Best Places to Visit in Morocco: 14 Destinations You Shouldn’t Miss (2027)

Morocco is small enough to cross in a day’s drive but holds an enormous variety: imperial cities, Berber villages, snow-capped mountains, palm oases, Sahara dunes and Atlantic beaches. Here are the places worth building your trip around, grouped by region so you can see what fits together on one route.

The Imperial Cities

1. Marrakech

The Red City is most visitors’ first taste of Morocco: the theatre of Jemaa el-Fnaa square at dusk, the souks, Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Koutoubia minaret and the cobalt-blue Majorelle Garden. It’s also the main base for Atlas and Sahara trips. Easy day trips: Ourika Valley, Ouzoud Waterfalls and Essaouira.

2. Fes

Fes el-Bali is one of the largest car-free medieval cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Chouara tannery, the Al Quaraouiyine mosque and university, the Bou Inania madrasa and countless artisan workshops. Hire a licensed guide for your first visit; the medina is a true labyrinth.

3. Meknes and Volubilis

An hour from Fes, Meknes is calmer, with the monumental Bab Mansour gate. Nearby Volubilis has the best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, with mosaics still in place. Both fit in a half-day stop on the way to or from Fes.

4. Rabat

The capital is clean, green and relaxed: the Kasbah of the Udayas above the ocean, the Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum. An easy stop between Casablanca and the north.

The North

5. Chefchaouen

The Blue City of the Rif Mountains, with its washed-blue lanes, a relaxed main square and sunset views from the Spanish Mosque. Stay at least one night to see it without day-trippers.

6. Tangier

Africa’s gateway from Europe: the kasbah, Cap Spartel where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, and the Caves of Hercules. A natural start for tours from Tangier.

7. Tetouan and the Mediterranean Coast

Tetouan’s white, Andalusian-style medina is a UNESCO site and far less touristy than Fes. In summer, the beaches of M’diq and the coast toward Ceuta fill with Moroccan families. See our guides to Tetouan and M’diq.

Mountains and Desert

8. The Atlas Mountains

From Imlil and the Toubkal trek (North Africa’s highest peak, 4,167 m) to gentle valley walks and Berber village lunches, the High Atlas is an hour from Marrakech. More in our Atlas Mountains guide.

9. Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate

Aït Ben Haddou is a UNESCO-listed earthen ksar seen in Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Nearby Ouarzazate has film studios and the Taourirt kasbah. Both are on the road from Marrakech to the Sahara, or a day trip from Marrakech.

10. Dades Valley and Todra Gorge

The “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs” through the Dades Valley, its twisting switchbacks, and the 300-metre-high walls of the Todra Gorge make the drive to the desert a highlight in itself.

11. Merzouga and the Sahara

The Erg Chebbi dunes rise up to 150 metres above the village of Merzouga. Ride a camel at sunset, sleep in a desert camp and wake for sunrise over the sand. Allow at least 3 days from Marrakech or Fes. See our Sahara Desert guide.

12. Zagora and Erg Chigaga

The Draa Valley’s palm groves lead to Zagora (smaller dunes, reachable in 2 days from Marrakech) and the wild, remote Erg Chigaga, accessible only by 4×4.

The Atlantic Coast

13. Essaouira

A windswept, whitewashed port with a UNESCO medina, fresh grilled fish at the harbour, art galleries and great kitesurfing. The perfect place to slow down after the desert.

14. Casablanca

Morocco’s biggest city and main international airport. Don’t miss the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest in the world and open to non-Muslim visitors on guided tours. More in our Casablanca guide.

How to Combine Them

Detailed day-by-day plans are in our Morocco trip planning guide, and every private route is listed on our Morocco tours page.

Plan Your Trip

Tell us which places you’d like to see and how many days you have, and we’ll design a private route with driver, hotels and desert camp. Contact us for a free quote.