Five days across three of Morocco's four imperial cities, starting in the capital: Rabat's monuments, Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis, and two days deep in the medieval medina of Fes — all on one train line.
Day by day
Your 5-day plan
- 1
Day 1
Rabat, the living capital
Settle in and see the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Chellah necropolis — an imperial city that is also a modern seat of government.
- Kasbah of the Udayas
- Hassan Tower
- Mausoleum of Mohammed V
- Chellah
- 2
Day 2
Meknes & Volubilis
Train or drive to Meknes, the 17th-century capital of Moulay Ismail: the monumental Bab Mansour gate, the granaries of Heri es-Souani and the royal stables. Continue to the UNESCO Roman ruins of Volubilis and the holy hill town of Moulay Idriss.
- Bab Mansour
- Heri es-Souani granaries
- Roman Volubilis
- Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
- 3
Day 3
Into Fes el-Bali
Arrive in Fes and go deep into Fes el-Bali, the world's largest car-free medieval medina: the Bou Inania and Al-Attarine medersas, the Kairaouine mosque and university, and the Chouara tanneries.
- Bou Inania Medersa
- Al-Attarine Medersa
- Kairaouine University
- Chouara tanneries
- 4
Day 4
Fes crafts & viewpoints
Pottery and zellige workshops in the Aïn Nokbi quarter, the Andalusian quarter across the river, the Jnan Sbil gardens, and sunset over the city from the Merinid Tombs.
- Zellige & pottery workshops
- Andalusian quarter
- Jnan Sbil gardens
- Merinid Tombs viewpoint
- 5
Day 5
Return to the capital
A direct train back along the Fes–Meknes–Rabat line, with time for a final riverside walk in Rabat or an onward connection before departure.
- Fes to Rabat train
- Bou Regreg riverfront
- Departure connections
Good to know
Practical notes
- All three cities sit on the same ONCF rail spine — Rabat to Fes is roughly 3 to 3.5 hours, with Meknes in between.
- A licensed local guide is essential in Fes el-Bali; the medina has thousands of unmarked lanes and no cars.
- Volubilis and Moulay Idriss are easiest as a single road excursion from Meknes — pair them in one afternoon.
Frequently asked
Which are Morocco's imperial cities?
Marrakech, Fes, Meknes and Rabat have all served as royal capitals. This route covers the three northern ones — Rabat, Meknes and Fes — which are conveniently linked by a single train line.
Is 5 days enough for the imperial cities?
For the northern trio, yes — one day for Rabat, one for Meknes with Volubilis, and two for Fes's medina, plus a travel day. Adding Marrakech would need several more days as it sits far to the south.
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