A border city of Gharnati and Rai music, with a working medina and the Sidi Yahya oasis on its edge, and the Mediterranean at Saidia and the Beni-Snassen mountains within a day trip.
Photograph: Farajiibrahim, CC BY-SA 4.0
Region
Capital of the Oriental
Population
About 506,000 (2024)
Founded
994
Algerian border
About 15 km; closed since 1994
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Oujda: Where Morocco Meets the East
Oujda is the capital of the Oriental region and a city of about half a million people, roughly 15 km from the Algerian border. The border has been closed since 1994, but the city still shares a dialect, a cuisine, family ties and music with western Algeria.
Most travellers pass it by on the way between Fes and the Mediterranean. Those who stop find a medina that serves local shoppers rather than tourists, Parc Lalla Aicha in the centre, the Sidi Yahya oasis on the edge of town, and a strong music tradition. Beyond the city, Saidia beach, the Beni-Snassen mountains and the citrus plain around Berkane are all within a day trip.
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City Attractions & Cultural Sights
The medina and the city sights are free, and the centre is walkable.
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The medina and Bab Sidi Abdelwahab
Old city · free to walk
Oujda was founded in 994 by Ziri ibn Atiyya, a Zenata Berber chief, and the medina is the core of that old town. It is smaller and easier to read than the medinas of Fes or Marrakech, with covered souks, small mosques and residential lanes, and it is a working market for local shoppers rather than a tourist one.
Bab Sidi Abdelwahab, the arched gate on the western side, is the usual way in from the modern town. The square outside is busy with taxis and street vendors.
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Parc Lalla Aicha
City-centre park · free
The large park in the city centre, with shaded paths, gardens and a tennis complex. It fills with families and students in the late afternoon and evening, when the heat has gone out of the day.
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Sidi Yahya oasis
About 6 km from the centre · a place of worship
A palm oasis around the shrine of Sidi Yahya ben Younes, the patron saint of Oujda, whom some believe to be John the Baptist. Non-Muslims cannot enter the tomb itself, but the oasis around it is open. Dress modestly and keep your voice down near the sanctuary.
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The ville nouvelle
Boulevard Mohammed V · evenings
The modern city grew up in the French colonial period around Boulevard Mohammed V, still the main street for shops and cafe terraces. Mohammed I University gives the city a large student population, and the evening walk along the boulevard is the best way to see everyday Oujda.
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Gharnati and Rai
Oujda is one of Morocco’s main centres of Gharnati music, the Andalusi tradition associated with Granada, and holds an annual International Festival of Gharnati Music. Ensembles also play at weddings and private celebrations.
Rai, the popular music of western Algeria, is the other sound of the city: you will hear it in cafes and taxis. Oujda’s Rai festival is held in July, with an open-air stage in the city.
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Day Trips & Excursions
Grand taxis from Oujda serve all of these. For the mountains, agree a day rate for the car before you leave.
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Saidia
Mediterranean coast · June to September for swimming
A resort town on the Mediterranean, on the Algerian border. Its 14 km beach of golden sand is one of the longest in Morocco, with a large marina and golf courses at the developed end. Shared grand taxis run from Oujda. July and August are the busy months; June and September are quieter.
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The Moulouya estuary
West of Saidia · spring and autumn migration
Where the Moulouya meets the sea west of Saidia, marsh, reed beds and dunes form a wetland listed under the Ramsar Convention since 2005. Flamingos feed in the lagoons, and migrating birds stop here in spring and autumn. Bring water, sun protection and binoculars, and go early in the morning.
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The Beni-Snassen mountains
Between Oujda and Berkane · spring or autumn
Limestone mountains named after the Beni-Snassen Berber tribe, with forest, gorges and caves. The road through the Zegzel gorges is the classic drive. The simplest way to see it is to hire a grand taxi for the day from Oujda or Berkane, agreeing the route and price before setting off. Pack food and water.
