Listed
below are 5 of the best cities for great vacations in
Morocco.
Fez
More than any other city in the country, this one
is a must-see.
Its ancient walled city is the oldest inhabited medieval
city in the world, designated a world heritage site.
So unique is it, the people of Fez have their own
distinct culture apparent in their music, food and
arts.
When touring Fez there are a few places you just
don’t want to miss:
- The Merenid Tombs on the outskirts offer a magnificent
view of the city.
- The Boujeland gardens are great for a respite
from the hustle and bustle of the city and somewhere
you can watch the world pass by in an open air café.
- And of course the ancient walled city with its
entrancing medina featuring a truly eclectic range
of goods, many unique to Fez
Tangier
Tangier is listed here for several reasons.
Historically it’s the gateway
to Morroco, you’ll likely arrive here
if traveling overland from Europe, and it’s
also a pretty interesting place. However it can be
a hassley, dangerous city especially at night.
If you’re an experienced traveler, then no
problems ---enjoy!
Tanigers has the lively vibrant
atmosphere you’d expect from a port city.
If you aren’t an experienced traveler though,
you might seriously consider giving it a miss.
If you’ve read this and still decide to have
a look round then your tour should include the following.
- The Grand Succo, a street market with goods from
all over the country at affordable prices.
- And the Mendoubin Gardens, a rare place of peace
in this imposing city with an 800yr old banyan tree.
Marrakech
This city has a simply beautiful setting between
snowcapped mountains which perfectly set off its ochre
colored stucco buildings.
Marrakech is like something out of Arabian Nights
with a distinctly African feel.
To experience this story book atmosphere, head for
the central square with its acrobats, story tellers,
and snake charmers. Adjacent to this square is also
Marrakech’s medina were pushy merchants sell
a range of goods to dazzle and amaze. I picked up
a jellabah, the traditional Moroccan dress and a complete
idiot I looked too. Haggling is, of course, a must.
Getting lost is part of the fun although on the outset
of your trip you might consider hiring one of the
numerous “guides”. He’ll no doubt
lead you to stalls were he gets a cut of the profits
but his real advantage lies in the fact that when
other guides or ner-do-wellers see you are with him
they’ll leave you alone to enjoy yourself. Fix
a price first and don’t be bullied into paying
more at the end of your tour.
Rabat
The capital of Morocco and a city of 1 million, you’ll
find it more modern than most of
the rest of the country, its shop keepers less
pushy and its people more cosmopolitan.
On your tour of the city try and visit the following:
- The royal palace/ Rabat’s busy medina
- Cheelah the oldest settlement in the area and
just outside Rabat’s impressive walls with
its own equally imposing gates and walls.
Essaouira
Strictly speaking Essaouira
is a town not a city, but it’s probably my
favorite place in Morroco so I just had to
include it in the list.
It’s a beautiful haven of peace and tranquility
on the coast and made famous in the west for being
the place where Jimi Hendrix wrote, “Castles
made of sand.”
To me it has a more Mediterranean
feel than Moroccan and I suppose this is due
to its colors. A liberal use of blue and white rather
than the traditional red. The beach is windy which
makes sunbathing problematic but is perfect for windsurfing.
To be honest, there isn’t
a whole lot to do in Essaouira except relax and enjoy
the atmosphere. Probably why I enjoyed it so
much.
But for those wishing to tour around then there’s
a delightful beach walk of 5 k or so to Diabut where
Hendrix reputably stayed. The harbor too is attractive
and the streets of the market provide interest due
to the usual range of goods as well as the opportunity
to observe local craftsmen at work behind open doors.
All in all, a wonderful place to spend a few days
winding down and perhaps preparing yourself for more
adventurous trips.
