Spain And Morocco Trip: Discovering the Best of Two Worlds
Author:
Alyssa Faraji
Published:
Only a few travel itineraries span across two countries, such as Spain and Morocco, much less two continents, unless you have lots of time to spend. A trip like this covers historical sites, beautiful landscapes, and exotic locations.
A Spain and Morocco trip will cover several key cities, starting in the capital city, Madrid. Stops and stayovers are made in Toledo, Córdoba, Granada, Ronda, Seville, and Tarifa during the Spain leg. In Morocco, stops are made in Tangier, Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Fez, Rabat and Casablanca.
This 14-day Spain and Morocco trip is brimming with history, palaces, busy plazas, cathedrals, old medinas, and souks. The welcoming smells of spices are intoxicating.
Spain is well known for its various culinary delights and good wine. You will be visiting places where the Moors and royals of old made claimed their stake.
Many of the towns have UNESCO World Heritage Sites where history will unfold in front of your eyes. Speaking Spanish for this tour is unnecessary, but it is a great language to master if you have the affinity.
Day 1 – Arrive In Madrid Spain
Arriving at your destination is always met with a bit of nervousness and loads of excited anticipation. What if questions flood your brain, and all you have to say is ‘Basta!’ and Ole! You’re here to unwind, learn about Spain and Morocco, and have loads of fun!
After going through customs, you will collect your luggage, and your tour operator will meet you at the door. Hopefully, with a massive sign with your name on it and a smile to match. Why not feel famous the minute you enter the country!
You will be transferred to your hotel, and after freshening up, you will be taken to explore the following places –
Los Austrias – playground of the royal Hapsburg family
The Plaza de Oriente
Museo del Prado to see world-famous artworks
The Plaza Mayor
The Royal Palace of the current monarch
End your evening with a beautiful meal, live entertainment, and return to your hotel.
Day 2 – Madrid – Toledo – Madrid
The first World Heritage Site on the Spain itinerary will be the city of Toledo. This city was the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom for 183 years, and there is a lot of architectural influence from that era.
You will spend the morning exploring this magnificent hilltop city, the plazas, and the old part of the city. You can look forward to the following historical places before and after enjoying lunch –
The famous Cathedral of St Mary of Toledo
The Alcazar of Toledo
The Bab al-Mardum Mosque / Cristo de la Luz Church ( you may need a headscarf to enter the mosque)
The Alcantara Bridge
The Mirador del Valle
San Juan de los Reyes Monastery
After exploring the city of Toledo, shopping, and taking pictures, you depart to Madrid in the late afternoon, freshen up at your hotel and enjoy a relaxing dinner.
Day 3 – Madrid To Córdoba On The High-Speed Train
In the morning, early, you will take a high-speed train from Madrid station, and one and a half hours later, you should arrive in Córdoba. The city is in Andalusia and was the capital of ancient Muslim Spain.
Places you can expect to visit and explore in the medieval city –
The Mezquita featuring Byzantine mosaics
The Jewish quarter with its whitewashed houses
Palacio de Viana
The Roman Bridge
Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos
Enjoy a local lunch in between visiting these magnificent buildings and architectural marvels. You can expect to depart for Granada in the late afternoon, relax in your hotel, and enjoy dinner and the view of the city at night.
Day 4 – Depart Córdoba To Granada
The Moors were ahead of their time when it came to architecture. Granada is a hilltop city and is famous for many things – one you may not be aware of is that they love to give away free food when they serve drinks!
Who would want to avoid enjoying free food? You will need the stamina to explore this hilly city and all its marvels and fortress.
Places you can expect to explore in Granada –
The Nastrid Sultan’s Alhambra, with its magnificent gardens and woodwork
Generalife gardens
The Albayzín quarter
Capilla Real de Granada
The Court of The Lions
Basílica de San Juan de Dios
Mirador de San Nicholas
After taking in the majestic buildings, you can unwind at the Plaza Bib-Rambla and the Albaicin. Enjoy the evening while having dinner and retire to your hotel.
Day 5 – Depart Granada To Ronda
From the majesty of Granada, you head toward the hills until you come across the walled village of Ronda. This town has a new, modern section and an ancient section divided by a gorge.
Bullfighting is no longer an accepted sport in Spain, but Ronda is home to the oldest and first bullring ever built. Many ancient Roman sites command attention in this breathtaking village.
Other important sites to visit in Ronda are –
Church Of Santa Maria la Mayor
La Casa Del Rey Moro – Royal Moor Palace
The marvelous 70 m Puente Nuevo bridge, built in 1788
Alameda del Tajo
Baños Arabes
Palacio de Mondaragón
Plaza del Socorro
After exploring Ronda for the morning, you will have a refreshing lunch and depart afterward to Seville. Travel time from Ronda to Seville is around 2 hours. Depending on the traffic, roadworks, and weather, other fantastic sites are en route.
Arrive in Seville and, book into your hotel, enjoy dinner and free time.
