What cities to visit in Morocco for 7 days? In fact, Morocco enjoys a plethora of beautiful cities. A visit to this colorful country wouldn’t be complete without a visit to at least one of its four imperial cities and the Sahara Desert.
Morocco blue beaches, magnificent arid landscapes, and golden sands offer the possibilities for endless adventures. The country transcends you to a culture and lifestyle that can scarcely be experienced anywhere today.
If you plan a visit for 7 days, there are almost 9 interesting locations to visit. Some of them are easily accessible while others are difficult without a local travel operator. I used Moroccotravel.co for my trip and they provide amazing service. Here, I share the best cities I visited and the itinerary we followed during the tour.
The Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert is the main attraction in Morocco and it includes many cities like Rissani, Ouarzazate, and a fortified village called Ait Benhaddou.
Merzouga is the desert just beyond the city of Rissani. Its legend says that a wealthy family living In Erg Chebbi had once refused hospitality to a poor woman and her son. God then was angered by the conduct of the family and buried them under the sand, thus creating the dunes rising out of the landscape.
The most popular activities to do in Merzouga include riding camels, camping, watching sunset and sunrise,…etc.
Another thriving location to visit in the desert is the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou. The Kasbah served as a background for many Hollywood movies like Gladiator, Cleopatra, Star wars, and recently portrayed as Yankey in the Game of Thrones.
Finally, One of the desert icons that worth your time is the city of Ouarzazate. This city is known as “the door to the desert” and was traditionally used as a crossroads for slave traders. Currently, several visitors are unaware of what this magical city has to offer; it is home for the most prestigious cinema studio in Africa.
Marrakesh
If you wonder about what cities to visit in Morocco, here is the first one, Marrakesh!
Marrakech is a thriving metropolis steeped in history and culture, wonderful and fabulous, a blend of old and new with a glamour of an exotic city. For the first-timer, it may seem strange and mysterious with snake charmers, exotic music, busy bazaars, carpet sellers, and colorful souks all over the place; but don’t be frightened, Marrakech has its own persona with an unparallel civilization that displays the abundant facets of the city’s lifestyle.
Marrakesh is a place where magnificence affects the soul, a city where the present and the past meet. You can enjoy Jama El Fna Square, Majorelle Garden, Bahia Palace, Koutoubia Mosque, Saadian tombs…etc. Your visit to Marrakesh will leave your head spinning and your senses in knots.
Fez
Fez is an authentic blend between the 8th-century Fez el Bali, the 13th-century Fez el Jdid, and the 20th-century Ville Nouvelle (built by the French). Many think that this city is the oldest surviving city in the world since it was inhabited since the 8th century.
Fez is really one of those immortal destinations, steeped in every exotic portrait your mind can invoke, and before you know it, you’ll be caught in its captivating spell. The city was listed as a UNESCO world heritage and remains as Morocco’s spiritual heart due to the keen connections to the religious schools and Islamic scholars.
Fez’s car-free medina has stayed a crossroads for merchants and created a ground for teaching the traditional crafts such as intricate wood carving, zellige tilework, and hand-wrought metalsmithing.
The main things to see in Fez are Chouara Tannery, Medersa Bou Inania, Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts, Mellah, Borj Nord and the Merenid Tombs, Qaraouiyine Mosque… etc.
Fez is one of the top cities to visit in Morocco for 7 days.
Meknes and Volubilis
Did you know that Morocco has ancient Roman ruins? I didn’t either! But just a couple of miles away from Meknes located a thriving city during the Roman empire, Volubilis. This city was founded by the Berber people in the 3rd century BC, and was part of Mauretania when the kingdom joined Rome following the fall of Carthage in 146 BC.
You will be fascinated by Roman Ruins adorns with beautiful colorful mosaic tiles manifesting the Roman legend. Settle down across numerous acres complete with mansion, triumph arch, temple, town center devotes to Roman Empire. You need to view it and discover it with the local guide to recount the history of the place.
Just like Volubilis, Meknes is a city that is mainly famous for its historical sites. You can visit Bab Menzour gate, Lahdim Square, and local museums.
Meknes and Volubilis are 2 main cities to visit in Morocco for your 7 days. These cities are close to each other and have a history steeped in time.
7 days itinerary of Morocco
The best itinerary to see the cities and attractions stated above starts in Casablanca. You meet your driver and you travel to Rabat where you will have a short break before you Move to Meknes. After a visit to Meknes and Volubilis, you drive to Fez where you spend your first night.
The next day, you will have a chance to discover the city with a local guide. You will hang out in its streets and see the main attractions.
Next, you travel to the Desert via Ifran, Azrou, Midelt, and Rissani. You stop multiple times to take pictures and to discover the places along the way. When you reach Merzouga, you ride camels and you camp in the desert.
After having your breakfast, you travel to Ouarzazate and You discover the cinema Studio, it takes almost 1 hour. Then, you visit old Kasbahs and meet some locals. You spend a night there and you leave to Marrakesh. You stop at Ait Benhaddou for a visit and to take pictures. Then, you travel to Marrakesh.
You reach Marrakesh in the evening and after a short break, you visit Jamaa El Fna Square to see some shows. The next day, you will have a guided tour of the city of Marrakesh.
To see the details of this itinerary, please visit the Morocco Travel website the link above.
