Skhirat Beach: The Royal Resort Town Near Rabat

Skhirat sits on the Atlantic coast 30 kilometres south of Rabat — close enough to feel like a suburb of the capital, different enough to feel like a different Morocco. The town is best known among Moroccans for two things: the royal palace that occupies the northern headland, and the events of 10 July 1971, when rebel soldiers stormed that same palace during a birthday celebration and opened fire on the guests. The king survived. Several hundred people did not. The palace has remained in royal use ever since, giving Skhirat a quietly guarded atmosphere that sets it apart from every other beach town on this coast.

The public beach itself is the draw for day-trippers. Around two kilometres of North Atlantic sand, a strip of seafood restaurants and beach clubs, and water that stays brisk even in August — this is not a place for floating passively in a warm lagoon. The ocean here has energy. On clear days you can watch the swell lines stack up on the horizon and feel the spray off breaking waves from the terrace of a beach café. That is Skhirat’s particular appeal: history, royalty, and real Atlantic sea, within an easy morning’s drive from either Rabat or Casablanca.

The public beach at Skhirat runs for roughly two kilometres between the rocky northern headland (where the palace walls begin) and the wider sandy arc that curves south toward Bouznika. The sand is medium-grained and clean by Atlantic standards; it is not the powdery white of a Caribbean brochure, but it is real and uncrowded outside summer.

The Atlantic here is not passive. Even in calm summer conditions, the water pushes with consistent energy — a shore break that knocks children off their feet, an undertow that rewards attention. In autumn and winter the swells build to two or three metres and the beach takes on a raw, elemental look that photographers love. Water temperature peaks at around 20°C in August and can dip to 15°C between December and March. Bring a wetsuit if you plan to swim outside the core summer months.

The northern end of the beach, closest to the palace headland, tends to be quieter and slightly more sheltered. The southern section near the beach clubs gets the most foot traffic on busy weekends. Lifeguards are present in July and August; outside those months, swim with caution and stay within your depth.

The eating at Skhirat is simple, coastal, and good. A row of beach-facing restaurants and clubs lines the coastal strip south of the palace approach road, serving the standard Atlantic coast menu: charcoal-grilled sea bass, calamari, tiger prawns, and sardines by the plateful. Most places lay out the day’s catch on ice at the front so you can choose what you want before it goes on the grill — always a good sign.

Budget around 80–150 MAD per person for a full lunch with grilled fish, salad, bread, and a soft drink (indicative). Some of the larger beach clubs charge a table reservation fee in summer that is offset against your bill. Alcohol is available at certain establishments — look for places that have a full bar setup — but the majority run on tea, soft drinks, and fresh juices. Cash is the preferred payment method; not all beachfront spots have card machines.

If you arrive early, the small market street in Skhirat town centre (a short walk inland) has bakeries and a café scene that opens from around 7am. This is where locals eat before the beach day begins, and prices are a fraction of the coastal restaurants.

The coastal N1 between Rabat and Skhirat turns into a slow-moving car queue on summer Friday afternoons as the capital empties toward the coast. If you are driving, time your departure for before noon or after 6pm. On the return journey, the queue reverses on Sunday evenings.

Modest dress is appropriate when walking through town; beach attire is completely normal on the sand and at the beach clubs. The town is socially conservative compared to a purpose-built resort like Agadir, so reading the room a little goes a long way. Photographers should be aware that the palace perimeter and anything resembling a security installation should not be photographed — stick to the beach, the waves, and the fishing boats.

A private guided day trip from Rabat can combine Skhirat with the Chellah ruins and the Hassan Tower in the city itself, making a full Atlantic-and-history day without the logistical overhead of navigating taxis and timings independently.