Digital Nomad Trip Report: Rabat

Quick Facts about Rabat for Digital Nomads

Introduction

Morocco’s Under-The-Radar Capital

When somebody says Morocco, you think: Marrakech or Casablanca, and probably ten other cities before you even think about the capital city; Rabat. You thought Marrakech or Casablanca was the capital, didn’t you? You’d be forgiven—Morocco has had four capitals in the past and has changed between Fes, Marrakech, Meknes and, since 1955, Rabat.

With my participation in the Marathon des Sables (“MDS”) just around the corner, I figured some time in the host country to acclimatise was the perfect reason to hop on a plane.

Rabat isn’t a big tourist destination, especially for British travellers—most UK airlines fly to either Casablanca or Marrakech. My flight with Easyjet took me via Nantes where I had a 5‑hour layover in the most boring airport I’ve ever seen. Once I finally arrived in Rabat that afternoon, I was glad to see that the British weather had followed me and the city was experiencing the worst rain it had seen in years, according to my cabbie.

I had two weeks in Rabat ahead of the MDS, smack‑bang in the middle of Ramadan (not recommended), so it was very refreshing to finish my running training in temperatures around 25°C instead of 10°C. In hindsight, given the time of year I went, I should’ve bitten the bullet and visited one of the more touristy spots in Casablanca or Marrakech—even though I do despise the latter.

That said, I’m a big lover of my own company and had an amazing Airbnb, so I spent my days plugging away on my laptop and my lunch breaks sunning it up on my terrace. Perfection.

Where to work in Rabat

There are countless co‑working options around Rabat, and while I worked predominantly from my Airbnb, La Station in the l’Ocean neighbourhood came out on top, offering desk space from around £10‑15 a day. While I never tried Workstudio, the pictures give major FOMO—it’s right on the edge of the Administrative Quarter, where all the government buildings and embassies are, a really nice part of the city.

Personally, I enjoyed working from my Airbnb, which was equipped with Maroc Telecom Fibre providing over 100mbps download speeds.

Does Morocco have a digital nomad visa?

Morocco doesn’t offer anything specifically tailored to remote work, but many people utilise the 90‑day tourist visa allowance—perfect if you need somewhere close to Spain to wait out resetting your Schengen allowance. Online sources suggest you can request an extension, but details are patchy, so I would err on the side of caution. A note from personal experience that Moroccan immigration control is a painful process, and you’ll be lucky to get through passport control in under two hours.

The best neighbourhoods in Rabat

I stayed in a neighbourhood called Quartier des Orangers, right in the middle of Rabat, and I would recommend it. While some areas were a little run-down, most of it was nice and well-maintained—a real mix of traditional homes and modern apartment blocks. I’d describe it as “middle of the road” by Rabat’s standards.

Top choice neighbourhoods include Agdal (more of a hipster vibe), Hay Riad (often billed as “old money”) and l’Ocean. Those are my personal recommendations.

Other great areas to check out are the Kasbah of the Oudayas (pictured in the header), the Administrative Quarter, and, of course, no trip to a Moroccan city is complete without exploring the local Medina.

Is Rabat, Morocco safe?

Rabat is one of Morocco’s safest and cleanest cities, and safety improves the further you get into the centre. Compared to Marrakech, where you can’t walk 5 metres without being hassled, I spent two weeks in Rabat without being approached once—and that was also true on my previous visit.

Things to do in Rabat

While there’s not as much to do as in major tourist hubs like Casablanca or Marrakech, there’s still plenty to keep you busy during downtime: the Kasbah, the Medina, the Mausoleum and Hassan Tower, Morocco’s National Zoo, and more. Moreover, Morocco’s Atlantic coast is well-connected by high‑speed train, so you can easily venture to Tangier, Casablanca, Marrakech, or even Fes in just a couple of hours. Note that Rabat has two train stations: Rabat Ville and Rabat Agdal.

When to visit Rabat

Morocco’s climate is similar to Europe’s, but naturally much warmer. Rabat, being on the Atlantic coast, is cooler and breezier, with temperatures in the low 20s in spring, high 20s in summer, and teens in autumn and winter. I’d always recommend visiting Morocco in the shoulder months, when everything is a bit cheaper and cooler. By all means, go in July if you have a death wish—but you’ve been warned.

Favourite place to visit

Boho Café was my favourite little spot to frequent, popular with expats too. On my first trip to Rabat I was there for only 24 hours, and during my second trip (which coincided with Ramadan) I didn’t sample many places, unfortunately.

Staying active in Rabat

I was in Rabat during my final weeks of training for the MDS, which takes place in Morocco, so I found myself out running every day. Rabat is quite good for running—it’s fairly flat, has several parks, and a long, flat coastline. My favourite running spot was “Urban Forest Ibn Sina ‘Hilton'”.