Visiting Rabat by Rental Car: the Oudayas, Hassan Tower, Salé and the Beaches

You can see part of Rabat on foot and by tram, but its main sights are strung out along the Bouregreg river and its beaches begin where the tram line ends. A car lets you link the Kasbah of the Oudayas, Hassan Tower and the Chellah in one day, cross over to Salé, then head out to Temara, Mehdia or Casablanca. Here is where to park, which loop to follow and which roads to take.

Photo: Bernard Gagnon — CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Do you need a car to visit Rabat?
Where to park near Rabat's monuments
A one-day loop through Rabat and Salé
Which beaches can you drive to from Rabat?
How to drive from Rabat to Casablanca, Kenitra or Fez
Renting in Rabat or at Rabat-Salé airport

Do you need a car to visit Rabat?

Rabat has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012, listed as "Rabat, Modern Capital and Historic City: a Shared Heritage". The site covers the new town built from 1912 onwards and older districts, some dating back to the 12th century. These places are spread over several kilometres, from the river mouth to the south of the city.

The Rabat-Salé tram, running since May 2011, has two lines and crosses the Bouregreg on the Hassan II bridge. It is enough for getting between the centre and Salé. A car wins as soon as you want to string several monuments together without changing lines, and it becomes essential for the southern beaches, the Kenitra road or a day in Casablanca.

The medina is best explored on foot, as its lanes are not built for traffic. Park at its gates and keep the car for everything beyond the city walls.

Where to park near Rabat's monuments

For the Kasbah of the Oudayas, the easiest option is to park below it, along the Bouregreg quays or towards the corniche, then walk up to Bab Oudaya. The kasbah itself is a maze of lanes closed to cars.

Around Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, there is usually space in the nearby streets. In the new town, along Avenue Mohammed V and near medina gates such as Bab el Had, street parking is run by attendants who keep an eye on the car and expect a few coins when you leave. Keep some change handy.

One habit applies across the city: leave nothing on show inside the car. Put bags and luggage in the boot before you arrive, not once you have parked.

A one-day loop through Rabat and Salé

Start with the Kasbah of the Oudayas, a citadel fortified by the Almohads in the 12th century, high above the mouth of the Bouregreg. Its monumental gate, Bab Oudaya, dates from the end of that century. Inside, the Andalusian garden and the Moorish café look out over the river and across to Salé.

A few minutes' drive away, Hassan Tower is the unfinished minaret of a mosque begun in 1196 by the Almohad sultan Yacoub el-Mansour, who wanted it to rank among the largest in the Muslim world. Work stopped when he died in 1199, so the tower stands at about 44 metres instead of the 60-plus planned. On the same esplanade is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, resting place of kings Mohammed V and Hassan II.

The Chellah, south of the centre and a few hundred metres from the Almohad walls, layers two cities: the Roman ruins of Sala Colonia and a 14th-century Marinid necropolis, set in a green hollow where storks nest. Allow a good hour there.

In the afternoon, cross the Bouregreg to Salé. Its medina, quieter than Rabat's, is explored on foot, and the Mohammed VI Tower, about 250 metres tall, rises on this bank and serves as a landmark across the whole area.

Which beaches can you drive to from Rabat?

Oudayas beach, below the kasbah, is the closest to the centre, but it is an urban beach, busy and open to the swell. For a quiet day on the sand, you need the car.

Heading south, the coast road runs through Harhoura and then Temara, with Contrebandiers and Sables d'Or beaches, before Skhirat and Bouznika on the way to Casablanca. These beaches fill up fast in summer and at weekends, so set off in the morning.

Heading north past Salé, the Kenitra road passes the Bouknadel exotic gardens and leads to Mehdia, a beach popular with surfers at the mouth of the Sebou river. Close by, Sidi Boughaba lake is a protected wetland listed under the Ramsar Convention. The Atlantic has strong currents all along this coast, so swim where there are lifeguards.

How to drive from Rabat to Casablanca, Kenitra or Fez

Rabat is the starting point of three motorways. The first runs south to Casablanca, about 90 kilometres away or roughly an hour's drive, then carries on towards El Jadida and Safi. The second heads north through Kenitra, around 40 kilometres away, and on to Tangier. The third runs east towards Meknes and Fez.

All three are toll roads. To avoid queues at the barriers, our guide to tolls and the Jawaz tag explains how to pay and what to ask the agency. Speed limits are the same as in the rest of the country and enforced by cameras: 60 km/h in built-up areas and 120 km/h on motorways.

During office hours, the roads into Rabat and the bridge to Salé clog up quickly. Leaving early for a day trip and coming back before late afternoon saves more time than any shortcut.

Renting in Rabat or at Rabat-Salé airport

Rabat-Salé airport lies about 10 kilometres north-east of Rabat, within the municipality of Salé. If you are flying in, the pick-up point is shown on each car's listing, so check it before you book.

Loccor is a marketplace: cars are listed by independent rental agencies, and the agency's identity is shared with you once the booking is confirmed. Each listing shows the rate, the gearbox and the security deposit, which depends on the agency: some ask for one, others do not. You pay a deposit online and the balance at the agency on collection. A national driving licence in Latin script is enough.

For Rabat, a city car is all you need: streets in the centre are narrow and the motorway asks for nothing more. Choice in Rabat is still limited: if no car fits your dates, the Casablanca listings are an hour away by motorway.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive into Rabat's medina?

No, the medina and the Kasbah of the Oudayas are visited on foot. Park at their gates, for instance near Bab el Had for the medina or below the kasbah along the Bouregreg.

How far is Rabat from Casablanca?

About 90 kilometres on the toll motorway, roughly an hour's drive outside rush hour.

Where is Rabat-Salé airport?

About 10 kilometres north-east of Rabat, within the municipality of Salé. The pick-up point is shown on each car's listing, so check it before you book.

Do I need an international licence to rent a car in Rabat?

No, a national licence written in Latin script is enough. The security deposit depends on the agency and is shown on each listing.