Most first-time visitors to Morocco are drawn to the south of the country. They’ll often spend time exploring Marrakesh, perhaps venture into the Atlas Mountains, stay in the Agafay Stone Desert, and finish on the Atlantic coast in Essaouira. And honestly, we completely understand why. It’s a brilliant introduction to the country and squeezes in countless highlights. But, there’s another side to Morocco that many travellers never quite discover: Northern Morocco. Here, you’ll be treated to a slower, more culturally rich route that winds through elegant imperial cities, blue mountain towns, Atlantic coastal capitals, and old medinas that feel completely different to Marrakesh. Until recently, getting there from the UK could be a bit of a challenge. But that’s all changed now… This feels like a real turning point for Morocco holidays, and our experts, Rebecca and Emma are so excited to help more of our clients discover this special part of the country. Rebecca Dodds Destination Manager Emma Higgins Destination Manager New Direct Flights to Northern Morocco For years, northern Morocco has been a little overlooked by UK travellers, simply because it hasn’t been all that easy to reach. Unless you were happy flying from a limited number of airports, or taking indirect flights, exploring cities like Rabat, Tangier, and Fez often involved a fair bit of logistical juggling. (Which we’re always happy to help with, of course!) We’re delighted with the announcement of new direct flights to Rabat and Tangier from both London Gatwick and Manchester, making exploring northern Morocco so much easier, especially if you’re based elsewhere in the UK and would rather avoid the hassle of indirect routes or tight connections. British Airways now flies direct from London Gatwick to Rabat twice weekly – ideal for travellers wanting a smoother, full-service option. At the same time, Ryanair have launched new direct routes from Manchester to both Rabat and Tangier, opening northern Morocco up to a much wider part of the UK. Why Northern Morocco feels completely different One of the things we love most about Morocco as a whole is how dramatically the country changes from region to region. Southern Morocco tends to be where our first-time visitors head to. It’s energetic, sensory, dramatic and often centred around desert landscapes and those vibrant, busy souks that are so synonymous with the Morocco we expect. Northern Morocco has a completely different feel. Life moves at a bit of a gentler pace here, with a stronger Mediterranean influence, elegant and understated cities, and train travel that’s surprisingly easy and well worth including in your trip. It’s a fantastic region for anyone who loves culture, architecture, food and taking time to really explore. For many of our HA travellers, it’s actually the part of Morocco they fall in love with most. Tangier, Morocco Tangier: Morocco’s Cultural Gateway Tangier has long been one of Morocco’s most fascinating cities. Perched between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, it feels noticeably different to Marrakesh almost as soon as you arrive. There’s an international edge to the city, shaped by decades of artists, writers and musicians who found themselves drawn here over the years. You’ll find grand old cafés, faded colonial architecture, lively markets, contemporary galleries and sweeping sea views all sitting side-by-side. It’s also a fantastic place to start your northern Morocco adventure. Chefchaouen, Morocco Chefchaouen: The Blue City In The Rif Mountains Chefchaouen is one of Morocco’s most photographed spots, but it still feels wonderfully authentic once you arrive. Set within the Rif Mountains, the town is known for its blue-painted streets and buildings, but it’s the atmosphere here that makes it really special. Mornings are lovely and peaceful here. Cats stretch out in quiet alleyways, locals chat away in shaded squares, and once the day-trippers leave, the town settles back into a much slower rhythm. It’s the kind of place that we recommend exploring without too much of a plan. Take a wander, stop for a fresh mint tea, and let yourself get pleasantly lost for a while, befriending plenty of locals along the way. Explore our Morocco holidays Fez, Morocco Fez & Rabat: Morocco’s Imperial Cities If you’re drawn to history, architecture and traditional craftsmanship, Fez and Rabat are two of Morocco’s most rewarding cities to visit. Fez is wonderfully immersive. Its ancient medina is a real maze of workshops, courtyards, mosques and market streets that still function much as they have for centuries. Don’t miss the tanneries, you’ll smell them before you see them! Exploring it all with a guide makes a huge difference – there’s an enormous amount you’d simply never find on your own. Rabat, on the other hand, often surprises visitors. As Morocco’s capital, it feels calm, clean and relaxed, with elegant boulevards, Atlantic views, excellent restaurants and a medina that’s easy to explore. Our Morocco expert, Emma, says: “Generally speaking Rabat feels much breezier and easier and not so heady and chaotic as Fez/Marrakesh, it's great place to start a trip to ease you in to Morocco life.” Together, they make a fantastic duo for any northern Morocco journey. Rabat, Morocco One of the best ways to explore Morocco? By Rail. Many of our clients are surprised by just how easy train travel in Morocco can be. If you love the romance of rail journeys, northern Morocco is a bit of a treasure. There’s something special about hopping on a train in one imperial city and arriving a few hours later somewhere with a completely different feel. The rail network linking Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca and Fez is modern, comfortable