Things to do · Rabat
South of Rabat's medina, behind long ochre walls, lies the Dar al-Makhzen — the official residence of the King of Morocco and the working seat of the monarchy. The palace interior is closed to visitors, but the walled Mechouar district around it is open to walk through, and its ceremonial gates, vast esplanade and palm-lined avenues are among the capital's most striking set-pieces. Here is what to see and how to visit respectfully.
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The Royal Palace sits within the Mechouar, a walled ceremonial precinct entered through monumental gateways. The ochre ramparts and arched gates set the scale of the complex before you even glimpse the palace itself.
The grand entrance to the palace courtyard is faced with carved stone, zellij tilework and a horseshoe arch in the Moroccan tradition. It is the focal point most visitors photograph from across the esplanade.
A broad open mechouar square stretches before the palace, used for royal ceremonies and the Friday prayer procession. Its sheer emptiness and symmetry make it feel ceremonial even on an ordinary day.
Within the palace grounds stands the royal mosque the king attends, particularly for the Friday prayer. Visitors may see its minaret rising above the walls and, on Fridays, glimpse the arrival of the royal cortege.
Ceremonial guards in distinctive uniform stand at the gates of the Mechouar. They mark this as a working seat of state; photographing the guards and gates directly is best avoided out of respect and discretion.
The roads leading to and through the Mechouar are planted with date palms and ordered greenery, a calm, manicured landscape that contrasts with the bustle of the nearby medina and Ville Nouvelle.
The Mechouar connects toward the old Almohad city walls and Bab Zaer, the southern gate near Chellah. The line of ramparts here traces Rabat's medieval defences down toward the Bou Regreg valley.
The Touarga district within and around the walls houses palace staff and royal services. Driving or walking through the open avenues gives a sense of a self-contained royal town inside the capital.
From the southern edge of the Mechouar the ground falls toward the gardens of Chellah and the river valley beyond, an easy onward walk that pairs the palace district with Rabat's most atmospheric ruins.
No. The Dar al-Makhzen is the working residence of the King of Morocco and the interior is closed to the public. Visitors can, however, walk through the open Mechouar district and admire the ceremonial gates, walls and esplanade from outside.
You can photograph the gates, walls and esplanade, but as a working seat of state it is discreet to avoid photographing the royal guards directly and to follow any instructions from security. Always err on the side of respect.
The Mechouar lies just south of Rabat's medina and centre, a short taxi ride or a walk from the Hassan Tower. Its avenues are open to pass through, and it sits conveniently on the way to Chellah.
Around 20 to 30 minutes is enough to walk through the Mechouar, take in the gates and esplanade and continue on. It pairs naturally with a visit to nearby Chellah or the Hassan Tower.
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