Tourist Places to Visit in Morocco, North Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Morocco, North Africa, Africa

Morocco is an African country geographically positioned in the northwestern part of the continent at 32° N 6° W. Rabat is the capital while Casablanca is the largest city of Morocco. In terms of population, Morocco is the 39^th largest country in the world (over 33 million people) and is the world’s 40^th largest nation in terms of area (around 446 550 sq. km.). The Government of Morocco follows the unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy system, in which the King of Morocco holds superior power. Morocco is an affluent tourist favor country, with dozens of ancient Roman and Islamic sites as well as many pristine beaches with a wide range of water-sport activities.

History of Morocco:

Morocco has a long and grand historical background, which was first settled in the Paleolithic times. Like many African countries, Morocco also came under the Roman Empire’s rule who ruled over Morocco effectively from the 1st century BC to 5th century AD. According to the documented history, Idrisid Dynasty was the original founder of Morocco (789) and the current Morocco was founded by Alaouite Dynasty (1666), which is still in power.

Getting Morocco:

The Mohammed V International Airport is the main gateway to Morocco, situated around 30 km south of the country’s largest city, Casablanca. The airport handles flights from Lisbon, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, Istanbul, New York, Madrid, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Rome and many other global destinations.

The intercity transportation of Morocco is upgraded, served by luxury buses and trains. Grand taxis are mainly used for long distance travel, while Petit taxi are known for comfortable local travel in Moroccan cities.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Morocco:

Morocco is culturally diverse country, influenced by Arab, African, and European cultures. Moroccan Arabic or Darija is a widely spoken language in Morocco.

Moroccan dirham is the currency of Morocco and the items like carpets, birad and djellabah should be purchased in Morocco.

Some popular and must taste dishes in Morocco include Couscous, Tagine, kaliya and Pastilla.

Must see in Morocco:

Koutoubia Mosque:

The Koutoubia Mosque is one of the iconic tourist attractions of Morocco, situated in the city of Marrakesh. It was constructed at the end of 12th century, designed by Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur in the Almohad architectural style. Including its minaret, interior and exterior designs and surrounding environment, everything is a grand treat for visitors’ eyes.

Majorelle Garden:

The Majorelle Garden is a distinct botanical garden, located in Marrakesh, covering an area of twelve-acres. This blue colored typical garden building was the great work of French artist Jacques Majorelle. There is a museum, called Islamic Art Museum of Marrakech, within the garden, home to a wide range of paintings, ceramics and jewelry.

Bahia Palace:

Situated in the historic city of Marrakesh, the Bahia Palace is adorned by a group of gardens, which was constructed in the late 19th century. It is worth a visit.

Saadian Tombs:

The Saadian Tombs are the 16^th century tombs during the rule of the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur. The mausoleum is the final resting place of many famous personalities belonged to royal family, including the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur. It is located in Marrakech.

Casablanca Cathedral:

The Casablanca Cathedral was originally a Roman Catholic Church, which was converted into a cultural centre following the independence of Morocco. The French architect Paul Tournon was the designer of Casablanca Cathedral, who used Neo-Gothic style to design it. The cathedral is in the city of Casablanca.

List of the other top tourist attractions in Morocco include:

Jemaa el-Fnaa
Atlas Mountains
El Badi Palace
Hassan II Mosque
Rif
Menara Gardens
Marrakech Museum
Hassan Tower
Kasbah of the Udayas

When to visit Morocco?

Morocco experiences a Mediterranean climate with exceptionally hot summers and cool winters. Generally the months of April, May, September and October is the best to make a grand tour to Morocco.

Accommodation options in Morocco:

Being a paradise of tourists, Morocco houses more than 1000 star rated hotels, of which most are located in Marrakech, where the country’s highest number of tourist attractions are situated. Some world class hotels in Casablanca, the largest city of Morocco, are as follows: