travelling to morocco tips

21 Things You Must Know Before Visiting Morocco Travel Tips

• Africa / Fez / In the City / Marrakech / Morocco
• 33 Comments

Visiting Morocco? This is what you need to know before visiting.

More and more people are visiting Morocco every year. It’s a beautiful country, and as photographers and videographers, we had a field day.

On the flip side, there were also downsides to visiting especially as a woman. If you plan on going, we put together a few pointers to help you set realistic expectations and prepare for your trip.

Thank you Contiki for hosting our trip. See our full 15 day trip itinerary here . All opinions are always our own. This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. Read our full disclosure  for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.

Last Updated: March 16, 2023

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21 things you must know before visiting morocco, best places to stay in morocco, planning checklist, more resources, 1. dress appropriately.

Overall, guys can dress however they like, but women need to dress more conservatively. Although you see many tourists wearing whatever they want, we chose to cover up as much as possible to avoid unwanted attention.

Even if you’re traveling with a group of guys, you may still get harassed. Some of the girls in our group got groped on multiple occasions even though we were paired off with a male buddy.

It was mostly really old men, and it happened more often in crowded places. When visiting mosques, you need to cover down to your wrists and ankles.

For the ladies out there, keep a  shawl / scarf  handy (this one is reversible and great for traveling light)

See More: What to Pack for Morocco – 2 Weeks in a Carry On

2. Currency and Cost

More established shops will take credit cards, but most smaller markets, street vendors, and cabs will not. Be ready with the local currency.

The Moroccan Dirham (DEE-rahm) goes for roughly 10.4 Dirhams (DH) per 1 USD or 11.09 per 1 euro. We thought things would be cheaper in Morocco, but the prices were comparable to Europe because of how touristy the country has become.

Our guide recommended that each person exchange 100 euros daily, which was plenty for us.

3. ATMS Can be Hit or Miss

Exchange enough money when you get your chance. Ask the front desk at your hotel; they may have money to exchange.

The ATM quickly ran out when our entire group was trying to exchange money. Who knew ATMs can run out of money!

A few people from our group thought the ATM was giving an error and tried multiple times, but the ATM didn’t dispense any while still charging it from the bank for every attempt.

Also, traveler’s checks are pretty much useless in Morocco. It’s hard to find a place to cash them.

4. Keep Correct Change with You

Moroccan cab drivers rarely “have change” when you need it. At least, that’s what they tell you. To avoid overpaying, keep your coins.

Most of our cab rides within the city cost roughly 30 Dirhams. The dilemma with keeping change though is that you will not be able to exchange it back when leaving the country since they only want larger bills.

You want to keep correct change while you’re in the country, but you also want to spend it all before leaving.

5. Learn to Haggle

If you’re shopping in the markets or medinas, you will have to learn to haggle. I know some people have strong opinions about paying full price for the sake of “charity”, but selling is like their national sport and haggling is an integral part of their culture.

More likely than not, they will still get the better deal, but keep in mind if you are willing to spend the time, you can get items for at least 25-50% of the starting price.

Know what you’re willing to pay before you start the haggling process and walk out if you can’t get the price you want. They may call you back multiple times.

Also, you may want to bargain with your cab drivers before getting in. Most of our rides within the city cost 30 DH. If they demanded more, our guide told us to hand them the money and walk away.

Luckily, that didn’t happen to us because we always firmly set a price before the ride.

If you’re looking to buy a carpet or anything with a higher price tag, do your research before visiting Morocco. People get tricked into buying them as “an investment” to sell later. Don’t fall for their sales tactics and the local guide’s added pressure to buy.

Have some change ready for tips. A good general rule of thumb is 1 DH at a local place and 3-5 DH at nicer places.

7. Be Wary of Local Guides

You should absolutely hire a local guide to help you get an inside perspective on the country and navigate through the maze of the medinas (old towns). However, be sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.

The local guides have built relationships with many different stores, and they are most likely getting a cut of the sales. Don’t be fooled when they say they are trying to help you haggle to get the best price, because they usually aren’t. We were able to get better prices without them. This happened in Fes.

See More: 21 Amazing Things to Do in Fes Morocco

8. Stay Away from Strangers Offering Free TOurs or Directions

Even if you don’t hire a local guide, you might find other locals offering you tours while you’re walking around the markets and medinas.

If you go with one of them you may end up completely lost and pressed to spend money. Most of the time they will ask for a tip afterward too.

This is the same with asking for directions. A lot of them will offer to walk you to where you’re going but then ask for a tip. If you’re so inclined, always keep money to pay them off, plan ahead and ask your hotel, or pull up some maps when you have WIFI.

Also, if you are  renting a car in Morocco  so that you can get around on your own, be sure to plan ahead rather than wait until you are there.

9. Fridays are Holy Days and Prepare for Holidays

Keep in mind that it is a Muslim country, so pay attention to their holidays otherwise you might be there when everything is closed.

Also, most shops and attractions will close on Friday since it’s their holy day.

A friend of mine went during Ramadan and told me it was very difficult to eat meals. We happened to arrive in Morocco on Eid al-Adha, where they were slaughtering and sacrificing animals on the street.

All shops we saw closed that day and most shops were closed the following day.

Plus it was a bloody mess, most of which we avoided. Below you can see what is usually a crowded marketplace is deserted.

10. Be Careful what Water You Use

To stay safe, drink bottled water and even use it to brush your teeth. Also, avoid using any ice when you’re out. The LARQ Self-Cleaning Water Bottle is really useful when you’re in Morocco if you don’t want to buy a ton of bottled water. See all the top travel water bottles we tested on the road.

11. Pack Some Imodium

I don’t care how strong you think your stomach is, you should pack some  Imodium   just in case. This is always a good rule of thumb for all travel.

At least a third of our group wasn’t feeling well after the first meal in Morocco. I popped a couple of Imodium, and I was fine the next day. Others were not so fortunate.

See More: 21 Moroccan Foods You Must Try

12. Watch Your Pockets

Most Moroccans are friendly and honest, but you should always be careful with pickpockets in any major city, especially in crowded places like the markets. Pickpockets often target touristy areas.

13. What Language Do they Speak?

Moroccans speak a mixture of Arabic, Berber, English, and French. You’ll be fine with English in most of the larger cities, but you’ll probably need a translator in the rural parts of the country.

Here are a few basic Arabic words that came in handy:

• Hello  (Peace Be With You): Salam Alikome (salaam a eleikum)
• Thank You:  Choukran (shokran)
• No Thank You:  La Choukran (la shokran). This one is useful when you have a bunch of street vendors hassling you to buy something.
• Watch Out:  Balak. Although you won’t use this yourself, you’ll most likely hear this in the medinas or souks (outdoor markets). Locals will say balak if coming by with a mule, motorcycle, or cart to warn you to either get the side or get run over.

14. Visiting Mosques

If you’re hoping to see a Mosque while visiting Morocco, you might be out of luck unless you’re Muslim. Most mosques are off-limits to non-Muslims, with the exception of the massive Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. They are still beautiful to take photos from outside though!

If you’re looking for beautiful architecture,  Bahia Palace   is open to visitors.

See More: 21 Fascinating Things to Do in Marrakech Morocco

15. Alcohol, Drugs, and Parties?

Although most Moroccans are Muslims, yes, they still have all these. Hashish, an extract of the cannabis plant, is quite commonly offered to you in the streets. 

Contiki loves their parties, and we were told that only hotel bars had alcohol available for tourists, but we surprisingly found several bars and even nightclubs serving alcohol.

We decided we didn’t want to pay 300 DH (30 euros) to get into a club that already appeared like a sausage fest from the outside.

They also told us it’s pretty typical for prostitutes to hang out at nightclubs there too. There was a special DJ guest that night, but normally the club was supposed to cost around 150-200 DH.

16. Do I need a Visa or Vaccines?

Almost all English-speaking countries (except South Africa and Australia) do not require visas to enter the country. The CDC also doesn’t require any vaccines although many would recommend Hepatitis A and Typhoid shots. Find out more details from  CDC here  for the most updated information on vaccinations before visiting Morocco.

17. Have the RIght Converters

Don’t get stuck in Morocco without a way to charge all your electronics. We recommend picking up  one of these  so that you have options for wherever you travel and additional outlets in case there aren’t many in the hotel room.

Morocco uses the following: Voltage: 220 V, Frequency: 50 Hz, Power sockets: type C / E. If you have something that works in Europe, then it will be the same. If you’re traveling from the states,  the adapter  will help you get everything charged.

18. Ask Before Taking Photos (And You may have to Pay)

When you’re walking through the markets, be careful when taking photos of people and shops. Unless you are purchasing something, they may get angry at you and even demand money for the photos.

When we took photos of the snake charmers, we paid 20 DH. Some may even hassle you for more, so again, it’s good to first establish a price before taking a photo.

