The combination of Morocco’s four imperial cities with the Sahara Desert represents the most complete single-country travel experience available anywhere in the world. The four imperial cities — Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, and Fes — each served as Morocco’s royal capital at different points in history, and each carries a distinct architectural, cultural, and historical identity. Adding the Sahara Desert to this itinerary creates a journey that spans the full range of Moroccan civilisation, from Atlantic coast urbanism to ancient desert nomadism, within a single memorable trip.
Morocco’s Four Imperial Cities: A Brief Introduction
Casablanca and Rabat
Casablanca is Morocco’s modern economic capital, home to the extraordinary Hassan II Mosque — the only mosque in Morocco open to non-Muslim visitors and one of the world’s architectural masterpieces. Rabat, Morocco’s current royal capital, contains the Hassan Tower, the Chellah necropolis, and a medina that rewards quieter, deeper exploration than the more-visited Marrakech and Fes alternatives.
Meknes
Meknes is the most underrated of Morocco’s imperial cities — a monumental 17th-century creation of Sultan Moulay Ismail, who modelled his capital on Versailles. The enormous Bab Mansour gate, the royal granaries, the vast stables capable of housing 12,000 horses, and the underground prison complex are extraordinary expressions of absolute imperial ambition.
Fes
Morocco’s spiritual and intellectual capital, home to the world’s oldest university and the most complete medieval urban environment surviving anywhere on earth. The Fes medina is the centrepiece of any imperial cities tour.
Combining Imperial Cities with Desert Tours
The most popular imperial cities and desert combination departs from Casablanca, visits Rabat and Meknes en route to Fes, then heads south through the Middle Atlas to Merzouga and completes the circuit through the southern landscapes to Marrakech. Our 5-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga covers this route in seven days. For the full ten-day version, see our Morocco Tours FAQ. Browse our tours from Casablanca and complete catalogue for all options. See Lonely Planet Morocco Travel Guide and UNESCO — Medina of Marrakech for heritage and travel context.
