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<\/p>\nSecret gardens, towering mountains, medieval cities, bright blue houses, legendary caves and epic fortresses. You might think I was talking about somewhere in Europe, but all these things can be found just across the Med in the spellbinding country of Morocco. It might be best known for camels and tagines, but there\u2019s way more to discover for backpackers who venture further than the souks and palaces of Marrakech. Here are ten of the best places to visit in Morocco to get you started.<\/p>\n
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\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@nomadaround<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@raulcachophoto<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Think of Tangier as Moroccan with a twist, as the local culture here sets it apart from the country\u2019s other cities. It used to be an \u2018international zone\u2019 visited by LGBT<\/a> tourists from Europe and popular with authors like Jack Kerouac and Truman Capote. Locals often speak Spanish as well as French and Arabic.<\/p>\n The medina is the city\u2019s beating heart, full of weaving motorcycles and stalls selling vegetables, meats, spices, carpets and clothes. Other highlights include the Kasbah, an old fortress that\u2019s now home to a museum where you can take in insane views of Spain across the sea, and Perdicaris Park, a free and less-visited seaside forest just outside the city. You can wander through Tangier checking out all its incredible architecture without spending a penny, although the Kasbah Museum will cost you 20 dirhams.<\/p>\n If you want to stay in the heart of the medina, The Melting Pot Rooftop Hostel<\/a> is a solid choice \u2013 a roof terrace with views of the ocean and the Great Mosque, live music and art nights and cheap, comfy dorms to rest up in before a day\u2019s exploring.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@meooooo<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n A taxi from Tangier will take you to the famous Caves of Hercules in just 20 minutes. The caves were hollowed out over time by both nature and local tribes, and they open out to the sea with a window shaped like Africa. Legend has it that the Roman god Hercules stayed in these caves during his trials! You could add a trip up to the Cap Spartel lighthouse to make a day of exploring Morocco\u2019s Atlantic coast, or check out the opulent summer palace of the King of Morocco nearby.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@victorcoelho07<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Chefchaouen is a regular feature in most lists of the best cities to visit in Morocco. It\u2019s an awesome ancient town painted almost entirely blue, located in the Rif Mountains not too far from Tangier. Nobody really knows why the city is painted blue \u2013 the practice could\u2019ve been started by Jewish refugees during WW2, or it could be to keep homes cool, repel mosquitos, or just to attract travellers \u2013 if it\u2019s the latter, it\u2019s definitely working!<\/p>\n The vine-covered azure streets lined by pot plants and clothing stalls are a backpacker\u2019s dream (and ideal for filling up your Instagram feed). The centuries-old Kasbah (citadel) is well worth dropping into for 10 dirhams \u2013 it has a small prison, a museum and views over the city from the walls.<\/p>\n Blue tiled Hostel Baraka<\/a> blends in with its surroundings, and its roof terrace has a hammock deck and BBQ zone with 360 views of the medina below. It\u2019s spotlessly clean and the staff are happy to help you plan the next leg of your journey.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@almaclaros<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Fez is Morocco\u2019s second largest city, just a few hours\u2019 drive from Tangier or Chefchaouen. The old medina is a preserved medieval warren of walkways shaded by timber beams, with busy markets and hidden madrasas. It\u2019s also one of the largest car free urban spaces on the planet, so it\u2019s perfect to spend hours exploring (and getting lost!) on foot.<\/p>\n Fez is best-known for its dye pits or \u2018tanneries\u2019, where craftsmen work on the leather products you\u2019ll spot round all of Morocco\u2019s souks \u2013 bags, shoes etc. You can see them at work from the surrounding leather shops, usually for a small fee. The narrow alleyways around the pits can get a bit dodgy after dark, so keep an eye on the time.<\/p>\n It\u2019s definitely worth paying a visit to Caf\u00e9 Clock<\/a>, not far from the Water Clock and the Blue Gate. It\u2019s a multi-storey restaurant with great food that hosts live music and cooking classes, which take you out into the market to buy ingredients. I came here almost every night and still have their recipe book.<\/p>\n Medina Social Club<\/a> is a colourful, friendly hostel in Fez that\u2019s decked out in traditional Moroccan design. They offer free breakfast every day and host cultural events like dances, plays and music nights.