Marrakech and Fez Shine: Morocco’s Twin Gems Dominate Travel + Leisure’s Top African Destinations

Marrakech and Fez continue to attract tourists due to their heritage, authenticity and hospitality. The two Moroccan cities are respectively ranked 4th and 6th in this 2025 ranking, based on reader votes, according to the following criteria: culture, gastronomy, architecture, safety, accessibility, and value for money.

Thanks to its medina, its colorful souks, its historic palaces and its enchanting gardens, the ochre city remains one of the favorite tourist destinations for travelers. Marrakech has also received the special "Hall of Fame" mention, a distinction reserved for destinations that have repeatedly been among the readers’ favorites.

Considered the spiritual capital of Morocco, Fez still fascinates the magazine’s readers who see it as a true "time capsule". The city seduces visitors for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed medina, its ancestral craftsmanship and its centuries-old madrasas.

In the Top 10 of the best preferred destinations in Africa and the Middle East this year, Cape Town, in South Africa, the only sub-Saharan city in the ranking, takes first place. Morocco, for its part, stands out as the only African and Arab country to appear twice in the top 10, ahead of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates or Qatar.