Rabat Things to Do Tips by amsterdam_vallon

Modern Rabat

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Address: Mohammed V BLVD

Kasbah des Oudaïas Wall

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Andalucian Gardens

The Andalucian Gardens are not as old as they might give the impression of being — they belong to the 20th century and were laid out be the French colonial authorities. But despite that historical background, they do have a distinct non-French feeling today, especially with the dominance of Moroccans here.

The gardens have another attraction, the Museum of Moroccan Arts. While the indoor exhibition is laid out like most Moroccan museums, there are some nice arrangements with colourful and traditional antique doors in the walls near the entrance to the gardens.

Platform view

The platform view at the very northern end of the Kasbah des Oudaïas is a popular destination for locals and visitors out on a stroll. After passing through the nice streets of the kasbah you end up in a place where you have the view over the Atlantic Ocean, the town beach, the harbour, the river and the neighbour town of Sale.

Kasbah des Oudaïas

The Kasbah des Oudaïa is a beautiful and quiet spot in the every increasingly busy Rabat. The standard of the streets and the houses is far above what you would expect to find in most other old cities in Morocco.

Everything evolves around white houses with blue painted parapets. It definitely has the air of just having been painted. There are very few people walking through the streets, so chances are that you will have it all more or less to yourself.

Oudaïa gate

The Oudaïa gate dates back to the Almohad period, and was erected in the same period as the Hassan tower (around 1200).

It is believed that the purpose of this gate, was ceremonical. Its style is one of great simplicity and effective contrasts. The gate expands through three levels, before the circular shape is broken, and the squareness of the gate takes control. It is generally belived that that shapes of this, and other, gates is there to take control over your eyes and your total experience, but there is little of symbolical value to find here.

This gate was more than just a huge door, it also has served in the function of official building. It has been both a courthouse and staterooms.

Kings' mausoleum

The Mohammed V mausoleum was built in 1969 by Hassan II to honnor the great King Mohammed V who oppose the french protectorate. Mohammed V died in 1961during a chirurgical operation. Inside we can see now the cast of Hassan II and Mohammed V.

Royal Mosque

Right across from the Royal Palace, the King's own mosque stands. Neither old nor terribly big, it still offers a fine example of Islamic architecture. Its placement gives it an added quality – between it and the Royal Palace there is nothing but the wide square.

Royal Palace

The royal palace lies right in the heart of Rabat, and its area is open for trespassing. As a matter of fact, you can get quite close to the real palace before the guards start to feel uneasy. But quite honestly, what you see is only moderately impressive – the real beauty is behind the walls.

Hassan Tower

The Tour Hassan, the grandiose minaret of a vast yet incomplete mosque, is Rabat’s most famous landmark. Begun in 1195, the minaret was intended to be the largest in the Muslim world, soaring some 86m (260ft) into the sky. Construction was abandoned, however, upon the death of the sultan, Yacoub al-Mansour, in 1199 and the tower instead rises to just 44m (140ft). The shortfall in height does not, however, detract from the beauty of its design, with every façade displaying a different pattern. Two hundred columns mark out the area where the mosque was to stand