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@zakariaedaoui<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s impossible to talk about the best places to visit in Morocco without mentioning Marrakech. The medina feels less medieval than Fez and is much less blue than Chefchaouen, but it\u2019s special in a uniquely Marrakech way. It\u2019s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the largest traditional market (souk) in the country.<\/p>\n The Ben Youssef Islamic College in the medina is re-opening this year after renovations, an important religious site covered in intricate mosaics and with beautifully tiled pools -definitely worth the entrance price of 50 dirhams (\u00a34). Watch out for nearby touts offering to take you to the dye pits, as it\u2019s a scam. Full disclosure, I got sucked into it and saw a fair few travellers making the same mistake on the walk back to the souk.<\/p>\n Another must-visit spot\u00a0that should be on your list for\u00a0Marrakech<\/a> is Jemaa el-Fnaa, a massive open square filled with snake charmers, henna artists, dancers, storytellers and food stalls. This is one of the busiest squares in Africa. You can get dinner or tea on several nearby rooftop restaurants to get a sense of scale and just take it all in. The Miaara Jewish cemetery, a humbling expanse of white tombstones near the magnificent Bahia palace, is also worthy of your time.<\/p>\n But my favourite place in the entire city is The Majorelle Garden<\/a> (or Jardin Majorelle), an oasis created by French painter Jacques Majorelle over forty years, just a short walk from the walls of the Marrakech medina. Several storeys of towering bamboo lean over shaded walks past little streams and fountains. It\u2019s an antidote to medina fatigue, an idyllic haven hidden in the Marrakech madness. It costs 70 dirhams to enter (\u00a36), or 35 (\u00a33) for students, and is usually open from 8-6, but this varies depending on the time of year.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@alinagrbac<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n You\u2019ll feel like royalty on a backpacker\u2019s budget<\/a> staying at Rodamon Riad<\/a>. It\u2019s got a roof terrace and bar for soaking up the scorching Marrakech sun, but when it all gets too much you can cool off in the stunning courtyard pool. It\u2019s full of traditional touches and even the dorms are bougie AF!<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@anniespratt<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n If you\u2019re having a coffee or mint tea on a Marrakech rooftop, you\u2019re likely to see faint mountain peaks hiding behind low clouds. These are the tips of the Atlas Mountains, which separate Morocco\u2019s main cities from the desert. You can take a day tour from Marrakech or hop on a bus to one of the towns in the mountains to experience local life.<\/p>\n The Atlas Mountains are home to fascinating ancient Berber villages. In winter there\u2019ll be snow on the mountaintops, and there\u2019s waterfalls, deep canyons and treks to explore \u2013 you\u2019ll feel a million miles from the humid crowds of Marrakech. Top sites include Todra Gorge and Ouzoud Falls. You could spend days just hiking through the Atlas if your itinerary allows. The best hikes start from the quiet town of Imlil.<\/p>\n A challenge that\u2019s not for the faint hearted, Toubkal Mountain is the highest in the Atlas, capping at 4,167 metres. Treks to the peak leave from Imlil, and you\u2019ll be guided by local Berber people. You don\u2019t need to be an experienced climber, but the hike is steep and long. It\u2019s best to attempt this one in the warmer months. The reward is worth it \u2013 views of what feels like the whole planet await at the top.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@hazardos<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Although this gritty city isn\u2019t much to look at, it\u2019s a must-visit for film fanatics, having attracted Hollywood directors and producers for years. Atlas Studios, the world\u2019s largest film studio, is nearby.<\/p>\n Ouarzazate is a base for heading to Ait Benhaddou, a hilltop fort and clay village on an ancient caravan route to Marrakech. \u00a0A long list of films and TV shows have been shot here, including Gladiator, Babel, Kingdom of Heaven and most recently Game of Thrones \u2013 Ait Benhaddou featured heavily in season 3. Some shops in the village are carved straight out of the hillside, mostly selling trinkets and offering a chance to play with movie props. Narrow streets wind up to a small peak, where you\u2019ll find a perfect sunset spot<\/a> to watch the light drop over the red desert and distant mountains.<\/p>\n Another stop near Ouazazarte is Fint Oasis, an out-of-the-way collection of villages that are home to lush palm trees and a sparkling turquoise lake in the middle of the dry desert. You can day trip here from the city, but you\u2019ll need to hire a taxi or a 4WD which can be costly.<\/p>\n Cinema Riad<\/a> is a hostel that plays tribute to its location in the \u2018Hollywood of Morocco\u2019, decorated with classic movie memorabilia. The roof terrace offers views of the green palms and Atlas Mountain backdrop, what\u2019s not to love?