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Morocco🇲🇦 | attractionsMausoleum of Mohammed VOnyx sarcophagus, gilded cedar ceiling, ceremonial guards, column field | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Mausoleum of Mohammed V
👌 Worth visitingattraction ranked #13
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Most people come for the white-and-green pavilion where Mohammed V lies in an onyx sarcophagus, and that is the right reason. What gets overlooked is that entry is free and non-Muslims are welcome inside, which is rare for a Moroccan religious site. The mausoleum stands in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, beside the unfinished Hassan Tower. I walked up the front steps in shorts, and a guard politely turned me back; covered knees would have saved me ten minutes. Skip the empty esplanade photo-hunting and spend your time inside the carved-cedar interior. Unlike the crowded Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, this place is calm and takes under an hour.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Morocco Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #13 attraction in MoroccoWhat makes this attraction worth visiting

Mausoleum of Mohammed V is the one monument in Rabat where Morocco’s modern royal story is told in stone, tile and cedar, and you can walk in for free. The white-marble tomb of the king who negotiated independence in 1956 sits inside a chamber with a carved cedar ceiling and a gilded dome, while Royal Guards in red and white dress uniforms stand at the doors, mounted ones in front on horseback. A sunken gallery lets you look down on the sarcophagi, and the Quranic recitation is quietly constant. Next door, the unfinished forest of Hassan Tower columns makes a compact, walkable pairing that fits easily into a single morning in the capital. Dress modestly, expect a short visit, and treat it as a milestone on any Morocco route that includes Rabat.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. The Royal Tomb Chamber: a sunken room seen from a gallery, with Mohammed V’s white onyx sarcophagus at the center. Reciters sometimes read from the Quran nearby, and the hush is real.
  2. The Tomb of Hassan II: placed beside his father’s, in matching marble, and easy to miss if you only look at the main one.
  3. The Carved Cedar Ceiling: gilded, intricately cut wood overhead, the best example of Moroccan craft on the site.
  4. Zellige and Marble Walls: hand-cut tile mosaics and Italian marble line the interior, and the geometry rewards close inspection.
  5. The Royal Guards: mounted guards in ceremonial red and white uniforms stand at the entrance, and they hold still while visitors take pictures.
  6. The Hassan Tower: an unfinished 12th-century minaret just beside the mausoleum, left at about 44 meters high.
  7. The Column
… read more 👉
  1. The Royal Tomb Chamber: a sunken room seen from a gallery, with Mohammed V’s white onyx sarcophagus at the center. Reciters sometimes read from the Quran nearby, and the hush is real.
  2. The Tomb of Hassan II: placed beside his father’s, in matching marble, and easy to miss if you only look at the main one.
  3. The Carved Cedar Ceiling: gilded, intricately cut wood overhead, the best example of Moroccan craft on the site.
  4. Zellige and Marble Walls: hand-cut tile mosaics and Italian marble line the interior, and the geometry rewards close inspection.
  5. The Royal Guards: mounted guards in ceremonial red and white uniforms stand at the entrance, and they hold still while visitors take pictures.
  6. The Hassan Tower: an unfinished 12th-century minaret just beside the mausoleum, left at about 44 meters high.
  7. The Column Forest: hundreds of broken columns on the esplanade mark the footprint of the mosque that was never finished.
  8. The Adjoining Mosque: a small prayer hall in the complex, handsome from outside, though closed to non-Muslims.
The Mausoleum of Mohammed V itself costs nothing to enter, and the tower and columns are free too.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Private Cultural Walking Tour of Rabat with Licensed Tour Guide

Private Cultural Walking Tour of Rabat with Licensed Tour Guide

4.8(66)
From €55
per personViator
Rabat tour ; Guided Walking tour with a female tour guide

Rabat tour ; Guided Walking tour with a female tour guide

5.0(55) 2h 30m
From €46
per personViator
Explore Rabat with a Private TukTuk

Explore Rabat with a Private TukTuk

4.9(52) 3h
From €30
per personViator
Private Half-Day Exploration Tour of Rabat in a Green Taxi

Private Half-Day Exploration Tour of Rabat in a Green Taxi

4.7(54) 3h
From €30
per personViator
Private TukTuk Tour of Rabat: Medina, Chellah, Hassan Tower,Udaya

Private TukTuk Tour of Rabat: Medina, Chellah, Hassan Tower,Udaya

5.0(38) 3h
From €28
per personViator
Explore Rabat by Electric Tuk Tuk – Private City Highlights Tour

Explore Rabat by Electric Tuk Tuk – Private City Highlights Tour

4.7(43) 3h
From €31
per personViator
Rabat Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems

Rabat Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems

4.4(30) 2h 15m
From €27
per personViator
Half-Day Guided Tour of Rabat Highlights

Half-Day Guided Tour of Rabat Highlights

4.6(15) 3h
From €65
per personViator
Rabat Half Day City Tour

Rabat Half Day City Tour

4.6(11) 3h 30m
From €85
per personViator
Car tour in Rabat

Car tour in Rabat

4.6(10) 3h
From €43
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Mausoleum of Mohammed V