The Grotte du Chameau, whose cave walls carry Palaeolithic engravings, has been closed to visitors since 2020; check locally before planning a visit around it.
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Berkane and the Triffa plain
North-west of Oujda · blossom in spring, harvest in winter
Berkane is the centre of Morocco’s citrus country, and the Triffa plain around it is planted with orange and clementine groves. The orange blossom scents the plain in spring, and in winter the harvest is sold at roadside stalls. The town is a practical base for the Beni-Snassen and is linked to Oujda by shared grand taxi.
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Getting to Oujda
By air
Oujda Angads Airport has domestic flights to Casablanca and some international routes to Europe. Check what flies from your country: it can be quicker than crossing Morocco overland.
By train
Oujda is the eastern terminus of the main ONCF line from Casablanca, which runs via Fes and Taourirt.
By bus and car
Long-distance buses, CTM among them, connect Oujda with Fes and the rest of the country. Grand taxis cover the region, including Saidia and Berkane.
The Algerian border
The land border with Algeria, about 15 km from the city, has been closed since 1994. There is no crossing from Oujda.
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When to Go
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons. Summer is hot inland, so sightsee early and late and use Saidia for the middle of the day. Winter is mild, with some rain.
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Sample 3-Day Oujda Itinerary
The city, the coast and the mountains.
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Day 1: The city
Enter the medina through Bab Sidi Abdelwahab in the morning and walk the souks. After lunch, take a taxi out to the Sidi Yahya oasis, then come back to Parc Lalla Aicha. In the evening, join the walk along Boulevard Mohammed V and listen out for Rai in the cafes.
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Day 2: Saidia and the coast
Take an early grand taxi to Saidia and swim from the quieter stretches of beach away from the marina. Spend the late afternoon at the Moulouya estuary for the birds, and watch sunset on the beach before heading back.
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Day 3: Berkane and the mountains
Hire a grand taxi for the day: drive through the citrus groves of the Triffa plain to Berkane, then up through the Zegzel gorges into the Beni-Snassen. Bring a picnic from the Oujda market. From Oujda, continue west by train towards Fes, or fly out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Oujda known for?
Oujda is the capital of the Oriental region and the largest city of eastern Morocco, about 15 km from the closed Algerian border. It is one of the main centres of Gharnati (Andalusi) music and holds a Rai festival each summer. Visitors come for the medina, Parc Lalla Aicha and the Sidi Yahya oasis, and use the city as a base for Saidia beach, the Beni-Snassen mountains and the citrus plain around Berkane.
How far is Saidia beach from Oujda?
Saidia is on the Mediterranean north of Oujda, beyond Berkane and right by the Algerian border. Shared grand taxis run there from Oujda, and the trip makes an easy day out. Its 14 km beach is one of the longest in Morocco, with a marina and golf courses at the resort end.
How do I get to Oujda?
Oujda Angads Airport has domestic flights to Casablanca and some international routes to Europe. Oujda is also the eastern end of the main railway line from Casablanca, which runs via Fes and Taourirt, and long-distance buses connect it with the rest of the country.
Can you cross into Algeria from Oujda?
No. The land border between Morocco and Algeria has been closed since 1994, although it lies only about 15 km from the city. Oujda still shares music, food and family ties with western Algeria.
How many days do you need in Oujda?
Two to three days. Give one day to the medina, Bab Sidi Abdelwahab, Parc Lalla Aicha and the Sidi Yahya oasis, one to Saidia and the Moulouya estuary, and one to Berkane and the Beni-Snassen mountains.
What is the best time to visit Oujda?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. Summer is hot inland, though Saidia beach is close by, and winter is mild with some rain. The Rai festival is held in July.
Is Oujda worth visiting?
Yes, if you want to see a part of Morocco that few tourists reach. Oujda has a working medina, a strong music tradition and a culture shaped by its position next to Algeria, with Mediterranean beaches and mountains within a day trip.
