Morocco was Africa’s most-visited country in 2024 — 17.4 million international arrivals, running at 135% of 2019 levels, per UN Tourism — and heads into 2026 with fresh infrastructure from hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations across several of the cities below.
Imperial cities
- Marrakech — “The Red City,” built around the Djemaa el-Fna square and its historic medina; the near-default starting point for a Morocco trip.
- Fes — An imperial city home to centuries-old tanneries still using traditional dyeing methods, and one of the best-preserved medieval medinas in the country.
- Rabat — The capital: a modern district of wide boulevards alongside an old medina behind fortified walls.
- Chefchaouen — The “Blue City,” a UNESCO-recognized medina known for its blue-washed streets, souks, and traditional riads.
- Casablanca — Morocco’s modern commercial hub, generally treated as an entry point rather than a multi-day stop.
Desert & natural landscapes
- Merzouga & the Erg Chebbi dunes — The most accessible starting point for Sahara dunes, roughly a full day’s drive from Marrakech or Fes via the Dades or Ziz valleys; overnight desert camps are the standard way to experience it.
- Ouarzazate & Aït Benhaddou — Known as the “Hollywood of Africa” for its film studios and desert backdrops, used in productions including Game of Thrones, Gladiator, and The Mummy.
- Draa Valley — Palm groves and river-valley scenery running from Ouarzazate toward the desert.
- Essaouira — A coastal trading town turned relaxed beach destination, with a long history as an export point between the Sahara and the Atlas Mountains.
- Atlas Mountains — Snow-capped peaks a short distance from the Sahara’s dunes — the range that makes Morocco’s climate contrast possible within a single route.
Planning note
Morocco’s best-known route (Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains, and the Sahara) covers real distance by road, and travel guides consistently recommend 10–12 days as the practical minimum to do it without spending most of the trip in transit. Spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) are the standard shoulder-season windows, avoiding summer heat in the desert and winter cold in the mountains — see current Marrakesh forecast conditions before confirming dates.
Sources
- Nomadasaurus — The 15 Best Places to Visit in Morocco
- Happy Morocco Travel — The 10 Best Places to Visit in Morocco
- UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer, January 2025
Read the Top 10 Countries to Visit in 2026 roundup for how Morocco compares globally.