  • Spring (March to May): Highs of 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F) make the open esplanade comfortable, and the Hassan Tower plaza is dry and bright.
  • Summer (June to September): Rabat’s coast keeps highs near 26 to 30°C (79 to 86°F), with long daylight hours and the biggest tour groups. Hotel prices rise.
  • Autumn (October and November): Warm days of 20 to 25°C (68 to 77°F) and thinner crowds.
  • Winter (December to February): Highs of 15 to 18°C (59 to 64°F), nights near 7°C (45°F), and rain on some days, with the lowest prices and daylight ending early.
Arrive at opening time on a weekday, since tour buses fill the plaza by late morning.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: good for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

The Rabat medina and the Agdal and Hassan districts are the best bases, and the mausoleum sits on the Hassan hilltop within reach of all of them. The medina and the nearby Kasbah of the Udayas area are the most social, with budget guesthouses and hostels, rooftop terraces and cheap eateries on Rue des Consuls. You can walk to the mausoleum in 25 to 35 minutes, or take a short tram or taxi ride. Agdal is calmer and more local, with cafés, shops and the train station close by, which suits solo travelers arriving late. Staying near Rabat Ville station is practical for early departures, and the main … read more 👉
The Rabat medina and the Agdal and Hassan districts are the best bases, and the mausoleum sits on the Hassan hilltop within reach of all of them. The medina and the nearby Kasbah of the Udayas area are the most social, with budget guesthouses and hostels, rooftop terraces and cheap eateries on Rue des Consuls. You can walk to the mausoleum in 25 to 35 minutes, or take a short tram or taxi ride. Agdal is calmer and more local, with cafés, shops and the train station close by, which suits solo travelers arriving late. Staying near Rabat Ville station is practical for early departures, and the main avenues stay well lit and busy in the evening. Women traveling alone usually find the medina easy by day but may prefer Agdal after dark.
Best hostels in Morocco


Best quality hotels in Morocco

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

A visit to the Mausoleum of Mohammed V can fit a daily budget of about US$40 to 60 in Rabat, and the site itself is free. The table shows typical costs for one day.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
EntryFreeOpen to everyone, with no ticket booth, and you pass a security check.
Guide (optional)US$0 to 10Guards answer basic questions, and unofficial guides near the plaza will ask for a fee.
Local transportUS$1 to 5Tram rides are cheap, and short petit taxis run on the meter.
FoodUS$8 to 15Sandwiches and tagines in the medina are inexpensive, and cafés near the site cost more.
Accommodation (high season)US$15 to 30Hostel dorms and simple guesthouse rooms, with prices lower in winter.
Nearby sightsUS$0 to 5The Hassan Tower is free next door, and the Chellah and the Kasbah add small fees.
Total Daily
… read more 👉
A visit to the Mausoleum of Mohammed V can fit a daily budget of about US$40 to 60 in Rabat, and the site itself is free. The table shows typical costs for one day.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
EntryFreeOpen to everyone, with no ticket booth, and you pass a security check.
Guide (optional)US$0 to 10Guards answer basic questions, and unofficial guides near the plaza will ask for a fee.
Local transportUS$1 to 5Tram rides are cheap, and short petit taxis run on the meter.
FoodUS$8 to 15Sandwiches and tagines in the medina are inexpensive, and cafés near the site cost more.
Accommodation (high season)US$15 to 30Hostel dorms and simple guesthouse rooms, with prices lower in winter.
Nearby sightsUS$0 to 5The Hassan Tower is free next door, and the Chellah and the Kasbah add small fees.
Total Daily BudgetUS$40 to 60Travelers pay in dirhams, mostly in cash.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQTraveler FAQ

Plan on 45 minutes to 1 hour at the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. That covers the interior gallery, the tomb chamber and the adjoining Hassan Tower and its columns. Add another hour if you also want the nearby Kasbah of the Udayas, which is 3 km away.
The Mausoleum of Mohammed V is free to enter, so the cost is not a question. You see the royal tomb under a carved wooden ceiling, ornate zellige tilework and white marble, with guards in ceremonial dress at the door. Dress modestly, and note that non-Muslims may view the chamber from a gallery.
Reach the Mausoleum of Mohammed V from Rabat Ville train station in about 15 minutes by petit taxi, for roughly US$2 to 4. The tram stops at Hassan, a short walk away, and costs about US$0.50. From the medina it is a 25 to 35 minute walk, and trains from Casablanca take about 1 hour.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Moroccan attractions near Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Explore more nearby:

  • Kasbah of the Udayas—Almohad gate, blue-washed lanes, river platform, mint-tea terrace| 2 km away
  • Chellah Necropolis—Stork-nest minaret, Merinid ruins, eel pool, Roman forum| 2 km away
  • Hassan II Mosque—200-meter minaret, Atlantic platform, retractable roof, guided hall tour| 88 km away

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We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways before you go

Mausoleum of Mohammed V is best early in the morning, when the esplanade is nearly empty and the light on the green roof is soft. Go before tour buses arrive, wear long trousers, and give it an hour with the Hassan Tower. I would skip midday.

✈️ When did I visit Morocco?
In October 2011, I backpacked Morocco for two weeks, with climbing the Mount Toubkal in summer clothing as a highlight.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Morocco, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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