Rabat International Marathon 2027: spectator guide and weekend itinerary

9 to 11 April 2027 · ExpectedRabat, Morocco

Rabat International Marathon takes runners a few hours and spectators all day. This guide gives supporters cheer points they can reach by public transport, plans the expo day and race eve around tired legs, and fills the recovery day in Rabat.

Tours in Rabat Hotels for these dates

Airport to City centre and the Bou Regreg riverfront

Start and finish areas are on public transport; streets on the course close for the morning.

Public transport directions to City centre and the Bou Regreg riverfront

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	Medina and Rabat Ville station area	Riads and simple hotels inside the walls, walking distance to the kasbah and trains.
Mid-range	Hassan and Agdal	Modern hotels on the tram line with cafés and easy access to the stadium district.
Splurge	Souissi and the river	Palace hotels with big gardens, quiet and close to the royal golf course.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: Riad Kalaa
Mid-range: Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses
Splurge: The Ritz-Carlton Rabat

Links search the nights from 8 April to 12 April. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual marathon weekend schedule for 9 to 11 April 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Arrival and expo

Wednesday 7 April

Runners collect bibs at the expo. Companions can split off for a half-day.

Half-dayRabat imperial city tour Half day · Family · Low walking
Hassan Tower, the Mohammed V mausoleum, Chellah ruins and the Kasbah of the Udayas.
EatCafé Maure Mint tea and pastries in the Andalusian garden

Day before the race

Thursday 8 April

Runners rest their legs: pick seated or slow outings, then an early pasta dinner.

Easy outingMoroccan cooking class in a riad Half day · Food · Indoor
Cook a three-course Moroccan lunch.
EatDinarjat Traditional dinner in a restored medina house

Race day

Friday 9 April

Spectators: pick two cheer points you can reach by public transport, then meet at the finish.

Cheer pointAvenue Mohammed V.
EatPaul Rabat Easy breakfasts and pastries in a villa garden

Recovery day

Monday 12 April

Sore legs: boats, buses and long lunches beat walking tours today.

Easy outingBou Regreg boat crossing and Salé medina Half day · Low walking
Row across the river to the quieter medina of Salé.
Rain or heat backupHammam experience Half day · Indoor · Low walking
Steam, scrub and massage.

Family-friendly picks

Half day · Family · Low walking

Rabat imperial city tour

Hassan Tower, the Mohammed V mausoleum, Chellah ruins and the Kasbah of the Udayas.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

Kasbah of the Udayas walking tour

Blue lanes, the Andalusian garden and ocean views.

See times and prices

Full day · Family

Day trip to Meknes, Volubilis and Moulay Idriss

Roman mosaics, a holy town and an imperial capital.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

Surf lesson at Rabat beach

Beginner breaks right below the kasbah.

See times and prices

Rabat zoo (Jardin zoologique national) has Barbary lions.
Beach time at Plage de Rabat or the calmer Temara beaches.
Nouzhat Hassan and Jardin d'Essais botanical gardens for picnics.

Evening and day-trip tours

Evening · Food · Nightlife

Evening food walk in the medina

Street snacks and tea in the medina lanes.

See times and prices

Full day

Day trip to Chefchaouen

The blue city in the Rif mountains, a long but famous day.

See times and prices

Full day

Day trip to Fez

The great medina of Fez el-Bali by train or car.

See times and prices

Full day · Family

Day trip to Meknes, Volubilis and Moulay Idriss

Roman mosaics, a holy town and an imperial capital.

See times and prices

After dark

Evening walk along the corniche below the kasbah.
Agdal cafés and lounges on Avenue de France.

Ten tours worth booking for Rabat International Marathon

Tour	Length	Good for
Rabat imperial city tour	Half day	Families, Tired legs
Kasbah of the Udayas walking tour	Half day	Families
Day trip to Chefchaouen	Full day	Everyone
Day trip to Fez	Full day	Everyone
Day trip to Meknes, Volubilis and Moulay Idriss	Full day	Families
Moroccan cooking class in a riad	Half day	Food lovers, Bad weather
Bou Regreg boat crossing and Salé medina	Half day	Tired legs
Surf lesson at Rabat beach	Half day	Families
Hammam experience	Half day	Bad weather, Tired legs
Evening food walk in the medina	Evening	Food lovers, Night owls

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

Dar Naji Classic Moroccan dishes in the medina
Le Dhow A wooden boat restaurant on the river below the kasbah
Café Maure Mint tea and pastries in the Andalusian garden
Dinarjat Traditional dinner in a restored medina house
Paul Rabat Easy breakfasts and pastries in a villa garden
Rue des Consuls stalls Snacks while shopping for carpets and leather

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Half day · Food · Indoor

Moroccan cooking class in a riad

Cook a three-course Moroccan lunch.

See times and prices

Half day · Indoor · Low walking

Hammam experience

Steam, scrub and massage.

See times and prices

Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.
Museum of History and Civilisations.
Arribat Center and Rabat Marina shops.

Getting around on event days

Rabat-Salé tram lines link the centre, Agdal, the university area and Salé for about 6 dirhams.
Petit taxis run inside each city on the meter: ask the driver to switch it on, or agree the fare before you get in. Grand taxis are shared and run fixed routes between towns.
Careem and inDrive work in Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier and Agadir. Expect to pay in cash in dirhams in most places.
Al Boraq high-speed trains link Tangier, Kenitra, Rabat and Casablanca. Classic ONCF trains continue to Marrakech and Fez. Book on the ONCF app; first class is cheap and worth it on busy days.
Fridays around midday prayers and the evenings during Ramadan change opening hours and traffic.

Day trips from Rabat

Casablanca: 55 minutes by train
Fez: about 2.5 hours by train
Chefchaouen: about 4 hours by car

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for Rabat International Marathon.

Plan a group trip

Questions people ask

When is Rabat International Marathon 2027?

The next edition is 9 to 11 April 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

How do I get from the airport to City centre and the Bou Regreg riverfront?

Rabat-Salé (RBA) is 10 km from the centre, about 20 minutes and 100 to 150 dirhams by taxi. Many visitors fly into Casablanca (CMN) and take the train: airport to Casa Voyageurs, then 55 minutes to Rabat Ville. Start and finish areas are on public transport; streets on the course close for the morning.

Where should I stay for Rabat International Marathon?

For most visitors the best base is Hassan and Agdal: Modern hotels on the tram line with cafés and easy access to the stadium district.

What else can we do around Rabat International Marathon?

Good short outings in Rabat include Rabat imperial city tour, Kasbah of the Udayas walking tour, Moroccan cooking class in a riad. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near Rabat International Marathon?

Family-friendly picks: Rabat imperial city tour, Kasbah of the Udayas walking tour, Day trip to Meknes, Volubilis and Moulay Idriss. Rabat zoo (Jardin zoologique national) has Barbary lions.

How far is City centre and the Bou Regreg riverfront from Rabat centre?

About 1 km in a straight line. Start and finish areas are on public transport; streets on the course close for the morning.

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