Volubilis: Volubilis archeological siteArchaeological site Volubilisis part of the UNESCO World Heritage. It's situated in Morocco near Meknes, between Fez and Rabat. If you want to travel to Volubilis, head to the nearest town Moulay Idriss.

In the ancient times Volubilis was a major Roman town and administrative center on the westernmost border of Roman Empire in a province called Mauretania Tingitana. It was built around 40 C.E., probably on the site of a previous Carthaginian settlement from the 3rd century B.C.E. Volubilis takes its name from the Berber name Alili meaning Oleander flower, which is common in the area.

Related sites:

• Volubilis on Wikipedia
• The Volubilis Project
• Volubilis on the UNESCO Website
• Volubilis Ancient

Ait Benhaddou: Kasbahs in Ait Benhaddou, picture by Donar Reiskoffer- also called "Aït Benhaddou"

One of the most beautiful villages in the whole Morocco. It's located under the Atlas Mountains and presents itself into the world with the old Blue medina, commemorating the oldest history of this place. The village has two parts, a 'fortified city', or ksar, along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh is located on one bank of the river. Most of the town's inhabitants, however, now live in a more modern village at the other side of the river.

Aït Benhaddou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and several films have been shot there, including Gladiator by Ridley Scott or Lawrence of Arabia.

Most nationalities including those from the US, Canada, UK and the Europen Union citizens do not need a visa to enter Morocco if travelling as a tourist. If your nationality is not on the following list, then you should contact a Moroccan Embassy and apply for a visa.

You do not need a tourist visa if you belong to one of the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Congo (Rep.of), Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, European Union, Finland, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Korea (Rep. of), Kuwait, Libya, Liechtenstein, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Venezuela.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months after you enter Morocco. You will get a stamp in your passport upon entry into the country (make sure you get it) which will allow you to stay for 90 days. No entry fees are charged.

Morocco - Marrakesh Place Djeema el-Fna squareKingdom of Morocco, often referred as The Western Kingdom, is a shining star of Northern Africa. In the recent years it has become one of the favourite destinations for tourists and independent travellers from all over the world.

Morocco is an Arabic country, rich with traditional culture, colourful history and wide nature. Beatiful ancient cities like Ait Benhaddou, Essaouira, Marrakesh, Meknes or Fez shimmer with magical oriental atmosphere. Yet, Morocco is one of the most advanced African countries with solid infrastructure and open-minded people. Casablanca stands for one of the most progressive African cities.

Diverse geography of Morocco offers wild natural riches for all eager travellers. You can go to Sahara, the world's largest desert. You can visit kasbahs, unique kind of medinas. Or you can travel to beautiful desert oases, surf in the Atlantic Ocean, climb the Atlas Mountains or Rif Mountains. Morocco also serves as the ideal African starting point for the traveller.

- also called "Tangiers"
- or "Tanger" in French, "Tánger" in Spanish

Morocco - Tangier: Morocco - the city of TangierTangier carries an ill-gotten label of one of the most dangerous Moroccan cities. Tangier used to be a Portuguese colony, nowadays it has population about 670 000.

History of Tangier dates back to Phoenician merchants. Late the city was called "Tenga", "Tinga" or "Titga" as well. Myth says Hercules lived in the nearby Cave of Hercules. Anyway, Tangier was an important Berber city founded by Carthage colonists back in the 5th century BC. After the fall of Rome it fell into slavery of Vandals. In the 15th and 16th century Portuguese took the city, later the Spanish and then Englismen. Tangier has always been a crucial port for Europe.

Today you can find many international schools in Tangier. The city has been visited by many celebrities like Rolling Stones or Jack Kerouac. You can find here the Forbes museum of Tangie where the american billionaire Malcolm Forbes has 115 000 tin soldiers on display.

From Tangier you can easily get to Tetouan. There is a train station in Tangier and you can of course take a ferry to Europe.

- also known as "Jma-l-Fna"

Morocco - Marrakesh - Place Djeema el Fna: The best known square in MoroccoDjemaa el Fna is one of the most famous squares and market places in Morocco. It's located in Marrakesh's medina (old city). Everyday it's crowded with tourists and locals trying to make money from tourists. There are lots of orange juice stalls, youths with chained Barbary apes, water sellers in colourful costumes with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, and snake charmers who will pose for photographs for tourists.

Djemaa el Fna square is especially wonderful in the night when all the lights shine and the square is full of rumbling. There are dancers, magicians and dozens of crowded food-stalls. All along the Djemaa el Fna square there are restaurants and also many hotels.

