The Hassan Tower in Rabat and the rows of column stumps of the unfinished mosque around it, under a blue sky

Rabat Day Trip

Morocco's capital — Kasbah, Hassan Tower and Chellah — in a day

Full day · Starts 08:30 · Private

Get a quote

Photo: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Skip the day

08:30 to 16:00.

08:30 · Atlantic motorway · ~1h, 90kmCasablanca → RabatHotel pickup and a one-hour drive north up the coast to the capital.
10:00 · RabatKasbah & Hassan TowerWalk the Udayas kasbah, the Andalusian gardens, the Hassan Tower and the royal mausoleum with your guide.
13:00 · Bou RegregRiverside lunchLunch by the river separating Rabat from Salé.
14:30 · ChellahChellah ruinsThe Roman-Marinid necropolis, gardens and stork colony.
16:00 · Return · ~1hRabat → CasablancaDrive back down the coast, drop-off at your hotel by early evening.

A full-day private trip to the capital, an hour north of Casablanca: the blue-and-white Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and royal mausoleum, and the Roman-Marinid ruins of Chellah.

Rabat sits about an hour up the Atlantic coast from Casablanca — close enough for a relaxed day, distinct enough to feel like a different country. Morocco's quiet, green capital is a UNESCO World Heritage city, far less hectic than Fes or Marrakech.

With a private driver-guide you visit the Kasbah of the Udayas — a 12th-century fort of blue-and-white lanes above the river mouth — the unfinished Hassan Tower with its forest of broken columns, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the romantic ruins of Chellah, where Roman foundations and a Marinid necropolis share a garden full of nesting storks. Lunch by the river, then back to Casablanca by early evening.

Highlights

Kasbah of the Udayas (blue-and-white medina fort)
Hassan Tower and its field of columns
Mausoleum of Mohammed V
Chellah Roman ruins and Marinid necropolis
Lunch by the Bou Regreg river

Photos

The Hassan Tower in Rabat and the rows of column stumps of the unfinished mosque around it, under a blue skyPhoto: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A cobbled lane of white houses with blue-painted lower walls in the Kasbah of the Udayas, RabatPhoto: Jorge Láscar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Included

Private hotel pickup and drop-off in Casablanca
Air-conditioned vehicle, fuel, tolls and parking
Local guide in Rabat
All listed entrance fees
Bottled water on board

Not included

Lunch
Tips for the driver and guide
Personal shopping

What to bring

Comfortable walking shoes (medina cobblestones)
Layers — even desert nights can drop to 5°C
Sun hat, sunglasses, SPF 30+
Modest cover-up for mosques and conservative areas
Reusable water bottle (we refill on the road)
Adaptor for Type C/E plugs (220V)

Places on this tour

Photo credits

The Hassan Tower in Rabat and the rows of column stumps of the unfinished mosque around it, under a blue sky. Photo: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A cobbled lane of white houses with blue-painted lower walls in the Kasbah of the Udayas, Rabat. Photo: Jorge Láscar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions about this tour

Is "Rabat Day Trip" private or a group tour?

100% private. Just you and the people you book with — your own driver, vehicle and pace from start to finish. We never pool travellers.

Can I change the dates or itinerary?

Yes. Every itinerary is a starting point. Add a day, swap a riad, change the start city — we'll re-quote within 24 hours and confirm the price in writing before any deposit.

How fit do I need to be?

Easy. Light walking on medina cobblestones, plus optional activities you can opt in or out of on the day.

When should I book?

For high season (Oct–Apr) and any trip involving the Sahara or hot-air balloon, book 8–12 weeks ahead. Last-minute (under 14 days) is usually still possible with a phone call.

How long is the drive to Rabat?

About an hour each way — Rabat is roughly 90km north of Casablanca on a fast Atlantic motorway. It makes for a comfortable full day with plenty of time in the city.