Planninga trip to Morocco? Besides the well-known tourist hotspots such as Marrakech, Casablanca and Fez, there are also some less-traveled treasure destinations that deserve a spot on! These places may not be as popular, but they might just surprise you with amazing scenery! This article will introduce you to 8 lesser-known towns in Morocco to add some inspiration to your Morocco travel plans.
1. Tetouan: A small North African city under the warm Spanish sun
Tetouan is located in northern Morocco, separated from Spain by a strait. Because it was once occupied by Spain, many Spanish Andalusian-style buildings are preserved here. When the Moors were driven out of Granada by the Spaniards, this place became the Moors' habitat and also a gathering place for Moorish-Spanish culture. The old town of Tetouan is pure white and was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1997.
Although Tetouan is not far from Tangier, it is rarely known to tourists. Before going to Tangier, you might as well stop in Tetouan for a while to see this ancient and vicissitudes of life city, the towering minarets and mosques, the scattered white Medina, and the old woman who suddenly walked towards you through the alley.
2. Essaouira: The historic “City of Wind”
Essaouira has been a port where trade and culture meet since the 5th century BC. It was once a Phoenician colony and later became a strong fortress of the Portuguese. Today, it is one of the four largest fishing grounds in the Atlantic Ocean and a haven for travelers seeking tranquility and history. The houses in the old town of Essaouira are mainly blue, and the fortress in the city was once the filming location of the famous American TV series Game of Thrones.
Shuttle through the salty and humid air of the fishing port, and let the fishermen and fishing boats take you into the gap between two eras. Above the castle, the old city of Medina connects to the end of the sea. If you have time, you can choose to stay in Essaouira for a few days, stroll in the alleys of the old city, drink tea and look out at the rooftop cafe, or sit by the sea to watch the sunset, and quietly enjoy this ancient city.
3. Moulay Idris: Mecca for the Poor
On the road from Meknes to the ancient Roman city of Volubilis, you can see a small hill with a small town on it, which is Moulay Idris. This city has less than 10,000 residents, but it has a supreme status in the hearts of Muslims. There is a saying in Morocco: "If you can't go to Mecca in your life, you must come to Moulay Idris. Five pilgrimages are equivalent to one trip to Mecca." Moulay Idris, the founder of the first Arab dynasty in Morocco, lived here for a long time and was finally buried here. This holy city was named after him. A small city, sacred but common, with donkeys running rampant in the streets and towering minarets, you can smell the power of tradition and mystery between touch and collision.
4. Nador: A small coastal town in the northeast
Nador is the northeasternmost city in Morocco, located on the Mediterranean coastline. The beach here is not crowded, and the cleanest sea appearance is preserved. You can enjoy the whole beach here! The old town of Nador is full of strong historical atmosphere, narrow streets, colorful walls, as if traveling back to the Middle Ages.
5. Al Hoceima
Al Hoceima is a quiet town located in northern Morocco. It has the cleanest sea and beach in Morocco and can be described as a hidden paradise by the Mediterranean. Many people come to Al Hoceima for the clear glass sea. Izdhi Beach here is the most worthwhile place to visit and take pictures. The sea water here is as calm as a mirror, which is especially suitable for playing in the water. There are also colorful rocks on the beach, which are very photogenic. Watching the sunset on the beautiful beach is extremely romantic.
6. Laayoune
Laayoune is the largest city in the Western Sahara region and the background of Sanmao's Stories of the Sahara. It is where she and Jose lived together for three years. Come here, you can truly understand the words in Sanmao's book: "In fact, there is no desert in the world, but every time I think of you, a grain of sand falls from the sky, and from then on, there is Sahara in the world" (from Sanmao's Stories of the Sahara).
In Laayoune, you can hike through the sand dunes during the day, enjoy the sunset at dusk, and look up at the starry sky at night, sighing at the insignificance of human beings. If you have more time, you can also go to see a plane wreck in the desert. This is the filming location of the movie The Little Prince. This piece of plane wreckage allows the audience to feel the vast and mysterious universe and the vast desert, which is very suitable for taking pictures.
7. Tafaya
Going north along the magnificent Atlantic coast, you will arrive at Tafaya, where the author of The Little Prince, Saint-Exupéry, was stationed, a corner forgotten by time. Tafaya is the largest town in Cape Juby, Spanish Morocco. It was called Villa Bens at the time. The British North West Africa Company first established a trading point "Victoria Port" here. Today, the remains of the port, Casa del Mar, stand on the beach and can be reached at low tide. To the north of the town is Tafaya Airport, of which only the damaged runway can be identified from satellite images. There is also an abandoned ferry, the Assalama, on the sea south of the town, which once sailed briefly between Tafaya and the Canary Islands.
In Tafaya, you can visit the exhibition hall with the theme of The Little Prince. The exhibition hall is not large, and it introduces Saint-Exupéry's experience here from 1927 to 29, as well as the routes of Aéropostale, the predecessor of Air France. The 18 months of stay here inspired Saint-Exupéry to create the Little Prince. This is indeed a place suitable for thinking about life. The Sahrawi tribes and the harsh climate seem to be on another planet. The place that was once a must-go to the New World is now submerged in time and dust.
8. El Jadida: The Portuguese Pearl of Morocco
Located on the Atlantic coast, El Jadida is a fortified city built by the former Portuguese in the early 16th century as Mazagan (Mazagão in Portuguese). It was abandoned by the Portuguese in 1769 and ceded to Morocco. El Jadida was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004 because it is "an outstanding example of the exchange of cultural influences between Europe and Morocco" and "an early example of the combination of Renaissance ideals and Portuguese architectural techniques". The most important buildings of the Portuguese period here are the Cistern and the Church of the Assumption, both in Manueline style.
90 kilometers from Casablanca, El Jadida is often overlooked by tourists. Most of the buildings and street names in the ancient city of El Jadida are still in Portuguese. It is still known as the Portuguese city today. It is surrounded by fortresses and is home to ancient and well-preserved churches.
If you want to know more information and tips about traveling to Morocco, please refer to our blog: Morocco Travel Guide.
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