Rabat may not be the first destination that comes to mind when considering a beachside winter getaway, but Morocco’s capital city offers plenty of seacoast and river shoreline, thanks to its position at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River on the Atlantic Ocean. Its watery location once made it a popular port for Barbary pirates in the 16^th, 17^th and 18^th centuries. Today, Rabat’s wide sandy beaches are popular with surfers, where well-known wave breaks include Kbeir, Cascade, Plongeoir and Bergama.

One of Morocco’s historic Imperial Cities, Rabat was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites in 2012. Besides its modern side — regarded as a model for urban planning — Rabat has an old section dating to the 12^th century, where sites include the Hassan Mosque, Almohad ramparts and Moorish-Andalusian ruins from the 17^th century. Relaxing at a hammam is an important cultural tradition for locals, and you can experience this relaxing and healing steam therapy-meets-social outing at one of the many splendid public hammans or at a wide range of city hotels.

Rabat is also a popular location for a number of music and cultural festivals, including the Feast of the Throne each July 30, and the beautifully lighted Wax Lantern Festival that begins in Sale directly across from the city. This lantern festival dates to a practice of the corsairs, who carried lights to the home of the town patron in hope of acquiring protection for upcoming sea journeys. Each May, the city also hosts the Mawazine Rhythms of the World Festival, a nine-day celebration that unfolds on seven stages where top African and international artists play. In September, it’s the Chellah Jazz Festival, with performances by Moroccan and European jazz artists.