19. Bring TOilet Paper with you Everywhere

Don’t expect bathrooms to have toilet paper. Be prepared with your own and also have some hand sanitizer available. A lot of public restrooms have a small fee as well so if you see an attendant be sure to ask the price before using the bathroom.

Though they’re not flushable, I like to bring my  wet wipes  on all my trips to wipe my hands when I don’t have easy access to bathrooms.

20. Souvenirs to Bring Home

Fez is known for leather and carpets, while Marrakech is known for fragrances, oils, and spices (like saffron). If you’re buying saffron, make sure you’re buying the real thing. Many places sell artificial saffron for dirt cheap or mix the real with the fake stuff. No one wants saffron cut with other spices.

You can ask them to do a demonstration in water. If it colors the water yellow, it’s real, if it turns reddish, it’s the dye coming out from the artificial saffron.

You can also smell the difference (should smell more herbal), or ask for a couple of strands to put in your mouth and spit it onto a tissue to see what color it produces.

21. It’s a cat Lover’s Heaven… and Hell

There are homeless cats everywhere in Morocco. They are super cute and made us smile every time we saw them but also really sad every time we had to walk away and leave them.

It seemed that the people of Morocco took care of them in their own way. We saw them feeding them scraps of food in the markets. If you’re highly allergic to cats, don’t forget to bring some allergy meds with you.

Final Thoughts as a Woman Visiting Morocco

There were many times on our trip that I genuinely wished I was a man visiting Morocco. While others simply got annoyed (full disclosure), I was much more sensitive since I still have residual resentment from some sexual traumas when I was younger that I am working out.

It’s a work in progress, making the trip incredibly challenging personally. For the most part, we had the best-case scenario of traveling with a local guide and Contiki. Those incidences happened within the few hours of free time that we wandered off alone.

Overall, Morocco is beautiful, and we’re happy to have experienced the country.

Instead of scaring you from visiting, we hope it educates you and helps you go in with the right mindset and expectations. As long as you’re entirely aware of your surroundings and know what to expect, you can have a wonderful experience.

• Get comprehensive insurance for your trip.
• Find a great deal on Morocco hotels .
• Arrange a rental car for your trip.
• Book a tour for your visit.
• Get airport lounge access .
• Buy a travel charger to keep your devices charged.
• Get a new backpack for your trip.
• Buy a Morocco travel guide .
• Pack the appropriate shoes for your trip.
• Don’t forget your in-flight essentials .
• Lonely Planet Morocco  – they always have great photos and information.
• Moon Morocco  – also very photo heavy.
• Morocco National Geographic Adventure Map
• Pocket Arabic Dictionary

Is Morocco one of the top places you want to visit? Why or why not? Can you think of any other tips for visiting Morocco?

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Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

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This Post Has 33 Comments

I’ve been to Morocco 3 times. Tangier and twice to Agadiar. Guess what IM A WOMAN and had the most amazing time in both areas. In Tangier we visited the Casbah which was amazing. Haggling was fun and the people are great. Never felt vulnerable and I have not been insulted or felt afraid. On the most part the people are really nice. I absolutely love Agadir. Its modern in its approach and there’s loads to do. The beach is beautiful. As two women travelling without a man, oh who’d of thought, we did not have any issues in Morocco anymore than anywhere else. Wherever there’s men they’ll be the ones who are rude, sexist and revolting. That’s unfortunately the way some of them are. Otherwise the people of Morocco are lovely. I’d go every year if I could afford it.

That’s so great to hear you had a wonderful experience! I’ve definitely heard a mix of thoughts from both sides.

Thanks for your list of tips. I’m a bit conflicted about Morocco due to my serious feminist leanings, but I so want to see it. It’s a shame that there is such disrespect and hypocrisy, but I suppose that’s everywhere in some regard. ;-)

You’re welcome, Hillary. I still hope you get to experience all the good parts of Morocco. I think it’s definitely changing with the younger generations, but it really is a different world view over there.

as local Moroccan, I can confirm that the tips that you provide are true. I am ashamed of the ‘Watch Your Pockets’ tip; what can I say?! every place have it’s good and bad people. however, by mentioning that you are making people aware so that they don’t have any bad experiences in Morocco. thank you :)

I think it’s true for most big cities in the world. :) Thanks Abdou!

Hi I’m Indian live in dubai UAE I like to visit Morocca it need visa or not I’m hear with residents visa

Great article. My friend is currently in moroco and hates it. I hope that she gets home safely and isnt raped. I am never going to visit! I will stick to places like Finnland, Switzerland and new Zealand

Stay safe everyone!

dont forget that you can be beheaded if you backpack in the countryside :)

I did not hear about that!

Thank you realy Marrakesh is very nice

So glad I found this! I booked today for me and my partner to go next year. Great to have an idea of what to expect.

So glad you found this helpful, Donna. I hope you two have a great trip!

Such a detailed insides about morocco, a great read to be aware before going to morocco, I have some more insights in depth. If you want to read.

Thanks for the information, yes I agree that before visiting In Morrocco we must know about the details of that places. When I had visited that place I don’t know anything about that place but my journey was very interesting and beautiful. The natural beauty also attracts me a lot.

Glad you found it useful, Diana!

Thank you for being so detailed. Your blog is wonderful and very insightful. I will use it in future travels. Thank you for including pictures.

Thanks so much for reading, Madison!

Wow…such an amazing experience feeling happy while visiting Morocco. Basically, in time of our trip we visited local market bought many products. Thanks to our local guide from yougomorocco.com planned a trip in a perfect way. I hope I will plan this place in an upcoming year.

Thanks for such an informative blog! I would love to travel to Morocco, and in fact, almost booked a trip, but decided to go elsewhere instead due to time constraints. Thanks for the advice to get out of the cities and explore more.

thanks for sharing the valuable info for Morocco visitors !!

I’m planning to visit Morocco with my boyfriend in March. But I’m a bit skeptical. Will I be safe in Morocco

My daughters middle school is deciding bet Morocco & Brazil. there will be at least a minimum of 20 middle schoolers with parents, The trip will be next April 2018. Im worried either way on what they can do

I feel like as long as there are parents watching out for them, they should be okay. It’s unfortunate to say, but it helps if the parents are male. Our tour guide was telling us they previously sent a female guide who didn’t fare too well in the country.

Very informative write up. I appreciate your work. I will be visiting Casablanca on official note in a weeks time just for two days. I hope the experience will be great! However, you did not mention what the cost of various hotels are like.

Thank you so much.

I’m moroccan and I have been there like 5 times I think but everything you said is true. It’s good you’re being honest about it. Morocco is good but it’s not perfect.

Thanks for your comment. If you think about it, no country is perfect. I’m sure plenty of people have gone and had different experiences too, so it’s best seeing it for yourself. :)

Very informative. Thank you for being so open and honest. I still want to visit Morocco and now have a good idea as what to.expect, especially as a woman.

Thanks, Suzy! You absolutely should! :)

Thanks, I will be in morocco in July, really helpful tips, Choukran :) regards Ayaz

You’re so welcome! Have a great trip :)

How I can trip to morocco is there any cheap morocco holidays packages ? My friend suggest me this website http://www.viriksonmoroccoholidays.co.uk is this good ? i find this website have very affordable packages but I am confused because of fraud.

Unfortunately we’re not sure about that company since we’ve never been. The only experience we have in Morocco is with Contiki, which we had a great time with! Good luck!

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All You Should Know Before Visiting Morocco – Travel Tips & Advice

Last Modified: July 3, 2023 //  by  Anda //   12 Comments

Morocco is one of the most magical, yet challenging places I have ever visited. It’s a rough and tumble country that has to be accepted on its own terms. If you don’t understand its culture, you won’t be able to enjoy it. Visiting Morocco can be both amazing and chaotic, which is why I believe it’s important to get as much information as you can before you travel there.

Located in North Africa, at the crossroads of three worlds – Mediterranean, Arab and African – Morocco is a country of great diversity. Here you’ll find the gorgeous coastlines, steep mountains, green valleys, and sweeping deserts. You’ll also find ancient cities, old Medinas, impressive Kasbahs, as well as European-inspired cites with modern architecture. The country’s culture is a blend of Arab, Berber, European and African influences.

Visiting Morocco will undoubtedly broaden your horizon and enrich your travel experience, but it will also be challenging. You’ll get in contact with a society and an environment which may be very unfamiliar to you, so you’ll often have to step outside of your comfort zone.

Table of Contents

Is Morocco Safe to Visit?

When should you visit morocco, how to get around when visiting morocco, is there a dress code in morocco, tipping is expected in morocco, scams and hassling are an issue, taking photos is very difficult, drones are illegal in morocco, should you stay in riads or hotels when visiting morocco, non-muslim can’t enter in mosques in morocco, shopping and haggling, alcohol is not easy to find in morocco, marijuana and hashish, safety tips, things you shouldn’t do when visiting morocco, a final word, essential things to know before visiting morocco.

