Rabat and Casablanca
Morocco is a country that is full of unique cultures, foods, colors and architecture. Its a land of contrasts that sits as a gateway between Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Most people think of Northern Africa as a huge desert. That is true of some countries in North Africa in areas, but Morocco is much more than that with beaches, towering mountains and more. The culture and archetecture of Morocco is unique and contains the indegiounous Berber community and influences from nearby Europe expecially in Tangiers. Donna and I made a stop in Morocco’s largest city (Casablanca) and the capital of Morocco (Rabat) in 2018. We saw many palaces, mosques, ancient ruins, carpet and spice stores and tasted interesting foods. Its an amazing country to visit that we hope to go back to in the future!
*This site has tour links that are Affiliate Links where commission is earned through our travel agency. This does not cost you anything and helps small business and the operation of this site!
Getting to Morocco and Transportation
There are many ways you can get to Morocco. On our trip we stopped there as a port of call on a Norwegian cruise that began in Barcelona, Spain but you can easily fly into major cities like Casablanca, Tangier or Marrakesh. Casablanca is the main international airport gateway to Morocco and the main hub for the flag carrier of Morocco, Royal Air Maroc. Royal Air Maroc has non-stop flights from the US to Casablanca but there are no US Airlines that service the city. You can fly to Europe and easily make it to Casablanca. Another major international gateway is Marrakesh that does have seasonal flights from airlines like United. There are several smaller airports with service from Europe and Gulf nations like Qatar. Tangier just across from Spain and Gibraltar has one of these smaller international airports. A great option for touring Morocco aside from a cruise would be taking a bus guided tour of the country such as a Trafalgar, Globus, Collete. You can get tours that start in Spain/Portugal and go to Morocco or tours that are in Morocco the entire trip. There is also ferry service between Europe and Tangier.
As for transportation in Morocco they have high speed and conventional rail to the largest and smaller cities. They also have roads, but I don’t recommend renting a car and driving yourself.
Country Information
Morocco is a country in far Northwestern Africa that has a Middle Eastern culture. Morocco is a large country that is a bit larger than California. Most people think of Northern Africa being a massive desert. This is true of much of the area due to the massive Sahara Desert, but Morocco has a very diverse landscape. It does have desert sand dunes but also has areas that have a Mediterranean climate with beaches like in Casablanca and Rabat. It also has a tall mountain range called the Atlas Mountains that get snow. The tallest mountain is over 13,000 feet tall! The country is semi-constitutional monarchy that has a King and Royal Family and a bicameral legislature with a Prime Minister. They have an upper and lower house in their parliament. The min language spoken is a Moroccan dialect of Arabic with a smaller group speaking Berber and other languages. The Berbers are the indigenous people of the region. For US citizens, no tourist visa is required for visits less than 90 days as of the time of this update to the guide (June 2025). The currency of Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham that at the time of this writing in June 2025 1 Moroccan Dirham is equal to .11 USD. At this time the US State Department rating is Level 2- Exercise Increased caution due to possible Terrorism. This is the same level as many countries in Europe. We found our time to be safe in Morocco and it’s a wonderful country to visit, but as always read the report on your own and decide if Morocco is somewhere you want to visit. We found the people to be very friendly and welcoming as is part of their culture to welcome travelers.
Rabat, Morocco
Donna and I spent most of our time in the capital city of Rabat. It is the second largest city in Morocco and the seat of the Kingdom. You can visit the outside of the Royal Palace of the King, visit a guarded mausoleum, ancient ruins, the Kashbah (fortress) and the beach area. Rabat has many different areas, a market and a wall around much of the city area. Its a very unique experience visiting this city.
Mohammed V Mausoleum and Hassan Tower (Unfinished Minaret)
You can visit this ornate Mausoleum that is the burial place for King Mohammed V and his two sons (including King Hassan II). It is located at a large plaza that is part of an unfinished mosque that ends with Hassan tower. The area is guarded by the Royal Moroccan guards. You can easily take pictures with the guards. Some are on horseback and others are on foot inside the mausoleum. There is a reader of the Koran inside the Mausoleum The architecture of this building finished in 1971 is spectacular and worth a visit while in the area.
