D’Ouezzan recommends visitors try Rabat’s version of the traditional pastilla (sweet and savory pie typically stuffed with pigeon meat or chicken) made with fresh seafood. “[It] brings the flavours of the sea to a traditional Moroccan dish,” she says.
2026 World Book Capital events
In April 2026, Rabat will officially begin its year as Unesco World Book Capital, with an opening ceremony planned during the city’s International Book Fair (1-10 May). Subsequent events like public readings, mobile libraries and literacy drives are expected throughout the year.
Beyond the literary-themed Unesco celebrations, travellers will find small, independently owned bookshops like Bouquiniste and Bab El Had. Inside Bouquiniste El Azizi, owner Mohammed Aziz has been selling books in dozens of languages for the past 43 years and always draws a crowd eager to browse his floor-to-ceiling-stacked titles. Institutions like the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco, National Archives of Morocco and the French Institute of Rabat host public lectures, book launches, author talks and programming that promotes a reading culture, especially for women and children.
Still, D’Ouezzan feels that Rabat is unlikely to be overrun by tourists. “This is not because it lacks appeal, but because its vibe is fundamentally different,” she says. El Mouatasim also notes that Rabat’s slower, deliberate pace of life may appeal to visitors who value a more unhurried travel experience.
Getty ImagesAs Zaytoune says, “Rabat has the charm of Morocco without the chaos or frenzy of Marrakesh, and you can still feel the allure of Africa in every corner, every street and every meal at a pace that is refreshing and relaxing.”
