Morocco is a country of dazzling diversity… a chaotic and intense merging of cultures that will explode your senses. The best cities in Morocco to visit offer a fusion of traditions and lifestyles of the Ottoman, North African, and Arab cultures.

In tourist hotspots like Fes, Marrakech, and Chefchaouen, visitors can explore the ancient Medinas, haggle in the souks, rock the Kasbahs, admire the old Moorish architecture, and tuck into some savory Mediterranean/African fusion cuisine.

And you won’t break the bank sightseeing in the best cities in Morocco!

10 Meknes

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meknes is known as the former imperial city featuring Bab Mansour, a huge gate with arches and mosaic tiling. Founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids as a military settlement, Meknes became a capital under Sultan Moulay Ismaïl (1672–1727), the founder of the Alawite dynasty. The walled-in medina contains an impressive blend of Spanish-Moorish architecture.

We stopped at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meknes on our way from Chefchaouen to Fes. I would recommend spending one day and night exploring Meknes, Volubilis (#2 below), and Moulay Idriss (#6 below).

9 Casablanca

Casablanca isn’t always on the top of must-see lists for Morocco tourism. Primarily a port city dedicated to industry and commerce on Morocco’s northern coast, visitors tend to fly in and then head off to more well-known and tourist-centered cities. But Casablanca warrants a day’s visit.

The highlight of Casablanca is the opulent Hassam II Mosque. Built at great expense, the mosque stands sentry on a dramatic location cantilevered over the ocean. It is one of the largest mosques in Africa. I admired the striking architecture from my windy perch on the rocks…along with hordes of other people.

Our hotel in Casablanca was in La Corniche, an upscale beach district. After gazing at the expansive view of the Atlantic Ocean from our room, we decided to spend some time chilling on the beach.

It was not what I expected. The beach and water were jammed with people, nearly all families with lots of children and everyone was having such a great time! The atmosphere was positively festive and we really enjoyed it!

Subsequently, we took a stroll into the Old Medina. To be honest, there wasn’t much there, and we couldn’t find the souk, but it was fine with us as the jet lag was real.

“Of all the gin joints…” Of course, we could not go to Casablanca and not visit Rick’s Café. The enchanting and elegant eatery was inspired by the “gin joint” in the 1942 film “Casablanca,” complete with cocktails and piano. Some online reviews warned us that it was touristy, but we went anyway and were not disappointed.

The architecture was gorgeous, resembling a Moorish courtyard. The waiters were attentive and friendly, the music was historically appropriate, and my seafood linguini and Kary’s beef stroganoff were both fabulous. It was a lovely and romantic evening!

Here’s lookin’ at you kid!

8 Tangier

For some reason, I was expecting Tangier to be dirty and seedy. It was not! The whitewashed hillside city on the Strait of Gibraltar has been a strategic gateway between Africa and Europe since Phoenician times. It has also been the summer site of the Moroccan royal residence since 1962. For the first half of the 20th century, bohemian Tangier was one of the Mediterranean’s most upscale and popular resorts.

We enjoyed an afternoon in this lovely coastal town on the Mediterranean. After rocking the Kasbah, we explored the Caves of Hercules where tradition claims the Greek god slept. Archaeology has shown that the caves were first used in 6000 BC by the Neolithic people. We had a picnic lunch with a view of Gibraltar (in the distance) and spent some time at the Cap Spartel Lighthouse which overlooks where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean.

7 Agadir

Located on the Atlantic coast, Agadir is the largest beach resort town in Morocco, and its pristine beaches and lovely mountain landscape make it a popular winter destination.

This vibrant area is bustling with activity. From the marina, visitors can take a sightseeing boat trip. The bustling palm-lined seafront promenade in Agadir offers gorgeous sunset views over the ocean and plenty of places to try delicious local seafood.

Like most other Moroccan cities, Agadir has a traditional souk where visitors can bargain for local handicrafts.

6 Moulay Idriss

Moulay Idriss is a hidden gem in northern Morocco and one of the most holy places and important pilgrimage sites in the country. It’s one of the best cities in Morocco to visit.

The quaint city is famous for being the site of the tomb of Idris I, the first major Islamic ruler of Morocco and a sixth-generation descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. The town is named after ruler Idris. He settled in Moulay to seek refuge from the Abbasid and Alid dynasties and enjoys the status of Morocco’s most revered wali (spiritual guide/ protector).

We were a bit surprised at the lack of tourists, despite its historic significance and picturesque setting. But this allowed us to get an authentic picture of Moroccan life largely untouched by foreign influence.

My doppelganger! How fun is this?

Our accommodation here was a “homestay”– a small, charming family-owned hotel in the heart of the medina. The owner was incredibly hospitable and quite a character, personally serving us delicious home-cooked meals.

5 Essaouira

Dubbed the “Wind City of Africa” for its very breezy coast, Essaouira  (pronounced ess-uh-WEE-ruh) aka ancient Mogador is known as the “Bride of the Atlantic.”

More laid-back than more popular cities like Casablanca or Marrakech, the port city does have things to do in addition to a relaxing holiday. Discover the winding alleys of the medina; stroll along the crenelated walls, watchtowers, and ramparts that were used as Astapor, the red city of the hit series Game of Thrones.  Along the fishing port, you’ll see blue wooden fishing boats hauling in the day’s catch which can be purchased at the nearby fish market.

