An editorial journey

The Colors of
Morocco

Zellige mosaics and the Hassan II Mosque, snow-capped Atlas peaks and the vastness of the Moroccan Sahara — twenty-five cities, twenty-five faces, one land of contrasts.

On the map

Where the twenty-five cities lie

Every number is clickable and jumps straight to that city.

Positions calculated from coordinates, map outline simplified.

At a glance

Jump straight to a city:

No other country shifts its palette as decisively as Morocco. Travelling from city to city really means travelling from colour to colour: indigo in the Rif, ochre in the High Atlas, saffron yellow in the tanneries of Fes, whitewash along the Atlantic coast — and eventually, past Ouarzazate, no colour left but sand. These twenty-five cities — from the imperial cities in the north to Laâyoune, Dakhla and Smara in the Moroccan Sahara — show why Morocco is less a destination than a colour wheel.

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Tanger, Marokko Tanger, Marokko Tanger, Marokko Tanger, Marokko
01
Northern tip, Strait of Gibraltar

Tangier

Where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean

On clear days you can see Spain from Tangier with the naked eye — just 14 kilometres separate Africa and Europe. For decades this made the city a refuge for writers and artists, from Paul Bowles to the Beat Generation. At Café Hafa, high above the strait, people still sit today looking out at two continents.

Best moment late afternoon at Café Hafa, tea with a sea view See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryFish tagine with a Spanish-Moroccan touch, shaped by the closeness of Andalusia.

VisitThe Caves of Hercules at Cape Spartel, where the Atlantic and the Mediterranean visibly meet.

Tétouan, Marokko Tétouan, Marokko Tétouan, Marokko Tétouan, Marokko
02
Rif foothills on the Mediterranean coast

Tetouan

White Andalusia in the Rif

Tetouan's medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and bears the imprint of Andalusian refugees who arrived after the Reconquista — narrow white lanes, ornate wrought-iron grilles and courtyards in the Moorish-Andalusian style. Unlike blue Chefchaouen, pure white dominates here, broken up by green shutters.

Best moment in the late afternoon amid the medina's maze, when the light turns the white façades gold See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryTraditional Tetouani cuisine with an Andalusian touch, such as stuffed aubergines or fish pastilla.

VisitThe royal craft school Dar Sanaa, keeping centuries-old techniques of the medina's artisans alive.

Asilah, Marokko Asilah, Marokko Asilah, Marokko Asilah, Marokko
03
Atlantic coast, near Tangier

Asilah

Open-air gallery behind white ramparts

Within 15th-century Portuguese ramparts, Asilah is one of Morocco's most tranquil coastal towns — whitewashed lanes, blue door frames and, since an annual arts festival launched in the 1970s, large murals on almost every façade. In summer the town turns into an open gallery; the rest of the year it stays quietly low-key.

Best moment early morning along the ramparts, when the light makes the murals glow See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryFreshly grilled fish straight from the harbour, often caught that same morning.

VisitThe bastions of the Portuguese ramparts, overlooking the Atlantic.

Al Hoceïma, Marokko Al Hoceïma, Marokko Al Hoceïma, Marokko Al Hoceïma, Marokko
04
Rif coast on the Mediterranean

Al Hoceima

Turquoise coves beneath the Rif mountains

Al Hoceima sits spectacularly between steep Rif mountains and the turquoise Mediterranean. The national park just offshore protects coves, cliffs and rare bird colonies; compared with the Atlantic towns, things are noticeably quieter here — an insider tip for a beach holiday off the beaten track.

Best moment in the morning in one of the national park's hidden coves, the water still glassy See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryGrilled sardines straight from the harbour, as fresh as the Rif coast gets.

VisitAl Hoceima National Park, with its limestone cliffs and hidden coves.

Blau getünchte Gasse mit blauer Tür in Chefchaouen Chefchaouen, Marokko Chefchaouen, Marokko Chefchaouen, Marokko
05
Rif Mountains

Chefchaouen

The Blue City

Every wall, every step, every doorframe is dipped in a different blue — from powder blue to deep indigo. The color is said to once have kept mosquitoes away or to recall the sky; today it simply lives on because residents repaint it every year. It's most striking in the morning light, when the alleys are still empty.

