewashed walls, and blooming Andalusian gardens. Across the modern bridge lies ancient Salé with its pottery quarters and historic medina, while modern cultural flagships like the Zaha Hadid-designed Grand Theatre highlight Morocco’s contemporary arts scene.
Weather and climate
Climate by month
Average low and highRainy days
| Month | Average low and high | Rainy days | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7°C – 17°C45°F – 63°F | 9 | — |
| Feb | 8°C – 18°C46°F – 65°F | 9 | — |
| Mar | 10°C – 20°C49°F – 68°F | 9 | — |
| Apr | 11°C – 21°C52°F – 70°F | 7 | — |
| May | 13°C – 24°C56°F – 74°F | 5 | — |
| Jun | 16°C – 26°C61°F – 78°F | 2 | — |
| Jul | 18°C – 27°C64°F – 81°F | 2 | — |
| Aug | 18°C – 28°C65°F – 82°F | 1 | — |
| Sep | 17°C – 27°C62°F – 80°F | 4 | — |
| Oct | 14°C – 25°C58°F – 77°F | 7 | — |
| Nov | 11°C – 21°C51°F – 70°F | 9 | — |
| Dec | 9°C – 19°C48°F – 65°F | 10 | — |
Source: Direction de la Météorologie Nationale, 1991-2020 normals for Rabat (regional capital), via WMO. Updated November 7, 2026. worldweather.wmo.int
Suggested itinerary
Checked by Morocco Insider Tips on November 7, 2026
Day 1 Rabat, the capital on the Bou Regreg
- Morning
- Walk up to the Kasbah of the Udayas through Bab Oudaya, wander its blue-and-white lanes and look out over the river mouth from the platform.
- Afternoon
- Tram or taxi to the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, then the gardens and storks of the Chellah ruins.
- Evening
- Stroll the calm Rabat medina along Rue des Consuls, then dinner near the Bou Regreg marina.
Day 2 Salé and the gardens of Bouknadel
- Morning
- Cross to Salé by tram (or by the small rowing boats when they run) and visit the Marinid madrasa beside the Great Mosque.
- Afternoon
- Grand taxi or car about 15 km north to the Exotic Gardens of Bouknadel, a 1950s botanical garden of themed world landscapes.
- Evening
- Back in Rabat, an exhibition at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (check opening hours) or the Corniche at sunset.
Day 3 Kénitra coast: Mehdia and Sidi Boughaba
- Morning
- Train to Kénitra (under 30 minutes), then taxi to the Sidi Boughaba lake reserve, a wetland known for winter waterbirds.
- Afternoon
- Mehdia beach and the old Kasbah of Mehdia above the Sebou river mouth; grilled fish at the port.
- Evening
- Train back to Rabat, or continue north to Moulay Bousselham to see the Merja Zerga lagoon by boat the next morning.
Tips
- Travellers on r/Morocco and r/solotravel often describe Rabat as the most relaxed big city for a first stop: little hustle, clean streets and fixed prices in many shops.
- Monuments around the Mausoleum of Mohammed V are guarded and free to visit; Chellah and the museums charge a small entry fee.
- Rabat is an easy day trip from Casablanca by Al Boraq or regular train, but one night lets you see the Udayas at golden hour.
- The Atlantic here is cool and can have strong currents: swim only on supervised beaches in summer.
Getting around
- Al Boraq high-speed trains stop at Rabat Agdal and Kénitra, linking the region with Casablanca and Tangier; regular ONCF trains also stop at Rabat Ville and Salé.
- Two tram lines connect Rabat and Salé across the Bou Regreg; they are the easiest way between the medinas, the Hassan Tower and Salé.
- Rabat–Salé Airport (RBA) is about 10 km from central Rabat, with domestic and European flights.
- Petit taxis (blue in Rabat) use the meter; grand taxis serve Bouknadel, Mehdia and Moulay Bousselham.
Etiquette
- Non-Muslims can visit the Mausoleum of Mohammed V but not the working mosques; dress modestly and keep quiet inside.
- Do not photograph the royal guards' posts, the palace gates or government buildings at close range when asked not to.
- Ask before photographing people in the Udayas lanes, where residents live behind the painted doors.
.jpg){kind=link}