This northeastern Moroccan city has a 12th-century Grand Mosque, an active market selling carpets and spices, and lies close to the Rif Mountains and Algerian border.
Oujda lies 15 kilometers from the Algerian border in northeastern Morocco. In the old medina, you'll find craftsmen hammering intricate silver jewelry, leather workers tanning hides in century-old workshops, and the white-walled Grand Mosque with its three stone fountains. Beyond the city walls, you can walk through the pine trees of Jbel Hamra or relax on a bench in Sidi Maafa park.
Getting to Oujda
You can fly to Angads Airport from Paris, Brussels, and Madrid, or take domestic flights from Casablanca. The train station connects to Fez (5.5 hours) and Casablanca (9 hours). For overnight trips, choose between private cabins or shared compartments.
Exploring the Old Medina
The 25-hectare medina sits in the city center, with olive gardens growing along its mud walls. Walk through narrow streets to find specialized markets - silver and gold merchants sell handmade Moroccan jewelry, while the leather market's workshops continue centuries-old tanning methods. The Grand Mosque's three stone fountains mark the center of medina life.
Parks and Green Spaces
At Lalla Aicha Park's 20 hectares south of the medina, you can swim in public pools or play on the tennis courts and sports fields. Visit the local museum in Lalla Meriem Park to hear gharnati music performances, an Andalusian style that originated in Granada. For forest walks, take a 5-kilometer trip south to the pine and cork oak trees of Jbel Hamra.
Local Food Scene
Small restaurants and food vendors cluster around the medina's streets. Look for the covered market near Place El Attarin, where food stalls sell grilled meats and fresh bread. Plan your lunch before 2 PM, as many restaurants close in the early afternoon.
Day Trips from Oujda
Drive 60 kilometers north to reach Saidia's 14-kilometer Mediterranean beach. In the Beni Snassen mountains, you can hike through Zegzel gorge's limestone walls and caves. Both locations work well for single-day excursions from Oujda.
Historical Background
Zanātah Imazighen founded Oujda in 944. The city's location near modern Algeria influenced its growth throughout centuries. During the 1500s, when Ottoman forces attempted to capture Morocco, Oujda became a military training site - giving the city its name, as "oujed" means "to train" in Arabic.
