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The Kasbah of the Udayas on its cliff above the Atlantic – Rabat Guided tour

Rabat Activities

Rabat Guided Tour The Royal Capital in a Day

Rabat guided tour with a local guide: the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the Kasbah of the Udayas, the medina and the Chellah. Private tour.

  • Duration5 – 6 Hours
  • DifficultyEasy
  • Group SizePrivate
  • LocationRabat
  • LanguagesEnglish / Spanish / Italian / French / Portuguese

Overview

A Capital Built Between River and Ocean

Rabat is the political capital of Morocco and one of its most pleasant cities: green avenues, a calm medina, royal monuments and a fortified kasbah where the Bou Regreg river meets the Atlantic. The whole city is listed by UNESCO as "Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City", a meeting of eight centuries of history.

With a licensed local guide you visit the esplanade of the Hassan Tower, the unfinished minaret of a twelfth-century mosque, and the white Mausoleum of Mohammed V opposite it. You walk through the blue and white lanes of the Kasbah of the Udayas to its terrace over the ocean, explore the souks of the medina and finish among the Roman and Merinid ruins of the Chellah, where storks nest on the old minaret.

  • Hassan Tower
  • Mausoleum of Mohammed V
  • Kasbah of the Udayas
  • Chellah ruins

Detailed programme

Your Tour of Rabat, Sight by Sight

  • Duration5 – 6 Hours
  • LocationRabat
  • FormatPrivate
  1. 01 MorningThe Hassan Tower
  2. 02 Late morningThe Mausoleum of Mohammed V
  3. 03 MiddayThe Kasbah of the Udayas
  4. 04 AfternoonThe medina and the Chellah
The Hassan Tower and its columns in Rabat
Morning

Morning

The Hassan Tower

Your guide and driver meet you at your hotel and begin on the esplanade of the Hassan Tower, the red sandstone minaret of a mosque begun in 1195, standing among rows of broken columns.

The tower was meant to be the largest minaret of the Muslim world, but work stopped when Sultan Yaqub al-Mansur died in 1199. The 1755 Lisbon earthquake brought down the rest of the mosque, leaving the columns you see today.

  • Hotel, station or airport pickup
  • Hassan Tower
  • Esplanade of columns
The Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat
Late morning

Late morning

The Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Across the esplanade stands the white marble mausoleum of King Mohammed V and his sons, guarded by horsemen in red, with a painted cedar ceiling above the tombs.

The mausoleum was completed in 1971 by a Vietnamese architect and Moroccan craftsmen. Visitors look down on the tombs from a gallery under the dome.

  • Royal mausoleum
  • Royal guard
  • Carved cedar and zellige
The Kasbah of the Udayas above the ocean in Rabat
Midday

Midday

The Kasbah of the Udayas

You enter the kasbah through its monumental Almohad gate and follow the blue and white lanes to the terrace above the mouth of the Bou Regreg, then rest in the Andalusian garden.

The kasbah was built by the Almohads in the twelfth century and later settled by families from Andalusia. The garden inside, laid out in the last century, is a peaceful place to sit with a mint tea.

  • Bab Oudaya gate
  • Blue-and-white lanes
  • Ocean terrace
  • Lunch (not included)
A colourful lane in the old town of Rabat
Afternoon

Afternoon

The medina and the Chellah

After a walk through the relaxed souks of the medina and Rue des Consuls, you visit the walled ruins of the Chellah, a Roman town and Merinid necropolis where storks nest on the minaret, before your drop-off.

The Chellah was the Roman town of Sala Colonia before becoming a royal necropolis of the Merinids in the fourteenth century. Its gardens are full of birds, and the storks nest there every spring.

  • Medina and Rue des Consuls
  • Chellah ruins
  • Drop-off at your hotel

This is a private experience, so times and stops can be adjusted to your arrival, your pace and the season.

Ask About This Programme

The experience

What to Expect

  1. 1Hassan TowerThe minaret and its forest of columns.
  2. 2Royal MausoleumMarble, cedar and the royal guard.
  3. 3Kasbah of the UdayasBlue lanes and a terrace over the ocean.
  4. 4Medina & ChellahSouks, then Roman ruins and storks.
The Hassan Tower and its columns in Rabat

Why choose this experience

The Quiet Imperial City

Rabat has none of the bustle of Marrakech or Fes. It is the place to see royal Morocco at an easy walking pace, with the ocean never far away.

Why Choose This Experience
  • Local and authentic experience
  • Private, just your party
  • Flexible timing
  • Local guides and hosts
  • Suitable for families, couples and solo travellers

What’s included

  • Licensed local guide
  • Private vehicle with driver
  • Pickup and drop-off at your hotel, the station or the airport
  • Hassan Tower, Mausoleum and Kasbah of the Udayas
  • Medina walk and the Chellah

Not included

  • Chellah entrance ticket, paid on site
  • Lunch and drinks
  • Tips

Good to know

  • Recommended clothingComfortable clothes, closed shoes, sunglasses and a hat or scarf.
  • Best timeAll year. The ocean keeps Rabat mild, and spring is especially lovely in the Andalusian garden of the kasbah.
  • Suitable forFamilies, couples, solo travellers (all levels).
  • Good to knowThe mausoleum is open to visitors of all faiths; dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered. It can close for official ceremonies.

Location

Frequent questions

Rabat Guided Tour: Frequently Asked Questions

All Rabat Activities
How long does the Rabat guided tour take?

About five to six hours, including time in the medina. It can be shortened to a half day with the Hassan Tower, the mausoleum and the kasbah.

Can the tour start from Rabat station or the airport?

Yes. We can meet you at Rabat Ville or Agdal station, at Rabat-Salé Airport or at your hotel, and drop you off wherever you are staying.

Is Rabat good for a first day in Morocco?

Very. It is relaxed, clean and easy to walk, which makes it a gentle introduction to Moroccan cities before the bigger medinas of Fes and Marrakech.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. It is arranged for you and the people you travel with, so the timing and pace are yours.

How do I book?

Send us a message on WhatsApp or by email with your date and the number of people. We reply with availability and the price, and nothing is charged for enquiring.

Can it be added to a tour?

Yes. It can be booked on its own or added to any of our private tours that pass through Rabat.

More in Rabat

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Plan Your Rabat Guided Tour

What to know before you book your Rabat guided tour, and what else to do nearby.

More Rabat Activities

Rabat Guided Tour The Royal Capital in a Day is one of 6 private Rabat activities on our list. Other Rabat activities include Day Trip to Casablanca (full day), Day Trip to Asilah (full day), Day Trip to Meknes & Volubilis (full day) and Day Trip to El Jadida (full day).

Rabat activities →

Things to Do in Rabat

The best things to do in Rabat start with Hassan Tower (an unfinished minaret of the 12th century), Mausoleum of Mohammed V (white marble and the royal guard) and Kasbah of the Udayas (blue lanes on a rock above the ocean). Other things to do in Rabat include Bab Oudaya, Bab Rouah & the Ramparts and The Bou Regreg; our Rabat travel guide covers each one.

Rabat travel guide →

Rabat Day Trips

Our Rabat day trips include Day Trip to Casablanca (full day), Day Trip to Asilah (full day), Day Trip to Meknes & Volubilis (full day) and Day Trip to El Jadida (full day). Every one of our Rabat day trips is private, so the start time and pace are yours.

Tours from Rabat →

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