Rabat is the capital city of Morocco, a lot smaller than nearby city Casablanca. It's the nation's second largest city. It’s elegant tree-lined streets give it a very European feel. Its welcoming calm vibes and friendly people make fall in love with the city instantly. It has an attractive Medina too, the Medina keeps you entertained with some of the best shopping and some of the cheapest food we came across during our time in Morocco.It is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg.
Moroccan Arabic(known as Darija) is the official language of Morocco and the spoken native vernacular. In Rabat they also use Standard Arabic and Tamazight. At least half of the country’s population is capable of speaking French and many of those involved in the tourism industry are capable of speaking some English and a few other foreign languages as well.This is due to the strong French influence during the period of 1912 to 1956, which has also left a large amount of French architecture in parts of Morocco.
The main religion in Morocco is Islam, which is the state religion. The currency in Rabat is the Moroccan dirham. Each dirham is divided into 100 santim. 1 Moroccan Dirham equals 0.11 United States Dollars.
In Rabat, the summers are warm, muggy, arid, and mostly clear and the winters are cool and partly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 47°F to 80°F and is rarely below 41°F or above 88°F.
Must see sights when you get to Rabat :
- Hassan Tower | Hassan Tower or Tour Hassan is the minaret of an incomplete mosque in Rabat, Morocco. It was commissioned by Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur, the third Caliph of the Almohad Caliphate, near the end of the 12th century.
- Kasbah of the Udayas | Kasbah of the Udayas, also spelled Kasbah of the Oudaias or of the Oudayas, is a kasbah in Rabat, Morocco. It is located at the mouth of the Bou Regreg river, opposite Salé, and adjacent to the old medina of Rabat. It is listed, along with other sites in Rabat, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Mausoleum of Mohammed V | The Mausoleum of Mohammed V is a mausoleum located across from the Hassan Tower in Rabat, Morocco. It contains the tombs of the Moroccan king Mohammed V and his two sons, late King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah.
- Chellah | The Chellah or Shalla, is a medieval fortified Muslim necropolis located in the metro area of Rabat, Morocco, on the south side of the Bou Regreg estuary. The Phoenicians established a trading emporium at the site. This was later the site of an ancient Roman colony in the province of Mauretania Tingitana.
- Royal Palace of Rabat | Dar-al-Makhzen is the primary and official residence of the king of Morocco. It is situated in the Touarga commune of Rabat, the national capital. Its official name is the El Mechouar Essaid Palace, which means the venue of happiness palace
- Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art | - Expansive, stylish museum for modern art.
The Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, abbreviated MMVI, is a contemporary and modern art museum in Rabat, Morocco which opened in 2014. It is one of fourteen museums of the National Foundation of Museums of Morocco. The museum curates modern and contemporary Moroccan and international art.
- Great Mosque of Salé | The Great Mosque of Salé is a mosque in Salé, Morocco. Covering an area of 5,070 m², it is the third-largest mosque in Morocco, and was originally built between 1028 and 1029. It has been destroyed and rebuilt several times since the original construction.
- Rabat Old Market. A bit crowded but you get to find everything you want in the market, from spices, to clothes, artefacts etc. Explore the market as you appreciate and learn about their culture. English might be a challenge with some of the vendors but if you know some French you can communicate with most of them.
9. Musée National de la Photographic | If you are a Art lover you will totally love this. The National Photography Museum is a Moroccan art museum dedicated to photography located in Rabat, Morocco, within the repurposed 19th century Burj Kebir Fortress. This museum was initiated by the National Museums Foundation in Morocco and inaugurated January 14, 2020
There are also beautiful, clean and calm beaches for relaxation. Carry your camera ???? for capturing all the beauty in this cultural city! https://www.alkhaleejtours.com/