Rabat Travel: Morocco's Royal Capital and Its Finest Hotels

Rabat is the seat of the King and government, and it shows: wide palm-lined avenues, spotless gardens and a relaxed pace that surprises visitors who expect the bustle of Marrakech. The whole historic city, from the blue-and-white lanes of the Kasbah of the Udayas to the unfinished Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city is also where Morocco shows off its future: the Bouregreg valley has been reshaped with the Grand Theatre of Rabat by Zaha Hadid Architects, riverside promenades and the Mohammed VI Tower. It makes an elegant two- or three-night stop on a Morocco luxury vacation, and it is one of the easiest Moroccan cities to explore on foot.

Most Americans fly Royal Air Maroc nonstop from New York JFK, Washington Dulles, Miami or Los Angeles to Casablanca, then take the Al Boraq train or a private car to Rabat. Rabat-Salé airport handles flights from Europe and private aircraft; see arriving privately. Al Boraq continues north to Tangier in about 80 minutes.

Across the river, Salé has its own medina and marina. Casablanca is under an hour south; the imperial cities of Meknes and Fes are about two and a half hours east by train or car.

Morocco uses the dirham, and cards are accepted in the best hotels, restaurants and boutiques, but carry cash for souks, guides and tips; about 10 percent is customary in restaurants. Light, modest clothing covering shoulders and knees is respectful away from the pool. Friday is the main prayer day, while offices and shops follow a Saturday and Sunday weekend. During Ramadan, eat and drink discreetly in public by day; hotel restaurants stay open. French and Arabic are widely spoken, and English is common in luxury hotels. Morocco's power sockets take European two-pin plugs (220V). Rabat is one of Morocco's most orderly cities, with a modern tram linking the medina, the Bouregreg and Salé.