Imperial Cities
Overview
Morocco's four imperial cities each served as the national capital under different ruling dynasties, and together they form the cultural backbone of the country. Fes, the oldest (founded 789 AD), was the capital of the Idrisid and Marinid dynasties and remains the spiritual and intellectual center with its UNESCO-listed medina and the world's oldest university. Marrakech, the Red City (founded 1070), was the Almoravid and Almohad capital and is today Morocco's tourism capital, famous for Jemaa el-Fna square and its vibrant souks. Meknes flourished under the Alaouite Sultan Moulay Ismail (1672-1727), who built a vast imperial complex rivaling Versailles. Rabat, the current capital since 1912, blends its role as the modern seat of government with medieval monuments including the Hassan Tower and the Chellah necropolis. A circuit of all four cities is one of Morocco's classic travel itineraries, easily connected by train and bus. Each city has a distinct personality and exploring all four reveals the full depth of Moroccan history, architecture, and cuisine.
regionDetail.topExperiences
Best things to do in Imperial Cities
Experience Jemaa el-Fna at Night
Watch the world's greatest open-air spectacle unfold each evening in Marrakech as food stalls, musicians, storytellers, and acrobats fill the UNESCO-recognized square.
Navigate the Fes el-Bali Medina
Explore the world's largest car-free urban area, a labyrinth of 9,000 alleys hiding tanneries, madrasas, fondouks, and artisan workshops that have operated for centuries.
Visit the Meknes Imperial City
Walk through the monumental Bab Mansour gate and explore the vast royal granaries, stables, and mausoleum built by Sultan Moulay Ismail to rival Versailles.
Wander the Kasbah des Oudaias in Rabat
Explore the blue-and-white painted streets of this 12th-century kasbah overlooking the Bou Regreg River, then relax in the Andalusian Gardens.
Cities in Imperial Cities
Explore destinations in this region
Marrakech
Imperial Cities
Morocco's Red City is a sensory overload of labyrinthine souks, stunning Islamic architecture, and the legendary Jemaa el-Fna square where storytellers, musicians, and food vendors create an open-air spectacle that has continued unbroken for nearly a thousand years. Marrakech rewards those who lose themselves in the medina's winding alleys and discover hidden riads, rooftop terraces, and centuries-old palaces.
Fes
Imperial Cities
Morocco's spiritual and intellectual capital is home to the world's oldest continuously functioning university and the largest car-free urban area on earth. Fes el-Bali, the ancient medina, is a living medieval city of over 9,000 winding alleys where donkeys still carry goods, artisans work with techniques unchanged for centuries, and the famous Chouara tanneries dye leather in stone vats dating to the 11th century.
Meknes
Imperial Cities
The most overlooked of Morocco's four imperial cities, Meknes was built by the ambitious Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century as a rival to Versailles. Today the city rewards visitors with the magnificent Bab Mansour gate, vast royal granaries, a relaxed medina with far fewer tourists than Fes or Marrakech, and easy access to the Roman ruins of Volubilis.
Rabat
Imperial Cities
Morocco's elegant capital city sits at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River, offering a more refined and less chaotic experience than Marrakech or Fes. Rabat's UNESCO-listed medina, the picturesque blue-and-white Kasbah des Oudaias, the unfinished 12th-century Hassan Tower, and the modernist Mohammed V Mausoleum showcase the full breadth of Moroccan history from medieval to contemporary.
Best Time to Visit
Recommended Period
March to May, September to November — Spring and autumn provide the best weather for exploring these inland cities. Summers can be extremely hot in Marrakech (40+ degrees Celsius) and Fes. Winters are mild in Marrakech but can be cold and wet in Fes and Meknes.
Food & Specialties
Each imperial city has its own distinct culinary identity: Fes is Morocco's gastronomic capital with refined palace cuisine; Marrakech is the street food capital with Jemaa el-Fna; Meknes is known for olives and preserves; Rabat offers sophisticated contemporary dining.
Pastilla — Fes's signature sweet-savory pie with pigeon or chicken, almonds, and cinnamon
Tanjia — Marrakech's slow-cooked bachelor's stew, unique to the Red City
Tagine — Available everywhere but each city has its own signature variations
Khlea — Meknes's preserved dried meat specialty
Friday couscous — The communal lunch tradition observed across all four cities
Getting There
How to reach Imperial Cities
By Air
Marrakech Menara (RAK) and Casablanca Mohammed V (CMN, for Rabat) are the main gateways. Fes-Saiss (FEZ) has European connections. Meknes is reached via Fes airport.
By Train
All four imperial cities are connected by ONCF trains. Marrakech to Casablanca (3 hours), Casablanca to Rabat (1 hour), Rabat to Meknes (2 hours), Meknes to Fes (45 minutes). The circuit can be done entirely by train.
By Bus
CTM and Supratours buses connect all four cities with frequent, comfortable services.
Getting Around
Within each city, petit taxis and walking are the main options. Medinas are pedestrian-only. Between cities, the train network provides the most comfortable connections. Rabat and Casablanca have tramway systems. Grand taxis supplement the bus and train network.
Accommodation
Where to stay in Imperial Cities
Budget
Hostel dorm beds from 60-120 MAD ($6-12). Budget riads and hotels from 200-400 MAD ($20-40).
Mid-Range
Boutique riads with character, courtyard gardens, and rooftop terraces from 500-1,500 MAD ($50-150). This is the sweet spot for the imperial cities experience.
Luxury
Palatial riads, five-star hotels, and historic properties from 2,000-6,000+ MAD ($200-600+). Marrakech has the widest luxury selection.
Safety
The imperial cities are generally safe for tourists. The main concerns are persistent touts and unofficial guides in medinas (especially Marrakech and Fes), pickpockets in crowded areas, and taxi overcharging. Always insist on metered taxis. Rabat is the most relaxed and hassle-free. Meknes sees the fewest tourists and has minimal hassle.
Travel Tips
Insider advice for Imperial Cities
- 1A circuit of all four cities can be done in 8-10 days: 3 days Marrakech, 2 days Fes, 1 day Meknes (with Volubilis), 1 day Rabat.
- 2The train network connects all four cities — book first-class for minimal extra cost and guaranteed seating.
- 3Stay in a riad in at least one city — the traditional courtyard house experience is quintessentially Moroccan.
- 4Friday is the holy day — many shops close for midday prayers but restaurants, museums, and palaces remain open.
- 5Hire an official guide for your first medina visit in Fes — the maze is genuinely disorienting. Less necessary in other cities.
- 6The best shopping varies by city: leather in Fes, carpets and textiles in Marrakech, olives and preserved foods in Meknes.