Day 2 Casablanca – Rabat - Fès

28.3.26

The day starts off relaxed with a hearty breakfast at 9 am. The selection is vast: bread, croissants, dips, honey, and even soup are ready. I opt for the sweet option and enjoy my croissant and a pancake with honey and nuts – the perfect fuel for what lies ahead today.

Our first destination is the impressive Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, which stands majestically on the Atlantic coast. We park in the parking garage beneath the mosque and then have to completely circle the massive area to reach the entrance. At 9:55 am, we are at the ticket counter, as a guided tour is set to begin at 10 am. Without a guide, one is not allowed to visit the interior, and tourists are generally prohibited during prayer times.

The organization seems typically Moroccan – a bit chaotic; no one really knows where to wait, and countless groups wander around. Eventually, we are directed across the enormous plaza into the interior. There are signs for the different languages – and while English and French have crowds, we find ourselves completely alone at “GERMAN”! Our tour guide greets us cheerfully; we are his only guests today. He exclusively guides us through the magnificent mosque, sharing funny anecdotes and taking great photos of us along the way. We even get a glimpse into the impressive washrooms for men.

Around 11:30 am, we leave Casablanca. We quickly snap a few photos of the mosque with the sea in the foreground, and then proceed towards Rabat. On the way, we observe the adventurous hustle and bustle on the streets: we overtake numerous trucks that are so chaotic and overloaded that they would never be allowed to drive where we are.

Upon arriving in Rabat, we first head to the Hassan Tower, the unfinished minaret, and the magnificent Mausoleum of Mohammed V, from where one has a beautiful view of the surroundings. Among other views, there is a fantastic view of the futuristic building 'Mohammed VI Tower'. The 'Tower' is actually located in Salé, right next to Rabat along the Bouregreg River, and at about 250 m, it is the tallest building in Morocco and one of the tallest in Africa. It's already a major attraction and somehow reminds one of the skyscrapers in Dubai (which also houses a luxury hotel and apartments inside).

The parking spots in front of the Hassan Tower are full - and a 'parking attendant' wants money – but you can easily (and for free) park in the side street right in front of the entrance with the cavalry guard.

Next, we head to the large parking lot at the Kasbah des Oudaias and then stroll through the old town to the panoramic terrace. The view of the surfer beach and the surroundings is simply stunning! The weather is cooperating: it is sunny, but a pleasant 21 degrees.

In the souks of the old town, we treat ourselves to a “Sfenj” – a sweet yeast dough ring, fried in hot oil, for just 20 cents each.

In the afternoon, we make our way to Fès. Sadly, we leave Meknès behind, as there simply isn’t enough time today. In Fès, we park at Bab Guissa and after just a five-minute walk, we reach our home for the next while: the Riad Inaya Fès.

A very nice French couple runs this beautiful riad. We settle into our panoramic room with an amazing view of the Medina and enjoy the huge rooftop terrace. To top it all off, chef Bushra serves us an incredibly delicious dinner (20€/person). Highly recommended, and the view over the Medina is priceless.

For the statistics:

Traveled: 319 km                                                                                                        Weather: 21 degrees in Rabat, 18 degrees in Fès, dry & sunny (evening/night 6 degrees)                                                                                                                                Accommodation: Riad Inaya Fèz (panoramic room, overnight/breakfast)