FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Rabat

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Rabat each year. The main ones are listed below.

For the New Year, Rabat offers many evening entertainments. Local gastronomy, spices, and music and dance colour the splendour of the Oriental night, which is celebrated in restaurants and nightclubs throughout the Moroccan capital, making for an unforgettable New Year's Eve.

Morocco celebrates the signing of the Manifesto, which symbolises the end of colonisation and the birth of independence.

The birth of the Prophet Muhammad is celebrated each year in Morocco. Prayers and celebrations during these two days make them a family-holiday.

Each year, Morocco celebrates Labour Day with a public holiday.

Morocco celebrates Ramadan during the 9^th month of the Hijiri calendar (the date changes each year, according to the time of year the Quran was revealed to the Prophet). Fasting starts at dawn and ends at dusk. Rabat slows down during the day and livens up at night!

This day marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and is a time for celebrations with family and friends.

National celebration commemorating the enthronement of King Mohammed VI. Major festivities mark this holiday: parades, ceremonies, and official speeches and fireworks... The Moroccan capital is jubilant.

This holiday marks the return of the Saharan provinces to Morocco in 1949.

A symbolic day recalling the deportation of King Mohammed V after his dismissal by the French authorities in 1953. Military parades, fireworks, and flags flying from the windows: Moroccans show the attachment they have for their King in a festive celebration.

Moroccan youth celebrate on the anniversary of the birth of Mohammed VI. Shows, dances, happenings: the children of Rabat play joyfully in the streets of the city.

It is considered the most important of the yearly Muslim holidays and honours Ibrahim as a model for all believers. This is also an occasion for sumptuous family gatherings, for which it is recommended to multiply offerings and gifts.

National Day inaugurated by Hassan II, commemorating the march of 350,000 Moroccans to the Spanish Sahara to which Morocco claimed possession.

On this day of national celebration, Morocco celebrates the end of the French protectorate, which occurred in 1955.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Rabat

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	9/48.2	18/64.4	65/2,6	Not the best period to go
February	9/48.2	19/66.2	63/2.4	Not the best period to go
March	10/50	21/69.8	65/2.6	Not the best period to go
April	12/53.6	23/73.4	42/1.7	Not the best period to go
May	14/57.2	24/75.2	27/1.1	Good period to go
June	17/62.6	27/80.6	8/0.3	Good period to go
July	18/64.4	29/84.2	0/0	Good period to go
August	19/48.2	29/84.2	0/0	Good period to go
September	18/64.4	28/82.4	10/0.4	Good period to go
October	15/59	26/78.8	47/1.9	Good period to go
November	13/55.4	22/71.6	83/3.3	Not the best period to go
December	10/50	19/66.2	85/3.3	Not the best period to go

Rabat-Salé International Airport

The Rabat-Salé International Airport is located approximately 8 kilometres (5 miles) northeast of Rabat's city centre.

The airport has 2 terminals:

• T1 (Air France)
• T2 (reserved for military activity)

• By car:
  The airport is accessible by car via the Ain Houalla National Road. Allow approximately 20 minutes to reach the city centre.
  The airport offers a parking. Count MAD 5 for the first five hours, MAD 25 for 5 to 12 hours, MAD 40 for 24 hours. Many car rental companies are located in Terminal 1.
• Airport Shuttle:
  The shuttle service from the Rabat-Salé airport makes it possible to reach downtown Rabat in 30 minutes, at an average of MAD 20 per person. The shuttles run between 6:45 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. every day of the week. They are programmed in accordance with the main departures and arrivals in Rabat: the departure towards the capital takes about 1 hour after the arrival of the flight, the return to the airport is scheduled two hours before flight departure. The shuttle to the airport departs from in front of the Rabat-Ville train station.
• Taxi: Only 'big taxis' (white Mercedes with a capacity of six passengers: two front and four rear) can take you to downtown Rabat, round the clock, seven days per week. Allow about MAD 150 for a ride of about twenty minutes in the daytime and MAD 200 at night.
• Services: shops, bars, restaurants, free Internet access (Wi-Fi), currency exchange, banks, ATMs, and a post office are all to be found in the terminal.