If you plan to travel to Morocco you probably have a lot of questions, so I’ll try to address as many as I can in this post. I will also try to dispel any fears and concerns you might have, and instead give you some tips and insights into this culture to help you better understand this complex country. I hope that after reading this guide you’ll be able to travel with a lighter heart and have a good experience in Morocco.

The first question most travelers ask themselves before considering a trip to Morocco is whether the country is safe. Although in the past few years there were some terrorist attacks on the southern border, Morocco is a safe country for the most part. The crime rate is relatively low and violent crimes against tourists are not a common issue.

That being said, it is advised to stay vigilant at all times. Keep your valuables in a safe place and beware of scams and petty crime, which are very common here.  

One important thing to keep in mind is that Morocco is a Muslim country which follows Islamic laws. You should ensure that your behavior won’t offend the locals and try to be respectful to their customs and culture.

The Best time to visit Morocco is during the cooler months of the year: September through November and March through May.

During the summer months temperatures can be very oppressive, ranging from 40 to 55ºC (104 to 130ºF), except for the coastal regions where they are usually around 25-28ºC (77 to 82ºF).

During the winter months, the weather is generally poor and snow can make many mountain roads impassable for driving.

Before our trip to Morocco, we did a lot of research regarding the best way to visit the country. There are several ways to get around in Morocco: using public transportation, renting a car and self driving, or hiring a car with a private driver.

Public Transportation

Getting around in Morocco on public transport is generally easy. There are plenty of buses, collective taxis and trains that link the main cities in the north with the coast and Marrakesh. But although the coverage may be good, you’ll need to have some “Moroccan time” at hand, as service disruptions and delays occur quite frequently.

Trains are a good option if you are traveling between the major cities, but buses are a cheaper and more comprehensive alternative if you plan to visit smaller towns.

There are also Grand  taxis that cover longer routes between towns, but they don’t leave until they are full. Grand taxis are shared cabs that carry up to six passengers — two in the front beside the driver and four in the back. The Grand taxis have no meters, so you should negotiate the cost per person before you head out.

Renting a car also has its own challenges. Road conditions and traffic accidents are a significant hazard in Morocco. The mountain roads through the Rif and Atlas mountains are steep, narrow, and dangerous. Also, street lighting is minimal after dark and people or animals can suddenly appear in the middle of the road.

Parking is a problem as well. And not only in big cities, but also in smaller towns where the historic centers are car-free. In addition to these issues, you need to be aware of the fact that English is not largely spoken in Morocco. That makes asking for direction or trying to read the signs –which in many places are only in Arabic– really difficult. In our experience, Google Maps is not entirely reliable in Morocco.

Hiring a Car with a Private Driver

After months and months of research, we decided that the safest and most convenient way to travel through Morocco is to hire a car with a driver. Although it will certainly be cheaper to use public transportation or rent a car, hiring a private driver doesn’t cost as much as you might think. Not to mention the fact that it will give you a better experience and save you a lot of hassle.

After visiting Morocco for two weeks, I am still convinced that hiring a driver and travel guides in every big city was the best decision we made. Even my husband who doesn’t fear the challenges of driving all over the world (including the steep, narrow roads of Sicily ), agrees that having a private driver is THE way to travel in Morocco.

There are quite a few companies who offer these services, but knowing which one to choose may be tricky. Always read the company’s reviews before deciding. We worked with Morocco Hire Car and were more than pleased with them. They have English fluent drivers, very competitive prices and great service.

Our driver did so more for us than just take us from point A to B. He also took us to many interesting places that we didn’t know about, gave us practical information, helped us with our luggage and treated us like his own family.

Despite being a Muslim country, Morocco is more liberal than other Muslim states. Most Moroccan women don’t wear a veil –although they may well wear a headscarf. In big cities women are more emancipated, so you may see young girls wearing short-sleeved tops and knee-length skirts.

The general rule is to dress conservatively. For Muslims that means covering your legs and shoulders if you are a woman and wearing long pants if you are a man. Tourist women are not expected to cover their head, but they should dress decently when visiting Morocco. That means not wearing above the knee skirts and shorts, see-through clothing, or low cleavage tops if you are a woman.

If you are a man, you should wear long pants and a shirt. Nonetheless, when it’s hot outside you may see many tourists wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts, like in the U.S. That is particularly common in Marrakesh, which is a more liberal city, but not in smaller towns or in other parts of the country. But if you want to avoid unwanted attention –especially as a woman– you should try to conform to the local norms.

Starting with bathroom attendants and continuing with drivers, waiters, tour guides, and riad staff, expect to tip almost everywhere in Morocco and for just about any “service.” A kid lets you pet his pet? Tip! You stop to take a photo of some goats on trees ? Tip the herder! The tour guide at the museum? Tip! Bathroom attendant? Definitely tip! The golden rule is to always carry small change with you, or you’ll have to face some awkward situations.

Salaries are low in Morocco and although tipping should be optional and based on experience, it’s pretty much expected everywhere. This may not come as a surprise if you are coming from America, where ‘tipping jars’ are almost everywhere . But if you don’t come from a tipping culture, it will annoy you.

Scams, hassling and petty crime are a big problem when visiting Morocco. Especially if you travel alone. Luckily, most of the time we were either with a tour guide or with our driver. But when we were by ourselves we were a sure target. “Are you lost? Where do you want to go? To your hotel? I’ll take you. No money. Don’t worry!” And if you accept, you won’t be able to get them off your back until you pay them what they ask.

If you look disoriented, one guy will point you in the wrong direction and when you are completely lost, another one will come to the “rescue” you and offer “take you to where you need to go.”

Simply wandering through the souks would cause the nearby vendors to jump on us and follow us around, inviting us to their stores. We were trying to turn them down politely, but some of them just couldn’t get “no” for an answer. We could feel the stares on every turn we took and that made us feel very uneasy.

It’s a game of cat and mouse that wears you out very fast. Wandering around by ourselves in the medinas was so stressful, that we had to give it up after a while. That doesn’t mean that everyone is out to get you, but having to stay constantly on guard kind of ruins the experience.

Despite being a friendly and welcoming people, Moroccans don’t like you to take their picture. Actually, let me rephrase that: Moroccans don’t like you taking any pictures at all! Period. Whether you are pointing your camera to a stall, an animal, or a building they oppose it just as vehemently: “No photo! No photo!”

Some them will agree to have their picture taken –of course, tipping is implied– but many just don’t want tourists taking pictures of anything. I was trying to photograph a piece of furniture in a museum when one of the guards started yelling from across the hall: “No photos here! No photos!”

You may argue that this attitude has a lot do with their perception of privacy, but I believe it’s more than that. Moroccans see money making opportunities in almost anything, so they try to take advantage of every situation. You may not think it’s too big of a deal to tip a few Dirhams here and there, but when you end up paying 3-5 Dirhams (30-50 cents) every time you take a picture, you get fed up after a while.

Having to find tricks and reinvent yourself every time you want to take a picture is very annoying. Especially when considering that Morocco relies so heavily on tourism and wants to be promoted as a desirable destination!

As a travel photographer, a trip in which I can’t capture the local color, the lives of the people and their customs is a wasted trip. Luckily, in most places we visited we were accompanied by a travel guide and that made things a little easier. Not that we didn’t have to pay in many places, but at least not every time the locals demanded.

While we’re on the topic of photography you should know that drones are illegal   in Morocco. There are signs everywhere in the airport stating that you cannot bring drone into the country. Your bags will pass through a scanner at the airport, so don’t even try. They may fine you, confiscate your drone, or even put you in jail!

We tried to obtain an UAV permit to use the drone as Media professionals, but found out that even if we have a permit the authorities may confiscate our drone. So forget about taking aerial photos in Morocco!

You’ll encounter a great deal of new experiences when visiting Morocco: customs, food, culture, and even accommodations will be different from what you know. One thing you’ll have to decide when planning your trip is whether to stay in riads or hotels. There is a significant difference between the two, although there are lots of similarities when it comes to amenities and facilities.

What is a Riad?

Riads are basically the Moroccan version of a guesthouse centered around an open-air courtyard that contains a fountain. Historically, riads are mansions that were once occupied by wealthy families. Today, many of these riads have been remodeled and converted into luxury accommodations.

Riads have all the amenities of a modern hotel, but they maintain the typical atmosphere of a Moroccan house. These beautiful buildings often contain some extraordinary examples of Moorish architecture and Moroccan craftsmanship.

Generally, riads have fewer rooms than hotels and are located within the Medina walls, in narrow alleys. That means they are right where the action is and thus closer to the attractions. But that also means they are harder to access, since the medinas are car-free zones. Also, walking through these narrow, winding alleys after dark may be a little scary.

