Who are Northern Morocco holidays best for?
For those who dream of fables and fantasy and want to plunge into a thousand years of history, Morocco’s northern cities are a dream. Capturing the quintessential nature of Moroccan civilization - going beyond the usual boundaries of mint tea, riads, and hammams - the northern cities offer a delectable blend of old and new across the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From Fes’s ancient medina to the vibrant new buzz to be found in the likes of Rabat, travellers looking for a fully painted picture of Morocco should be sure to visit the northern cities.
What you can find in Morocco’s Northern Cities that you won't find elsewhere:
Fez, Meknes, Rabat – Morocco’s northern corner boasts a trilogy that is truly worth exploring. The medinas provide the beating heart to each of the cities; offering a chocolate box of labyrinth-like alleys, secret courtyards, and dazzling surprises behind every wall. Here, the roots of Moroccan culture run deep and you can find prime examples of the country’s rich heritage in the endless bazaars, madrasahs, mosques, and caravanserais that dot the roads leading further south and into the folds of the Atlas Mountains; the list of must-sees in the north is longer than your arm. Head to Fez for hoards of historical fascination with its tannery district and oldest university in the world; hop across to Rabat to see the sky-high Hassan Tower and bustling Sale Medina; and in Meknes, take your time tiptoeing through the beautiful Bou Inania Madrasa.
Special things to do in Morocco’s Northern Cities:
Head to Fez in the morning, while the rest of the world sleeps and you'll be there as it slowly comes to life: donkeys start to bray; the scent of mint spills out from open windows and mingles with the wild cardamom and soft saffron wafting out of the souqs; and children improvise a football game in one of the empty plots. Then the sound of singing rings out as the call to prayer echoes from towering minarets. Colour, commotion and a whole lot of impossible-not-to-love chaos...take it all in.