Best moment shortly after sunrise, before the day-trippers See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryBissara — creamy fava bean soup with olive oil, a breakfast classic in the Rif mountains.

VisitThe Spanish Mosque on the hill above town — the best panoramic view of the blue alleys.

Nador, Marokko Nador, Marokko Nador, Marokko Nador, Marokko
06
Northeast, on the Mediterranean lagoon

Nador

Morocco's gateway to the eastern Mediterranean

Nador sits on the Mar Chica lagoon, one of the largest lagoons in North Africa, not far from the Spanish exclave of Melilla. The former fishing and trading town is today mainly a starting point for the quiet beaches of the eastern Mediterranean — far less touristy than the north around Tangier and Chefchaouen.

Best moment in the evening at the Mar Chica lagoon, as the fishing boats come in See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryFresh fish and seafood straight from the lagoon, grilled at stalls along the shore.

VisitThe sandbar of the Mar Chica lagoon, separated from the open sea by a narrow channel.

Saïdia, Marokko Saïdia, Marokko Saïdia, Marokko Saïdia, Marokko
07
Mediterranean coast, near Algeria

Saïdia

The blue pearl on the other sea

While the rest of this list sits on the Atlantic or in the desert, Saïdia looks out on a different sea: Morocco's far northeast, where a 14-kilometre sandy beach meets the Mediterranean and on clear days you can almost squint your way to Spain. The new town was deliberately built in blue and white — a nod to Chefchaouen at the other end of the country. A calm, sunny final note to a journey that began where everything was blue.

Best moment morning on the beach, before the midday heat See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryMediterranean fish and rice-based dishes, shaped by nearby Spain and Algeria.

VisitThe Zegzel Gorge in the nearby Beni Snassen mountains, with caves and deep canyons.

Farbige Steinbottiche der Chouara-Gerberei in Fes von oben Fes, Marokko Fes, Marokko Fes, Marokko
08
Fes el-Bali

Fez

The oldest living medina in the world

Over 9,000 alleys form a labyrinth without a single road cars can use — goods are still moved by donkey today. Its most famous sight is the Chouara tannery: round stone vats full of saffron, indigo and poppy dye, where leather has been hand-dyed for centuries. A sprig of mint held to the nose helps against the strong smell.

Best moment morning, viewed from one of the leather terraces See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Flight + hotel → Weather ↗

TryPastilla — crisp filo pastry, traditionally filled with pigeon, almonds and cinnamon sugar.

VisitThe Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University, founded in 859 — the oldest continuously operating university in the world.

Rabat, Marokko Rabat, Marokko Rabat, Marokko Rabat, Marokko
09
Capital on the Bou Regreg

Rabat

Blue, white, and unusually calm

Rabat is the quietest of Morocco's major cities — and worth seeing for exactly that reason. In the Kasbah of the Udayas, blue-washed walls alternate with white limewash, and in between sits an Andalusian garden with orange trees. From the bastion you look out over the mouth of the Bou Regreg into the Atlantic.

Best moment morning in the Andalusian garden of the kasbah See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Flight + hotel → Weather ↗

TryRfissa — chicken with lentils, fenugreek and shredded flatbread, a dish of the capital's cuisine.

VisitThe Hassan Tower with the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, right next to the Kasbah of the Udayas.

Das reich verzierte Stadttor Bab Mansour in Meknes Meknes, Marokko Meknes, Marokko Meknes, Marokko
10
Ismaili imperial city

Meknes

The quiet sister of Fez

In the 17th century, Sultan Moulay Ismail set out to build a Versailles of North Africa and left behind a city of oversized gates and more than 25 kilometres of mudbrick wall. Through the monumental Bab Mansour, decorated with green zellige mosaics and Quranic verses, you enter a medina that feels noticeably calmer than those of Fez or Marrakech — and precisely for that reason becomes a quiet favorite for many travelers.

Best moment late afternoon, when the mosaics on the gate glow golden See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryOlives straight from the grower — the region around Meknes supplies much of Morocco's olive oil.

VisitThe Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and the sprawling ruins of the royal granaries, Heri es-Souani.