Hotels, on the other hand, are more accessible because they are generally located outside the old town. They also have more room options and are often held to international standards. So if you don’t feel very adventurous and prefer utmost accessibility and big rooms, you should go to a hotel. But if you want to immerse yourself entirely into the Moroccan culture and lifestyle, you should stay in a riad.

Ultimately, your choice will be determined by what’s more important for you when traveling: consistency and ease, or cultural experience.

One of the big disappointments for non-Muslims when visiting Morocco is not being able to enter into the mosques. There are many outstanding mosques in Morocco, but unfortunately only those who go in there to pray can access them. The only exception is Hassan II Mosque, in Casablanca, which can be visited by non-Muslims on guided tours, but only at specific times.

As for the rest of them, you’ll have to be content with an occasional glimpse through open doors, or just walking around the courtyard.

When visiting Morocco you’ll be amazed at the wide assortment of handicrafts available in the marketplace. But shopping in Morocco is not going to be your shopping mall experience. If you want to buy something here, you’ll have to be prepared to bargain.

The Western world (except for maybe southern Spain and Italy) doesn’t have much of a bargaining culture, but in Morocco bartering is an old tradition. You need to be aware that merchants inflate the prices many fold in order to leave room for haggling. 

Unfortunately, for most westerners having to negotiate a price can be very stressful. The process is very similar to that of buying a car or a house here, in the States. There are a few common sense rules that apply: 1. Know the market value of the objects. 2. Don’t show enthusiasm for the item you want. 3. Decide how much you want to pay for it and wait for an offer. 4. If the merchant doesn’t accept your counter-offer, wait for another offer or walk away.

Unless you agree on the price, you don’t have to buy anything. But if the merchant accepts your offer, then you have an obligation to buy. If you are not planning to buy anything, don’t engage in a conversation with the merchant.

They will pay you lots of compliments and may even offer you some of their famous mint tea to lure you into their shop. If you accept, they will believe you are looking to buy and it will be very hard to back out. Try to avoid the chat with a polite “no, thank you.” Never underestimate the merchant: they are smarter and think faster than you when it comes to negotiating a price.

Morocco is mostly a cash-based society, so you should always expect to pay in cash. The country’s currency is the Dirham, but euros and US dollars are accepted as well in most places.

Being a Muslim country, it’s more difficult to find alcohol in Morocco than it is for instance in Europe, or in other parts of the world. While you can buy alcohol in larger supermarkets and some bars, drinking doesn’t have a very good image in Morocco and most locals see alcohol as a Western drug. Even so, according to a recent study, Moroccans are drinking more now than they did some years ago.

As a general rule, drinking alcohol in public is against the law   and it could get you into trouble with the police. Therefore, it’s a good idea to be discrete when you drink and avoid walking around if you had too much alcohol.

Growing, selling, purchasing or using drugs is illegal in the Kingdom of Morocco. But but despite this fact, the country is the world’s biggest cannabis exporter. Most of the crops grow around the Rif Mountains, under the complicit watch of the local police, who turns a blind eye to it.

As a result, it’s not unusual to see people smoking hashish in pipes everywhere. As a tourist, you may be asked more than a few if you’d like to purchase some hashish. Smoking kif (marijuana) or hashish is commonplace in Morocco. Men usually roll it up in a joint mixed with tobacco. But buying it has its risks, as often police informers act as dealers, so you may get in trouble.

Morocco is overall a very safe country to visit. There are almost no violent crimes against travelers reported here. Moroccans are kind, warm and tolerant of other cultures, providing their beliefs are respected as well. They are known for their hospitality and warmth towards visitors, as they all aware of the fact that the tourism industry is a major economic source of income to most families directly or indirectly.

That being said, you should always exercise common sense when walking around the Medina streets. Especially after dark. Don’t display expensive jewelry or large amounts of money and be aware of your whereabouts.

Also hide money, credit cards, and your passport into deep inner pocket, or in a pouch under your clothes. I believe that pick pocketing is the most common crime here, and both men and women can be victims.

There are a few things that you should definitely avoid when visiting Morocco.

• Talk about the King, religion, or politics . It is recommended to avoid these 3 topics in your conversations with locals or other tourists in Morocco.

• Public displays of affection.  Very obvious gestures of affection are considered offensive in Morocco, so you should avoid kissing in public or other displays of love while there.

• Wander through back alleys.  There is a maze of narrow lanes and winding alleys in every old town in Morocco. They may be charming at first sight, but they are also dangerous. Venturing too deep into this maze can make you an easy victim for con artists and robbers. Stay in places where you can see other tourists

• Feel compelled to buy. If you plan to hire a tour guide to show you around when you travel in Morocco, you’ll often be dragged into shops under the pretext of showing you unusually beautiful crafts, or to observe a certain manufacturing process.

The guide will reassure you that he brought you there “just to see, not to buy.” But in fact, they will get a commission if you buy anything. Although it’s easy to see through this trick, you may feel pressured to buy at least something to please the guide or the store owner, but you shouldn’t.

READ NEXT : Visiting Chefchaouen, Morocco’s Blue City

Morocco is full of welcoming, generous and hospitable people who will be glad to share their historic sites, vibrant souks, and delicious cuisine with you. Therefore, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is avoid visiting this country for fear you may not be safe or welcome there. If you travel with an open mind and a willing heart, you’ll have a wonderful time in Morocco. I promise you!

If you found this information helpful, please pin this to help other travelers discover Morocco

INTERESTED IN A TRIP TO MOROCCO? YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THESE:

• Morocco Itinerary – How to Spend 10 Days in Morocco
• The Best Souvenirs to Buy When Shopping in Morocco
• The Mystery of the Tree-Climbing Goats in Morocco
• Best Things to Do in Chefchaouen, Morocco’s Blue City
• How to Plan a Perfect Day Trip From Marrakech to Essaouira

Anda is an award winning travel writer, avid globetrotter and passionate photographer. She is the voice behind "Travel Notes & Beyond," a collection of stories and travel impressions from her wanderings around the world. When she is not busy writing, traveling, or editing photographs, you can find her hiking in the foothills behind her house together with her husband and their dog.

Reader Interactions

March 27, 2023 at 1:56 pm

So many tips to learn from… Thanks for sharing!!!

April 28, 2023 at 12:58 pm

So many things to learn indeed, the most important of which is that Morocco and Moroccans are not Arabs and are vast majority ethnic Amazigh berbers. You can ruin your reputation by calling Moroccans ARabs, big no no.

January 29, 2023 at 1:33 pm

Thank you for the tips Anda. We are not yet sure whether we should hire a car with a private driver or book a private tour. We have read that the driver cannot act as a guide and therefore for certain cities we would still need to hire a guide. What is your opinion please?

January 29, 2023 at 2:42 pm

Technically your driver can’t act as a guide, so it’s better if you you hire local guides for cities like Marrakech, Fes and so on. They are are also more knowledgeable than a driver. However, our driver gave us all kinds of tips that were invaluable. Like how much to tip (and it was much less than we intended to give), what places are safe to wander around, what restaurants are rip-offs, and so on. Besides, having a local with you at all times is priceless in a country like Morocco. I’m not saying you won’t be able to make it without one, but your life will be so much easier.

January 30, 2023 at 12:15 am

Thank you for your prompt reply Anda 🙂 So just to confirm, if we book a private tour, how will this differ from a private driver? Per our understanding, a private tour will provide you with a driver, a guide and book hotels on our behalf. Is this correct?

January 30, 2023 at 12:49 am

There are different kinds of “private tours.” Some are small group tours, which will take you to different cities (or to the desert) and drop you there. From that point you may choose to hire a local guide, or visit the city on your own.

Another possibility is to rent a car with a driver, which is what we did. In each city we hired a local guide to take us around. That is of course more expensive, but you are the boss. The driver will take you wherever you want and stay at your service all the time. You may choose your own itinerary, or ask the company to make one for you. They can recommend hotels, restaurants, etc. etc. We designed our own itinerary and booked our own hotels, so we just paid for the car and the driver. That was slightly more expensive than just renting the car itself. I strongly recommend this option. In my post I have a link to the company from where we rented the car with a driver.

September 21, 2022 at 5:44 pm

Many good tips without having to ask the questions. Now looking for more insights as to “off the beaten path”.

September 21, 2022 at 6:45 pm

I’m still working on the Morocco posts and yes, “off the beaten path” destinations are coming soon. Thank you for dropping by.

July 27, 2022 at 6:25 pm

Great post, Anda. You are spot on — although it sounds like photography has gotten much more difficult since I was there. . . . and it was challenging enough then! We also hired a driver to take us around and used guides in larger cities (our brilliant driver was a fabulous unofficial guide in more rural places). You are right — a good driver and/or guide will take you to places you would never discover otherwise. And it makes getting around just so much easier. It’s not even that expensive, we found the price to be comparable to booking a mid-price tour. Of course, the trick is finding someone who will be really good and who you’ll want to be around over the course of long days of driving and touring.