Day 6 – Explore Seville
Because there is plenty to see and explore within Seville, you will spend two days here. Seville, or Sevilla in Spanish, is the capital of autonomous Andalusia. Seville has different sections to explore, such as Gothic, Moorish, and Jewish quarters.
On the first day, you can explore the following sites-
Catedral de Sevilla & La Giralda – The world’s largest Gothic cathedral where Christopher Colombus is entombed
Plaza de Toros
Metropol Parasol
The Alcazar Palace
Triana
A candlelight tour of the Hospital de la Caridad crypts
Retire to the hotel after sampling local culinary delights at dinner.
Day 7 – Second Day In Seville
If you love art, you can look forward to your second day in Seville. You will spend time with an art restorer showing you the advanced techniques of restoring any number of damaged paintings or sculptures.
Other sites you can explore in Seville –
Torre del Oro
Barrio Santa Cruz
The magnificent Plaza de España
Maria Luisa Park
No trip to Seville will be complete without a gypsy flamenco performance. Watch the mesmerizing dance while enjoying refreshing drinks and move to a restaurant for dinner after the show.
Days 8 And 9 – Depart Seville to Tarifa – Cross to Tangier And Chefchaouen
While it may be hard to leave Seville behind, you depart early morning to Tarifa, the southernmost town in Spain. The drive is around 2 hours and 30 minutes, and you will arrive in time in Southern Spain to take a ferry from Tarifa to Tangier.
After going through customs, you will be transported to the hotel. Enjoy a local lunch and take your time to explore sites around the city and start to infuse the vibrant culture in this historic city. You might notice several differences between Spain and Morocco, including culture, food, and architecture. The weather is also warmer in Morocco.
Tangier has many cultural influences dating back to the Roman empire. There were also British, Spanish, and French occupations in Morocco.
Places to see in Tangier –
The Jewish quarter and the synagogue
Mendoubia Gardens
The old medina
The souks
After a good lunch, you will depart for Chefchaouen of the Blue City, arriving late afternoon.
If you have the energy, you can enter the city for some sightseeing and then retire to the hotel for dinner and a good night’s rest.
Day 10 – Explore The Blue City Of Chefchaouen
Wake up early to take in the magnificent blue-washed gem of Chefchaouen. This Moor fortress city has existed since the 1400s.
The city is nestled in the Rif mountains (not the High Atlas mountains which are further south) and provides a far-reaching view. There are many places to explore (its well worth taking a walking tour), and these are the top sites you can look forward to –
The ruins of the original Moor fortress
The Spanish Mosque – it’s a 30-minute climb, so plan your day carefully
Plaza Uta El-Hammam – The Grand Mosque is not open to general tourists
Do some shopping in the souks
There are other extra experiences you can opt for, such as a private cooking class to learn the secrets of Moroccan cuisine or a traditional dance experience. Whatever you decide, it will be an unforgettable experience.
The narrow streets are lined with famous blue-washed homes and many small cafes, restaurants, and curio shops to look into. Enjoy dinner at a rooftop restaurant and return to the hotel.
Day 11 – Chefchaouen To Volubilis And Fes
Depart early from Chefhaouen towards Fes. One of the main Roman ruins is at Volubilis and testify how far the Romans invaded Morocco and North Africa. At Volubilis, typical Roman baths and mosaic floors are very well preserved.
You will spend most of the day at Volubilis and depart late afternoon to Fez. The drive is about 1 hour and 30 minutes, but it can take slightly longer depending on traffic and road conditions.
Remember that Morocco is much warmer than Spain, so unless you want to look like a lost lobster, take your sun hat and apply sunscreen, sunscreen, and more sunscreen!
Check in to a hotel or traditional home and enjoy dinner.
Day 12 – Spend The Day Exploring Fes
In Morocco, it’s best to rise early to witness the beautiful sunrises and explore before it gets too hot. On day 12, you have the entire day to explore the sights and cuisine of Fes.
Fes is a traditional imperial city and has old and new sections. The architecture will reflect the periods in the old part of the city, dating from the 14th century.
Here are some of the unforgettable sites you can explore in Fes –
Bou Inania Madrasa college
The famous leather tannery
The Blue and Green Gate
Fès el-Bali alleys and the old walled city
The Nejjarine Fountain
Karaouiyne University
Sufi chanting is mystical traditional folklore music; if you are fortunate, you can enjoy listening to a group performing. Enjoy dinner and return to your Moroccan house hotel to relax.
Days 13 and 14 – Depart Fes For Rabat – On To Casablanca
On the penultimate day of your glorious Spain and Morocco tour, you will get up early, have breakfast and depart beautiful Fes. From there, your journey takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to the country’s capital city Rabat.
Sites you can explore in Rabat –
The Chella Necropolis
The Hassan Tower
The Mohamed V Mausoleum
The Odaias Kasbah
The Medina
After a quick stop in Rabat, you are driven 1 hour and 20 minutes to Casablanca and start exploring immediately. Because this is your last day of sightseeing, you should carefully select the places you want to visit.
