The Kasbah Museum in Tangier is in Dar el Makhzen, the former sultan's palace at the top of the kasbah. Its rooms around marble courtyards display archaeology and art from Morocco and the Mediterranean, including Roman mosaics. The Andalusian garden is a peaceful spot. Nearby terraces offer views across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Cape Spartel is a headland west of Tangier where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. A lighthouse built in 1864 stands on the cliffs surrounded by gardens. The views over the ocean and the Strait of Gibraltar are spectacular, especially at sunset. The Caves of Hercules and Achakkar beach are a short drive away.

The Caves of Hercules are a limestone cave complex on the Atlantic coast near Cape Spartel. Legend says Hercules rested here before one of his labours. The cave's sea opening is famous for its shape, which looks like a map of Africa. Shops and cafés line the entrance. Combine it with the lighthouse at Cape Spartel.

Chefchaouen is a mountain town in the Rif known for its blue-painted streets. At its centre, the Outa el Hammam square is overlooked by the red-walled kasbah, with a garden and a small museum inside. The tower offers views over the blue medina. The town is a relaxed base for hikes into the surrounding mountains.

Volubilis is the best preserved Roman city in Morocco, founded on an earlier settlement and once a provincial capital. Its ruins include a triumphal arch, a basilica, the capitol and houses with beautiful floor mosaics. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit in the late afternoon, when the light is soft and the heat has eased.

Bab Mansour is the grand gate of Meknes, completed in 1732 during the reign of Moulay Ismail's successor. It is covered with zellij tiles and inscriptions, and its marble columns were reused from Roman Volubilis. It faces El Hedim Square, a lively spot with food stalls in the evening. Behind it lies the former imperial city.

Bab Bou Jeloud is the main western gate into the medina of Fes el-Bali. Built in 1913 in a traditional style, it is decorated with blue tiles on the outside and green tiles on the inside, the colours of Fes and of Islam. Through its arches you can see minarets inside the medina. It is the usual starting point for exploring the old city.

The Bou Inania Madrasa in Fes was built in the 14th century by the Marinid sultan Abu Inan Faris. It is one of the few religious buildings in Morocco open to non-Muslims, and it still serves as a mosque. The courtyard has superb carved cedar, stucco and zellij tiles. A water clock once stood on the facade across the street.

Al-Qarawiyyin was founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri and is considered one of the oldest continuously operating universities in the world. The mosque is the heart of the Fes medina. Non-Muslims cannot enter, but they can glimpse the courtyard and fountains through the main doors, and its restored library is sometimes open to visitors.

Al-Attarine Madrasa is a 14th-century college built by the Marinid sultan Abu Said near the spice market of Fes. Its small courtyard is one of the most finely decorated in Morocco, with carved stucco, cedar and zellij tilework. Students once lived in the rooms upstairs. It sits close to Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in the heart of the medina.

The Chouara Tannery is the largest tannery in Fes and has worked in much the same way since medieval times. Hides are soaked in stone pits filled with dyes and natural materials. The best views are from the terraces of surrounding leather shops. Morning is when the colours are brightest; you will be given mint leaves for the smell.