Cities of Morocco
Morocco, also known as the Kingdom of Morocco in Arabic (المغرب al-Maghreb), is a country located in North Africa with an African Berber and Arabic culture with European influences. The country is characterised by mountainous and desert areas, as well as a coastline overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Morocco has a population of over 36 million and covers an area of 446,550 km². The country’s capital is Rabat, while the largest city is Casablanca, with a population of 6 million.
Morocco is the preferred tourist destination for travellers from Europe, America, Australia, Russia, China and other countries of the world. The most popular cities for tourists include Marrakech, Agadir, Essaouira, Fez, Ouarzazate and the desert.
Marrakech is a city of two million inhabitants consisting of the Medina (the old city) and the new city. The main tourist sites include the ramparts of the Medina, Jamaa El Fna square, the famous Souks, the Majorelle gardens, the basins of La Menara, the oldest Koranic university La Medrassa de Ben Youssef, as well as the El Badiî and La Bahia palaces and the tombs of the Saadiînes.
Agadir is the second most visited tourist city in Morocco after Marrakech, known for its 10 km long sandy beach and its large souk (souk lhed). The seaside resorts of Taghazout, Aghroud and Imiwadar are also popular with visitors, who can also enjoy excursions to Tafraout, Tiznit and Taroudant.
Essaouira, on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, is a port with a population of around 70,000 and consists of two distinct parts: the new town and the medina, the latter being a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Considered the cultural capital of Morocco, Fez has a university, Al Quaraouiyine, with exceptional Arab-Andalusian architecture. The city is divided into two parts, the new town and the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is surrounded by the spa town of Sidi Harazem, as well as the towns of Meknes and Ifran.
Ouarzazate, known as the “gateway to the desert” and the “city of films”, is located in southern Morocco and is famous for its oases and kasbahs. Among them, the Ait Benhadou kasbah and the Taourirt kasbah, a village within the city, are classified as Unesco World Heritage sites. Ouarzazate is also the starting point for hikers, whether on foot, by 4×4, mountain bike or camel.
Merzouga, a small Saharan Berber village in south-eastern Morocco, is famous for its dunes, the highest in Morocco, and in particular Erg Chebbi, the largest erg in the country. This region has become a major tourist destination, offering a variety of activities such as camel trekking, desert bivouacking, quad biking and sand bathing in summer.
