01Coast
Mehdia Beach
A broad sweep of Atlantic sand at the mouth of the Sebou river, popular with families and summer crowds from Kenitra and Rabat. The open swell also draws surfers and bodyboarders along its long shoreline.
Rabat, MoroccoConcierge · 7 Days · 9–21H GMT+1
Things to do · Kenitra & Mehdia
Things to do in Kenitra & Mehdia
Just 40 km north of the capital, Kenitra is a relaxed Atlantic-and-river city, and its seaside suburb of Mehdia adds a long beach, a kasbah on the bluff and the bird-rich lagoon of Sidi Boughaba. Reachable in well under an hour by train, it makes an easy, low-key escape from Rabat for sand, seafood and wetlands. Here is what to do.
8 experiences
The best of Kenitra & Mehdia
02Historic
Kasbah of Mehdia
Above the beach stand the walls and gate of a 17th-century kasbah, fortified by the Saadians and later the Alaouites to guard the river mouth. Its ramparts give wide views over the coast and the Sebou estuary.
03Activity
Sidi Boughaba Lagoon
A protected freshwater lagoon and Ramsar wetland between Mehdia and the sea, ringed by cork oaks and reeds. It is one of Morocco's premier birdwatching sites, home to flamingos, marbled teal and many migratory species.
04Coast
Sebou River Mouth
Mehdia sits where the Sebou, Morocco's largest river, meets the Atlantic. The estuary supports a small fishing fleet and gives the resort its mix of river calm and ocean surf.
05Culture
Kenitra City Centre
Founded as Port-Lyautey under the French protectorate, Kenitra is a planned, easygoing city of wide avenues and cafés, more workaday than historic but a pleasant stop for a coffee and a sense of everyday Moroccan life.
06Food
Seafront Seafood
Restaurants and grills along Mehdia's seafront serve the day's catch — fried fish, grilled prawns and calamari — with the beach a few steps away, the natural lunch stop on a coast day.
07Activity
Birdwatching & Nature Walks
The reserve around Sidi Boughaba has marked trails and a small visitor centre, making it easy to walk the lakeshore with binoculars; the cork-oak woodland adds shade and woodland species to the waterbirds.
08Day trip
Easy Rail Link
Kenitra sits on the main line and the Al Boraq high-speed route, so frequent trains link it to Rabat in around 20 to 40 minutes — among the simplest car-free day trips from the capital.
Frequently asked
How far is Kenitra from Rabat?
Kenitra is about 40 km north of Rabat, reachable by frequent trains in roughly 20 to 40 minutes, including high-speed services. Mehdia beach lies a short taxi ride from Kenitra's centre.
Is Mehdia beach worth visiting?
Yes, for a relaxed Atlantic beach day. Mehdia offers a long sandy shore, surf, a historic kasbah on the bluff and the nearby Sidi Boughaba bird reserve, all within easy reach of Rabat and Kenitra.
What is special about Sidi Boughaba?
Sidi Boughaba is a protected freshwater lagoon and Ramsar wetland near Mehdia, ringed by cork oaks and considered one of Morocco's best birdwatching sites, with flamingos, marbled teal and many migratory waterbirds.
Can you do Kenitra and Mehdia as a day trip from Rabat?
Easily. The short train ride to Kenitra plus a taxi to Mehdia lets you combine the beach, the kasbah and the Sidi Boughaba reserve in a single relaxed day, returning to Rabat by evening.
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