What to see in Morocco: 12 must-sees

Wander the 9,400 alleyways of Fes el-Bali, the world's largest medieval medina, where 9,000 artisans still work in dye houses, tanneries, and brass workshops. Visit the 4th-century al-Qarawiyyin University, stop at the Nejjarine Fountain, and climb to a terrace to look down on the Chouara tanneries, where hides are dyed in colorful vats. This labyrinth, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserves an exceptional testament to a cultural tradition.

The 18th-century walls of Essaouira, where white and blue facades surround a fishing harbor full of colorful boats. Wander the medina among shops selling thuya wood crafts, climb up to the Borj del Barmil, the old Portuguese fortress, and watch surfers on the golden-sand beach swept by the constant Atlantic trade winds. The medina, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserves the fortified-city layout that has inspired painters and musicians for decades.

Immerse yourself in the most vibrant square in the Maghreb, where snake charmers, jugglers, and storytellers put on a 1,000-year-old spectacle. Stroll past stalls of freshly squeezed orange juice, savor steaming tagine at sunset, and let the incense smoke and Gnawa music wash over you. Enjoy adventure and entertainment where excitement, scenery, and fun come together in a lasting memory. Adrenaline, fun, and memories to last a lifetime.

Visit the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, where golden sand rises up to 150 meters close to the Algerian border. Ride a dromedary at sunset, when the desert turns pink, and camp in a Berber tent beneath a clear sky where the Milky Way shines. Wake to the sound of Gnawa drums and travel through the date palm oases that line the ancient Caravan Route, a landscape the Sahara winds reshape every season.

Take in Africa's largest mosque, inaugurated in 1993 on the Atlantic Ocean, with a 210-meter minaret that beams a laser toward Mecca. Step into the 20,000 m² prayer hall with its sliding roof, admire the zellige mosaics, and watch the waves breaking beneath the glass floor. Visit this sacred temple, where spirituality, architecture, and history create a space of peace and reflection. Admire the architectural details and feel a connection to the transcendent.

Discover Chefchaouen by wandering alleys of whitewashed walls in shades of blue, where pots of bougainvillea mark every corner of the medina. Climb to the 15th-century Kasbah, stop in Uta el-Hammam Square for tea in front of the Grand Mosque, and take in the Rif Mountains from the medina gate. At the market stalls you'll find wool blankets, goat cheese, and spices, while dyers work in the open air. The town keeps the calm rhythm of the mountain towns of northern Morocco.

Explore Morocco's most extensive Roman ruins, where the Capitol, the Baths of Gallienus, and the basilica stand alongside mosaics of Orpheus and the Nereids in a landscape of olive groves. Walk the Decumanus Maximus, admire the Arch of Caracalla, and gaze over the olive fields the Romans cultivated 2,000 years ago. Explore the archaeological site where ruins, artifacts, and history tell of civilizations that flourished millennia ago. Walk among the stones, admire the remains, and discover the past.

Descend after summiting the 4,167-meter Jebel Toubkal, the rooftop of the Atlas and of North Africa, and remember the 100-kilometer view from the top. Hike 2 days from Imlil along trails winding between stone Berber villages and juniper forests, sleep at the Toubkal refuge, and watch the park's birds and wildlife as you cross streams and rocky slopes among walnut trees.