Rabat
Table of Contents: Travel to Rabat, visa requirements By Train By Bus / Get around / Rabat attractions and sightseeing / City tours / Shopping, Rabat souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Rabat nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Get out More from Morocco: Agadir, Amizmiz, Asilah, Asni, Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Essaouira, Fez, High Atlas, M'Hamid, Marrakech, Merzouga, Rabat, Rissani, Tangier, Taroudannt, Taza, Tetouan More from North Africa: Algeria, Atlas Mountains, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Western Sahara More from Africa: Central Africa, East Africa, North Africa, Saharan Africa, Seychelles, Southern Africa, West Africa |
Rabat (الرباط) is a city in Morocco. It is an easy going city by Moroccan standards.
Travel to Rabat, visa requirements
By Train
Rabat is well served by train and you can get frequent connections to most places. Marrakesh is a pleasant 4 hour journey, Fez 2.5 hours and Casablanca 1 hour. There are two stations in Rabat - centre and Agdal.
By Bus
It's possible to get a bus from almost any town in the country to Rabat. Note, however, that the buses often do not stop at the central bus station, but instead go through the city. It may be a good idea to ask someone which is the correct stop, or use a decent street map to work out where you are. It is easy to miss the main stop and find yourself heading out into the suburbs again.
Get around
- Petite Taxi: All blue in color mostly fiat uno.
- Buses: Not recommended as the numbering system is complicated and the buses are of very poor quality.
- Car: The streets of Rabat are big in most areas and driving shouldn't be a problem, you do want to avoid rush hours since as with any large city congestion can be a problem
Rabat attractions and sightseeing
Hassan Towers, Kings Palace, oudaia, Chellah, Medina Bazzar.
City tours
There are many things to do here, as with most Moroccan cities it is enough just to wander around and adventure where something takes your fancy.
In the Kasbah (Oudaia) there is an amazing cafe that looks over the sea, where you can drink mint tea and eat sugary treats. The staff are very friendly and you can stay as long as you like soaking up the atmosphere.
There is also a large and tranquil park next to the Hotel Hilton, where people run and play football etc. You can also use the pool at the Hilton for a charge. The park is a 10-15 Dirham taxi ride (10 minutes) from la gare central.
Shopping, Rabat souvenirs
Although the medina here is not as extensive as that of Fez or Marrakesh there are still some bargains to be had. You will find the normal array of baboshka shoes, baggy pants, ornate mirrors and plates etc!
Interestingly all the Moroccans can be found in the section of the market that sells imported western style clothing from Asia and all the tourists can be found in the 'traditional' section. The lovely woolen paunchos are well worth a look and the carpet shops near the end of the medina are also very nice.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
- Patisserie La Comedie on Mohammad V. Fancy pastries. Croissants, 4 dh. Ice cream, 6 dh per scoop.
- Cafe 7eme Art next to the movie theater. Has fake movie posters with meals as the stars. Light lunches, popular with business people and the more well-off. Miniature models of local scenes surround the outdoor patio. Pizzas, 35 to 40 dh, bland and tough. Friendly staff, stray cats beg for food.
If you find yourself in Agdal, try the brochettes at 'Sucre et Sale'.
In the centre there are often inexpensive food stalls around the medina, serving delicious fish and salad sandwiches. There are also lots of stalls selling pancakes and pain au chocolat.
Rabat nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
jour et nuit, Hotel balima, amnezia
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
- Hotel Splendide in the Ville Nouvelle, an easy 10 minute walk from the train station. Large rooms and big windows, lots of light, around a central courtyard. Quiet and clean. They offer meals which are just food from the place across the street brought across on a tray. The shared bathrooms are generally clean. 100dh / night. Showers 10dh, hot water only after 9PM. Warning: count your change they may try to cheat you.
- Hotel de la Paix in the Ville Nouvelle. Dingy and dank. 150 dh. Warning: If you don't get a room with an in suite shower, you don't get to take one at all. There are no shared showers. Management gets very angry.
Get out
More from Morocco: Agadir, Amizmiz, Asilah, Asni, Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Essaouira, Fez, High Atlas, M'Hamid, Marrakech, Merzouga, Rabat, Rissani, Tangier, Taroudannt, Taza, Tetouan More from North Africa: Algeria, Atlas Mountains, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Western Sahara More from Africa: Central Africa, East Africa, North Africa, Saharan Africa, Seychelles, Southern Africa, West Africa |
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