← Casablanca International Marathon·1 night

Rabat: The Kasbah, Hassan Tower and the River

One night in Morocco's capital, with a flat riverside walk, the whitewashed Kasbah of the Udayas and the unfinished Hassan Tower, all reachable on foot from the station.

Duration1 night
TransitONCF train, about 1 hour from Casablanca Voyageurs
DepartsCasablanca Voyageurs

After the Casablanca International Marathon: Rabat

The Route: Casablanca Voyageurs → Rabat Ville → Casablanca → Mohammed V Airport Logistics: ONCF intercity train, about an hour each way. Rabat is walkable from the station. Marathon Month: October Duration: 1 night

Casablanca Voyageurs ──(about 1 hr ONCF train)──> Rabat Ville
                                                       │
Mohammed V Airport (CMN) ◄──(train via Casa Voyageurs)─┘

The Casablanca International Marathon finishes on Sunday morning beside the Hassan II Mosque. Rabat is the easy escape on Monday: it is calmer, greener and far smaller than Casablanca, and the train station sits in the middle of the city rather than on the edge.

October in Rabat: daytime highs sit in the mid-20s, with sea air off the Atlantic that keeps evenings cool. Showers are possible, so carry a light waterproof.

ONCF runs frequent intercity trains between Casablanca Voyageurs and Rabat Ville, taking about an hour. Buy a ticket at the station or on oncf.ma; check the timetable before travel, because services change.

Night One: Rabat

Rabat's mix of French-planned boulevards and the old walled quarter is easy to read on foot. The flattest walk starts on Avenue Mohammed V, a wide, tree-lined boulevard with benches and cafés, running from the station area towards the medina. It takes about 20 minutes at a post-marathon pace.

The Kasbah of the Udayas is a twelfth-century fortress overlooking the mouth of the Bouregreg river. Its lanes are whitewashed and painted blue, and the entrance is through the Bab Oudaia gate. Entry to the kasbah is free, and there are steps and cobbles, so go slowly. The Andalusian Gardens inside are flat and shaded. The café at the viewing terrace serves mint tea and almond pastries.

The Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V sit on a wide, flat plateau above the river. Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour began the tower in 1195 and it was never finished, so the stump of the minaret and a field of broken columns remain. Entry is free. The surface is paved and level, and there is little shade, so bring water and a hat.

The Chellah necropolis is a ruined Roman and medieval site a short taxi ride from the centre. Storks nest on the minaret and the paths are gravel with a few slopes. Entry is charged; check the current price at the gate.

Where to Stay

The Hotel Balima on Avenue Mohammed V is a long-established hotel facing the parliament, convenient for the station and the boulevard. The Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses sits further out and has a pool, which is useful after the race. Prices vary with the date, so check before booking.

Where to Eat

Rabat's seafood restaurants line the Bouregreg waterfront near the kasbah, and the simple grilled fish and shellfish is the sensible choice. Ask what came off the boats that morning. For something lighter, the cafés on Avenue Mohammed V serve msemen (flaky flatbread) and mint tea.

Getting to Mohammed V Airport (CMN)

Take an ONCF train from Rabat Ville back to Casablanca Voyageurs, then change for the airport service; on some timetables a direct train runs to the airport station. Check the ONCF timetable on the day. Allow extra time on a Tuesday morning, when the airport trains fill with commuters.