• Website: www.onda.ma/en/I-am-passenger
• Telephone: +212 (0) 537 808 089

GETTING AROUND Rabat

Traffic in Rabat is sometimes chaotic. The tram, which serves the main roads of the capital, is the ideal way to explore the city easily.

Bus

The Moroccan capital is covered by 54 bus lines spread between the cities of Rabat, Salé, and Témara. Buses run from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., every ten minutes. Bus lines 13, 27, 34 and 16 join the cities of Rabat and Salé. Bus 28 stops close to ministries and embassies. You can buy your tickets directly on the bus for MAD 5.

Tramway

The tram is the safest and fastest means of transport within the city. Rabat has two tramlines (T1 and T2) serving the major areas of the city from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Extensions are in progress, and new lines (T3, T4 and T4 bis) covering the suburbs are being prepared.

The price of a ticket is MAD 6 on sale in kiosks and distributors in tram stations. The ticket allows you to make connections in the hour following the first validation. For more information on fares, schedules and points of sale, visit (www.tram-way.ma/fr/).

Taxi

In urban areas, the 'small taxis' (blue taxis) are easily accessible. During the day, the price per kilometre is MAD 2.50. At night, it can be increased by 50%. Expect MAD 10 to MAD 40 for a ride. As a precaution, do not hop into a taxi having no counter.

Train

The city of Rabat offers two stations: Rabat-Ville is located in the city centre, and Rabat-Agdal is located two kilometres from the city centre. Both serve most major Moroccan cities. The tramline L1 serves Rabat-Ville station. From Rabat-Agdal, reach Casablanca in an hour for a price between MAD 37 and MAD 47 (second class).

The city of Rabat offers two stations: Rabat-Ville is located in the city centre, and Rabat-Agdal is located two kilometres from the city centre. Both serve most major Moroccan cities. The tramline L1 serves Rabat-Ville station. From Rabat-Agdal, reach Casablanca in an hour for a price between MAD 37 and MAD 48 (second class).

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Rabat, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.

Offers practical information and many useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Address: Rue Zallaqa, corner of Oued Al Makhazine street, Rabat
• Telephone: +212 (0) 537 674 013
• Website: https://rabat-tourisme.org/index.php?lang=en

Offers practical information and many useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Address: 22, avenue d'Alger, Rabat
• Telephone: +212 (0) 537 660 663

Offers practical information and many useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Address: 23, avenue de la Victoire, Rabat
• Telephone: +212 (0) 537 779 077

Currency and Exchange Rates

The currency used in Rabat is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD).

$1 = MAD8.98

MAD1 = $0.11

The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.

Medical information

See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation. Rabat counts several hospitals and medical institutions as well as medical practitioners.

No vaccine is mandatory to stay in Rabat. However, it is recommended you protect yourself against hepatitis A and B, and typhoid.

For more information, contact your Air France International Vaccination Centre:

• Address: 38, quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
• Website: https://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

There are few risks of food safety in Rabat. However, it is recommended to:

• carefully wash produce before eating
• avoid eating raw food

Tap water is safe to drink in Rabat.

Administrative formalities

Entry requirements for Morocco

Most nationalities visiting Morocco do not require a visa and are allowed to stay in the country for 90 days, if carrying a valid passport (30 days for citizens of certain countries).

However, some foreign nationals are subject to visa formalities before entering Morocco. For more information, visit the website of Morocco's Consular and Social Affairs:

www.service-public.ma/en/web/guest/home

Useful addresses

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Morocco, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Essential phrases

Good to know

+212

+ phone number (without 0)

6 : 00
of time difference with
New York

Daylight Savings Time start date: last Sunday in March

Daylight Savings Time end date: last Sunday in October

BANKS
Generally Monday to Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 or 4:00 p.m. (9:15 a.m. to 2 or 2:30 p.m. during Ramadan)

GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Usually open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:15 p.m. (9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during Ramadan)

220 V / 50 Hz

Tipping

In Morocco, the tip is not included in the bill. It is therefore considered polite to leave a percentage for the service from 10 to 15% of the total bill. Salaries are relatively low, so tipping the housekeeping staff (maids, porters...) in hotels is appreciated.