Places you can see in Casablanca –
The Hassan ll Mosque – The mosque is open to tourists, with free tours every couple of hours.
Place Mohamed V plaza
Souq Haboos
The Old Medina and koubbas or shrines
The Corniche along the seafront
After a long day of sightseeing, there will be a fare thee well dinner and enough time to pack all your gifts and souvenirs.
You will be transferred to the airport in the morning to take your flight home. Choukran bezaf, Bisalama!
What Can You Expect From This 14-Day Tour?
This 14-day tour of Spain and Morocco will require a few things from you, and it’s good to know what you are in for and what you may face beforehand.
If you don’t like narrow spaces, crowded places, and lots of chatter, this tour may not be for you. Most towns and cities you will visit have very narrow and crowded streets. Of course, there will be loud talking in the souks, some shouting, and serious negotiations taking place in the souks.
The physical part of the tour needs to be mentioned. You will be walking a lot and need excellent trainers. Don’t take new shoes, you will regret it! Take well-worn shoes that will not let you down.
The sun. Oh yes, this is super important. Sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat are as important as your toothbrush. Nothing ruins a trip faster than sunburn. Just in case, take some after-sun lotion as well.
You will be climbing stairs. They seem to multiply as you get halfway, but you can do it! You may want to do a few weeks on the Stairmaster before flying to Madrid to build those calves and thighs.
On a more serious note, there are not many wheelchair-friendly places given the architecture is ancient and World Heritage Sites cannot be modified.
Many roads have cobblestones or uneven footing, so if you have weak ankles or walk with crutches, you may find it hard to see all the sights.
If you get motion sickness, have your medicine on hand. There are days with long driving, and you don’t want to feel awful afterward.
So to revisit the most important items to make this trip unforgettable –
Travel insurance – No explanation is needed for this tip, rather have it and not need it!
Wide-brimmed sunhat
High-level sunscreen and after-sun gel or lotion
Good and well worn in trainers ( 2 pairs if possible)
A headscarf – In case you may enter a Mosque
Insect repellant – mosquitoes like tourists
Your personal or chronic medication with a script
No drugs – jail time in either country is not fashionable
Most Moroccans do not drink alcohol – don’t expect to see it everywhere
Do not wander off alone – You don’t want a crime series named after you
Drones are not allowed in Morocco. Please leave it at home
Take pictures but ask permission if locals may be in the snapshot
Where Will You Stay?
For the Spain trip, you will stay in high-end and well-rated hotels or private hotel residences in Morocco.
The traditional riads do not allow the tour vans to park outside because of the narrow streets, so you may have to walk 5 minutes to get to the accommodations.
Conclusion
This fast-paced 14-day Spain and Morocco itinerary teach you about history, fitness, endurance, mystery, and culinary skills. In Morocco you will be spoint for choice when it comes to visiting a Unesco world heritage site, even just in Northern morocco.
It will fine-tune your bargaining methods, and you may learn a new word or two in either language. Either way, you will return well-rested and supercharged!
Spain and Morocco tour faqs
Can you do a day trip to Morocco from Spain?
Yes, you can do a day trip to Morocco from Spain, specifically from the southern coast of Spain. One of the most popular day trips is to Tangier, a vibrant city in Northern Morocco, known for its rich history and local culture.
What is the best way to get to Morocco from Spain?
The best way to get to Morocco from Spain is by taking a high-speed ferry from Tarifa or Algeciras in Spain to Tangier. The ferry journey takes about 1–2 hours, depending on the route and ferry service. Alternatively, you can also fly from various Spanish cities to different destinations in Morocco.
How long is it between Spain and Morocco?
The distance between Spain and Morocco at the Strait of Gibraltar is approximately 14.3 kilometres (8.9 miles), making it a relatively short journey.
Are there day trips from Spain to Morocco?
There are numerous day trips from Spain to Morocco, often focusing on the fascinating cities of Northern Morocco. Some of the highlights you may experience on a Morocco tour include exploring the old town and Medina of Tangier, visiting the ancient city of Tetouan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or discovering the medieval city of Chefchaouen, known for its blue-painted buildings.
During your day trip, you might enjoy a guided tour of the city centre, visit historic monuments and Moorish architecture, and get a taste of North Africa at a local restaurant. Keep in mind that entrance tickets to specific attractions may not be included in the day itinerary, so be prepared to purchase them separately.
While in Spain, you can also visit the historic cities of Seville and Cordoba, where you can explore the Jewish quarter, Moorish quarter, and Plaza Mayor. Don’t miss the opportunity to a half day tour to the Alcazar Palace, once the official residence of the Spanish royal family, and the Seville Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world.
Overall, a day trip from Spain to Morocco offers an unforgettable journey through two beautiful countries with a shared history, allowing you to explore the rich heritage and artistic culture of both destinations. Remember to book your tickets in advance to secure your spot on these popular tours and read traveller reviews for additional insights on the best experiences.
