Updated in September 2026, this Chellah Archaeological Site guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Chellah Archaeological Site is a walled Roman and Marinid ruin in Rabat, Morocco’s capital. Two restaurants and a shop now operate inside its walls, and you can book tickets in advance through GetYourGuide to plan your visit around them. This guide was updated in September 2026: Chellah runs shortened Ramadan hours of 9am to 3pm, though several general Morocco guides state that heritage sites keep their usual hours throughout the fasting month.
Quick facts about the Chellah Archaeological Site
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Chellah, Rabat, Morocco |
| Winter hours (1 Oct–31 Mar) | 9am–6pm |
| Summer hours (1 Apr–30 Sep) | 9am–8pm |
| Ramadan hours | 9am–3pm |
| Adult admission | 70 MAD self-guided, 120 MAD with audioguide |
| Child admission (7–14) | 30 MAD self-guided, 80 MAD with audioguide |
| Under 7s | Free |
| Nearest transit | Taxi recommended; Rabat Ville station is about 3km away |
| Typical visit duration | 1–2 hours |
Why book Chellah Archaeological Site tickets?
- 🏛️ Two civilisations in one park: Roman Sala Colonia and a 14th-century Marinid royal necropolis stand within the same 7-hectare walled site.
- 🎟️ Audioguide option: a 120 MAD audioguide ticket covers 29 points of interest across the ruins.
- 🌿 A living garden: white storks nest on the towers, and more than 80 plant species grow inside the walls.
- 📜 UNESCO backdrop: Chellah was classed a historic monument in 1920 and now forms part of Rabat’s UNESCO World Heritage listing.
- 💰 Family-friendly pricing: children under 7 enter free, and Moroccan residents pay half the standard rate.
Opening hours at the Chellah Archaeological Site
The site keeps three seasonal schedules. From 1 October to 31 March, Chellah opens 9am to 6pm. From 1 April to 30 September, it stays open later, from 9am to 8pm. During Ramadan, hours shrink to 9am to 3pm, which catches out visitors relying on older guides.
There are no weekly closed days listed on the official site, so Chellah runs seven days a week year-round. The ticket office itself closes earlier than the gate in summer, at 6pm, so buy your ticket well before the site’s official closing time.
Ticket prices for the Chellah Archaeological Site
Individual visitors pay one of two rates: a self-guided entry fee, or a higher fee that includes an audioguide covering the site’s history in four languages.
| Visitor type | Self-guided entry | Audioguide entry |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (over 25) | 70 MAD | 120 MAD |
| Youth/student (15–25) | 50 MAD | 100 MAD |
| Child (7–14) | 30 MAD | 80 MAD |
| Child (under 7) | Free | – |
| Person with reduced mobility | Free | 50 MAD |
Moroccan citizens and foreign residents in Morocco receive a 50% discount on every tier above. Prices are quoted in Moroccan dirhams (MAD) and do not carry a separate tax line. The optional Heritage Interpretation Centre ticket is not available at the moment, according to the official site, so budget for the standard entry or audioguide tiers only. Book in advance through GetYourGuide if you would rather skip the on-site ticket queue.
How to get to the Chellah Archaeological Site
By car: Chellah sits just south of Rabat’s Royal Palace, reachable via the roads that ring the old city walls. A car park sits just outside the main gate.
By taxi: a taxi is the most practical option for most visitors, since Chellah lies a few kilometres from central Rabat and the medina. Simply ask for “Chellah” by name.
By train: Rabat Ville is the nearest major station, about 3km from the site. From there, take a taxi rather than walking, since the route runs along busy roads.
On foot: walking from central Rabat is possible but not especially pleasant, given the distance and traffic; a short taxi ride is the better choice.
Parking at the Chellah Archaeological Site
A car park is available just outside the Chellah gate, according to the official site. The site does not state whether parking is free or charged, so bring some small change in case an attendant asks for a fee, as is common practice across Morocco.
How long to spend at the Chellah Archaeological Site
Most visitors need one to two hours to walk the ramparts, the Roman quarter and the Marinid necropolis at a relaxed pace. Add another hour if you plan to eat at one of the two on-site restaurants or linger in the Garden of the Towers to watch the storks.