July 29, 2022 at 10:05 am

I agree, Cindy. Having a drives puts you ahead of the crowds and it saves you a lot of time.

Roy Stevenson

June 30, 2022 at 11:01 am

Thanks for this excellent summary, Anda. Much appreciated. Morocco is on my bucket list & this gives me a good idea of what to expect. Best regards to you! Roy Stevenson

June 30, 2022 at 1:05 pm

Thanks for dropping by, Roy. Hope all is well with you and your wife.

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18 Super Important Must Knows Before You Travel to Morocco

Last Updated: February 16, 2022

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Okay folks, it’s PSA time.

If you’re planning on visiting Morocco any time soon, I need to let you in on a not-so-sexy secret…

This crazy country is much more than a romantic Instagram playground of patterned plates, blue walls and glam camel selfies.

In fact, coming here can be just as challenging as it is magical, all the more so if you don’t do proper research.

See, in recent years, I’ve heard many travellers say that they disliked their travels in Morocco because it didn’t “live up to their expectations”.

But as a die hard fan of the country, I need to say this: yes, Morocco is gorgeous, and packed with stupidly photogenic sights, but it can also a really challenging place to visit, especially when you flail in blindly without getting your research on.

Luckily, that’s what I’m here for!

After two trips to Morocco – once to visit Marrakech and Essaouira, the second to gallivant around Fez and Chefchaouen, I’ve foolishly made buckets of mistakes and assumptions for you, all so you don’t fall into the same traps 😉

Yay me. *throws confetti*

In this post, my goal is to give you some practical info and takeaways so that you have some more  realistic expectations for your trip to Morocco – think of it as tips from one silly tourist to another 😉

So, without further ado – don’t travel to Morocco without knowing the following handy tips!

PS: As I mentioned, these tips are definitely valid for big touristy cities like Marrakech, Essaouira, Fez and Chefchaouen. I have no doubt though that other places around the country (especially smaller towns) will be different! Hopefully you’ll still find these tips helpful though 🙂

Travelling to Morocco soon? You might also find these posts helpful…

• My 14 Best Tips for Safety in Morocco + Common Scams
• A Guide on What to Wear in Morocco + a Free Packing List
• What to Wear in Marrakesh
• 1 Week in Morocco (Travel Diary)
• Fes to Chefchaouen Day Trip Guide
• Game of Thrones in Morocco Guide

Looking for the Cheapest Hotel Deals in Morocco?

One of the first questions I usually get about Morocco is where to stay, so let’s get that first point out of the way first.

Morocco is filled with amazing accommodation options, from hotels and hostels to gorgeous riads (which I highly recommend).

To find the best fit for you, I recommend using HotelsCombined , a great free site to use that lets you search prices from multiple sites like Expedia, Booking, etc. at once, securing you the best possible deal.

Click here to compare the best deals on accommodation in Morocco

Alright, now onto the good stuff…

My Travel Advice for Morocco: 18 Must-Knows

1. morocco is yuuuuuge (seriously though, it’s a big country).

Geography is not my thing, especially for places I’ve never been to.

Here’s the #1 mistake I see people making: a lot of folks (past me included) wrongfully assume that Morocco is small and that all the most insta-famous spots are closely clustered together.

I mean, if I had a nickel for each time someone asked “how can I do a day trip from Marrakech to Chefchaouen?”  Ohh yenno, just a casual night train and bus combo….

But yes, know this: if you want to travel Morocco, understand that it’s a pretty freaking massive country.

At first, it might be tempting to think that you can cover the entire country in a single trip, but unless you have a lot of time at your disposal, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Try to focus instead on one part of the country rather than waste time commuting from place to place.

I’m very glad I did separate trips for Marrakech/Essaouira and Fez/Chefchaouen, rather than brave night trains and long commutes just to “see it all”.

2. Brush up on your French (beyond oh la la and croissants)

As you travel in Morocco, you’ll quickly notice just how common French is.

While in big cities, you’ll encounter plenty of English speakers as well, most are much more comfortable in French, and nicer to you if you can speak it.

I can’t tell you the number of times a shopkeeper or taxi driver immediately cranked up the nice meter as soon as I busted out my rusty français.

Definitely get some basic travel terms under your belt like, “how much will this cost” or “how do I get to ____” – it’ll help you a ton.

For those extra prepared folks, consider buying a phrasebook in advance (they’re cheap – like less than $10!). Here’s one for Moroccan Arabic, or one for French .

3. Morocco IS safe… just be wary of scams

Often travellers (especially those going solo) wonder whether or not Morocco is safe.

After having been there twice (once with a group of girlfriends and the second time with my boyfriend), I will say that it’s definitely safe. 

Will you feel very uncomfortable at times? Probably.

Will people will stare at you, persistently follow you and randomly shout Asian ethnicities at you until they guess the right one? That last one was niche, but the answer is still YES!

All that said, at the end of the day, I wouldn’t be too concerned about your physical safety.

I have a full guide all about safety tips in Morocco that you can read here, but I’ll summarize some of the main points below.

(I’d recommend getting a nice, subtle brass whistle though just in case. They’re good for ease of mind and you can get them for under $10! This set comes with a leather necklace so you can wear it at all times.)

Anyways, there are naturally a few common sensical things that you should be mindful of – don’t walk around at night by yourself (especially as a solo female traveler).

The streets get very eerie after all the shops close, and you’ll likely encounter lots of “friendly” guys trying to help you find your accommodations. It’s super unsettling, so I wouldn’t recommend being alone in quiet areas like the souks after dark.

Besides that, I think you will be fine in terms of physical safety.

The #1 thing to be mindful of though is ALL the scams. Tourism drives a lot of business here, so many have become experts at taking advantage of naive tourists. Don’t be disheartened by it – just view it as a way of doing business 😉

A few tips for avoiding scams: 

Be wary of anyone that’s overly friendly. Someone offering to help you find where you need to go will want money for it after. Someone offering you a cool photo opp like a snake to hold will want money for it after. Nice women beckoning you to get henna will literally grab your hand and just start doing it…. and will demand money after. Unfortunately, these things are common.

Know that every price they give you is meant to be bartered down. I’ll discuss haggling more in a second, but shopkeepers often give sky high prices to start with because they assume you don’t know better.

If you plan to buy something (e.g. a tour, a certain good, etc.), ask for standard prices from your riad or hostel owner so you have a rough idea of how much it will cost. It’s better this way to have a rough gauge.

4. Get your haggle pants on

Alright, we all have that embarrassing aunty who haggles everything down and has a consistent surplus of useless crap for her exploits.

When shopping in Morocco , it is time for you to become that aunty.

Seriously though, don’t be afraid to haggle! I’ve been told it’s a part of the culture by a lot of shopkeepers, who will laugh off my stubborn hard assness.

One of my proudest moments was being told I was “haggling like a real Berber woman”. Why thanks. *flips hair* Someone just get me a Haggle Queen t-shirt already. (FYI, they exist. No joke. Here’s proof ).

If you feel weird about haggling, do note that prices they give you at first can literally be 7x what they actually want to sell it for, so it’s probably in your best interest to barter a little… it’s even quite fun.

FYI, shop owners can be SUPER pushy.

If you step inside their little stall, they will often stand by the entrance and low-key trap you in their store. I’m not saying this to scare you, it’s just something to be aware of. You’re not in actual physical danger, but it’s pretty uncomfortable to say the least.

At the end of the day, you’ll quickly notice that most stores will sell the same goods so feel free to shop around too! Nothing is more effective for haggling than “the walk away”. 😉

5. Mosques are a no-go unless you’re Muslim

Unlike some other Muslim-dominant countries like Turkey where you’re invited to visit the inside of moques, mosques in Morocco usually have closed door policy unless you’re Muslim yourself.

So, take all those ridiculous “top things to do in Morocco” lists with a grain of salt (PSA to my fellow bloggers, stop recommending these mosques when all you can do is peek at the courtyard from afar!)

I mean, are there loads of gorgeous mosques to see in Morocco? Totally, but you won’t really get to see any of them unless you’re Muslim. Just an FYI so you’re not too disappointed.

PS: If you’re staying longer in the country, consider getting a guidebook about customs/traditions. It might come in handy. I’ve heard great things about this one.

6. Bring stretchy pants (cuz you gon’ eat)

Nnngh, give me a second to wipe all the drool off my screen. I have to tell you – food in Morocco is THE best.

One of my Christmas gifts this year was literally a tagine cookbook and I’ve never felt more #blessed. Truly, when you travel to Morocco, one guarantee is that you’ll be well fed. Like royalty even, for highly affordable rates.

These are ubiquitous foods you’ll find at every single restaurant (yes, they are cliched, and touristy, but for a reason).

PS: Any Moroccan folks reading this, please holla in the comments with your favourite traditional foods… I need some more inspo!

