Car Hire Morocco - Mini guide to Morocco
Tangiers, Casablanca and Marrakesh all conjure up an image of magical Morocco - a Muslim land rich with mystique and geographical beauty. Located on the lower lip on the mouth of the Mediterranean, Morocco is the ideal starting point for travels to North Africa. An easy hop from Europe, it can be friendly, hectic and stimulating.
One of Morocco's most important cultural centres, Marrakesh is a lively former capital famed for its markets and festivals. Its wildly beating heart is the Place Djemaa el-Fna, a huge square in the old city. Among the many attractions of the ancient quarter is the rare Almoravid-style Koubba Ba'adiyn mosque annex, the magnificent Koutoubia mosque and the Palais Dar Si Said (Museum of Moroccan Arts). Trains and buses to this inland city run regularly from Casablanca and Rabat.
The oldest of the imperial cities, Fès is arguably the symbolic heart of Morocco. Its labyrinthine streets and crumbling grandeur add to its air of intrigue and self-importance. The medina of Fès el-Bali (Old Fès) is one of the largest living medieval cities in the world and the gates and walls that surround it make it all the more magnificent. Within the old city, tucked among roughly 9,400 streets and alleys, is the towering Medersa Bou Inania, a theological college built in 1350.
A couple of hours south of Tangier by train or car is Morocco's most popular coastal spots, Essaouira, which has a beautiful beach that curves for kilometres to the south. The forts of the old city are a blend of Portuguese, French and Berber military architecture, and their massiveness lends a powerful mystique to this Moorish influenced town.
With international airports at Casablanca, Tangier and Agadir, Morocco is well linked to Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Taking your own vehicle to Morocco is straightforward. There's a variety of car ferries and jetfoils operating between Algericas in Spain and Morocco's Tangier and Ceuta. There are also ferry trips twice a week from Gibraltar to Tangier.
