Rabat Audio Tours

Rabat's medina is significantly smaller and less labyrinthine than Fes and considerably less hassle from touts. The main street Rue Souika runs through its centre and is easy to orientate from. As in any Moroccan medina, some streets narrow into genuine mazes but the medina here is compact enough that getting seriously lost is unlikely.

The Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower, and the medina are all in the same compact northern area of the city and can be combined in a half-day walk. The Chellah necropolis is about 2 kilometres south, a pleasant walk along Boulevard Mohammed V or reachable by petit taxi. Rabat also has a modern tram system that connects the centre to suburban neighborhoods.

Harira, the tomato, lentil, and lamb soup traditionally served to break the fast during Ramadan, is available year-round and is a good introduction to Moroccan flavors. Pastilla, a sweet-savory pie of pigeon or chicken with almonds and cinnamon in paper-thin pastry, is a Fassi speciality available in Rabat's better restaurants. The fresh fish near the port area is excellent and very cheap.

Sale is visible from the Kasbah of the Udayas across the Bou Regreg River and is reachable by a short walk across the pedestrian bridge. It has its own medina that is significantly less visited than Rabat's. Casablanca is 90 kilometres south and reachable in 45 minutes by train from Rabat Agdal station, making a half-day trip entirely practical.