BUT for now, you will 100% need to get…

Fresh fruit juice: MMMMMF. Available almost everywhere and so ridiculously good. NOTE: It’s always cheaper to drink it there from a glass rather than get it to take away. The stalls will often have a very cheap price (e.g. 4DH) listed in big letters, and that is usually the price for if you stand there and drink it on the spot. Don’t be surprised if you need to pay a bit extra to take it with you.

Mint tea:  You can get it anywhere and they love to serve it up with sugar. Their default sweetness is ridiculously sweet, so unless you love cavities, you should probably ask for sugar on the side.

Tagine: Slow cooked stew cooked in an awesome clay or ceramic pot (also called a tagine). There’s lots of different kinds, usually with meat. My personal favourite is the kefta tagine, which is meatballs in a tomato/onion sauce with eggs cracked on top. It will change your life, it is my favourite ever!

Couscous: Fluffy and plentiful. I’m not a big fan of it myself (I’m a die-hard rice girl) but you’ll find it everywhere with all kinds of pairings.

7. Don’t expect a booze & drugs kind of vacay

A LOT of people forget that Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country.

… and then they turn up ready to raaage.

That might be a problematic mindset.

You won’t find a ton of shops readily stocked with sweet alcoholz  for your bender. That said, despite having such a large Muslim population, alcohol and drugs (hash is especially popular) aren’t tough to come by in Morocco.

In major cities, you’ll find plenty of bars and of course, depending on where you’re staying (if it’s a big resort-y type hotel), you’ll have no trouble finding booze. So, if you need your fix, you’ll be fine.

In my opinion though, I wouldn’t prioritize scouring the streets for alcohol in Morocco.

There’s so many better things to do here than get drunk, and it’s much pricier than drinking your weight in fresh fruit juice and mint tea, which is infinitely better (in my humble food-obsessed opinion).

8. Don’t get run over by a donkey

I literally was having one of those “wow travel is so amazing and lifechanging” moments when I promptly was knocked off my pedestal by a donkey.

Like, an actual donkey.

This was in Fez, where there’s a lot of donkeys trotting around with stuff on their backs. So um, just a general PSA to keep an eye out for asses. 🙂

9. Despite what they say, not everyone is “your friend”

I alluded to this before, but you need to be wary of those who are overly friendly.

Of course, there are tons of genuinely hospitable Moroccans out there, but in major cities, especially when you’re out and about in touristy areas, those hollering at you “come with me, my friend!”, “I will show you, my friend!” etc. etc. are probably interested more in your money than your friendship.

This isn’t to say that they won’t actually help you – they probably will, but just know that it’s because they expect some money for it, not out of the genuine goodness of their hearts.

10. Morocco has a closed currency

I know this sounds scary but it basically just means that Morocco’s currency (the dirham, or DH) isn’t readily available outside of Morocco, so you will most likely need to just wait until you’re there to get any.

There will definitely a currency exchange at the airport, and there are loads of banks to visit in major cities too, so don’t worry!

11. Ladies, get ready for attention like you’ve never received

Often people ask whether or not it is safe to travel to Morocco, especially for female travelers.

So again, is it safe to travel to Morocco?

Yes, but there are certain things you need to be wary of (as a female).

Especially as a female that is noticeably foreign (my blonde friends, I’m lookin’ at you).

Morocco is such a wonderful country with so much to offer and I would hate for your impressions of it to be spoiled because you didn’t go in with the right expectations, so let me clear this up for you: LADIES, you will inevitably get catcalled.

It’s gonna happen.

It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing or who you’re with. If I could still get cat called while wearing a big doofus jacket while holding hands with my boyfriend, then you will also get some unwanted advances.

If you tend to sensitive about these things, remember just how common it is, and I beg you: don’t let it ruin your trip!

My approach is to just move on and ignore. Don’t make eye contact, don’t smile. If you smile, you’re essentially inviting them to talk to you… so don’t do it. Just keeping walkin’, cool as a cucumber.

12. Dress appropriately

So, a lot of girls wonder what is considered “appropriate” dress in Morocco… and luckily, I have a full guide on what to wear in Morocco , so check that out for more details.

But here’s a quick digest. The truth is it’s not really about what you can and can’t wear.

You CAN wear a spaghetti strap tank top and Daisy Dukes, I mean… nobody is going to arrest you, but you WILL feel terribly uncomfortable.

It’s true, many Moroccan women will wear what they want, but remember that you (as a foreigner) are already going to stick out like a sore thumb so it’s really a matter of dressing in a way that a) you’e comfortable and b) minimizes unwanted attention.

As a good rule of thumb, I would say to cover your legs and cover your shoulders.

In Marrakech, there was a MASSIVE difference for me when I wore a dress one day vs. pants on another. Even though it was a long-enough dress (around knee-length), the amount of eyes that began to slide down and focus on my calves was too damn high.

So, I would encourage dressing modestly, with an emphasis on covering shoulders, legs and cleavage.

You can read my full packing guide (and free packing list) for Marrakech here.

13. BYOT – Bring your own toilet paper

Seriously guys, bring your own toilet paper when you travel around Morocco.

Sometimes you’ll be lucky and there will be a cute lil woman at the front selling tissue for a small price (usually this is the case with rest stops) otherwise you’re on your own. #ShakeShakeBaby 😉

PRO TIP: I highly recommend just buying tissue packs in bulk. You can literally buy an entire case for less than $30 here . It’s always good to have them on hand, and buying in bulk is cheaper.

14. Cash is king

Trust me, you need to have cash on you when you travel around Morocco, in small bills if possible.

We encountered a few taxi drivers who told us he didn’t have any change for big bills (whether or not that’s truthful or just fishing for a larger tip, I’m not sure!)

BUT remember: you should always carry some change with you as well, whether for tipping or having exact change for cabs/services.

15. Fridays are holy days

Fridays are considered a holy day for Muslims, and so on Friday, you’ll find that the souks might be a little quieter and that the operating hours of certain shops might vary.

A lot of visitors get scared that everything will be closed on Fridays, but for us this wasn’t the case.

The major tourist attractions and main “tourist heavy” spots will remain open, but there were definitely a lot of noticeable shop closures as well. Just plan accordingly and don’t leave all your big shopping days to Friday and you’ll be fine.

16. No need to really book tours in advance, there are loads of tour operators and options once you arrive

A lot of people stress out about getting a tour booked for activities in advance.

I really don’t think this is necessary.

There are so many tour operators going to the same places every single day that you could easily (if you’re feeling spontaneous) just wait until you’re there to make any further plans.

If you are a very Type A planny type person though, you can also book online. I like using GetYourGuide for things like this because they have a low-price guarantee 🙂

17. It gets surprisingly cold

I know – usually when travellers think about Morocco, their minds go to this warm sepia-toned image of a sun-drenched country, of deserts, palm trees and warm balmy temperatures.

This can be the case yes, but temperatures really do drop at night, and it can get very windy by the coast.

Be prepared for the weather and do your research beforehand. Always pack a jacket!

18. You will inevitably get lost

See it as part of the fun!

Undoubtedly you’ll have already heard of how romantic and wonderful it is to “get lost in the dizzying labyrinth of Moroccan souks” – what most blog posts seem to glaze over is that it’s ALSO kind of scary. Maybe really scary – especially at night.

Know this: if you don’t get lost at some point, you haven’t had the real Morocco experience… just be careful, (again, especially at night).

And remember: worst comes to worst, if you’re really super lost, there will most likely be someone around willing to guide you back home…. for a small fee of course 😉

I hope you enjoyed these Morocco tips!

Alright, I hope you enjoyed this roundup of must-knows before you travel to Morocco, packed with travel tips and advice! If you have still have any Morocco-related questions, feel free to ask away in the comments.

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

56 thoughts on “18 Super Important Must Knows Before You Travel to Morocco”

“Your Gram will be lit” had me laughing! I love the way you write. 🙂 I actually really like that cash is king in Morocco. I always pay by cash anyway when I go to foreign countries, just easier to stick to my budget that way! 🙂 – Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog https://charmainenyw.com

hehe glad you enjoyed the post! <3

I have been wanting to visit Morocco for a while now and really want to share the experience with my boyfriend, but he’s not sold on the idea. Will definitely show him this post, so much great advice! I’m especially excited by the food 😀

It’s a very fun place if you go prepared 😉 Hope you get to see for yourself sometime soon!

Wow! Wow! I loved your post! Extremely informative as always. What I loved the most was that you encouraged people to accept Morocco for what it is rather than labelling it ‘unsafe’ etc. So many times, I tend to write off a place because people write such strongly worded articles! Kudos to you girl! 🙂

Great list for big cities 🙂 ! I’d add that tap water is not really safe to consume (or even brush your teeth with) and – fun fact – you won’t see any gyms 😉 :p

What a fantastic and descriptive cultural guide! I am going to Morocco soon (I hope, once I get my visa) and besides tips where to snap Instagram shots, there are hardly any advice on, you know, how to behave in Morocco and what to expect. Read it from core to core and pinned for my upcoming trip. Well done!