In the 19th century, many artists, writers, and musicians made Essaouira their home.  Cat Stevens, Bob Marley, and Frank Zappa are among those who found inspiration in Essaouira in the 70s.

Essaouira is a great place for windsurfing, although not very many swimmers venture into the rough waves.

4 Marrakech

All aboard the train to Marrakech! Paying homage to the song by Crosby, Stills & Nash, we took the train from Fes to Marrakech. The trains in Morocco have been great – clean and on time. Again, I wish we had these in the U.S.

The iconic city is the most well-known of the best cities to visit in Morocco. Compared to some of the other chill cities, it can be a shock to the senses. It’s loud and frenzied, with souks with pretty aggressive vendors, an old medina, and historic landmarks and cultural sites.

We arrived in Marrakech in the late afternoon, and after checking into our hotel to drop our luggage, we headed to the city’s main attraction – the frenetic Jemma el Frnaa, the city’s large main square, awash in street food stalls, henna painters, performers, magicians, souvenir shops, spice vendors, and yes, the ubiquitous snake charmers.

We tried spiced coffee uniquely brewed in hot sand – it was delicious! For dinner, we ate at a nice restaurant with a sunset and nighttime view of the square below and the lit-up Koutoubia Mosque in the distance.

Our second day in Marrakech was spent in the historic medina, exploring the palaces of El Bahia and El Badi Palace, lunch in palm-lined Tinsmiths Square in the Mellah (Jewish Quarter), and a walk to the Koutoubia Mosque.

Although we ran out of time, also recommended are the Jardin Majorelle, Menara Gardens, and Saadian Tombs.

3 Fes

UNESCO-listed Fes (also Fez), in northeastern Morocco, dates back to the 9th century and has one of the most extensive and best-preserved old towns of the Arab-Muslim world, and often referred to as the country’s cultural capital.

Fes el Bali, the impressive Medina (old town) is the largest urban car-free space in the world and the main tourist attraction. However, even though there were no cars, it was also one of the most chaotic places I’ve ever visited. The medieval labyrinth of over 9000 frenzied narrow alleys will overload your senses in every way.

The medina is not for the fainthearted; we would have gotten infinitely lost if we had not had a guide.  We spent a lot of time dodging people and work donkeys and grew accustomed to hearing the shout “balak!” which means “get out of the way!”

Not to be missed is a visit to the ancient tanneries (one is 1200 years old) where animal skins and hides are processed using the same method as they did 1000 years ago. The only way to see the tanneries is by going through one of the leather shops and climbing steps to a balcony with a panoramic view of the whole tannery. Due to the stench, you’ll be handed a bundle of fresh mint to hold up to your nose. Honestly, the smell isn’t all that bad, but maybe that’s because there was hardly anyone working in the vats when we were there.

There’s no fee to visit the tanneries but since you access via a leather shop, you’ll be pressured to explore their wares. The variety of goods and colors of leather are astounding. The quality was great and the prices were actually quite reasonable.

We also visited Bouj Sud for a panoramic view.

In Fez, I ate one of my two favorite meals in all of Morocco – chicken pastilla,  a savory, flaky pie made with layers of crispy warqa (similar to phyllo) dough, filled with shredded chicken, onions, almonds, and spices, and dusted with cinnamon sugar which is often served on special occasions.

2 Volubilis

I love exploring ancient civilization sites, so I jumped at the opportunity to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Volubilis—once one of the Roman Empire’s most remote bases. We arrived early in the morning and had the off-the-beaten-path hilltop archeological site to ourselves for a good portion of the morning.

Settlements in the partly-excavated Berber-Roman city have existed since Carthaginian traders arrived in the third century BC, but what you see today are the remains of the Roman occupation that took place in 40 with the most impressive structures constructed between the 2nd and 3rd centuries.

The city fell to local tribes around 285 and was never retaken by Rome because of its remoteness and indefensible within the Roman Empire.  It’s considered one of the best-preserved Roman ruins.

1 Chefchaouen

This small city is what had drawn me to visit Morocco, and it did not disappoint!  Chefchaouen, also known as “the Blue City,” is considered one of the top ten most colorful cities in the world and one of the best cities to visit in Morocco.

We loved exploring the maze of the medina, looking for the famous Instagram places. We even got lost and wandered around for about an hour trying to find our way out.

Far from a hidden gem, the city can be overrun with tourists and locals, especially on weekends. It’s a bit out-of-the-way from the more visited cities of Fez or Tangier, but worth the extra effort to stroll around the mesmerizing cobbled streets.

The tradition of painting the city blue is said to have started in the 1930s by Jewish refugees fleeing Hitler’s regime. Their choice of color may have come from the Jewish tradition of entwining blue thread into prayer shawls to symbolize heaven.

A highlight of exploring the colorful medina of Chefchaouen was the opportunity to try a camel burger. I am an over-the-top carnivore and very particular about my meat consumption. The camel burger was scrumptious!

We also explored the main square of Place Outa el Hammam, the red-walled Kasbah, a 15th-century fortress, all the leather and souvenir shops, and of course, more photo ops.

There’s more to Chefchaouen than just wandering amongst the blue walls. One of the best things to do is embark on the uphill hike through the village of Ras El Mas up to the Spanish Mosque for the best sunset views of the stunning city below. It’s worth the sweat equity!

Most photos by Kary Kern.

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About the Author

Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of the “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.

She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the next few months.

Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.