Ouzoud is famous for its waterfalls, the highest in North Africa, which are well worth a visit. There are pools to swim in when the weather is warm enough, boats to rent for a ride along the river, and plenty of wildlife to spot. This is Berber country, so you can learn about the culture if you go with a local guide.
The whole valley in northern Morocco looks like a secret garden, with high mountains and lush vegetation along the banks of the river that feeds Akchour Falls. The falls consist of a high waterfall up in the valley, a series of small cascades, and a more modest waterfall below, all accessed by hiking trails.
This traditional hammam experience is special because it takes place in one of the oldest riads and hammam complexes in Marrakech. Hammam Mouassine offers several treatments designed to make you feel your best. This isn’t a completely gentle affair since you’ll be scrubbed. But after this experience, you’ll feel smooth and rejuvenated, ready to hit the souks and medinas and take in the sights.
Housed in a beautifully restoredriad (a structure built around a courtyard), tucked between the Bahia and Dar Si Said palaces, the Tiskiwin Museum (Musée Tiskiwin) fascinates visitors. Crammed with North African art, handicrafts, and artifacts, the Maison Tiskiwin collection immerses visitors in the region’s vibrant cultural history.
One of Fez’s best-known and most beautiful madrasas (islamic schools), Bou Inania Medersa (Madrasa Bou Inania) pierces the medina skyline with its green-tiled mosque minaret. The interior is a feast of tilework, stucco, horseshoe arches, and filigreed latticework screens, with an original 14th-century fountain that worshippers still use today.
Among a sea of blue houses in the medina of Chefchaouen, the city’s Kasbah stands out with its high clay walls. Inside those walls, you’ll find a lush garden, fountains, and towers with prime city views, as well as an ethnographic museum that details the customs and interests of Chefchaouen’s people through items such as costumes, instruments, and weapons.
Peppered with panels of colorful tile mosaics, Tangier Kasbah is a historic fortress and former royal palace that offers coastal views from the tallest point in the city. The palace, Dar el Makhzen, dates back to the 17th century and is now home to a museum with a peaceful garden, which showcases a range of Moroccan art.
Morocco is known for its bold-colored carpets created from handmade materials, and the Dar Si Said Museum in Marrakech celebrates this artisan tradition. Step inside to see intricate carpets made by master craftsmen from all over the country. The building’s 19th-century architecture is another draw, with beautiful painted ceilings and detailed doors and gates.
Take a break from the busy buzz of Fez, especially the medina, with a stroll in the Jnan Sbil Garden. It’s a welcome breath of fresh air, with plenty of lush greenery different from the surrounding sand-colored desert. The gardens are over 100 years old and have been recently spruced up. There are over 3,000 species of plants to wander around.
Tetouan isn’t featured on most tourist itineraries, so its medina has a relaxed, local feel, unlike bustling ones in Fez or Marrakech. You have residents shopping here, so the vendors don’t cater to tourists, and there aren’t any touts. Walk through lanes of white-walled traditional buildings, see what’s being sold, and try your hand at bargaining.
With its octagonal minaret stretching free of the surrounding rooftops, and staircases leading up to its entrance from Place Outa el Hammam, the Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen is a landmark that’s hard to overlook. Unlike the rest of the city, this 15th-century mosque is not coated in blue paint, but rather a more modest combination of white and earthen brown.
A rare open space within the Chefchaoeun Medina, Place Outa el Hammam can feel much larger than it is when compared with the city’s many narrow streets and alleys. Tall trees provide shade around this main square, while local landmarks frequently lead visitors to stop by, such as the Grand Mosque of Chefchaouen and Kasbah Museum.
A modern, spacious seafront promenade, Agadir Corniche runs for about 3 miles (5 kilometers) along Agadir Beach in the heart of town. Lined with palm trees, restaurants, bars, ice-cream stores—and more than the odd persistent street peddlers—it’s a charming place for a waterfront stroll. The sunsets can be spectacular against a backdrop of the Atlantic surf rolling onto the golden sands.
Combining the age-old traditions of a Moroccan hammam with the modern innovations of a Western-style spa, Les Bains de Marrakech is a popular choice for travelers seeking a Marrakesh hammam experience. Opened in 2001 by Frenchman Kader Boufraine, this was Marrakech’s first luxury private spa.
As you venture out to the Saharan town of Merzouga, surrounded by vast sandy desert and sweeping dunes, flamingos are probably far from your list of possible wildlife sightings. But in the winter, bird-watchers flock to the seasonal saltwater lake of Dayet Sriji just west of Merzouga to spot pink flamingos and other migratory birds.
The Archaeological Museum of Tetouan takes you back over a century, allowing you to explore artifacts, tools, ceramics, and stone inscriptions—some of the pieces are pre-Islamic. Most of the articles are from Northern Morocco and ancient Tetouan, which was destroyed by Romans in a revolt. There’s also an extensive library to explore.
In the heart of Tetouan, not far from the Royal Palace, sits Feddan Park—a place for people to gather in a relaxed environment. Destroyed years ago when the Royal Palace was being built, it was rebuilt by popular demand. There’s a café nearby, so visitors can grab a tea, coffee, or cold drink and hang out with friends.
Photogenic spots among the wall-to-wall azure streets of Chefchaouen Medina aren’t hard to find, and yet Callejon El Asri remains one of the city’s most popular. Vibrant flower pots of every color—but blue—adorn this narrow stairway to create a vivid scene that’s only enhanced by the further layers of the dense medina visible up the hill.