Silhouette der Hassan-II-Moschee in Casablanca bei Sonnenuntergang über dem Atlantik Casablanca, Marokko Casablanca, Marokko Casablanca, Marokko
11
Economic metropolis on the Atlantic

Casablanca

Morocco's modern side

Casablanca isn't a medina city to get lost in, but a metropolis of millions built from Art Deco facades, skyscrapers and a coastal motorway — Morocco's economic heart. Right on the Atlantic rises the Hassan II Mosque: at 210 metres, the tallest minaret in the world, partly built over the sea, so worshippers gaze out at the water during prayer. At night, a laser beam shines from its tip toward Mecca.

Best moment sunset on the Corniche, looking at the mosque See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Flight + hotel → Weather ↗

TryFresh fish at the harbor, or a bowl of harira soup in one of the street cafés.

VisitThe Quartier Habous, the „new old town“ built in the 1930s, with medina charm and Art Deco details.

Rommani, Marokko Rommani, Marokko Rommani, Marokko Rommani, Marokko
12
Zaër plateau between Rabat and the Atlas

Rommani

Quiet market town in Zaër country

Rommani, founded in the 20th century as the garrison town Camp Marchand, is today an unassuming but lively market centre for the Zaër region — gentle hills, cork oak forests and a weekly souk that brings farmers together from all around. Few travellers make it here, which is exactly the appeal.

Best moment on market day, when Zaër farmers from the surrounding area bring their goods into town See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryLocal goat cheese and fresh olive oil from the Zaër region's weekly market.

VisitThe cork oak forests around Rommani, characteristic of the Zaër plateau.

Ifrane, Marokko Ifrane, Marokko Ifrane, Marokko Ifrane, Marokko
13
Middle Atlas, 1,650 metres up

Ifrane

Morocco's “Little Switzerland” in the snow

With its red pitched roofs and half-timbered façades, Ifrane looks as if it had been transplanted from the Alps — a legacy of the French colonial era. Surrounded by cedar forests home to wild Barbary macaques, the town turns reliably white in winter: snowfall here, unlike almost everywhere else in Morocco, is normal.

Best moment on a clear winter morning after fresh snow, when the red tiled roofs are dusted white See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryHearty tagine with wild mushrooms from the nearby cedar forest, a favourite on cool mountain evenings.

VisitThe cedar forest of Azrou nearby, home to wild Barbary macaques.

El Jadida, Marokko El Jadida, Marokko El Jadida, Marokko El Jadida, Marokko
14
Atlantic coast, south of Casablanca

El Jadida

A Portuguese cistern beneath the town

El Jadida, founded by the Portuguese as Mazagan, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its most famous structure is the underground cistern — a column-supported chamber whose water mirrors light and arches, a setting Orson Welles once used for his “Othello”. Above it lies a quiet fortified town by the sea.

Best moment in the afternoon inside the cistern, when light falls through the opening in the vaulted ceiling See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryFresh oysters from the nearby Oualidia lagoon, a regional classic.

VisitThe Portuguese cistern and the ramparts overlooking the Atlantic.

Khénifra, Marokko Khénifra, Marokko Khénifra, Marokko Khénifra, Marokko
15
Middle Atlas, on the Oum Er-Rbia

Khenifra

The red city of the Zaïane

Khenifra owes its nickname to the reddish clay walls of its old town, rising above the Oum Er-Rbia, Morocco's longest river. The town was a centre of Zaïane Berber resistance against French colonial rule and still takes pride in that history today — visible in the equestrian monument on the riverbank.

Best moment on the riverbank at sunset, when the red clay walls glow deeper still See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryHearty Berber tagine with lamb and dried onions, typical of the Atlas region.

VisitThe banks of the Oum Er-Rbia and the equestrian monument honouring the Zaïane resistance.

Safi, Marokko Safi, Marokko Safi, Marokko Safi, Marokko
16
Atlantic coast between Essaouira and El Jadida

Safi

Morocco's pottery capital

Safi has been known for its pottery for centuries: in the potters' quarter above the town, workshops line up where clay is turned into brightly glazed ceramics using traditional techniques. The town itself lives off fishing — its harbour is one of Morocco's largest sardine ports — and, unlike the tourist towns further south, feels pleasantly down-to-earth.

Best moment in the morning in the potters' quarter, when the kilns are smoking and fresh glazes are drying See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TrySardines straight from the boats, grilled at stalls around the harbour.

VisitThe Colline des Potiers pottery quarter, with dozens of traditional workshops.

