Must-See Places to Add to Your Morocco Itinerary

Must-See Places to Add to Your Morocco Itinerary

When planning a trip to Morocco, be sure to add these three sights to your itinerary.

Chefchaouen: Morocco’s Blue City

The beautiful city of Chefchaouen, also known as “the blue pearl,” sits high in Morocco’s green Rif Mountains. Nobody is really sure why many buildings in the city are painted blue. Some say it keeps mosquitoes away, others that it keeps tourists coming. The blue is said to represent the sky and heaven.

For many, Chefchaouen is a place to escape Morocco’s big cities, discover its narrow streets, taste the local food and shop for souvenirs. Travelers may also like to explore the nearby hills, where they can find some of the area’s many cannabis farms.

Medina of Fez: Feed Your Senses

The ancient Medina of Fez in Morocco’s old capital is said to be the world’s largest urban car-free zone. The city has many narrow streets filled with cafés, food markets, mosques and stalls.

The Medina is especially famous for its tanneries, where stone containers filled with dye sit like a giant tray of paints, and workers use leather tanning techniques that haven’t changed for centuries.

It’s also home to al-Qarawiyyin, the world’s oldest university, founded in the year 859, and the Royal Palace of Fez, which the King of Morocco still uses on visits to the city.

Merzouga: A Wonderland of Sand

Merzouga in southeastern Morocco is perfect for travelers who want to experience desert life. The tiny village is best known for being close to Erg Chebbi, a “sand sea” of dunes up to 160 meters high.

Camel tours across the dunes are one of the most popular activities in the area. For longer tours, guests can stay in a Berber tent and see the beautiful Saharan sunrises and sunsets. There are also 4×4 tours and activities like sandboarding, and you can even take a sand bath.

The seasonal lake of Dayet Srij is also nearby, attracting many types of birds — including flamingos — when it has water from November to May.