For one day in Rabat, start near Rabat City Station, walk through the medina to the Kasbah of the Oudayas, then continue to Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V.
Leave the afternoon for a museum, choosing between the National Museum of Adornment, the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art or the International Museum of Prophetic Biography and Islamic Civilization.
- Kasbah timing: open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Museum options: the National Museum of Adornment and Mohammed VI Museum are closed Tuesdays; the International Museum is closed Mondays.
- Admission: the National Museum of Adornment has tiered prices; the International Museum is free but requires a reserved ticket.
Start near Rabat City Station
Rabat City Station makes a practical starting point for a day on foot through central Rabat. From the station, set out toward the medina, allowing time to browse its lanes before continuing toward the Kasbah of the Oudayas.
Walk through the Rabat Medina
Rabat’s medina is a natural next stop on this walking itinerary, leading the day from the station toward the Kasbah. Take time to explore Rue des Consuls, a well-known part of the medina for shopping and walking; the Rabat Medina and Rue des Consuls guide covers that area in more detail.
The medina and the Kasbah of the Oudayas were inscribed together on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012. Keep the route flexible here: browsing can take as much or as little of the morning as you choose.
Continue to the Kasbah of the Oudayas
The Kasbah of the Oudayas is a 12th-century fortress on the left bank of the Bouregreg River, about a 15-minute walk from downtown Rabat. Its features include an Andalusian garden, a museum, riads and mosques, with Café Maure looking toward the river mouth, the Atlantic Ocean and Salé.
Make time for the outdoor setting as well as the museum. The Kasbah is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; the Kasbah of the Oudayas guide has more on its gardens, views and museum visits.
Visit Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V
Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V make a paired stop for the next part of the day. Give yourself time to see both, then decide whether to spend the remaining afternoon in a museum or keep the pace unhurried.
The Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V guide focuses on the history and setting of these landmarks.
Choose a museum for the afternoon
Rabat offers several distinct museum options for the afternoon, but their opening days and admission rules differ. Pick one that fits your interests and check its schedule before setting out.
National Museum of Adornment
The National Museum of Adornment is inside the Kasbah des Oudayas, in a building completed between 1672 and 1694 during the reign of Sultan Moulay Ismail. Its permanent exhibition focuses on Moroccan adornment and is arranged in five sections.
It is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, except Tuesdays. Admission is 60 DH for foreigners, 30 DH for Moroccan adults and 15 DH for Moroccan visitors under 18.
Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
The Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is at 2 Av. Moulay Hassan. Inaugurated in 2014, it has a collection of more than 400 works by Moroccan artists from the 20th and 21st centuries.
It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Tuesday, making it an option for a different focus from the Kasbah’s collection.
International Museum of Prophetic Biography and Islamic Civilization
The International Museum of Prophetic Biography and Islamic Civilization is at ISESCO Headquarters on Royal Army Street in the Riad District. Guided tours are offered in eight languages, including Arabic, Amazigh, English and French, with special sign-language tours for people with disabilities.
Admission is free, but you must reserve a ticket. Visits take place as guided tours with language-specific time slots; the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed Mondays.
Check opening hours and pace the route
Opening days and hours can shape the order of your day, especially if you want to visit a museum. Check the official site before you go: use the relevant museum or Visit Rabat site for current opening details and ticket arrangements.
To keep the itinerary manageable, make the medina and Kasbah the morning’s focus, then visit one museum in the afternoon. If you choose the National Museum of Adornment, it is already within the Kasbah; the other museums give you alternatives beyond that stop.
A three-star hotel in central Rabat is about a seven-minute walk from Rabat City Station, giving you a straightforward starting point for the itinerary.
FAQs
Can you walk around Rabat’s medina and the Kasbah in one day?
Yes. This itinerary puts the medina and Kasbah in the first part of the day, followed by Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V.
Which museums in this itinerary are closed on Tuesdays?
The National Museum of Adornment and Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art are both closed on Tuesdays.
Do you need a ticket for the International Museum of Prophetic Biography?
Yes. Admission is free, but you must reserve a ticket for a guided tour with a language-specific time slot.