I really want to visit Morocco and been readin up a lot of posts on it recently. Wow these are great tips. I didn’t realize Chefcheoun and Marrakech are so far! And oh my better brush up on my Francais!

I love this! Chefchaouen is on my hit list. I love that you are straight up about the practical things, you’re writing style is great – I feel like in my head we would be friends 🙂 Thanks for a great read!

Awesome post! So much useful info wrapped in a funny way, hehe.

Very handy post! <3

https://carmelatte.co/dubai-tour-guide-firsttimers/

Such a great list, thanks for sharing! It’s a bit disappointing that non-Muslims can’t visit mosques, but that’s still something I’d prefer to know ahead of time. Great tips so I can set realistic expectations when I go =)

This is such a helpful post-Christina! Thanks for sharing such valuable advice 🙂 We were considering going to Morocco this year and will keep your advice about not being an overachiever in seeing everything lol Also I had no idea they spoke French there!

Love this post super helpful tips! I have been considering travelling to Morroco but like you mentioned have heard so many people say they hated it – I feel so much more confident that’ll I’ll love it after reading 🙂

Wow! Very well said! I wish I knew about the toilet paper before going to Morocco, it’s a serious problem! And it’s important to dress appropriately. They might be considered more open minded since they have plenty tourists but it’s still required to cover yourself to avoid creepy stares!

I LOVED Morocco. In addition to French, knowing a few basic words in Arabic, like hello and thank you will definitely win you some friendly smiles!

You should try Bastilla. It’s a perfectly amazingly delicious blend of savory and a little sweet (but not too much). So good!

Wonderful tips, and I love your sense of humour.

‘Nice one!

Thanks for reading, Victoria! <3

I was laughing throughout the whole post! Great tips for someone who is getting ready to go to Morocco in just a few days herself. The country looks amazing and I’ll have to learn some French and bust out the haggling skills for sure!

Haha glad you liked it! Hope your trip is amazing 🙂

This was an extremely helpful post. Thank you for sharing your advice. I can’t wait for my trip now 🙂

Yay! Have a great trip, Natalija! <3

SO well written and helpful. THANK YOU!

you’re welcome, Kimberly. Thanks for reading!

So beautiful post. This country is my favorite since i have been there in 2014.

So happy you enjoyed it!

Wonderful Article!! … Completely spectacular photos, thank you for involvement

Wow!! I love the way you write! You also put my mind at ease about quite a few things. I met an amazing Moroccan guy online and we have been talking for a little while now. Finally planning a trip to go and meet in person and cannot explain the anxiety I’ve had trying to research so much about this awesome country so as not to do anything to look foolish or heaven-forbid insult anyone while I am there. (I mean he wants me to meet his family and even stay there with them!! Yikes haha no pressure there!!) For the most part I am quite comfortable talking with him but there is just enough of a language barrier that finding answers to some of these basic questions is just much easier researching them on my own. Finding your blog helped SO much. I only have found 2 Moroccan restaurants in my city and as big of a nerd as I might seem, I am seriously planning to go and befriend anyone there who can help put my mind at ease further! I have so many questions!! Anyway, again, THANK YOU! Jess

Glad to hear that you had such great stay in Morocco, you are always welcome back 🙂

Hi, I loved your post ! Have been to Istanbul, I retained mostly : 1. Bringing a whistle 2. Toilette paper or kleenex 3. Small cash Thanks, great help Linda

super fun to read – thanks christina!!

Thank you for the information. Well written. I’m considering a trip there.

So helpful! And my fav tip, “You gon eat!”

Planning a girls trip and trying to convince everyone that this can be as fabulous a trip as other places we’ve gone! If not even moreso!

Will be sharng your post!

I have wanted to visit Morocco for a while now and really want to share the experience with my friends.

Thanks for this helpful article. It’s good to have these information.

Thanks for this advises but I guess your advise that say we need to fresh up our french language is a little bit hard but every problem has a solution when you have google on your smartphone.

Funny how many memories this post brought back. I went to Morocco 2 summers ago and was put off by the cat-calling, “konichiwa”s and “ni hao”s, and pushiness of people on the streets who were preying on tourists (“tour guides” following us to try and get us to go on a tour with them, street performers practically forcing themselves on you for money, etc). We knew it would happen but just weren’t expecting so much of it. It probably didn’t help that my whole family got food poisoning too but I think you really just need to be prepared for a different culture and attitude toward tourists and look beyond it to enjoy a trip in Morocco.

I am actually from Morocco, and reading your post is definitely educational, Thank you for sharing such valuable tips with us.

This is excellent! I’m going to travel to Morocco in September for about 12 days and your article is very useful! I cannot wait to be there and yes very much looking forward to try their delicious cuisine!

Thank you for the tips, a lot of the tips can be applied on other places.

Hi, Needless to say, Marrakech is outstanding amongst other travel puts in the entire of Africa. I have been to Marrakech several time. Everything looks so regular stuffed with culture, history and convention related with it. And in the Sahara desert, fascinating Mosque engineering, riads, Medinas, mint tea and some more, Marrakech is a very good place to visit.

was our first time visiting Morocco and we definitely made the right choice by choosing this tour. I picked this one specifically because I didn’t want a tour company that had seen so many tourists that they start to not care about taking people around their country. Where it’s more a money-making business, where you are part of a big group and you will not receive any sort of bespoke individual experience. We were so lucky to have ismail as our tour guide as he was a genuine and nice person, who loves his country.

From the very first email ismail was extremely polite and helpful, more than any other tour company I’d spoken to. We ended up travelling with just him, my husband and me. We went from Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou, to the Todras, Atlas Mountains, several Oasis and obviously to the Sahara desert. It was still a whistle stop tour as we only had 3 days but it was definitely the way to go. Having stayed in Marrakech for 2 days I was very much ready to leave the hustle and bustle (and generally being harassed at the souks) to explore what Morocco was really about.

Todras gorge was really lovely. There had been some rainfall so you could walk into some of the water. Really nice. It was quite busy though, but no more than the other big landmarks like Ait Ben Haddou.

My favourite place was actually Skoura, one of the little Oasis on the first night. The place we stayed was run by a family business and you can really tell. It was remote, but stunning. Not at all touristy, and very authentic. The food was the best I’d had in Morocco, just divine! Just as an aside, although I love tagines, you do want some change, so this was the one that stood out as it felt a little more authentic. Most of the food you’ll get in Morocco (not just in the tour) is very similar — varying types of tagines, wraps or kebabs, with rice or salad. Not a huge amount of variety unless you really look for it. We loved Nomad in Marrakech, this restaurant has amazing food!

The trip to the Sahara was amazing, albeit short. We set off on camel when the sun was quite low, maybe 6–7pm and then arrived at the camp by nightfall. We had dinner with a few other people on the tour, and the locals did a song and dance for half an hour or so. We then ventured out to the desert to see the stars, and although we went back to the camp around 1am, the moon was so bright you could have slept under it for sure. The temperature was perfect. However we had to leave at about 5am to catch the sunset, so thought we’d better sleep in the bed. The camp was extremely clean and nice given it’s in the middle of nowhere, so if you’re a clean freak like me, you’ll have no problems! There’s good toilets and running water. You sleep in a type of metal room, which is probably ventilated but still quite warm. The beds aren’t exactly comfy, quite hard really, but there’s electricity and sheets, what else do you need!

You can see more of my adventures and what I experienced from my pictures. All in all, what you see is what you get. The tour speaks for itself. You visit all the places on the itinerary and you’re greeted with nice people and go to places that are really quite unique. On top of that, you’ll be with a guide who knows a good deal about Morocco and will work hard to make sure you have a good time. We were even privileged enough to see ismail home, meet his family (they were very shy!) But an insight into how Moroccan people actually live? That is something you can’t buy.

Really enjoyed my time in Morocco, so thanks to ismail and the team at Moroccodeserttour4x4.com recommend this tour company.

Hey Christina, I am Youssef from Morocco. Thank you si much for sharing such very useful info about Chefchaouen and travelling to Morocco in general. This is really amazing post with incredible pictures. Thanks a lot

good one thank you for sharing

First of all Thank you very much for awesome articles about Morocco, interesting with its great informations, we really appreciate your heart work to seat and to write this post about Morocco during your period touring around the country, it is not easy to travel from city to another for to share this important informations with other travellers. Thank you much very again.

Hi! Christina thanks you so for visiting Morocco. We are so happy to meet people like you….

That’s all amazing! waiting for another wonderful article!

Just amazing article about this wonderful city. I really enjoyed reading this blog and I appreciate your sharing. A huge wave to you!

