Kasbah of the Udayas
A 12th-century fortified quarter of blue-washed lanes above the Bou Regreg, with an Andalusian garden and a clifftop cafe looking out to the Atlantic.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Rabat · Photo: Pline, CC BY-SA 3.0
Rabat, Morocco
Rabat is Morocco's political capital and one of its calmest cities, an easy stop on the northern imperial route from Fes. The blue-and-white Kasbah of the Udayas looks over the Bou Regreg river mouth, and the unfinished Hassan Tower faces the marble Mausoleum of Mohammed V. One unhurried day covers it, medina included.
- Private or small-group
- A written quote for your dates
- WhatsApp support during your trip
Why go to Rabat
Rabat is Morocco's political capital and one of its most relaxed cities, and from Fes it is genuinely easy to reach: around 2h30 on the Al Boraq high-speed line, which makes it a natural stop on the northern imperial route. A UNESCO-listed blend of Almohad ramparts, French-era avenues and clear Atlantic light, it rewards a single unhurried day. The blue-and-white kasbah of the Udayas sits above the Bou Regreg river mouth; the unfinished Hassan Tower and the marble Mausoleum of Mohammed V anchor the skyline; and the medina is gentle and walkable — a soft, hassle-free contrast to the density of Fes el-Bali.
- Best time
- April–June and September–October
- How long
- 1 day
- Nearest airport
- Rabat-Salé (RBA) or Casablanca (CMN) + 1h train
- Region
- Capital · Atlantic coast
From Fes to Rabat
Out by Bab Mahrouk, west across the Saïs plain: the way the drive leaves the medina walls, drawn schematically from OpenStreetMap.
- Fes, Bab Mahroukباب المحروق
- The Saïs plainسهل سايس
- Meknesمكناس
- Rabatالرباط
What you'll see in Rabat
Hassan Tower & Mausoleum of Mohammed V
The truncated minaret of a 12th-century mosque left unfinished, facing the richly decorated royal mausoleum kept by mounted royal guards.
Chellah necropolis
Layered Roman and Marinid ruins overgrown with gardens and topped by storks' nests — one of the most atmospheric corners of the capital.
Medina & ville nouvelle
An easy-going medina for carpets and crafts, alongside the broad art-deco and modernist avenues laid out under the French protectorate.
Morocco's calm, green capital.
RabatTours that reach Rabat
Each one runs private or small-group and stops properly in Rabat. Open one for the day-by-day plan, then ask us to quote it for your dates.
Before you go
Getting there. 1h by train from Casablanca, 2h30 from Tangier on the Al Boraq high-speed line
Best for. A calm capital stop on the Fes–coast line; monuments and an easy day
Read next. Is Volubilis Worth Visiting, and How Do You Do a Meknes & Volubilis Day Trip from Fes?; Can You See Wild Monkeys Near Fes, and Is the Ifrane & Azrou Cedar Forest Day Trip Worth It?; Is the Fes Medina Overwhelming, and How Do You Avoid Getting Lost?.
Pair Rabat with
The places closest to Rabat, easy to join on one private route.
Questions about Rabat
Read these before you add Rabat to a trip.
Is Rabat worth visiting from Fes?
Yes — it sits about 2h30 from Fes on the Al Boraq high-speed line, so it slots neatly onto the northern imperial route. Its UNESCO monuments, the kasbah of the Udayas and the Chellah ruins fill a rewarding, far calmer day than the bustle of Fes el-Bali.
How long do you need in Rabat?
A full day covers the kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and mausoleum, the Chellah and a wander through the medina — easily done as a day from Fes by high-speed train. An overnight lets you slow down along the riverfront and beaches.
Tell us your dates. We'll plan Rabat with you.
- Tell us what drew you in. Your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see.
- A person reads it. We write a day-by-day plan for your group, private or small-group.
- You change anything. Then we confirm the guides, drivers and riads.