Rabat-Sale-Kenitra
Rabat
Morocco's elegant Atlantic capital.
Rabat at a glance
- Region
- Rabat-Sale-Kenitra
- Province or prefecture
- Rabat (prefecture)
- Status
- Regional capital
- Population
- 515,619 (2024 census)
- Area
- Not available
- Elevation
- 65 m
- Coordinates
- 34.021, -6.842
- Postal code
- 10000
- Phone area code
- +212 537
- Time zone
- Africa/Casablanca (see note on Ramadan)
- Local names
- Rabat (French) · الرباط (Arabic)
- Best time to visit
- April to June and September to October
Population is from the 2024 census (HCP) and is being updated. Climate figures are indicative regional profiles. Confirm details with official sources before relying on them.
About Rabat
Rabat is the political capital, seat of Parliament and the royal palace. It is calmer and greener than Casablanca, with wide avenues, gardens, museums and a UNESCO-listed historic core.
History
The Roman settlement of Sala stood at nearby Chellah. In the 12th century the Almohad ruler Yacoub al-Mansour made Ribat al-Fath a fortified capital and began the Hassan Tower. It became the capital under the French protectorate and remained so after independence in 1956.
Things to see in Rabat
- Kasbah of the Udayas
- Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V
- Chellah necropolis
- Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
- Bouregreg marina
UNESCO World Heritage: Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City: a Shared Heritage (2012).
Climate and best time to visit
Atlantic temperate. Mild, humid Atlantic climate with warm summers tempered by sea breezes and rain concentrated between October and April.
Best time to visit: April to June and September to October. Indicative regional profile.
Getting to Rabat
- By air
- Rabat-Sale Airport (RBA), about 10 km from the centre.
- By train
- Rabat Ville and Rabat Agdal stations; Al Boraq connects to Casablanca and Tangier.
- By bus
- CTM, Supratours and regional bus companies serve most routes; grand taxis cover shorter hops. Check current schedules.
- By road
- Reached by national roads and, on many routes, the motorway network. Check road conditions in winter, especially in mountain areas.
Economy
Government, diplomacy, education, services and a growing technology and cultural sector.
Food and drink
Atlantic seafood, Rabat-style pastries and sweets, and a cafe culture around the medina.
Festivals and events
Mawazine Rhythms of the World is the best-known music festival; check the current edition.
Where to stay
Rabat has a full range of accommodation, from international hotels to guesthouses and, in historic quarters, traditional riads and dars. Staying inside or near the old town makes it easier to explore on foot.