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Moroccoʼs unique position at the meeting point of Africa and Europe makes it a great point of departure for a variety of destinations. Whether you want history, urban cities, beach escape, or desert paradise, there are plenty of interesting places to visit near Morocco to have memorable experiences. From artistic and charming southern Spain to the wild desert of Mauritania, these neighbouring countries offer their own cultural refinements and eye-catching scenery. So, if you are ready to take your travels beyond Morocco’s alluring borders, then these adjacent countries have distinct landscapes and delicious foods.
Top 10 Places To Visit Near Morocco
Places to visit near Morocco offer a mix of Mediterranean charm, Saharan mystery and European sophistication, all just hours away.
1. Spain
Photo: Jebulon / Wikimedia Commons
Directly on the opposite side of the Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco has its nearest European neighbour, which is Spain and a reserved culture. Andalusia in particular and Southern Spain in general are strongly connected with Moroccan origins through their Moorish heritage, inherited in the ornate arches of the Alhambra in Granada and in the Mezquita in Cordoba. The flamenco beats and historic squares of Seville can provide a vivid comparison to those of Morocco’s medinas. Spain has an accessible and enriching escape via a ferry that goes between Tangier and Tarifa, and the journey only lasts an hour.
Best Cities: Seville, Granada, Málaga
Top Highlight: Alhambra Palace
2. Portugal
Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons
Portugal is a wonderful place to visit near Morocco, located on the Iberian Peninsula to the west of Spain. Its capital, Lisbon, boasts steep hills and streets, scenic vintage trams, and doge-colored buildings. The waterfront neighbourhoods, Belém and Alfama, have maritime histories that resonate with Fado music. If you travel north to Porto, you will find famous wines and river charm. Travel south to the Algarve to discover beautiful beaches, stunning cliff formations, and fresh seafood restaurants. In addition, Portugal and Morocco share Moorish architectural traditions, especially in their tiled façades and remnants of fortresses.
Best Cities: Lisbon, Porto, Faro
Top Highlight: Algarve Coast
3. Algeria
Photo: أنفال بوجمعة / Wikimedia Commons
Algeria is the largest country in North Africa, located to the east of Morocco and is a land of dramatic scenery and rich heritage. The land border to Morocco is closed, but one may access Algeria through flights to Algiers via Casablanca. It has a wonderful blend of the Ottoman palaces, French colonial avenues and ancient Casbah, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Inland, there are the fortified towns of the M’Zab Valley and Tassili n’Ajjer, the spectacular Saharan landscape of prehistoric rock art. Roman ruins in Timgad and Djemila compete with the Portuguese with a tour of millennia of history.
Best Cities: Algiers, Timgad, Ghardaïa
Top Highlight: Casbah of Algiers
4. Tunisia
Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin / Wikimedia Commons
Located between Algeria and the Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia makes for a small but all-around travelling experience, which takes only a quick flight to reach when in Morocco. Its capital, Tunis, has the old-world colonial elegance of Tunis, the busy bazaars, and the ruined city of Carthage. The white-and-blue seaside town of Sidi Bou Said looks like a postcard sent from the Mediterranean coast, and the amphitheatre in El Djem is possibly the closest look-alike to Rome Colosseum. To the south, the Sahara reveals the troglodyte homes of Matmata and movie-popular desert scenery around Douz. There is also a prominent Moorish, as well as Andalusian influence in Tunisia, with this having been expressed in architecture, music and customs.
Best Cities: Tunis, Sidi Bou Said, El Djem
Top Highlight: Ruins of Carthage
5. France
Photo: Anthony DELANOIX / Unsplash
France has had a long cultural relationship with Morocco, and it is therefore a logical extension for Moroccan tourists who want European sophistication. France, the city of Paris, has the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and the Champs-Élysées, among other major tourist attractions near Morocco and may be reached through direct flights into the city from other cities such as Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakesh. South of the capital, the south of France can provide the feel of the Mediterranean in places like Marseille and Nice, with a large North African population and North African food too. The French Riviera is filled with glamorous resorts, whereas Provence is full of lavender fields and perched villages.
