Your trip, planned from California, USA
Travel to Morocco from California
Flights, visa, the best season and a private trip designed end to end by a Marrakech atelier — so the only thing you plan is what to pack.
Visa
Visa-free · 90 days
Gateways
Casablanca (CMN) for nonstop arrivals — about an hour from Rabat by ONCF train — with some direct services to Rabat-Salé (RBA)
Currency
Dirham (MAD)
Best months
Mar–May · Sep–Nov
Why Morocco
Why travellers from California love Morocco.
For California travellers, Rabat is Morocco's calm, walkable capital and a UNESCO World Heritage city: the Kasbah of the Udayas above the river, the soaring Hassan Tower, the Roman-and-Merinid ruins of Chellah, and a relaxed Atlantic seafront — all reached in about an hour from Casablanca's nonstop arrivals, with the dollar going a long way against the dirham.
Getting there
Flights from California
From the West Coast, connect through New York or a European hub (Paris, Madrid, London) into Casablanca (CMN), then continue an hour up the coast to Rabat by train or transfer. Total journeys run about 15–17 hours including the layover.
Best arrival airports: Casablanca (CMN) for nonstop arrivals — about an hour from Rabat by ONCF train — with some direct services to Rabat-Salé (RBA). We meet every guest in arrivals and drive you door to door — see airport transfers.
Do you need a visa?
United States passport holders do not need a visa for Morocco. You may enter visa-free and stay for up to 90 days for tourism — just bring a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date.
Time difference
Rabat is about 9 hours ahead of California, USA (Morocco stays on UTC+1 year-round), which makes for an easy, eastward adjustment.
When to go
The best time to visit.
March–May and September–November are ideal for Rabat — warm, breezy days off the Atlantic, cool evenings, and the best light over the Kasbah of the Udayas, Hassan Tower and the Chellah gardens. Summers are pleasantly tempered by the ocean; winters are mild and quiet, perfect for the museums and ramparts.
Where to start
Private trips travellers from California book most.
Good to know
Morocco from California — your questions.
Do Americans need a visa to visit Rabat, Morocco?
United States passport holders do not need a visa for Morocco. You may enter visa-free and stay for up to 90 days for tourism — just bring a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date.
How do I fly to Rabat from California?
From the West Coast, connect through New York or a European hub (Paris, Madrid, London) into Casablanca (CMN), then continue an hour up the coast to Rabat by train or transfer. Total journeys run about 15–17 hours including the layover.
How far ahead should California travellers book a Rabat trip?
For the busy spring and autumn windows and any trip pairing Rabat with Fes or the desert, book 6–10 weeks ahead to lock in riads and guides. Rabat city breaks can often be arranged inside two to three weeks, as the capital rarely sells out the way Marrakech does.
Is Rabat safe and easy for US travellers?
Yes. Rabat is widely regarded as one of Morocco's safest, most orderly cities — it is the seat of government and home to the diplomatic quarter, with wide boulevards, easy walking and English spoken in hotels and by guides. A private driver-guide makes the medina, Udayas and Chellah effortless, and the train hub puts Casablanca and Fes within easy reach.