Plage des Nations

Plage des Nations is the beach the capital drives to - a wide expanse of pale sand north of Sale backed by dunes, with a good deal more space than the city beaches at Rabat and Sale themselves and, in summer, a good deal of Rabat on it. The name is said to come from the diplomatic community that used it in the mid-twentieth century. What matters practically is the water: the Atlantic here breaks heavily on a steeply shelving beach and the undertow is strong enough that the beach has a reputation for it, with lifeguards posted in season and swimming restricted to the flagged area for a reason. Surfers use the break. A hotel and a scatter of cafes sit behind the sand, and the dunes and the Sidi Boughaba lake reserve are a short distance north. Out of high summer it is a wide empty windy beach and a good walk.

What you actually see

• A wide dune beach - far more space than the city beaches at Rabat and Sale.
• A heavy break - Atlantic surf on a steeply shelving shore.
• The flagged area - the only sensible place to swim, and it is enforced.
• Sidi Boughaba nearby - a lake and bird reserve a short distance north.

When to go

June to September for swimming; any time for the walk. Half a day.

Honest expectations

The undertow here is genuinely dangerous and there have been drownings - swim only in the flagged area when lifeguards are on. Summer weekends are very crowded. Litter after busy days is heavy. Facilities are limited outside the hotel.

Nearby

Sidi Boughaba lake is north; Rabat and Sale are south.