The 7 best cities in Morocco (that aren’t Marrakech)

Best for: surfing and sunshine

Agadir’s trump card is its climate; averaging 300 days of sunshine a year, the city radiates eternal Summer vibes. Home to a 5 km stretch of sandy beach lined with resorts and a new wave of boutique hotels (hello, The View), huge investment has gone into developing the city’s infrastructure with new roads, parks, cultural offerings and neighbourhood hubs. Taghazout and Tamraght, north of the city, are popular with surfers and those looking for laid-back living, found in beachfront yoga studios We Are Ocean and oceanside dining at World of Waves.

Best for: modern Morocco

Casa is the country’s economic capital. A fast-moving city that offers a glimpse into Morocco’s multifaceted and modernising society. Visit the cities’ historic districts; Habbous, Medina and Hassan II Mosque. Then join the locals for a sunset walk along the Boulevard de la Corniche, continuing to Table 3, a new Michelin-starred restaurant in Ain Diab. Experience the city’s creative buzz in the Maarif district, where Moroccan artists and designers are opening contemporary galleries and boutiques like local designer Zila Russi. In summer, check out Jazzablanca, the city’s ace outdoor music festival.

Best for: Moroccan cafe culture

In the far north, this easy breezy coastal city makes for a Mediterranean infused entry point into Morocco. The busy port is a major link between Europe and Africa, for trade and tourism, with Tarifa in Spain being just an hour’s crossing away. Experience Tangier’s vibrant café culture in the city’s leafy squares and cliff-edge cafés: Café Hafa is an institution. Here,  multiple terraces are built into the hillside, and you can sip your  long-pour mint tea (a Tangier speciality) overlooking the Gibraltar Strait.

Best for: slow, scenic stays

Morocco’s political capital is ‘clean, green and zwin’. Zwin means beautiful in Arabic. A lovely city to explore with tree-lined avenues, modern tramway, manicured parks and a surprising mix of traditional and modern architecture. Its easy-to-navigate Medina offers relaxed souk shopping and traditional riad hotels like Dar Shaan, walking distance to the city’s sandy beach. Soak up Moroccan history at Chellah’s Roman ruins and Islamic architecture at Mohammed V Mausoleum. Potter through the Kasbah des Oudayas cobbled streets, stopping at Café Maure for a mint tea with river views.

Best for: foodies

Deep-dive into Morocco’s rich culture and spirituality. Home to the world’s largest pedestrianised Medina, embrace getting lost in Fez or find a good tour guide. This city is packed with Islamic architecture, seen in its minarets, religious schools, El-Attarine Medersa, and impeccably-restored riads like Dar Roumana. Narrow streets lined with souk stalls lead you to well-preserved crafting traditions, like leather-making in the Chouara Tannery, one of Fez’s top attractions. From street food to Michelin-starred spots, food is celebrated at all levels here – make sure to try the regional speciality, pastilla, a filo pastry pie served with a sweet or savoury filling.

Best for: ancient architecture

This former capital has a bite-size historic Medina that’s easier to navigate than neighbouring Fez’. And now is a good time to visit: both Bab Mansour, the city’s main gate, and Place el Hedim, akin to the Djemma el-Fna square in Marrakech, have been recently renovated. Meknès makes a great base for day trips to the impressive Roman ruins at Volubilis and Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, Morocco’s much-loved picturesque hilltop spiritual town. It’s also at the heart of Morocco’s winemaking region, wine tours and tastings are offered in style at Villa Volubilia. 

Best for: coastal living 

This charming Atlantic coast city is known for its seafood, sunset spots and live music scene. Nick-named the ‘Windy City of Africa’, it’s a popular place for wind watersports – join in or enjoy watching from a sheltered table at Ocean Vagabond. The photogenic port, souks and historic city walls are easily explored on foot, and you’ll find great shopping in the souk and fixed-price concept stores like Histoire de Filles for Moroccan designers. Travel in June for the Gnaoua Music Festival, when 400,000 festival-goers bring the streets to life.