Rabat

Rabat (Arabic: الرباط; Berber: ⵕⵕⴱⴰⴹ) literally "Fortified Place" is the capital city of Morocco.

Rabat is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg. On the facing shore of the river lies Salé, Rabat's bedroom community. Together with Temara the cities account for a combined metropolitan population of 2.6 million. It is an easy-going city by Moroccan standards. The city of Rabat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Kasbah of the Oudaias. The Kasbah is the oldest part of Rabat. It has narrow streets with cute white and blue houses, the Andalucian Gardens, and the Oudaias Museum housed in a 17th century palace. And a great view of the Atlantic Ocean. Free entrance.
• Hassan Tower and the Royal Mausoleum. 08:00–18:00.
• Old Medina.
• Chellah. 08:30–18:30. A city founded by Carthaginians, conquered by Romans and later passed under Arab rule, then abandoned and settled by unbelievable numbers of birds. This breeding ground bubbles with bird life in spring, including stork nest on the top of old minaret. Also, historical layers are visible, with outstanding Roman and Moroccan parts. You can walk there from centre-ville, but it is a long walk. 70 dirham.
• National Archaeological Museum, Ave Yacoub el Mansour. W-M 10:00-18:00.
• The Currency Museum of the Bank Al-Maghrib, Angle Avenue Allal Ben Abdellah et Rue Al-Qahira, +212 5 37 70 26 26.
• The Beach. Rather small and not particularly appealing one. There are couple of rustic cafes, also surfing gear is available for rent.
• Royal Palace. It is huge, you cannot really visit it (but it is a nice walk), the armed guards might allow you walk from one entrance to another especially if you look like a tourist. Bring your passport.
• St. Peter's Cathedral. The city's own beautiful art-deco cathedral.
• Rabat Zoo, Annexe 23eme (Infrequent bus #7, taxi costs 40 dirham but can be problematic to find it on the back, +212 634-781081. 10:00-17:30. Contains more than 100 species of Moroccan, Saharan and other African animals in open spaces simulating their natural habitats (mountains, desert, savanna and rain forest). 50 dirham, students 35 dirham.

Kasbah of the Oudaias. The Kasbah is the oldest part of Rabat. It has narrow streets with cute white and blue houses, the Andalucian Gardens, and the Oudaias Museum housed in a 17th century palace. And a great view of the Atlantic Ocean. Free entrance.

Hassan Tower and the Royal Mausoleum. 08:00–18:00.

Old Medina.

Chellah. 08:30–18:30. A city founded by Carthaginians, conquered by Romans and later passed under Arab rule, then abandoned and settled by unbelievable numbers of birds. This breeding ground bubbles with bird life in spring, including stork nest on the top of old minaret. Also, historical layers are visible, with outstanding Roman and Moroccan parts. You can walk there from centre-ville, but it is a long walk. 70 dirham.

National Archaeological Museum, Ave Yacoub el Mansour. W-M 10:00-18:00.

The Currency Museum of the Bank Al-Maghrib, Angle Avenue Allal Ben Abdellah et Rue Al-Qahira, +212 5 37 70 26 26.

The Beach. Rather small and not particularly appealing one. There are couple of rustic cafes, also surfing gear is available for rent.

Royal Palace. It is huge, you cannot really visit it (but it is a nice walk), the armed guards might allow you walk from one entrance to another especially if you look like a tourist. Bring your passport.

St. Peter's Cathedral. The city's own beautiful art-deco cathedral.

Rabat Zoo, Annexe 23eme (Infrequent bus #7, taxi costs 40 dirham but can be problematic to find it on the back, +212 634-781081. 10:00-17:30. Contains more than 100 species of Moroccan, Saharan and other African animals in open spaces simulating their natural habitats (mountains, desert, savanna and rain forest). 50 dirham, students 35 dirham.

There are many things to do here, as with most Moroccan cities it is enough just to wander around and adventure where something takes your fancy.

There is also a large and tranquil park next to the Hotel Sofitel, where people run and play football, etc. You can also use the pool at the Sofitel for a charge. The park is a 10-15 dirham taxi ride (10 minutes) from la Gare Central.

