You will be surprised by the straight layout of the city's historical heart in sharp contrast to the usual maze of streets. A walk through Rabat's medina could look like this: start your visit at the Bab El Had gate and take Souika Street, the largest and probably busiest street in the medina. You will arrive in the Es Sabat souk, the shoe market, covered with reed mats and overflowing with babouches (leather slippers) as well as silver and gold jewellery. You then come to the partially glass-roofed Rue des Consuls where craftsmen make woollen carpets, fabrics and copperware. The medina also offers low-priced and local food, so do not hesitate to try mint tea, pastillas or tagine.

This sprawling 1921 estate offers a fascinating trip through time to the Florida of years gone by. This waterfront home, once inhabited by world-renowned artist Frederic Clay Bartlett and his wife, Evelyn, is accessible now as part of a guided tour. The formal tropical gardens and unique design are worth a few hours of quiet afternoon exploration.

Once intended to be part of the largest mosque in the world, Hassan Tower overlooks Bouregreg river and offers a fantastic view. Equally spectacular is the square in front of the tower, with multiple columns. Every day at 10:45am, you can enter the court of the barracks of the royal guard to attend the ceremony of the hoisting of the colours (the national flag). Also worth a visit is the changing of the mounted guard, which takes place every day at 7:00am in front of Hassan Tower.

The National Archaeological Museum, in Exarchia, is home to Ancient Greece’s most spectacular pieces. One room contains Schliemann’s finds from Mycenae, another has the famous frescoes from Santorini on display. There is also a fine collection of idols from the Cyclades and ceramics from all parts of the Mediterranean. The star of the museum is the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient hand-powered orrery, described as the oldest example of an analogue computer used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in advance. This scientific marvel is dated somewhere between 205 and 60 BCE.