Ancient Ruins of Chellah
We visited the fortified necropolis of Chellah while visiting Rabat. It is a fortress that has been occupied by the Phoenicians and Romans and has been granted World Heritage Site status. You can see mosaics left in the mosque, and the ruins of many buildings. Its a pretty area with many plants and flowers in the area. Its a fertile area not too far from the Bou Regreg river. When we first got to the site we were greeted by traditional Moroccan music at the gateway to the city (see picture at the top of the page). We were able to see a stork on top of the minaret ruins. We also made some cat friends as we walked through the site and saw and Eel in a small pond.
Dar al-Makhzen (Moroccan Royal Palace)
We visited the Moroccan Royal Palace and saw the very large complex including gardens, a mosque, the Moroccan Military Headquarters and a village for the servants of the King. We saw large fountains and the entrance to the palace guarded by different members of the Moroccan military. The King of Morocco does not live at this palace and uses it as his office and for administrative purposes. He lives in a more seculded palace near by.
Kashbah of the Udayas
We visited the fortified Kashbah while in Rabat. We saw the old wall protecting the area and stopped to try a Moroccan Mint drink. Many of the streets and passageways in the area are white buildings with decorative doors. Blue is also used in much of the area. This was a nice quick stop for us and more time could be used to explore the area a little longer.
Moroccan Lunch
While we were in Rabat we stopped and eat a traditional Moroccan meal. We sat at a relatively low table with low chairs and ate family style. We had very fresh fruits and vegetables, CousCous, and the main course was Moroccan Chicken. The food was very unique and was tasty. It is always nice to stop at a trusted restaurant to taste the local cuisine.
Rabat Tour Options (Click Below):
Casablanca, Morocco
After tour Rabat we drove along the coast and headed back to the large city of Casablanca. Casablanca is a large business center and port and like many large cities has a lot of traffic. We drove through the main avenues of the city and even passed a replica of Rick’s from the famous movie Casablanca. We stopped at a traditional Moroccan Carpet store and spice shop before going to the highlight of Casablanca the huge Hassan II mosque.
Hassan II Mosque
The second largest mosque in the world and the second tallest minaret in the world is the Hassan II mosque on the coast in Casablanca. It is a stunning mosque full of beautiful architecture. The size of the mosque is stunning as you walk through the large plaza as you approach the mosque. The Atlantic Ocean is just on the other side of the Mosque. We arrived near a time for prayer so we were able to look inside (but not enter) the mosque. While in Casablanca this is the main site you will not want to miss. It’s far more impressive than the nearby Rick’s.
Casablanca Tours (Click Below):
Tips for Morocco
Morocco is a country filled with a unique culture, amazing history, and friendly people. It is a safe country to visit but just like at home you want to be watchful to avoid pick pocketing and other theft. Do pay attention to state department and reports from other nations foreign services departments for any advisories and decide for yourself to visit or not. Rabat is a spectacular city to visit in Morocco. Casablanca is a great city to visit as well but Rabat is definitely the city with the most items to see in the area. The Hassan II mosque is the highlight in Casablanca. In Morocco the currency is the Moroccan Dirham and the exchange rate is very favorable compared to the US Dollar or Euro. The Euro is also accepted in some places as are credit cards. Arabic is the language of Morocco but I did not have any trouble speaking to locals in English. Going to Morocco on a cruise is a great way to get a taste of Morocco. The weather is different in Rabat and Casablanca compared to heading to Marrakesh, Fez or Tangiers so look up the weather and pack accordingly. We definitely would like to go back for a more extended stay in Morocco in the future!
If you are Interested in this trip:
Contact Donna or Jason Miller and we can help you book your dream trip today including customized trips, guided tours, cruises and much more. Our travel planning services are completely free if you book with us. Contact us at donnamiller.etfamilytravel@gmail.com or jasonmiller.etfamilytravel@gmail.com to book today!
Follow us on Social Media!
