An hour north from Casablanca by train you'll find Rabat. Despite being the capital, this coastal town is actually pretty laid-back. It's a lot less crowded than other Moroccan cities, so your souk souvenirs will be much easier to barter. If you want somewhere clean and safe to relax from all those bustling cities, plan a stop here.

If you're up for a longer journey, you can visit that ever-Instagrammable "Blue Pearl" village of Chefchaouen — it really is as blue as it looks in photos! And because you flew into Casablanca, you'll be much closer than the usual journey up from Marrakesh. When you're done snapping pics, meander towards the waterfall and stop for a mint tea. Consider taking a detour on your way back to stop in Fez, one of the oldest and best-preserved cities in the country.

And of course, the famous Marrakesh is also pretty well-connected to Casablanca. It's a bit more crowded and touristy than some of these smaller cities, so you'll need to prepare yourself. But keep your wits about you, and you'll find a city jam-packed with incredible food, shopping, and architecture.