• Théâtre National Mohammed V, Avenue Moulay Rachid, +212 5377-07300. Theatre in Downtown Rabat, nothing absolutely outstanding but there are performances each month.
• Jazz au Chellah is a jazz festival organized each year in June by the ministry of culture, the city and the European delegation. The website might have some issues.
• Mawazine is a festival of world music that takes place annually in Rabat featuring Arab, African and international music icons during May. It is controversial as some of the country's Muslim politicians have criticised the event for "encouraging immoral behaviour". Artists such as Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Elton John or B.B. King have performed at Mawazine. There are various scenes around the city.
• Royal Golf Dar es Salaam, +212 5377-55864. Tu-Su 06:00-22:00. The domain is spread over 440 ha of trees, flowers, and water. If you have enough money, a car and are desperately looking for a quiet area to walk around or to play golf you will like it.

Théâtre National Mohammed V, Avenue Moulay Rachid, +212 5377-07300. Theatre in Downtown Rabat, nothing absolutely outstanding but there are performances each month.

Jazz au Chellah is a jazz festival organized each year in June by the ministry of culture, the city and the European delegation. The website might have some issues.

Mawazine is a festival of world music that takes place annually in Rabat featuring Arab, African and international music icons during May. It is controversial as some of the country's Muslim politicians have criticised the event for "encouraging immoral behaviour". Artists such as Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Elton John or B.B. King have performed at Mawazine. There are various scenes around the city.

Royal Golf Dar es Salaam, +212 5377-55864. Tu-Su 06:00-22:00. The domain is spread over 440 ha of trees, flowers, and water. If you have enough money, a car and are desperately looking for a quiet area to walk around or to play golf you will like it.

• Rue des Consuls an interesting place to wander. This street is so named because foreign diplomats were required to reside here in the seventeenth century until 1912. At that time the main activity of the area was piracy and taking slaves, who were then auctioned. Under a treaty with the Sultan, they were to be redeemed by diplomats from their countries who then had a budget for such purchases. For convenience, these diplomats were thus a few tens of meters from the place of "negotiation". This street was already very active one of the few to be paved. Louis Chenier, the father of the poet Andre Chenier was there representing the King of France from 1768 to 1781. Trading in the redemption of captives was his main activity and he excelled so much that even the Sultan, exhausted, sent him back to France by military force. From the Rue des Consuls, opens a number of alleys housing small shops, enabling craftsmen to maintain their expertise and their art, in often difficult circumstances.
• Although the medina here is not as extensive as that of Fez or Marrakesh there are still some bargains to be had. You will find the normal array of baboshka shoes, baggy pants, ornate mirrors and plates etc.! Interestingly all the Moroccans can be found in the section of the market that sells imported western style clothing from Asia and all the tourists can be found in the 'traditional' section. The lovely woolen ponchos are well worth a look and the carpet shops near the end of the medina are also very nice.
• Mega Mall, +212 5377-57575. 10:00-23:00. One modern mall with with many expensive shops, such as Lacoste along with a food court. Also contains amenities such as a bowling alley and an ice-skating rink.

Rue des Consuls an interesting place to wander. This street is so named because foreign diplomats were required to reside here in the seventeenth century until 1912. At that time the main activity of the area was piracy and taking slaves, who were then auctioned. Under a treaty with the Sultan, they were to be redeemed by diplomats from their countries who then had a budget for such purchases. For convenience, these diplomats were thus a few tens of meters from the place of "negotiation". This street was already very active one of the few to be paved. Louis Chenier, the father of the poet Andre Chenier was there representing the King of France from 1768 to 1781. Trading in the redemption of captives was his main activity and he excelled so much that even the Sultan, exhausted, sent him back to France by military force. From the Rue des Consuls, opens a number of alleys housing small shops, enabling craftsmen to maintain their expertise and their art, in often difficult circumstances.

Mega Mall, +212 5377-57575. 10:00-23:00. One modern mall with with many expensive shops, such as Lacoste along with a food court. Also contains amenities such as a bowling alley and an ice-skating rink.

In the centre there are often inexpensive food stalls around the medina, serving delicious fish and salad sandwiches. Especially found right around the perimeter of the Marche Centrale, these places also serve fresh and simple salads, hot bowls of lubia (beans) or lentils, rotisserie chicken, and home-made tagines. There are also lots of stalls selling pancakes and pain au chocolat.

