Travel Around The Clock

Founded in 1150 by the Almohad caliph, Rabat , modern political and administrative capital of Morocco , is one of the four imperial cities we visited on our train trip around the country. Rabat, view from the Kasbah Halfway between a cosmopolitan city and an ancient stronghold, Rabat has a lot of charm with its  mix of tradition and modernity that go hand in hand. The palm-lined avenues of the ville nouvelle are clean, well-maintained and lightly trafficked, while the suggestive  kasbah  and the enchanting fortified  medina , which is much less touristy than those of the other cities, keep their traditional atmosphere. There is also a central beach where you can practice surfing. All in all, Rabat is a great choice for a short stay. Rabat Rabat Rabat, graffiti Here are our suggestions on what to visit while in Rabat. TOWER OF HASSAN Started by order of Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour, the Hassan Tower is the minaret of a mosq...

Meknès is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco and the second stop on our train trip around the country . Its name derives from a Berber tribe, the Miknasa, and it was the capital of the country under the emperor Mpulay Ismail ibn Sharif between the 17th and 18th centuries. Graffiti in the Medina of Meknes Surrounded by a green and historically rich territory, the city is smaller and less famous than Fez , Rabat and Marrakech, but it has the advantage of not being crowded by the flow of tourists hence it has a more authentic feel. Immediately outside the ancient walls of the Medina there is a square reminiscent of the Jaama el Fna of Marrakech: it's Place el-Hedim. Vendors, storytellers, games, shows and attractions take place here all day long: it is a busy and vibrant place, you can enjoy the coming and going of people comfortably seated in one of the restaurants and bars overlooking the square. But, as in all crowded places, keep an eye on your wallet and be ...

Our tour by train of Morocco started in Fez , the oldest of the imperial cities , located in the northern part of the country. Nejjarine Fountain Fez was founded in 789 by Idris I ; he reunited the Berber tribes of the area and established here his kingdom that prospered until his death. In the ninth century, waves of immigrants from Spain (mainly Muslim families fleeing following the Catholic Reconquest) and from Tunisia brought new wealth to the city that became increasingly rich and flourishing. The Al-Karouine University , one of the largest and oldest in the world, was founded in this period. And the city continued to develop: in the eleventh century it had a cosmopolitan population of over 500,000 inhabitants, including Moors, Berbers, Jews, Turks and Christians. Fez, minaret Nowadays Fez is divided into three distinct parts even though most tourists are limited to visit Fes-el-Bali (or the old Fez). This heavily populated medieval city center is a UNESCO Wor...

If there is one thing that really impressed me during our trip along Morocco, other than the natural beauty of this country, is the richness and variety of their traditional craftsmanship. From ceramics to carpets, from embroidery to leather, from copper to jewelry, Morocco is home to extremely skilled artisans with centuries of history and traditions passed through generations. Moroccan door Mosaic Carpet at Dar Si Said, Marrakech The beauty of their work of art is visible in the many buildings you will visit across the country, in the medersas and in the kasbahs, in the traditional riads and dars as well as in the mosques. The elaborated stuccos, the finely decorated wooden ceilings and doors and the complicated mosaics that colour the floors are all astonishing examples of the mastery of these artisans. Medersa Bou Inania, Fes Bahia Palace, Marrakech And even today, most of the souvenirs stalls and shops in the souks will offer you ple...

Traveling around Morocco by train is an excellent option. Although the railway network is not extremely developed and some destinations may be impossible to reach, the main cities are well connected and trains are frequent, reliable and comfortable. Our baggages in Fes train station. To avoid too much driving we have decided to move by train during this trip and we found this was the perfect choice for us. Indeed, while visiting the biggest towns, most distances can be covered on foot or by taxi (a cheap transport method in Morocco), so we would definitely recommend to avoid renting a car as this will save you money and the stress of driving in the local traffic and looking for parking. The railway system covers the connections between the most important cities. We traveled from Fes to Meknès , then to Rabat and last but not least, to Marrakech . Casablanca and Tangier are also well connected with the first high speed train introduced in Morocco in 2018. Marrakech tr...