<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@bruno_worldtraveler<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The Sahara is the world\u2019s largest hot desert and one of the best places to visit in Morocco. Interestingly, the Sahara alternates between life as a desert and that of an open grassland every 20,000 years or so, depending on changes to the Earth\u2019s axis. It is expected to go green again in about 15,000 years. Meanwhile, its dust can be carried by the wind as far as the Amazon rainforest and even Greenland. Impressed? You should be.<\/p>\n The Sahara almost always rates as travellers\u2019 most fulfilling experience in Morocco. Camel trekking through the sand across spectacular scenery, camping out under the stars, cooking dinner over the fire and experiencing pure peace, all under the guidance of an expert local.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@droosmo<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Most backpackers to Morocco<\/a> usually overlook the capital, heading instead to big hitters like Marrakech or Chefchaouen, which is totally unfair. The ancient Kasbah of the Udayas is another of Morocco\u2019s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the walk uphill to the gate will make you feel like you\u2019re on a movie set. The Hassan Tower, located in the aptly-named Hassan Quarter, is a beautiful red sandstone minaret flanked by white columns, part of an unfinished mosque. History buffs should also head to the Chellah, an old citadel and gardens complex housing Roman ruins. Entry prices have recently increased for foreigners to 70 dirhams (\u00a36).<\/p>\n For a place to bed down in the capital, Medina Surfing Association<\/a> offers not only a cosy stay, but the chance for surfing lessons with some local pros. Rabat\u2019s beaches have some of the best waves in the country! When you\u2019re not in the sea, enjoy free breakfast, a sociable rooftop terrace and an awesome location close to Rabat\u2019s best nightlife.<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t \ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@bratpackerss<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Casablanca is the stuff of Hollywood legend \u2013 here\u2019s looking at you kid! The city\u2019s top landmark is the breathtaking Hassan II Mosque, the largest in Africa with the continent’s tallest minaret. It’s a mammoth place of worship nestled by the ocean that can hold over 100,000 people (80,000 outside). Non-Muslims are allowed to visit during certain hours, as long as they wear appropriate clothing. Entry is 120 dirhams (\u00a310)<\/p>\n Elsewhere in the city, the Moorish architecture (that\u2019s a mixture of French and Arabic influences) is stunning. The sociable beach area is lined with busy bars and restaurants, and the one of a kind Morocco Mall offers way more that your typical shopping experience, with an indoor souk, fairground and even an ice skating rink \u2013 not the most obvious activity in 35 degree+ heat!<\/p>\n LHostel A Casablanca<\/a> is head to toe tradition, a red clay building with leafy gardens and pretty courtyards. The dorms are clean and comfy, while the budget-friendly private rooms are fit for royalty. Their amazing buffet breakfast of Moroccan and international dishes will set you up for a day\u2019s surfing and exploring.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n Has this list of the best places to visit in Morocco got you psyched for a North African adventure? We hope so! If you\u2019ve got more Moroccan insider tips, let us know in the comments.<\/p>\n I’m Ewen, a journalist living in Sydney and co-founder of Taiga Travel<\/a>, a locally-run tour company in Mongolia. My favourite journey was buying a small motorcycle in Ulaanbaatar and riding it to Europe, an adventure you can read about here<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f The ultimate guide to backpacking Morocco<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf1f A first timer’s guide to Marrakech<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n1. Tangier<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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2. The Caves of Hercules<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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3. Chefchaouen<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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4. Fez<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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5. Marrakech<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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6. Atlas Mountains<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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7. Ouarzazate<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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8. The Sahara Desert<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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9. Rabat<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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10. Casablanca<\/h2>\n
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