Rabat literally “Fortified Place” is the capital city of Morocco. The city is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg. On the facing shore of the river lies Salí, Rabat’s bedroom community. Together with Temara the cities account for a combined metropolitan population of 2.6 million. It is an easy going city by Moroccan standards. Despite being the capital, it is not the biggest city in Morocco because that would be Casablanca. Rabat is well served by train and you can get frequent connections to most places. Marrakesh is a pleasant 4 hour journey, Fez 2.5 hours (if you take one of the new express trains, and 3.5 hours on other trains) and Casablanca 1 hour. There are two stations in Gare Rabat Ville.  edit (Medina/Downtown) and Agdal. A tram and a taxi station are located just next to the downtown train station. Be warned that trains are sometimes delayed by over an hour. Visit OCNF website (ocnf for the timetable.)It’s possible to get a bus from almost any town in the country to Rabat. Note, however, that the buses often do not stop at the central bus station, but instead go through the city. It may be a good idea to ask someone which is the correct stop, or use a decent street map to work out where you are. It is easy to miss the main stop and find yourself heading out into the suburbs again, which is not too bad – about a 20-25 MAD ride in to downtown.The Rabat International Airport is in the nearby town of Salí. The sole brand new Terminal building was inaugurated by the King of Morocco in 2012, doubling the airport’s passenger handling capacity. Services provided include currency exchange and car rental, along with a friendly information desk. Expect a wait in the Passport Control check either way and be prepared to fill out a registration form before.Main airline users include Royal Air Maroc (Brussels, Paris-Orly, London-Gatwick, Madrid, Marseille) and budget Ryanair (Beauvais, Charleroi, Girona, London-Stansted, Madrid, Marseille, Rome-Ciampino).The airport is served by a dedicated Stareo Bus that offers a direct connection (approx. 40 min / costs 20 dirham one way) to the city center, just outside of Rabat Ville Train Station / Mohammed V Tramway Station. Buses leave the airport 1 hour after each arrival and the city center 2 hours before each flight (a schedule is posted on the bus stop).Grand taxis service Rabat from other cities. Be aware that these are old Mercedes and are often not in the best of condition. The driver may not drive as safely as you would expect. In addition, be careful that your driver does not try to overcharge you, as this is quite a common occurrence. It is normal for people in Morocco to share taxis with other people, so you might not go directly to your destination. Learn some French or Arabic expressions to communicate with your driver if you take a Grand Taxi.There are also some private companies which offer inter-city transfers in newer cars with English-speaking drivers.It costs only 6 MAD for one use and it works from 6am to 11 pm from Monday to Sunday. There is a tram every 10 minutes during the week and every 20 minutes during Sunday. One of the stations (Mohammed V – Gare de Rabat.  edit) is located exactly just in front of the downtown train station (Gare de Rabat-Ville). It is a good way of getting around. Maps are available in every station.There are many things to do here, as with most Moroccan cities it is enough just to wander around and adventure where something takes your fancy In the Kasbah (Oudaia) there is an amazing cafe that looks over the sea, where you can drink mint tea and eat sugary treats. The staff are very friendly and you can stay as long as you like soaking up the atmosphere.There is also a large and tranquil park next to the Hotel Sofitel, where people run and play football etc. You can also use the pool at the Sofitel for a charge. The park is a 10-15 Dirham taxi ride (10 minutes) from la gare central.In a restaurant add a 5-10% tip to the bill if you are satisfied with the service.In most places you can have natural juice (orange, lemon, avocado) for less then 20 MAD, usually the same price as a soda or less.If you find yourself in Agdal, try the brochettes at ‘Sucre et Sale’. Most budget accommodation is found in the Old Medina of Rabat. Walking on Mohammed V street, you ll see a lot of signs pointing to hotels. On some days these fill up quickly, so it s good to be early. A double room will set you back about 120 150 Dh.Rabat is considered a safe city. Just use some common sense: avoid wearing expensive jewelry or looking flashy, do not flash large quantities of cash, and avoid unfamiliar and deserted areas at night. If you walk in the crowded streets of the Medina or use a bus, keep a hand on your pockets. Women should avoid low-cut tops, midriffs, or shorts to avoid harassment (which almost always consists of comments, but nothing physical) although this is less of a problem than in other cities. Don’t feel the need to be polite–no Moroccan woman would put up with behaviour like that.Rabat is served by all of the mobile companies that can be found elsewhere in Morocco. Wana, Meditel, and Maroc Telecom are the most common. Mobile phones can be bought in any of these store’s stands, and most do not run on calling plans. Rather, recharge cards can be bought in corner stores that contain a number to call. When that number is called, the company adds the price of the card to your account’s balance. Alternatively, more than one SIM card can be bought and changed in and out of the phone, if users need more than one phone number.Other places worth visiting on the Northern Atlantic coast are Asilah and Larache.

Airport: RBA Rabat–Salé Airport Cities in Morocco

Country: Morocco