The four imperial cities of Morocco are Fes, Meknes, Marrakech and Rabat. Each one served as the capital of Morocco under a ruling dynasty, and each still has the royal palaces, monumental gates, mosques and walled medinas to show for it. All four medinas are UNESCO World Heritage sites, and you can see all of them on one trip.
The imperial cities are among the best cities to visit in Morocco, and most of our private tours include at least two of them. Here is what makes each one special, what to see, and how to fit them into your trip.
The Imperial Cities at a Glance
| City | Capital under | Known for | Time to spend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fes | Idrisids, Marinids, Alaouites | The medieval medina of Fes el Bali, tanneries, madrasas | 2 days |
| Meknes | Sultan Moulay Ismail (Alaouite) | Bab Mansour, royal granaries, nearby Volubilis | Half a day to 1 day |
| Marrakech | Almoravids, Almohads, Saadians | Jemaa el-Fna, palaces, gardens, souks | 2 to 3 days |
| Rabat | Today’s capital, since 1912 | Hassan Tower, Kasbah of the Udayas, the royal mausoleum | Half a day to 1 day |
Fes
Fes was founded at the end of the 8th century by Idris I and grew under his son Idris II, making it the oldest of the imperial cities. It became a great capital again under the Marinids in the 13th and 14th centuries, who built most of the madrasas you can visit today. Its old medina, Fes el Bali, is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world and is widely seen as the best preserved medieval city in the Arab world.
Highlights include the Chouara tannery, the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine madrasas, the golden doors of the Royal Palace and the view over the medina from the Marinid Tombs. Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859, is considered the oldest university still operating in the world.
See our full guide to the best things to do in Fes, and for where to stay, our ranking of the best riads in Fes.
Meknes
Meknes is the smallest and most relaxed of the imperial cities. It became the capital under Sultan Moulay Ismail, who ruled from 1672 to 1727 and surrounded the city with long walls, monumental gates, huge granaries and royal stables. Its historic city has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.
Start at Bab Mansour, one of the grandest gates in Morocco, facing Place el Hedim. Then see the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, the Heri es-Souani granaries and stables, and the Agdal basin. The Roman ruins of Volubilis are about an hour away, and Fes is about an hour away too, so Meknes and Volubilis make an easy day trip from Fes.
Read our full guide to Meknes, the imperial city.
Marrakech
Marrakech was founded around 1070 by the Almoravids, who gave their name to the whole country, and it remained a capital under the Almohads and later the Saadians. The Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs and the ruins of El Badi Palace all date from those dynasties. Its medina has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985.
Today Marrakech is Morocco’s liveliest city. Walk Jemaa el-Fna square at dusk, explore the souks, visit Bahia Palace and the Ben Youssef Madrasa, and escape the crowds in the Majorelle Garden.
See our guide on what to do in Marrakech, our picks of the best riads in Marrakech and the best luxury hotels in Marrakech. For a night under the stars close to the city, the Agafay desert camps are about 40 minutes away.
Rabat
Rabat, on the Atlantic coast, has been the capital of Morocco since 1912 and is the seat of the government and the official residence of the King. Its story goes back much further: in the 12th century the Almohad sultan Yaqub al-Mansur began the Hassan Tower here, meant to be the minaret of one of the largest mosques in the world, though it was never finished. Rabat was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2012.
Visit the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V beside it, walk the blue and white lanes of the Kasbah of the Udayas above the ocean, and see the Chellah, a Roman and Marinid site. Rabat is about 1.5 hours from Casablanca, so it fits easily into the first day of a trip that starts there.
If you are flying into Casablanca, see our guide to the best things to do in Casablanca.
How to Visit All Four Imperial Cities
The easiest way is a private tour with a driver. A classic route starts in Casablanca, visits Rabat, continues north to Chefchaouen, then goes to Volubilis (about 2 hours), Meknes (about 1 hour) and Fes (about 1 hour). From Fes, the road crosses the Middle Atlas to the Sahara at Merzouga, about 468 km and around 7 hours, then continues to Marrakech and back to Casablanca for your flight home. Our 14 day tour from Casablanca follows this route.
Compare routes and trip lengths in our 7, 10 and 14 day Morocco itinerary, and see what a private tour of Morocco costs. If you are deciding between a driver and the train, read our private driver vs train guide.
For the capital in more detail, read our guide to visit Rabat.
Imperial Cities of Morocco FAQ
Fes, Meknes, Marrakech and Rabat. Each was the capital of Morocco under one or more dynasties.
Fes, founded at the end of the 8th century by Idris I.
Rabat, the capital since 1912.
It depends on where you fly in. From Casablanca, start with Rabat and head north. From Marrakech, start there and finish in Fes or loop back. See our Morocco itinerary planner.
Allow at least 7 to 8 days, and 10 days or more if you also want the Sahara and Chefchaouen.
Fes is more traditional and historic, Marrakech livelier and more varied. Most trips include both. Our first time in Morocco guide helps you choose.
Plan Your Trip to the Imperial Cities
We plan private tours of the imperial cities with a driver, licensed local guides in each medina and hand-picked riads and hotels. Tell us your travel dates, the number of travelers, your hotel level (Standard, Affordable Lux or Deluxe) and the city you are flying in and out of. Fill in the form below and we will send you a day by day itinerary and a quote.
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