Azilal, Marokko Azilal, Marokko Azilal, Marokko Azilal, Marokko
17
High Atlas, gateway to the Ouzoud Falls

Azilal

Where the river plunges 110 metres

The town of Azilal itself is unassuming, but it is the gateway to the Cascades d'Ouzoud, one of North Africa's most impressive waterfalls. Across several tiers, the river plunges roughly 110 metres into a gorge, while Barbary macaques clamber through the surrounding olive groves and rainbows form in the spray on clear days.

Best moment in the late morning, when the sun conjures a rainbow in the spray of the falls See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryFreshly pressed olive oil from the terraces around Azilal, often sold right by the roadside.

VisitThe Cascades d'Ouzoud themselves — by boat right up to the falls, or on foot through the olive groves.

Blick über den Platz Djemaa el-Fna in Marrakesch bei Sonnenuntergang Marrakesch, Marokko Marrakesch, Marokko Marrakesch, Marokko
18
Foothills of the High Atlas

Marrakech

The Red City

Mud-colored walls enclose a center that never quite settles down: on the Jemaa el-Fna, spice traders, storytellers and snake charmers take turns with the muezzin's call. The Koutoubia minaret watches over it all. The city looks its best when its ochre almost turns to embers in the evening light.

Best moment sunset from a rooftop terrace on the square See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Flight + hotel → Weather ↗

TryTanjia — meat slow-cooked for hours in a clay pot in the embers of the hammam furnace.

VisitThe Jardin Majorelle with its deep blue studio — once the retreat of Yves Saint Laurent.

Historische Kanonen auf der Stadtmauer Skala du Port in Essaouira Essaouira, Marokko Essaouira, Marokko Essaouira, Marokko
19
Atlantic coast

Essaouira

Wind, white and blue

Portuguese city walls, a lively fishing harbor and lime-white houses with blue shutters give Essaouira a cooler, saltier mood than the interior. The steady trade wind — locally called the „Alizé“ — makes the town one of North Africa's best-known windsurfing spots. Gulls, not muezzins, often set the sound of the day here.

Best moment late afternoon, when the boats come in See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryGrilled fish straight from the harbor, chosen at the market stall and cooked over charcoal.

VisitThe fishing harbor right by the city wall, where the catch is auctioned off each morning.

Die Lehm-Ksar von Aït Benhaddou vor dem Hohen Atlas Aït Benhaddou, Marokko Aït Benhaddou, Marokko Aït Benhaddou, Marokko
20
Gateway to the Sahara

Aït Benhaddou

The mudbrick castle from a picture book

The ksar of Aït Benhaddou is an entire fortified mudbrick town of towers and battlements, a UNESCO World Heritage site barely changed for centuries — and for that reason a backdrop for films from „Lawrence of Arabia“ to „Game of Thrones.“ A few families still live within the walls; most moved long ago to the new village on the opposite riverbank. In the morning light, the rammed earth turns a gold that no photo quite captures.

Best moment sunrise, from the opposite side of the river See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryBerber tagine with dates and cinnamon, served in the mudbrick villages nearby.

VisitThe climb up to the agadir, the granary at the very top of the ksar, with a view over the river valley.

Die Lehm-Kasbah Taourirt in Ouarzazate im Abendlicht Ouarzazate, Marokko Ouarzazate, Marokko Ouarzazate, Marokko
21
Film city on the Draa

Ouarzazate

Morocco's Hollywood in the desert

Because the light here is more even than almost anywhere else, international studios have been filming in Ouarzazate since the 1980s: the Atlas Studios, one of the world's largest film studios, have built entire backlot towns for „Lawrence of Arabia,“ „Gladiator“ and „Game of Thrones.“ At the center, the mudbrick Kasbah Taourirt, once the seat of the powerful Glaoui family, watches over the town — a calm counterpoint to the bustle of the film sets.

Best moment late afternoon, when Kasbah Taourirt glows golden-brown See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryDates from the oases of the Draa Valley, often fresh from a roadside stall.

VisitThe Atlas Film Studios, where parts of „Gladiator“ and „Game of Thrones“ were filmed.