• Cafe Maure. Amazing cafe that looks over the sea, where you can drink mint tea and eat sugary treats. The staff are very friendly and you can stay as long as you like soaking up the atmosphere.
• Patisserie La Comedie, 269 Ave Mohammed V, +212 5372-07574. Fancy pastries. Croissants 4 dirham. Ice cream 6 dirham per scoop.
• Cafe 7eme Art, +212 5377-33887. 08:00–00:55. Has fake movie posters with meals as the stars. Light lunches, popular with business people and the more well-off. Miniature models of local scenes surround the outdoor patio. Pizzas 35 to 40 dirham, bland and tough. Friendly staff, stray cats beg for food.
• Le Majestic
• Ty Potes
• Cafe Weimar
• Sarl le P'tit Resto 2 Rue Arryad, +212 5 37 20 38 47: Cafe and sandwich shop with lunch specials and desserts. 35 dirham for a sandwich.
• Pizza Hut, +212 5 37 68 13 00 for the Agdal neighborhood, +212 5 37 63 02 00 for the one in Souissi.
• Villa Mandarine Quite expensive, considered as one of the best restaurants in the city
• Le Petit Beur/Dar Tagine Delicious bstilla. Intimate setting.
• El Rancho Tex-Mex restaurant. Good food and one of the few places where you can get a decent beer.
• Mega Mall Food Court Free Wi-Fi hotspot.
• Pizza de Gourmet
• Paul's Traditional French bakery that serves as a restaurant. Can be quite pricy, but the food is magnificent. Worth a visit for their olive bread.
• La Mamma. One of the oldest pizzerias in town.
• Ya Mal Al-Sham (Syrian restaurant)
• Matsuri
• Dar Naji
• Le Grand Comptoir

If you find yourself in Agdal, try the brochettes at 'Sucre et Sale'.

Cafe Maure. Amazing cafe that looks over the sea, where you can drink mint tea and eat sugary treats. The staff are very friendly and you can stay as long as you like soaking up the atmosphere.

Patisserie La Comedie, 269 Ave Mohammed V, +212 5372-07574. Fancy pastries. Croissants 4 dirham. Ice cream 6 dirham per scoop.

Cafe 7eme Art, +212 5377-33887. 08:00–00:55. Has fake movie posters with meals as the stars. Light lunches, popular with business people and the more well-off. Miniature models of local scenes surround the outdoor patio. Pizzas 35 to 40 dirham, bland and tough. Friendly staff, stray cats beg for food.

Le Majestic

Ty Potes

Cafe Weimar

Sarl le P'tit Resto 2 Rue Arryad, +212 5 37 20 38 47: Cafe and sandwich shop with lunch specials and desserts. 35 dirham for a sandwich.

Pizza Hut, +212 5 37 68 13 00 for the Agdal neighborhood, +212 5 37 63 02 00 for the one in Souissi.

Villa Mandarine Quite expensive, considered as one of the best restaurants in the city

Le Petit Beur/Dar Tagine Delicious bstilla. Intimate setting.

El Rancho Tex-Mex restaurant. Good food and one of the few places where you can get a decent beer.

Mega Mall Food Court Free Wi-Fi hotspot.

Pizza de Gourmet

Paul's Traditional French bakery that serves as a restaurant. Can be quite pricy, but the food is magnificent. Worth a visit for their olive bread.

La Mamma. One of the oldest pizzerias in town.

Ya Mal Al-Sham (Syrian restaurant)

Matsuri

Dar Naji

Le Grand Comptoir

• Amnesia, 18, Rue Monastir. If you like clubbing then dress up, this is the hippest club in Rabat.
• Upstairs, 8, Avenue Michlifen. Irish/English theme pub in Agdal. Women will feel comfortable here as it's not men-only. The food is typical pub-grub, with some vegetarian options. A pint costs 50 dirham. Live music is on every now and then.
• Café Weimar.
• Le Bistrot Pietri, Place Pietri. Located on the first place of Hotel Urban Pietry. It's a quite modern chic restaurant and bar. On Tuesday and Friday night, there are live jazz performance and on Saturdays, rock and roll. A cup of house beer costs about 38 dirham and a glass of house wine, about 50 dirham. It's usually packed on weekends. To get a table, reservation is required.
• El Rancho.
• El Palatino.
• Ty Potes.
• Las Tapas.
• Le Deux Palais. 31 dirham drafts and 17 dirham small beers. Good food and the perfect place to watch a football match, inside or on the patio. Food is pretty good as well, 10 dirham for a plate for fries.

Amnesia, 18, Rue Monastir. If you like clubbing then dress up, this is the hippest club in Rabat.

Upstairs, 8, Avenue Michlifen. Irish/English theme pub in Agdal. Women will feel comfortable here as it's not men-only. The food is typical pub-grub, with some vegetarian options. A pint costs 50 dirham. Live music is on every now and then.

Café Weimar.

