Morocco

Imperial cities, Atlas mountain villages, and a coastline on two seas.

Capital
Rabat
Population
37 million
Currency
Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Language
Arabic, Berber, French
Best time to visit
March–May and September–November

Morocco packs remarkable variety into a few hours of driving: the medina alleys of Marrakech, the blue-washed streets of Chefchaouen, and the dunes of the Sahara near Merzouga. The imperial cities — Marrakech, Fez, Meknes, and Rabat — each have distinct character worth a dedicated stop rather than a rushed pass-through.

Summers in the interior can be brutally hot, which pushes most travel to spring and fall.