This month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's just-released Where to Go list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.

For Rabat, that means looking beyond the well-trodden streets of Marrakech and Fes to discover what Morocco's laid-back capital really offers—especially as Africa's largest music festival transforms the city into an open-air stage each summer.

In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Yulia Denisyuk, a travel writer and host of the podcast Going Places with Yulia. Yulia shares why this Atlantic coast city deserves a second look—from its free weeklong Mawazine music festival to a non-touristy medina, Andalusian gardens, Roman ruins, and dishes you won't find anywhere else in Morocco. She also reveals what's coming in 2026: new museums, UNESCO World Book Capital status, and a high-speed train connecting Rabat to Casablanca in just 35 minutes.

Plan Your Rabat Getaway

(First, explore our Morocco travel guide.)

See and Do

—Attend the Mawazine Festival, Africa's largest music festival, a free weeklong celebration featuring artists from around the world

—Explore Chellah, a Roman settlement dating to the first century that doubles as a festival stage

—Wander the Kasbah of the Oudayas, a 12th-century Islamic fort overlooking the Atlantic Ocean

—Stroll through the Andalusian Gardens for mint tea and ocean views

—Take a water taxi across the Bou Regreg River to Salé and back

—Browse the medina, where locals shop, have tea, and produce books—a less touristy experience than Marrakech

—Visit Mohamed Aziz, a famous bookseller in the medina who has read thousands of books and loves to discuss them

Eat and Drink

—Try Rabati pastilla, the "royal" version with thick layers and lots of eggs, influenced by Moorish settlers from Andalusia

—Seek out kefta, meatballs made with spices unique to Rabat that you won't find elsewhere in Morocco

—Eat fresh shrimp and seafood from the Atlantic coast

—Sip mint tea at cafes along the riverfront promenade

Know Before You Go

—In 2026, Rabat becomes UNESCO World Book Capital, with literary events and celebrations starting in April

—A new high-speed train will reduce travel time between Casablanca and Rabat from two hours to 35 minutes

—The Mawazine Festival typically takes place in late June

—Spring and autumn offer milder temperatures; summer is hot but tempered by Atlantic breezes

—The medina, Kasbah, and Chellah are all within walking distance of each other

Resources

• Listen to Yulia's podcast, Going Places with Yulia

• Follow Yulia on Instagram

• Visit Yulia's website

• Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list

• Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia

Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series

E1: T⁠⁠⁠his Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude ⁠⁠⁠

E2: ⁠⁠⁠Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret⁠⁠

E3: ⁠⁠The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago⁠⁠

E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate

E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention (this one!)

Stay Connected

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Explore our other podcasts, ⁠View From Afar⁠, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and⁠ ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

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