10 of Rabat's Top Museums

Created in the 1920s, this museum exhibits archaeological discoveries, mostly from Volubilis, Thamusida and Banassa. Its main goal is to present Morocco to the public from prehistory up until the Islamic era. You’ll learn about the tools used by cavemen to hunt, and other remains of prehistoric tribes.

If you are in Rabat, you will probably walk past this museum, it is the white house with a whole facade of contemporary paintings. It opened in 2014 and is the first institution in Morocco to dedicate its whole space to modern and contemporary art. The museum has been exhibiting works by famous Moroccan artists such as Mohammed Ben Ali R’bati, Ahmed Louardiri, Meriem Meziane, Ahmed Cherkaoui and many more.

This museum exhibits all the currencies that were present in Morocco throughout the years. The story starts back in the Roman empire, and moves through the Almoravid Dinar and the Dirham from the Idrisid dynasty. It is the perfect place to understand about the development of currencies in the Kingdom.

Avenue Allal Ben Abdellah, Rabat, Morocco, +212 5378 18181

Portrait of a Moroccan sultan | © WikiCommons

This museum located in a local post office, has free entry and a free guided tour. The post office was opened in the late 19th century by Sultan Moulay Hassan I, and became a museum in 1970. It was the first official form of communication between people in different cities in Morocco, and what is now known as a modern post office. Here, you can find different stamps representing different eras in history.

Musée National de la Poste, Rabat, Morocco

This museum is located in the heart of the most important architecture school in Rabat. The main purpose of this museum is to show the public the development of Moroccan and traditional architecture and type of buildings constructed throughout the years.

Ecole Nationale d’Architecture Rabat, Rabat, Morocco

This museum was initially a school for young boys to learn about Islam and science; it was built between 1333 and 1341 under the Marinade dynasty. It operated as a school until 1907 and was declared a national heritage 15 years later. It was also described by many as one of the smallest and prettiest madrasas (educational institutions) to be built, due to its nearly perfect architecture and hand-carved walls. In 2004, the Ministry of Culture invested £300,000 in this medusa to be restored and opened as a museum.

Rue Ash al Shaiara, Salé, Maroc

Medersa Sahrij | © Chris Martin/Flickr

This museum of classic cars is free to enter. At first glance, this ordinary villa looks just like a normal Moroccan house, but once you step inside, all the stunning cars on display, will take you by surprise. Models include a 1957 Chrysler DeSoto and a Cadillac Sedan from the same year. It is the best place to see these type of cars in Morocco.

Musée des voitures classiques, R401, Morocco, +212 666 606666

This villa is located in the centre of Rabat and is very popular among both locals and tourists. Here, you will find all kinds of contemporary paintings by various artists. The museum also offers different types of events and workshops for adults and children.

Villa des Arts, Corner of Avenue Mohammed V, 10 Rue Beni Mellal, Rabat 10010, Morocco, +212 644 043614

This museum, that has a large collection of rare jewellery, traditional clothing and other cultural items, is located in the Kasbah of Oudaias, an ancient fortress built in 1672 by the Almoravid dynasty on the edge of the Bouregreg river. It became a museum in 1915, presenting artefacts that represent Moroccan traditions, from clothing to weaponry, and there is also a popular small garden outside, which is reminiscent of Moorish-Andalusian style.