Le Bistrot Pietri, Place Pietri. Located on the first place of Hotel Urban Pietry. It's a quite modern chic restaurant and bar. On Tuesday and Friday night, there are live jazz performance and on Saturdays, rock and roll. A cup of house beer costs about 38 dirham and a glass of house wine, about 50 dirham. It's usually packed on weekends. To get a table, reservation is required.

El Rancho.

El Palatino.

Ty Potes.

Las Tapas.

Le Deux Palais. 31 dirham drafts and 17 dirham small beers. Good food and the perfect place to watch a football match, inside or on the patio. Food is pretty good as well, 10 dirham for a plate for fries.

Rabat is considered a safe city. Just use some common sense: avoid wearing expensive jewellery or looking flashy, do not flash large quantities of cash, and avoid unfamiliar and deserted areas at night. If you walk in the crowded streets of the Medina or use a bus, keep a hand on your pockets. Women should avoid low-cut tops, midriffs, or shorts to avoid harassment (which almost always consists of comments, but nothing physical) although this is less of a problem than in other cities. Don't feel the need to be polite--no Moroccan woman would put up with behaviour like that.

Rabat is served by all of the mobile companies that can be found elsewhere in Morocco: Inwi, Orange, and Maroc Telecom. Mobile phones can be bought in any of these store's stands, and most do not run on calling plans. Rather, recharge cards can be bought in corner stores that contain a number to call. When that number is called, the company adds the price of the card to your account's balance. Alternatively, more than one SIM card can be bought and changed in and out of the phone, if users need more than one phone number.

• Internet access is available in cyber cafes around the city (not in residential neighborhoods though). Service is usually around €0.50 per hr.
• You'll find Wi-Fi access in a some places such as Bert's or Megamall food court, usually those labelled a bit "trendy". There is also free WiFi at the Rabat-Ville train station.
• Phone companies offer mobile internet services that plug into the USB port of your computer (there are no mac-compatible devices.) These services can be had without signing a contract, and are recharged in the same manner as a telephone.

Internet access is available in cyber cafes around the city (not in residential neighborhoods though). Service is usually around €0.50 per hr.

You'll find Wi-Fi access in a some places such as Bert's or Megamall food court, usually those labelled a bit "trendy". There is also free WiFi at the Rabat-Ville train station.

Phone companies offer mobile internet services that plug into the USB port of your computer (there are no mac-compatible devices.) These services can be had without signing a contract, and are recharged in the same manner as a telephone.

• Librairie Papeterie Basta, 5, place Otmane Ibn Affane, Agdal, close to the Mac Donald. A lot of books in French, newspapers in Arabic, French, Spanish and English.
• Librairie du 3ieme Millenaire, 285 Av. Mohamed V, in front of the parliament, very close to the downtown train station. One of the biggest libraries in Rabat, on two floors there are all sort of books in Arabic and French, there are also some books in English.

Librairie Papeterie Basta, 5, place Otmane Ibn Affane, Agdal, close to the Mac Donald. A lot of books in French, newspapers in Arabic, French, Spanish and English.

• Canada Canada, 13, bis rue Jaâfa-as-Sadik, Agdal, +212 537 68 74 00. M-Th 08:00–12:00 and 13:30-17:30, F 08:00-13:30. The Canadian Embassy also provides services to Australian citizens in Morocco. Call collect from any country at +1 613-996-8885 to reach the Emergency Operations Centre.
• Finland Finland, 145 rue Soufiane Ben Wahb, OLM Souissi, +212 537-658 775. M-F 08:30-15:45.
• Greece Greece, Km5,5 Route des Zaers, Villa Chems Souissi, +212 5376 38964, +212 678689063 (Emergencies).
• Portugal Portugal, 5, Rue Thami Lamdouar Souissi, +212 537 75 64 46. M-F 09:00-12:30 and 15:00-16:30. On the same street as of the embassies of Mali and Mauritania.
• Serbia Serbia, 23, Ave Mehdi Ben Barka, Souissi, +212 537 752 201.
• United States United States, 2 Ave Mohamed Al Fassi (formerly Ave de Marrakech), +212 537 76 22 65, +212 661 13 19 39 (After hours emergency). M-F 08:00-17:00.
• United Kingdom United Kingdom, 28 Avenue S.A.R. Sidi Mohammed Soussi, +212 537 63 33.
• Spain Spain, Rue Aïn Khalouiya, Route des Zaërs, Km. 5,300 Souissi, +212 37633900.
• France France, 3, rue Sahnoun Agdal, +212 537689700.
• China China, 16, Avenue Ahmed Balafrej, Souissi.
• Germany Germany, 7,Zankat Madnine, +212 537218600.
• Netherlands Netherlands, 40 Rue de Tunis, Quartier Tour Hassan, +212 537219600.

