Best Cities to Visit in Morocco: 12 Places to Go (2026)

The best cities to visit in Morocco are Marrakech, Fes and Chefchaouen, followed by Tangier, Essaouira and the Sahara at Merzouga. For a first trip, most travelers combine Marrakech, Fes and a night or two in the Sahara, then add Chefchaouen, Tangier or the coast if they have more time.

Morocco is a country of imperial cities, mountain villages, desert dunes and Atlantic beaches. Below are the 12 places we recommend most, what each one is best for, how long to stay and where to read more. If you are planning your route, start with our 7, 10 or 14 day itineraries.

Best Cities in Morocco at a Glance

City	Best for	Time needed
Marrakech	Souks, palaces, gardens and nightlife	2 to 3 days
Fes	Medieval medina and crafts	2 days
Chefchaouen	The blue city in the mountains	1 night
Rabat	Calm capital and history	Half a day to 1 day
Casablanca	Hassan II Mosque and arrival city	Half a day
Tangier	Strait of Gibraltar and the north	1 to 2 days
Essaouira	Atlantic medina and seafood	1 to 2 days
Merzouga	Sahara dunes and desert camps	1 to 2 nights
Ouarzazate	Kasbahs and film studios	1 night on the way
Agadir	Long beach and resorts	2 to 3 days
Asilah	Small seaside town with murals	Half a day
Tetouan	Andalusian medina	Half a day

1. Marrakech, the Red City

Marrakech is the most famous city in Morocco and the start or end of most trips. Walk the souks, see the Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs, and spend an evening on Jemaa el Fna square. Add a sunset in the Agafay desert, about 40 minutes away.

Best for: first-time visitors, shopping and food. Read our guide to visiting Marrakech.

Where to stay in Marrakech: see the best riads in Marrakech and the best luxury hotels in Marrakech.

2. Fes, the Cultural Capital

Fes has one of the largest and best preserved medieval medinas in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage site. See the Chouara tannery, the Bou Inania Madrasa and the golden doors of the Royal Palace. Plan two days, one for the medina and one for Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis.

Best for: history, architecture and crafts. Read our guide to the best things to do in Fes.

Where to stay in Fes: see our ranking of the best riads in Fes.

3. Chefchaouen, the Blue City

Set in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is famous for its blue-washed lanes. It is best as an overnight stop, so you can enjoy the quiet streets in the early morning and the sunset over the town.

Best for: photography and a slower pace. Read our guide to visiting Chefchaouen and how to get to Chefchaouen.

Where to stay in Chefchaouen: see the 12 best riads in Chefchaouen.

4. Rabat, the Capital

Rabat is a calm, green capital with the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. It is about 1.5 hours from Casablanca, so it is an easy stop on the way north.

Best for: history without the crowds. See the imperial cities of Morocco.

5. Casablanca

Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and the main arrival point for flights from the US. Its highlight is the Hassan II Mosque on the ocean, one of the few mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors on guided tours.

Best for: arrival day and the Hassan II Mosque. Read our guide to Casablanca.

6. Tangier, the Gateway to the North

Tangier sits on the Strait of Gibraltar, with views across to Spain. Explore the Kasbah, the American Legation, Cafe Hafa and the Caves of Hercules.

Best for: history, sea views and trips to Chefchaouen. Read the 20 best things to do in Tangier.

Where to stay in Tangier: see the best hotels and riads in Tangier, and plan your visit with our Tangier travel guide.

7. Essaouira, the Atlantic Medina

Essaouira is a relaxed, windswept port town with a whitewashed medina, ramparts on the ocean and excellent seafood. It is a favorite for a slower end to a trip.

Best for: relaxing, seafood and the beach. Read our guide to Essaouira.

Where to stay in Essaouira: see our picks in the Essaouira guide and other seaside towns in our Morocco beach vacation guide.

8. Merzouga and the Sahara

Merzouga is the gateway to the Erg Chebbi dunes, the tallest sand dunes in Morocco. Ride a camel at sunset and spend the night in a desert camp under the stars.

Best for: the desert experience. Read our guides to the Moroccan Sahara, Sahara desert camps and the drive from Fes to Merzouga.

9. Ouarzazate, the Door of the Desert

Ouarzazate is known for its kasbahs and film studios, and for nearby Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO-listed fortified village. Most travelers stop here for a night between the Sahara and Marrakech.

Best for: kasbahs and film history on the way back from the desert.

10. Agadir

Agadir is a modern resort city with a long sandy beach, a promenade and plenty of hotels, close to the surf towns of Taghazout and Imsouane.

Best for: beach holidays. Read our guide to Agadir and the best beaches in Morocco.

Where to stay in Agadir and Taghazout: see our Morocco beach vacation guide.

11. Asilah

Asilah is a small, whitewashed town on the Atlantic, known for its murals, ramparts and relaxed pace. It is an easy stop from Tangier.

Best for: a quiet half day by the sea.

12. Tetouan

Tetouan has a UNESCO-listed medina with strong Andalusian influence, set between the Rif Mountains and the Mediterranean.

Best for: an authentic medina with few tourists, on the way to Chefchaouen.

Which Cities Should You Visit?

7 days: Marrakech and the Sahara, with a night in the Dades Valley or Ouarzazate.
10 days: Casablanca, Fes with Meknes and Volubilis, the Sahara and Marrakech.
14 days: add Tangier, Chefchaouen and Essaouira.

See every route in our Morocco itinerary planner, how much a trip costs in our Morocco trip cost guide, and our list of underrated cities in Morocco if you want to go beyond the classics.

Best Cities in Morocco FAQ

What is the best city to visit in Morocco?

Marrakech for a first trip, Fes for history and culture, and Chefchaouen for its beauty. Most trips combine all three.

What are the top 3 cities to visit in Morocco?

Marrakech, Fes and Chefchaouen.

How many cities can you visit in 10 days?

Usually four or five, for example Casablanca, Fes, the Sahara and Marrakech, with Meknes and Volubilis on the way.

What is the most beautiful city in Morocco?

Many travelers choose Chefchaouen for its blue streets, or Fes for its medina.

Which Moroccan city is best for a beach holiday?

Essaouira for a relaxed medina by the sea, or Agadir for a resort stay.

For ideas beyond the cities, see our list of the best things to do in Morocco, from a night in the Sahara to a hammam in Marrakech.

Plan Your Trip

If it is your first time in Morocco, we can help you choose the right cities for your time and style. Check the best time to visit Morocco, then tell us about your trip.

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.

Learn more about our private tours across Morocco, and follow Simply Morocco on Instagram and Facebook.

Cara M

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Garrett Gatzemeyer

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Tarifa Lodge

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ScottFromLI

A great tour company for your visit to Morocco We had a great vacation in Morocco with thanks to Simply Morocco. We are a family of five, with three adult children. We are not fans of large group tours as they tend to be very rigid and not as personable as small or private tours. When traveling, I typically plan and book all of my accommodations based on where I want to stay and what I want to see. I typically lost book local guides for day tours in different cities that we visit. For Morocco, there were a number of different places we wanted to visit so traveling around by train and renting cars would not be very convenient. I read a number of reviews for private tours and reached out a few to inquire about a custom itinerary. Hassan and his team at Simply Morocco were excellent to work with and helped plan a 15 day tour with a private guide and driver. We based our trip on their 14-day itinerary. Brahim and Omar (guide and driver) were excellent, very professional, and made our trip very easy and enjoyable. Our accommodations in the Riads were very nice, clean, and in great locations in the old Medina's. If you are planning a trip to Morocco, I highly recommend using Simply Morocco.

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