Region
North Atlantic Coast
Base in Rabat or Casablanca; do Asilah, Larache and El Jadida as day-trips or one-night stops on the train line.
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Key facts · Morocco
- Best months
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- Currency
- Moroccan dirham
- Language
- Arabic and Tamazight
- Plugs
- C · E · 220 V
- Time zone
- UTC+1 most of the year
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- North Africa ↗Plan links between North African countries by air or by ferry via Europe; the only regularly usable land borders for visitors are Tunisia–Algeria and Morocco–Mauritania via Western Sahara.
- North Africa ↗Book Saharan nights (dunes, desert camps, oasis tours) between October and April; from May to September desert day temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C and many tours stop.
- Morocco ↗Check entry rules for your passport with the Moroccan consulate or official government sources before booking; visa exemptions depend on nationality.
- Morocco ↗The Moroccan dirham is a closed currency: you normally obtain it on arrival (ATMs, exchange desks) and change leftovers back before departure, keeping exchange receipts.
- Morocco ↗Do not bring a drone without prior authorisation: drones are routinely confiscated at customs.
- Morocco ↗During Ramadan, do not eat, drink or smoke in the street in daylight; tourist restaurants and hotels still serve.
This is Morocco's working coast: the capital Rabat, the business hub Casablanca, and a string of smaller Atlantic towns on one rail line. Trains run roughly hourly between Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca and El Jadida, so you can sleep in one city and still see the rest. Rabat is calm and walkable; Casablanca has the airport, the mosque and the night life; Asilah and Larache are short stops on the way north.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- RabatCity guide
Capital, Kasbah of the Udayas, quiet evenings, good train links.
Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov
JFMAMJJASOND - CasablancaCity guide
Airport, Hassan II Mosque, restaurants and night life.
Best Mar–May, Sep–Nov
JFMAMJJASOND
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 3 nights
- Rabat 2 + Casablanca 1
- 5 nights
- Rabat 2 + Casablanca 2 + Asilah 1
- 7 nights
- Tangier 1 + Asilah 1 + Rabat 2 + Casablanca 2 + El Jadida 1
- Casablanca traffic peaks 07:30–09:30 and 17:00–19:30; allow extra time for the airport run.Casablanca traffic peaks 7:30 AM–9:30 AM and 5:00 PM–7:30 PM; allow extra time for the airport run.
- Atlantic beaches here have strong surf and cold water; swim near lifeguards only.
- Summer fog and wind can cool the coast even when inland is hot.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asilah | Tangier | 45 min | unknown | Trains run through the day; check the last service before an evening return. |
| El Jadida | Casablanca | 75 min | unknown | The cistern and ramparts take half a day; the beach is a short walk from the station. |
| Larache | Asilah | 60 min | unknown | The station sits outside town; add a short taxi ride each way. |
| Moulay Bousselham | Rabat | 120 min | unknown | Lagoon birdwatching; easier with a car or a shared taxi than by train. |
Bags between cities
No luggage-forwarding habit here; carry your bag or leave it at the hotel between stops.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rabat | ok | ok | go | go | go | ok | × | × | go | go | go | ok |
| Casablanca | ok | ok | go | go | go | ok | × | × | go | go | go | ok |
| Asilah | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | × | ok | go | go | ok | ok |
| Larache | ok | ok | go | go | go | ok | × | × | go | go | go | ok |
| El Jadida | ok | ok | go | go | go | ok | × | × | go | go | go | ok |
| Morocco (country-wide) | ok | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | go |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rabat / Casablancacentral Atlantic coast | ok | ok | best | best | best | ok | hot | hot | best | best | best | ok |
| Asilah / Larachenorthern Atlantic coast | ok | ok | ok | best | best | best | hot | hot | best | best | ok | ok |
- Rabat / Casablanca
- Mild all year; July–August are warm and busy, and the coast stays cooler than Marrakech.
- Asilah / Larache
- More rain in winter; summer is warm with sea breeze.
Spring and autumn are the best balance of temperature and crowds; August is peak domestic holiday season, so book coastal hotels ahead.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMN (Casablanca Mohammed V) | Casa-Voyageurs / Casa-Port | ONCF train from the airport station | ~45 min to the centre | Trains run through the day; buy a ticket at the station. |
| RBA (Rabat–Salé) | Rabat Ville | Train or taxi | ~20 min | Small airport; fewer flights than Casablanca. |
| Tangier | Rabat / Casablanca | ONCF Al Boraq high-speed train | ~1 h 20 to Rabat, ~2 h 10 to Casablanca | Reserve seats in peak season. |
| Marrakech | Casablanca / Rabat | ONCF train | ~2 h 30 to Casablanca, ~3 h 30 to Rabat | Direct trains several times a day. |
Regional passes
ONCF single tickets
buyBuy per leg; there is no nationwide rail pass that pays for a coast-only trip.
Al Boraq (Tangier–Casablanca)
buyWorth it for the Tangier–Rabat run; it cuts the trip to about 1 h 20.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Fish tagine and grilled sardines | Casablanca: Ain Diab and the port area | Lunch is cheaper than dinner; check the price per kilo before ordering. |
| Pastilla (pigeon or chicken pie) | Rabat and Casablanca | Often a starter; share one between two. |
| Moroccan mint tea and pastries | Rabat: medina cafés | Sweet; ask for tea without sugar if you prefer. |
| Seafood platters | El Jadida and Larache | Grilled, sold by weight; confirm the total first. |
Go next
Tangier
Al Boraq ~1 h 20 from Rabat
Ferry gateway to Spain and the northern coast.
Marrakech
Train ~2 h 30 from Casablanca
Continue south for the Atlas and desert.
Fez
Train ~4 h from Casablanca via Rabat
The deepest medina in the country.
South Atlantic Coast
plannedTrain or bus south from Casablanca
Essaouira and the coast below.
Mediterranean Morocco
plannedTrain to Tangier then east
Tétouan and the Rif coast.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 2 bases
- Day trips
- 4, 45 min to 2 h
- Nights suggested
- 3–7 nights
- Ways in
- 4 listed
- Best months
- Apr, May, Sep, Oct (all zones)
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Ask about North Atlantic Coast
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