Canada Canada, 13, bis rue Jaâfa-as-Sadik, Agdal, +212 537 68 74 00. M-Th 08:00–12:00 and 13:30-17:30, F 08:00-13:30. The Canadian Embassy also provides services to Australian citizens in Morocco. Call collect from any country at +1 613-996-8885 to reach the Emergency Operations Centre.

Finland Finland, 145 rue Soufiane Ben Wahb, OLM Souissi, +212 537-658 775. M-F 08:30-15:45.

Greece Greece, Km5,5 Route des Zaers, Villa Chems Souissi, +212 5376 38964, +212 678689063 (Emergencies).

Portugal Portugal, 5, Rue Thami Lamdouar Souissi, +212 537 75 64 46. M-F 09:00-12:30 and 15:00-16:30. On the same street as of the embassies of Mali and Mauritania.

Serbia Serbia, 23, Ave Mehdi Ben Barka, Souissi, +212 537 752 201.

United States United States, 2 Ave Mohamed Al Fassi (formerly Ave de Marrakech), +212 537 76 22 65, +212 661 13 19 39 (After hours emergency). M-F 08:00-17:00.

United Kingdom United Kingdom, 28 Avenue S.A.R. Sidi Mohammed Soussi, +212 537 63 33.

Spain Spain, Rue Aïn Khalouiya, Route des Zaërs, Km. 5,300 Souissi, +212 37633900.

France France, 3, rue Sahnoun Agdal, +212 537689700.

China China, 16, Avenue Ahmed Balafrej, Souissi.

Germany Germany, 7,Zankat Madnine, +212 537218600.

Netherlands Netherlands, 40 Rue de Tunis, Quartier Tour Hassan, +212 537219600.

• Tangier lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel. Tangier is a 4-hr journey from Rabat.
• Meknes is in the east with a small but navigable medina.
• Other places worth visiting on the Northern Atlantic coast are Asilah and Larache.
• Salé is on the right bank of the Bou Regreg river, opposite the national capital Rabat. Founded in antiquity as a Phoenician colony, it became a haven for pirates as an independent republic before being incorporated into Morocco. Modern Salé is a more polluted than Rabat, badly planned, and rapidly expanding town because of an important rural exodus. The city is now a large "dormitory town". Most of its influential and wealthy inhabitants moved to Rabat on the other side of the river. There is a bridge, a tram line and a boat (2 dirham) between the two cities.
• Skhirat — a small town 28 km away from Rabat, known for its beaches, the area around Skhirat has recently begun developing and property and land prices have increased greatly.
• Casablanca — Morocco's largest and wealthiest city, it hosts headquarters and main industrial facilities for the leading Moroccan and international companies based in Morocco, Casablanca is also the most liberal and progressive of Morocco's cities. However, poverty prevalent in slums on the city's outskirts and an extremely important rural exodus has led to high rates of crime, drug use, prostitution and the rise of Islamism. Casablanca is a mixed bag of Moroccan extremes.

[[Tangier]] lies on the North African coast at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Spartel. Tangier is a 4-hr journey from Rabat.

[[Meknes]] is in the east with a small but navigable medina.

Other places worth visiting on the Northern Atlantic coast are [[Asilah]] and [[Larache]].

[[Salé]] is on the right bank of the Bou Regreg river, opposite the national capital Rabat. Founded in antiquity as a Phoenician colony, it became a haven for pirates as an independent republic before being incorporated into Morocco. Modern Salé is a more polluted than Rabat, badly planned, and rapidly expanding town because of an important rural exodus. The city is now a large "dormitory town". Most of its influential and wealthy inhabitants moved to Rabat on the other side of the river. There is a bridge, a tram line and a boat (2 dirham) between the two cities.

[[Skhirat]] — a small town 28 km away from Rabat, known for its beaches, the area around Skhirat has recently begun developing and property and land prices have increased greatly.

[[Casablanca]] — Morocco's largest and wealthiest city, it hosts headquarters and main industrial facilities for the leading Moroccan and international companies based in Morocco, Casablanca is also the most liberal and progressive of Morocco's cities. However, poverty prevalent in slums on the city's outskirts and an extremely important rural exodus has led to high rates of crime, drug use, prostitution and the rise of Islamism. Casablanca is a mixed bag of Moroccan extremes.