Best Cities: Paris, Marseille, Nice
Top Highlight: Eiffel Tower
6. Italy
Photo: AngMoKio / Wikimedia Commons
One of the most magical attractions near Morocco is Italy, a country of eternal art and architecture. It is easily accessible by direct flight to Italy through Casablanca and Marrakesh to major cities in Italy, Rome, Milano and Venice. The ancient Roman ruins, including the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, will take their visitors back to the past, and Vatican City is a spiritual and cultural treasure trove. Florence impresses with Renaissance works, and Venice with the romantic canals. South of Italy, in Sicily, you can find the Arab-Norman solutions to architecture that have some reflections in the history of architecture in Morocco.
Best Cities: Rome, Venice, Florence
Top Highlight: Colosseum
7. Mauritania
Photo: Laurent Gence / Unsplash
Located just south of the Western Sahara, Mauritania is highly regarded for its exotic and remote desert travel among the places to visit near Morocco. Mauritania is easy to access by land transport or by flights from Moroccan cities, making it perfect for travellers looking for off-the-beaten-trail experiences. Chinguetti is a historic town, once a thriving centre for Islamic scholarship and represents an incredible place with its ancient, sand-encased buildings filled with centuries-old libraries. Travellers can take one of the world’s most remarkable and extreme train rides on the iron ore train from Zouérat to Nouadhibou, crossing the Sahara, which is a transformational experience.
Best Cities: Nouakchott, Chinguetti, Atar
Top Highlight: Iron ore train journey
8. Gibraltar
Photo: Michal Mrozek / Unsplash
An offbeat destination near Morocco is Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located along Spain’s southern coastline. Gibraltar, simply a ferry ride on the Western side of a Strait between Spain and Morocco (Tangier to Algeciras) and a drive later, is a mixture of British character and Mediterranean style. Gibraltar is covered with the Sky icon, the Rock of Gibraltar, which is home to the famous Barbary macaque monkeys, which are the only natural monkeys in Europe. The visitors may visit the St. Michael Cave, and the Great Siege Tunnels and have a wide view from the top of the rock where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean surround each other.
Top Sites: The Rock, St. Michael’s Cave
Top Highlight: Spectacular views from The Rock of Gibraltar and its historic tunnels
9. Senegal
Photo: Jeff Attaway / Wikimedia Commons
Senegal is a colourful and friendly tourist destination located on the West African coast and is one of the top suggestions for places to visit near Morocco. It is easy to access because direct flights are offered between Casablanca and Dakar. The national capital is a rhythmic beat of Afrobeat, open-air markets, and colonial buildings by the French. One can visit Gorée Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, to give a profound reflection on the transatlantic slave trade. Saint-Louis is a beautiful city in the 19th century with a jazz culture, and Pink Lake (Lac Rose) impresses with its fantastic, red-tinted waters.
Best Cities: Dakar, Saint-Louis
Top Highlight: Gorée Island
10. Mali
Photo: Ralf Steinberger / Wikimedia Commons
Mali is a landlocked West African country that has a rich cultural and historical depth, making it one of the less explored places to visit near Morocco. Accessing Mali takes up more time than that of Morocco, given that one would probably fly to Bamako via Casablanca; however, it is a destination worth visiting. The capital, Bamako, throbs to the sound of vibrant music and markets and the mythical city of Timbuktu, a place of Islamic studies once, is now the guardian of ancient manuscripts and mud-brick mosques. The Majestic Great Mosque of Djenn is the world’s largest mud building and the greatest symbol of Sudano-Sahelian architecture.
Best Sites: Timbuktu, Djenné, Bandiagara
Top Highlight: Great Mosque of Djenné
From Spain’s historic streets to Portugal’s calm beaches and Mauritania’s vast deserts, the places to visit near Morocco offer something for every traveller. These nearby countries provide a refreshing change while still echoing Moroccan culture. Explore new traditions, vibrant cities, and scenic landscapes just beyond the border. Don’t just take a trip—expand your journey. Start planning your next cross-border adventure today with TripXL and discover what lies next to Morocco.
Cover Photo: Nick Karvounis / Unsplash
