Rabat is one of Morocco’s imperial cities that combines visits to cultural attractions, such as the impressive Oudayas Kasbah, with fun activities for younger children — such as a tour of the souks in the Medina, a visit to a zoo or a trip down the Bou Regreg river which, along with the Atlantic Ocean, marks one of the city’s boundaries.
Moreover, provided the weather is good (which it is almost all year round), you won’t want to miss a visit to a few of the most popular beaches.
Range of child-friendly activities
The Medina and its souks
Wandering around the Medina and visiting its souks is one of the best ways of getting to know Rabat and the Moroccan people, although you need to keep a careful eye on children so that they don’t get lost in the narrow, labyrinthine streets. The main souks, such as the Gold Souk, are full of traders offering their wares, punctuated by cheerful conversation and flavourful tea.
Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum
These are two of Rabat’s most important monuments, and they are very close to each other. The Tower will remind younger tourists of Seville’s Giralda, as it was designed by the same architect, while the novel feature of the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, his tomb and that of his two children, is that it is attended by royal guards, often on horseback.
Kasbah of the Udayas
This is the spot where the first city of Rabat was founded. Among other reasons, it was built to protect the mouth of the river as it joined the ocean, and therefore affords impressive views from inside its walls. It is a spacious area, that allows little ones the freedom to enjoy both history and nature.
Rabat Zoo
Temara zoo, as this park in the outskirts of Rabat is known, was set up in 1973 to provide a home for the lions kept by the King of Morocco at his residence. In fact, it was thought at first that they were pure Barbary lions, already extinct in the wild in the Atlas mountains, but it is now known that they are crossed with other species. Nevertheless, it is well worth seeing these lions, which were originally the most powerful in the world.
Beaches
Rabat’s Atlantic coast is full of very varied beaches, the appearance of which changes depending on whether the tide is rising or falling. But the most popular is the Oudayas Beach, just below the fortress, where a vast stretch of fine golden sands is a great place to relax to the sound of the waves. Moreover, the sailing club has its headquarters here, and it is the perfect place to enjoy any kind of water sport, from kitesurfing to windsurfing or kayaking. A genuine paradise if you visit during the months when the weather is getting warmer.
Magic Park
This famous amusement park in Morocco is located in Salé, on the other bank of the Bou Regreg river, but just a few minutes from Rabat. As its name suggests, this is a magical place for children, full of roller coasters, Ferris wheels, dodgems and other, less classic, attractions.
A trip down the river Bou Regreg
This excursion is a quite novel way of seeing Morocco from another perspective, from the Bou Regreg river itself, in a traditional fishing boat.
You can tour Rabat’s main canals on these little blue boats, and sail past famous sights such as the Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum.
The trip lasts 80 minutes, and it’s great fun to see how the locals view their canals, but it is not recommended for those susceptible to sea sickness.
The Dolls of the World Museum
This is a private collection which the owner started at just ten years old, when her grandfather gave her a doll. Now, the museum displays over 2,500 dolls from all over the world, and each one has its own incredible history. This museum is great fun for children. It is located inside the Medina, in a riad very close to the Rue des Consuls which the couple purchased, and it offers an unusual insight into the traditions of dozens of countries, but through the eyes of dolls.
There is a signpost, but if you have any difficulty locating the museum, anyone will be able to tell you the way to the Dolls of the World Museum.
Recommendations and advice
Rabat is a safe city for children, and you only need to take the same precautions as in any other capital city: keep an eye on them and take care with the traffic. Tourists are advised to always drink bottled water, and to eat in places that look safe.
Although Morocco is hotter than Spain, the summer heat in the capital is not as intense as in the rest of the country, as temperatures are cooled by its proximity to the sea.
