Morocco has been a popular tourist spot for decades now, from the international zone of Tangier in the 1950’s – the town that offered part of the inspiration for William Burroughs’ novel, Naked Lunch – seeing many pass through its gates through the years up to modern days with Casablanca, Fes et al. The country has been romanticised in many works of film and literature, and even with its geographical location putting Morocco not that far out of the way, the mystery surrounding a visit to the country is something that lures countless visitors year in, year out.

The capital of Rabat – one of the four Imperial Cities – is a vibrant and popular city, full of towering gateways, relaxing restaurants and cafes, beautiful flora and fauna and the expected hustle and bustle of the Moroccan markets. Cultural attractions come in the shape of the Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Royal Palace and the Archaeological Museum, amongst many other things. Visitors to the city might also want to take in Rabat’s ‘twin’ city of Sal, located just across the river.

The three other Imperial Cities of Morocco offer more than enough between them for any traveller, from the miles of battlements and UNESCO World Heritage Old Town of Meknes, through to the ‘Pink City’ of Marrakech with its bewildering city square that comes alive at night with snake charmers, fortune tellers and everything else seemingly straight out of a story book, and finally the ancient city of Fès – often called the most impressive of the Imperial Cities, and with good reason, home to the largest market in the world – another UNESCO World Heritage Site – and a bewildering array of sights, smells, sounds and tastes. The Imperial Cities are all more than worthy of a visit, and anyone travelling to Morocco should definitely put all four cities on their ‘to do’ list with no hesitation.

The country doesn’t begin and end with the Imperial Cities though, and there are a multitude of other attractions for all tastes, from the Atlas Mountains, skiing resorts, countless beautiful mosques and other architectural delights through to the many, many markets, open air cafes and restaurants offering the best in Moroccan cuisine – it’s certainly hard to get bored in a country as teeming with activity as this one. And even though that is the case, there are more than enough laid-back getaways for those who simply want to relax. It’s still not the most popular choice for a holiday, but it certainly offers something different and is an experience not to be missed.