Strand von Agadir mit dem Hügel Agadir Oufella im Hintergrund Agadir, Marokko Agadir, Marokko Agadir, Marokko
22
Atlantic coast, south

Agadir

Sun, beach and a fresh start

In 1960 an earthquake destroyed almost the entire old town — Agadir was rebuilt as a modern city and is today Morocco's beach capital: a six-kilometre sandy beach, a palm-lined promenade, over 300 sunny days a year. Above the bay watches the ruin of the old Kasbah Agadir Oufella, on whose slope the words „Allah, Al Watan, Al Malik“ are written into the rock.

Best moment early evening on the beach, when the kasbah ruin glows golden See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryAmlou — a dip of roasted almonds, argan oil and honey, typical of the Souss region.

VisitThe ruins of Kasbah Agadir Oufella high above the bay, reachable on foot or by chairlift.

Past Ouarzazate, the architecture stops

The Sahara

No more mudbrick, no more alleyways — just dunes. At Merzouga, Erg Chebbi rises 150 metres out of the stone desert, camel caravans cross it in the last light, and at night, far from any town, a night sky appears that you won't see anywhere else in Morocco. Visit only the cities, and you've missed half the country.

Best moment Sunset on the dune ridge of Erg Chebbi Book desert tour →
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Die rosafarbene Moschee Moulay Abdelaziz in Laâyoune Laâyoune, Marokko Laâyoune, Marokko Laâyoune, Marokko
23
Capital of the Moroccan Sahara

Laâyoune

Where Morocco reaches furthest

Laâyoune (El Aaiún) is the largest city in the Moroccan Sahara and the administrative seat of these southern provinces of Morocco. The pink Moulay Abdelaziz Mosque with its tall minaret defines the center, surrounded by wide, young avenues and plenty of desert light. A place that feels more like an administrative capital than a historic medina — and for that very reason offers an honest glimpse into the region.

Best moment late afternoon sun on the pink minaret See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TrySahrawi camel tea and grilled camel meat, shaped by the nomadic cuisine of the region.

VisitThe Place Mechouar in the center, and the Khenifiss lagoon further south, an important bird sanctuary.

Steinruinen der Zaouia von Scheich Ma al-Aynayn in Smara Smara, Marokko Smara, Marokko Smara, Marokko
24
Gateway to Saharan history

Smara

The fossilized zaouia in the desert

Deep inland lie the ruins of the zaouia of Sheikh Ma' al-Aynayn — founded in the early 20th century as a religious and political center of the Sahara, today a field of stone arches and pillars in the middle of the desert. Smara itself is a quiet, sparse garrison town; the real draw is the silent force of this half-ruined complex, telling of a time when the Sahara had centers of its own.

Best moment shortly before sunset, when the stone arches cast long shadows See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryKhobz bread and camel milk, simple desert cooking of the garrison town.

VisitThe riverbed of the Saguia el-Hamra, which gives the region its name and briefly carries water after rain.

Kitesurfer in der Lagune von Dakhla vor der Sahara Dakhla, Marokko Dakhla, Marokko Dakhla, Marokko
25
Atlantic meets Sahara

Dakhla

The lagoon at the edge of the desert

On a narrow peninsula about 40 kilometres long, Dakhla sits between the open Atlantic and a calm lagoon — ideal conditions for kitesurfing, which have made the town one of North Africa's best-known spots. Right behind the dunes begins one of the emptiest coastal landscapes in Morocco; standing here, you have the Sahara at your back and the Atlantic ahead. Despite the kite camps, Dakhla remains more outpost than resort.

Best moment morning on the lagoon, as the wind picks up See hotels → Rent a car → Compare package deals → Compare on Trip.com → Weather ↗

TryOysters straight from the lagoon — one of the few oyster farms in North Africa.

VisitThe white dune right by the water of the lagoon, a popular viewpoint at sunset.

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Climate through the year

Average daily high temperature by region, in °C.

Current time in Morocco10:25:03Friday, 09 October 2026

10° 20° 30° 40° Jan Feb Mär Apr Mai Jun Jul Aug Sep Okt Nov Dez
Rif & the north Atlantic coast Imperial cities & inland Desert & south

Best time to travel: spring (March–May) and autumn (late September–November). In high summer, Marrakech, Fez and the desert regions get very hot, while the Atlantic coast stays pleasantly mild.

The sun and rain icons show the typical weather per month (climatology) — not live values.

You'll find the current weather for each individual city further up, via the „Weather ↗“ link next to it — it leads live to Google's weather search for that place.