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Atlantic Coast شاطئ االطلنطي

Includes  Why Go? Casablanca This windswept coast is home to ’s cultured capital, (Dar el-Baïda)...... 155 Rabat, and its economic hub, Casablanca. The refined Mau- Rabat ...... 172 resque architecture and liberal attitudes on display in both Salé ...... 184 cities are a far cry from the medieval medinas and conserv- Larache ...... 189 ative lifestyles of inland cities such as Fez and . There’s more to see than these big cities, though. Vast Asilah ...... 193 swathes of golden sand, small fishing villages, historic ports El Jadida ...... 197 built by the Portuguese and fortified towns with vibrant Oualidia ...... 201 medinas are scattered along the ocean’s edge. Outside the Safi ...... 203 towns, farmland rolls gently down to the sea and wetland ...... 206 reserves showcase rich migratory birdlife in autumn and spring. The region is bookended by Asilah and Essaouira, famed for their medinas and surrounding beaches. There’s art to view, delicious seafood to eat and an extraordinarily rich Best Places to history, from the Phoenicians to the protectorates, that is Eat begging to be explored. Don’t miss it. ¨¨La Table by Madada (p214) ¨¨Beachside Shellfish (p205) When to Go ¨¨Pâtisserie Bennis Habous (p164) Casablanca °C/°F ¨¨Restaurant Brasserie La Te mp Rainfall inches/mm 40/104 8/200 Bavaroise (p164)

30/86 6/150

Best Places to 20/68 4/100 Sleep 10/50 2/50

¨¨Villa Bea (p189) 0/32 0 J FDM A M J J A S O N ¨¨Jack’s Apartments & Suites (p211) Mar–May Observe Jun Join Sep Hit the huge flocks of world-music devo- beaches after the ¨¨La Sultana (p202) migrating birds on tees at Essaouira’s Moroccan tourists ¨¨Riad Meftaha (p178) lagoons along the world-famous leave, while the ¨¨L’Alcazar (p178) coast. Gnaoua festival. weather’s still good. Azrou Sidi- Kacem (25km)

Khenifra Dchar Ghanem Ksar el- Kebir T L A S A L T S P A I N S P Souk el-Arba du Rhurb Lixus Meknès Tangier Oued-Zem Aïn-Leuh El-Ksiba Bargha Merdja Khemisset Asilah

A2 H I G H A H G I H Kasba-Tadla N6 Had Gharbia A1 Larache Beni-Mellal Kenitra Ez-Zhiliga Moulay Bin-el-Ouidane Rommani Rabat-Salé Airport Oued-Zem Sidi el-Yamani Souq Tnine de P22 Bousselham Merchouch Merja Zerga National Merja Zerga Aïn el- Aouda Boughaba Lac de Sidi ) Spotting rare rare (p188) Spotting Park on a boat from birds migrating wetlands. the marshy 5

Merja Zerga h Tangier-Boukhalef Airport Tangier-Boukhalef Sidi National Park Salah Salé

Mella Bettache Sidi- Oued Yahya Fkih-Ban- Rabat El Borouj Ben ) Plage des Nations Slimane ) Feasting ) Feasting A7 Settat Temara Plage Mechra Benâbbou N9 Mohammedia Benguérir Sidi-Bou-Othmane Airport Marrakesh Boulâouane A7 International Casablanca Skhour Mohammed V N7 (p155 Casablanca 201 (p Oualidia Rehamna N8 S-Bennour Admiring this cosmopolitan this cosmopolitan Admiring of trove treasure city’s and art nouveau Mauresque, architecture. art deco on freshly shucked oysters oysters shucked on freshly lagoon. a tranquil to next 4 3 Airport Youssoufia Ménara R204 100 km

Oued Tensift 60 miles Azemmour O C E A N N1 S-Smaïl El Jadida A T L A N T I C Bouguedra ) Khemis Sidi Bouzid R207 ) Exploring ) Exploring Moulay Abdallah Safi Oualidia (p172 Essaouira Mogador Airport Souira Lalla Fatna Sidi Kaouki (15km) Kedima

Cap Beddouza Rabat (p206 Essaouira

0 0 the historic walled medina and the historic kasbah. evocative Wandering through the through Wandering medina and oceanside wooden traditional watching in the constructed being boats bustling port. 2

1 Atlantic Coast Highlights

Atlantic Coast Coast Highlights Essaouira Diabat Mogador Île de 154