Hotels in Morocco: Morocco has hotels to suit all budgetsMorocco has hotels to suit all budgets. High end chain hotels (Sheraton, Hyatt, etc.) can be found in the ville nouvelle regions of all major tourist centres, while in smaller cities classy guesthouses--essentially palatial Moroccan townhouses (riads) converted into boutique hotels--will satisfy your desires.

With an only exception to high end large hotels, expect that hot water supply in hotels is not as stable as in more established countries. In Marrakech, MHamid, near Ourzazate and possibly other places, hot water temperature is varying dramatically while you take shower.

On the lower end of the budget scale, HI-affiliated youth hostels can be found in the major cities (dorm beds from around Dh 50) while the cheapest budget hotels (singles from around Dh 65) are usually located in the medina. These hotels can be very basic and often lack hot water and showers, while others will charge you between Dh 5 and Dh 10 for a hot water shower. Instead, consider public hammams that are quite alot in medina and rural areas.

Newer, cleaner and slightly more expensive budget (singles from around Dh 75) and mid-range hotels that are sprinkled throughout the ville nouvelles.

Many hotels, especially those in the medina have delightful roof terraces, where you can sleep if the weather's too hot. If you don't need a room, you can often rent mattresses on the roof from Dh 25.

Morocco - Fez: Moroco - the city of FezIt's hard to get your grip on Fez (also "Fes"). This may be partly because there are three towns in Fez: the two ancient walled areas — Fes-l-Bali (the old town) and Fes-l-Jdid (the new town) — and the more modern French-built Ville Nouvelle.

But let this not scare you! Fez is one of the best sights in the world. The walled cities are the main attraction of Fez. The whole old city of Fez has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Find out more in Fez Travel Guide

The immense medina of Fes-l-Bali is a huge labyrinth. In order not to get lost it is best to keep in mind that when you walk down you go towards the center, when you walk up, you leave the center.

The gates that are part of the walls are part of some amazing architecture. Within the walls you should at least try to find the Medersa Attarine, the Medersa Cherratine and Medersa Seffarine, three stunning old buildings near the center of the maze. The other thing you shouldn't miss is the people at work in the median: coppersmith, tanners, dyers. Spectacular colours and lousy working conditions make for great pictures.

Just outside the walls are two good museums—Borj Nord (exhibiting weapons) and Dar Batha (Moroccan arts)—and the Royal Palace.

The amazing hammams are also worth it for a unique view into the local culture, especially for women.

Morocco - Essaouira: Morocco - EssaouiraEssaouira is one of Morocco’s most enjoyable and attractive towns on the coast. It’s charm is undeniable with its white washed and blue shuttered houses, art galleries, wood workshops, fishermen and colorful boats- all enclosed by ancient red walls. The town faces a group of rocky islands and is surrounded by an expanse of empty sandy beaches and dunes. Everything in the small center is within walking distance and the beaches are quite clean. In summer many people from the big cities come for a day or two to escape the heat and tension of Casablanca and Marrakesh. Interestingly, it is also the city that contains the "castle" from Jimi Hendrix's song "Castles in the Sand" - and it is melting into the sea, on a beach, on the ourskirts of town (though he wrote the song 2 years (1967) before visting Morocco! Perhaps he'd already heard of it...)

Many tourists are attracted by the constant wind, good for wind-surfing and surfing. The windy city has become internationally famous for its contests and has brought windsurfers from all over the world.

Morocco - Marrakesh: Morocco - the city of Marrakesh, the mosque.Known as the "Red City" Marrakesh is the capital of the south. The atmosphere is distinctly more African than that of the other Imperial cities, Fez, Rabat and Meknes. The setting of the city is stunning with ochre stucco buildings surrounded by the snow-peaked Atlas mountains. If you have the time, Marrakesh is definitely worth a stay of several days.

The Jma-l-Fna (Djeema el-Fna) is an unbelievable experience. It is a market scene straight out of the movies with snake charmers, musicians, dancing bears, acrobats and storytellers. Around the square there are numbered stalls that sell very cheap freshly-squeezed orange juice in the morning and afternoon. At night there are tables set up that you can eat at for a very reasonable price. Other sights include the impressive Koutoubia minaret and the Ben Youssef Medersa and the Saadian Dynasty tombs, the ruined 16th-century El Badi Palace the Dar Si Said Museum.

Adjacent to Jma-l-Fna square, is the Le Souk, or the famous market with winding streets that offers an amazing collection of traditional handicrafts, leather crafted goods, carpets, clothes, spices, marinated olives and many other items native to the city. To roam in these streets is to discover what makes Marrakesh special. In contrast to the Medina (the old town) in Fez, which seems to be connected seemlessly to the past, Le Souk in Marrakesh transitions to the modernity, while still remaining true to its rich tradition and history. Do not hesitate to haggle with the merchants here, as it is more or less expected.