Accessibility at the Chellah Archaeological Site
Chellah welcomes visitors with reduced mobility, and this group enters free of charge. That said, the site’s heritage status means some areas remain inaccessible, since preservation rules limit ramps and other adaptations in certain zones. Paths include gravel and uneven medieval stonework, so anyone with limited mobility should expect some rough ground even where access is permitted.
What to see inside the Chellah Archaeological Site
The ramparts and towers: built in 1339 under the Marinid Sultan Abu El Hassan, the pentagonal wall runs for roughly a kilometre and is flanked by 23 towers. The main gate is richly carved, with an inscription dating its completion to 8 July 1339.
The Roman city of Sala Colonia: this quarter includes the Capitol temple dedicated to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, a trapezoidal forum, the foundations of a triumphal arch, and public baths with a cold, warm and hot room. A craftsman’s quarter nearby still shows the mosaic floor of an ancient oil mill.
The Marinid necropolis: founded in 1285 and later enlarged, this funerary complex holds the mosque of Abu Yusuf Yaqub, the ornately decorated mausoleum of Sultan Abu El Hassan, and a madrasah with a minaret covered in colourful zellige tilework. A sacred eel pond nearby draws visitors who feed the eels for good luck, a local tradition with centuries of folklore behind it.
The Garden of the Towers: laid out in the early 20th century, this garden mixes olive trees, cypresses and date palms with meandering irrigation channels. White storks nest on the ruins overhead, and vegetable terraces grow tomatoes and herbs just below the ramparts.
Dining inside the walls: Ciconia, a 110-seat café-restaurant, overlooks the Bouregreg valley, while Le Patio occupies the restored former Chellah inn and seats up to 180 guests among olive trees.
Practical visitor tips for the Chellah Archaeological Site
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arrive early | Opening time brings cooler temperatures and more active storks on the towers. |
| Bring cash | The ticket booth works in Moroccan dirhams, so carry cash rather than relying on cards. |
| Reserve the audioguide | On-site audioguide stock is not guaranteed, so book tickets in advance through GetYourGuide if you want one. |
| Wear flat shoes | Gravel paths and uneven Roman stonework make trainers a better choice than sandals. |
| Pair it with lunch | Ciconia and Le Patio make it easy to turn a short visit into a half-day outing. |
Frequently asked questions about the Chellah Archaeological Site
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Chellah open every day? | Yes, the site opens daily year-round, though hours shorten in winter and during Ramadan. |
| Can I buy tickets online? | Yes, through the official ticket office or in advance through GetYourGuide for a guided option. |
| Is Chellah wheelchair accessible? | Partly. Visitors with reduced mobility enter free, but some historic areas remain off-limits for preservation reasons. |
| How does Chellah compare to the Kasbah of the Udayas? | Chellah is ticketed and focused on ruins, while the free Kasbah is a walkable quarter with sea views. |
| Is the Heritage Interpretation Centre open? | No, this add-on ticket is currently unavailable, according to the official site. |
Things to do near the Chellah Archaeological Site
The Kasbah of the Udayas sits a short taxi ride away, a 12th-century fortress with blue-and-white alleys overlooking the mouth of the Bouregreg river. Entry is free.
The Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V stand together near the river, combining an unfinished 12th-century minaret with the ornate marble tomb of Morocco’s former king.
The Andalusian Gardens occupy a peaceful corner inside the Kasbah of the Udayas, with orange trees, fountains and a small museum of traditional clothing and jewellery.
Rabat’s medina offers narrow lanes of shops and cafés, a lively contrast to Chellah’s quiet ruins, and sits within easy reach by taxi.
The Royal Palace of Rabat cannot be entered, but its grand gates and the surrounding Mechouar esplanade are worth a walk-by on the way to or from Chellah.
Alternative archaeological sites near Rabat
Volubilis, Morocco’s best-preserved Roman city, lies near Meknes, a little over two hours from Rabat by car. Its mosaics are more extensive than anything remaining at Chellah.
Lixus, a lesser-visited Roman and Phoenician site near Larache, sits roughly ninety minutes north along the coast and rarely sees crowds.
Salé, just across the river from Rabat, has its own historic medina and the fortified Bab Mrisa gate, reachable in around fifteen minutes.
The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, around an hour’s drive south, offers a very different but equally striking monument, with tours available outside prayer times.
Meknes, roughly two and a half hours away, pairs the Bab Mansour gate with the mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail, both within its walled imperial city.