and really easy to use, making it a brilliant way to travel between cities without the need for internal flights or long drives. If you tend to enjoy the journey just as much as the destination, it’s a fantastic way to see Morocco. It also means you can travel at a much more relaxed pace, especially if you add in a few longer stays along the way. Explore more by diving into our Imperial Cities by Rail sample holiday itinerary here. Who is Northern Morocco perfect for? Northern Morocco tends to appeal to a different kind of traveller than the classic Marrakesh-and-desert route. For many, it’s the perfect choice for a second visit to Morocco. After you’ve soaked up the energy of Marrakesh, the Atlas Mountains and the desert landscapes of the south, the north offers something slower, greener and full of cultural nuance. It’s also a great fit if you love exploring cities beyond the main sights. If your perfect trip means wandering through old medinas, discovering local cafés, hopping between galleries and markets, staying in characterful riads and travelling at a gentler pace, northern Morocco is made for you. The new direct flights make journeys simpler and more manageable, and Morocco’s rail network means you can skip constant internal flights or long drives. Travelling between Tangier, Rabat and Fez by train feels relaxed, straightforward and comfortable. In short, northern Morocco is perfect if you’re after a more cultural, relaxed and immersive side of the country. Explore more of Morocco When to go to Northern Morocco Like many places, northern Morocco is at its best if you travel just outside the peak summer season. For us, spring and autumn are easily the standout times to visit. Between March and June, landscapes are greener, temperatures are lovely and warm, and cities feel lively without being overwhelmingly busy. It’s a particularly lovely time for exploring places like Chefchaouen and Fez on foot. September and October are high on the list, too. The intense summer heat has eased, the coast still feels warm and sunny, and places like Tangier, Rabat and Chefchaouen settle into a quieter day-to-day after the busier summer period. November is another surprisingly good option, particularly for cultural trips centred around sightseeing, food and rail travel between cities. Temperatures remain pleasant, and there’s a real calmness to travelling at this time of year. The tanneries, Fez, Morocco Our favourite Northern Morocco holiday ideas Our Northern Circuit of Morocco itinerary is perfect for travellers wanting to experience the variety of the region, taking in Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fez and Rabat in one journey. It’s a brilliant introduction to northern Morocco and works particularly well with the new direct flights into Rabat and Tangier. If you prefer to opt for slower-paced cultural travel, our Morocco Imperial Cities by Rail holiday is driven by Morocco’s excellent rail network, linking together some of the country’s most fascinating cities in a relaxed and surprisingly easy way. Of course, every trip we create is tailor-made. These itineraries are simply starting points. Your Morocco expert can adapt routes, adjust pacing, add extra nights, include coastal stays or build an itinerary entirely around the new direct flight options from London or Manchester. FAQs about Northern Morocco Is Northern Morocco worth visiting? Absolutely. Northern Morocco offers a completely different feel to the south of the country, with elegant imperial cities, Mediterranean and Atlantic coastal influences, unique mountain towns like Chefchaouen, and a more relaxed pace overall. For many of our travellers, it becomes the part of Morocco they end up loving most. Can you travel around Morocco by train? Yes – and it’s actually one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to explore northern Morocco. The rail network linking Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca and Fez is modern, comfortable and really straightforward to use, making it ideal for multicentre cultural itineraries. What’s the difference between northern and southern Morocco? Southern Morocco is often associated with Marrakesh, desert landscapes, the Atlas Mountains and dramatic scenery. Northern Morocco tends to feel greener, slower-paced and more Mediterranean in character, with a stronger focus on imperial cities, coastal culture and rail travel. Is Rabat worth visiting? Definitely. Rabat is often overlooked by first-time visitors to Morocco, but it’s one of the country’s most enjoyable cities. As Morocco’s capital, it feels relaxed and manageable, with excellent restaurants, Atlantic views, elegant architecture and a medina that’s far calmer than those in larger tourist cities. How many days do you need in Northern Morocco? We’d usually recommend around 8–10 days to properly explore northern Morocco, especially if you want to combine Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fez and Rabat in one itinerary. However, shorter trips can work very well too, thanks to the new direct flight routes from the UK. Can you fly direct to Northern Morocco from the UK? Yes. Northern Morocco has become much easier to reach thanks to new direct flight routes from both London and Manchester. British Airways now flies direct from London Gatwick to Rabat, while Ryanair operates direct flights from Manchester to Rabat and Tangier. If Northern Morocco has sparked your interest, chat to Rebecca and Emma, our Morocco experts. They’ll help you work out the best route, pace and combination of cities based on how you like to travel. Let's talk Morocco holidays ZEN_HOLIDAY_PACK_YOUR_BAGS ZEN_HOLIDAY_SPEAK_TO_SPECIALIST ZEN_HOLIDAY_GET_A_QUOTE ZEN_HOLIDAY_TEL ZEN_HOLIDAY_OPEN_HOURS