Rabat has been Morocco’s political capital since 1912, but its roots go back to a 12th-century fortified convent on the banks of the Bou Regreg river. In a single day from Casablanca, you can walk from Roman ruins to a royal mausoleum to a whitewashed 12th-century kasbah — with the option to fit in the Hassan II Mosque on the way home.
Highlights
- Private, licensed English-speaking guide for the 7-hour day
- The Méchouar Precinct of the Royal Palace
- The Chellah, a Roman ruin turned Merinid necropolis
- The Mohammed V Mausoleum and the Hassan Tower
- The 12th-century Kasbah of the Oudayas, with views over the Bou Regreg river
- A light lunch en route
- A possible stop at the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, time permitting
Your Day in Rabat
Leaving your ship behind, we drive north to Rabat, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, through a graceful capital of parks and gardens along Victory Avenue to the Méchouar Precinct of the Royal Palace. We can’t go inside, but you can admire and photograph its striking arches.
Next is the Chellah — once a Roman settlement called Sala Colonia, abandoned in the 5th century, then transformed in the 14th century into the necropolis of the Merinid sultans. Destroyed by the 1755 earthquake, it’s today a beautiful walled garden of date and banana palms, fig and olive trees, and bougainvillea, with Roman ruins still visible among them.
From there we visit the Mohammed V Mausoleum, guarded by the mounted Royal Household Guard and the resting place of King Mohammed V and his son King Hassan II — its modern Islamic interior was inspired by Napoleon’s tomb at Les Invalides in Paris. Alongside it stands the Hassan Tower, the unfinished 12th-century minaret of what was meant to be the world’s largest mosque; construction stopped at just half its intended height, and it’s climbed by ramp rather than stairs, said to be designed by the same architect behind the Giralda in Seville and the Koutoubia in Marrakech.
After a light lunch, we head to the 12th-century Kasbah of the Oudayas, the site of the original fortified R’bat and the heart of Rabat’s military history. Its whitewashed alleyways feel like an Andalusian village, and from its ramparts you get sweeping views over the Bou Regreg river toward Salé — once a stronghold of the Barbary corsairs.
We return to Casablanca along the Atlantic coastal road, and if time allows, stop at the Hassan II Mosque — the second-largest mosque in the Islamic world, built partly over the ocean, with a 210-metre minaret. If there isn’t time, you’ll have free time before sailing to shop around Place Mohammed V instead.
Expect around 50 minutes of walking over the day, some of it over uneven, cobbled ground with steps to climb.
What’s Included
- Private round-trip transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, port to port
- Guided sightseeing with entrance fees as listed
- A light lunch or refreshments
- Bottled or gaseous water
- An English-speaking licensed national guide
- Medical and accident insurance
Not Included
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
What to Bring
- Good trainers
- A hat
- A pullover (seasonal)
- A day pack
- Hygienic wipes
- Camera, with a Ziploc bag to protect the lens
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
Book This Excursion
Send us your ship and port call time and we’ll confirm your private Rabat excursion. Reach us on WhatsApp, give us a call, or fill out the quick form below and a local Morocco specialist will get back to you with a quote.