Hello Christina, we are happy you had a great stay in our country, and you visited some of the most visited places… We appreciate you sharing this amazing article!

Hey Christina, your article made me speechless. Morocco is an outstanding and breathtaking country to visit… Your blog is very informative and helpful to everyone willing to visit this amazing country, and I appreciate your sharing with us!

Very informative blog… Lovely act of you to share this beautiful city!

Thank you for the input You got a fabulous blog!

Das ist verklich super danke

Incredible post, full of many info that will be helpful to any newcomers, thank you again for sharing with us.

Best article thank you for sharing it really amazing

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25 Essential Morocco Travel Tips, What To Know Before You Go!

25 Essential Morocco Travel  Tips for Your  Morocco Private  Tour

Planning a Morocco Private Tour or Family Vacation? Curious to know more about Morocco? Our 25 Essential Morocco Travel Tips and Information Guide will answer all of your questions. Morocco is culturally diverse. Visiting Morocco will guarantee an encounter with ancient historic traditions, customs, architecture, monuments and sites that have permeated Moroccan society for centuries. Morocco is home to 36 million people and primarily a homogenous country. The populous shares the Islamic faith yet given the country’s rich history and Jewish past remains open and unified. You can anticipate a unique Morocco tour and up an up close Morocco travel experience engaging with a people who are devout, generous, hospitable and kind.

Your Morocco travel experience would not be complete with out a reference guide to answer some of the most important questions and provide travel tips.

What is the Best Time to Travel to Morocco?

Morocco is situated on the far northwestern corner of Africa and has an expansive shoreline that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to Gibraltar .  The  Best Time to Travel to Morocco  should be ideally the considered by season. One of the best times to visit Morocco is spring or fall .  Spring (April and May) and Fall (September and October) are perhaps the best overall time to take a Morocco Tour.  Morocco has over 300 days of sunshine. During the peak summer months (June – Mid-September) it can get particularly hot. Temperatures in summer can reach as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit. As a dry and temperate climate Morocco experiences very little humidity making the heat less intense. Moroccans typically take vacation time during summer months and typically head for the coast where it is cooler. Winters in Morocco (Mid-November – February) are typically mild and temperatures can reach down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. In Morocco it often snows lighting during winter in some regions. The High Atlas region receives allot of snow therefore it is the perfect destination for skiing and enjoying other winter sports. Morocco has a summer climate in the south and in the mountains, as well as on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. Winter can be perfect by day in the south, though desert nights can get very cold. If you’re planning to hike in the mountains, it’s best to keep to the months from April to October unless you have some experience in snow conditions.

What Languages are Spoken in Morocco?

Most Moroccans in the cities speak French as well as Arabic or the Moroccan dialect Darija. The French Protectorate was established in Morocco in 1912 and lasted until 1956. French remains the language of business whereas Darija is spoken in the street and at home, Darija itself is a mixture of languages including French words and Moroccans happily switch from one language to another in conversation. Spanish is spoken in the north and south, as there was also a Spanish protectorate. However there has been a marked increase in the number of young people speaking English as it is taught in schools. Those working in tourism will probably speak good English and the business centers of Casablanca and Tangiers also has more English speakers.

Morocco Travel Tips on Culture & Etiquette:

Moroccans in general are hospitable people. The Heritage of Moroccan people stemming from colonization and tourism has resulted in an open minded and easy going population. The country’s official religion and the majority of Moroccans are Muslims. The culture is made up of a combination of Berber and Arab, Moroccans who live peacefully together alongside a large expatriate population. The majority of Moroccan women wear a headscarf and very few wear a veil. It is recommended when traveling to Morocco to air on the conservative side and dress modestly. Wearing skimpy clothing, kissing and cuddling in public is not recommended and can be seen as a form of disrespect.

How should I Dress when traveling to Morocco:

Visitors to Morocco are often surprised about the range of ways that Moroccan women dress. Most dress modestly, in keeping with Islamic custom, many wearing the  jellaba  (a hooded, ankle length robe) and headscarf. In cities, many wear Western dress with or without a headscarf. You will see few  burqas  of the type associated with the Gulf region or Afghanistan. In order to avoid stares or unwanted attention, it is best for visitors also to dress modestly. Keep your swimwear for the beach and always cover at least your shoulders. Women will find their visit much more pleasant if they also avoid revealing necklines and cover up down to the knees. A scarf or pashmina is also handy for moments when you feel the need to conceal your head or shoulders from unwanted stares, the hot sun or over-zealous air conditioning. In the evenings in the winter months (and even more so in the mountains or the desert), sunny days become chilly nights and you will need to bring a sweater or even a jacket.

Travel Tips for Updating your Passport:

Make sure that as a traveler to Morocco you have a passport that will be valid for a further 6 months after you enter Morocco. We advise that you also carry an original or photocopy of your identification card or driver’s license. Passports can be renewed at your local consulate or passport office. For more information about travel tips on updating your passport to visit Morocco check with the Moroccan Embassy in your home city.

Morocco Travel Safety Tips:

Your national government will provide travel and security advice for visitors intending to visit Morocco. In general, the risk of international terrorism is no greater than in major cities of Europe or the US. Like in those cities, there is a risk of petty theft. Morocco is a developing country and the wealth gap between local people and tourists can drive a small minority to crime. Be sure to exercise the usual precautions on your visit regarding cash, jewelry and other valuables. Do not carry them around in large or visible quantities and make sure you are aware of the potential for pickpockets in crowds.

Overall,  Morocco is one of the safest  countries in Africa or the Middle East and North Africa region. You will be welcomed with a smile and great hospitality by virtual strangers. Enjoy your trip!

Morocco Travel Health Tips:

Morocco one of the few countries in Africa where it is not necessary to get vaccinations in order to travel. Nevertheless, if you have not received Typhoid or Hepatitis A shot in the past, it is advisable to get them. Please also inquire with your doctor to make sure you are up to date with your polio and tetanus vaccines. If you are from a country where cholera is prevalent, an anti- cholera vaccination certificate may be required. Morocco is a country where your health is not in danger when you travel. As long as you follow  Morocco Travel Tips  with regards to traveling safely in our  About Morocco  section the worst you can anticipate experiencing is an upset stomach or dryness, due to weather conditions, if you have sensitive skin.

Morocco Travel Tips on Gratuity:

Gratuity is a gift of money that is granted for service or a show of appreciate given without claim or demand. Gratuity is one of the best ways you can demonstrate appreciation for the services provided to others. Gratuity is part of Moroccan culture and appreciated by those providing a service. During a Morocco Tour what is generally recommended is to provide gratuity at restaurants, at Boutique Hotels and Riads, to drivers, licensed historical guides and also women servicing at public restrooms. It is a considerate way to thank those providing a service to you as a traveler. Our recommended gratuity is outlined below.

Restaurants : 15% of the Total Bill

Restrooms : 5 Dirham Coin (0.70 Cents)

Licensed Historical Guides : 50/ $60 Per Person/ Per Day

Drivers:  $35-$40 Per Person/ Per Day

Morocco Private Tour Gratuity: The total gratuity offered to those hosting you on a private or group tour should be approximately 10% of the rate paid to your Morocco Travel Agency.

Where to I Exchange Money in Morocco?

Moroccan Dirhams are necessary to travel in Morocco. US Dollars and Euros are widely accepted in major hotels, but only very occasionally with shopkeepers. Otherwise, we recommended that you carry Moroccan Dirhams.

The Bureaux de Change can be found in most Moroccan banks, major hotels, airports, and ports. Most currencies are accepted, including US Dollars, Euros, and British Pounds, however others, including the Australian Dollar, are not accepted. Check with your consulate or local bank to see if your currency is accepted for exchange in Morocco.

ATM machines are the quickest and easiest way to obtain Moroccan Dirhams. ATM’s accept most major debit and credit cards. Depending on your bank, you may be able to withdraw up to 4,000 Dirhams (about $500 US Dollars) per day. Contact your bank for your daily withdrawal limits.

BMCE and Credit du Maroc (CDM) do offer cash advances on Visa and MasterCard, however this process may take several hours to complete and is also quite costly.

Exchange your cash when you arrive at the airport bank exchange, or use local banks and currency exchanges in the cities and medinas as you travel. The majority of cities have banks where you can obtain money 24 hours a day from your bankcard or credit card. Bank exchanges are also located near banks and most currencies are accepted with favorable exchange rates available. Use ATM machines at the airport and in metropolitan areas and medina’s, but they are rare in rural areas. When traveling outside of the cities be prepared to have enough cash, as ATM machines are not always an option.

What is the Water Situation in Morocco?

Drink only bottled water when in Morocco and avoid ice cubes made from tap water. Be sure to brush your teeth with bottled water, too.

Can I Eat Street Food in Morocco?

Moroccan street food is safe to eat provided that the meat is fully cooked and vegetables and fruits are peeled. We particularly recommend discovering street food on a pre-arranged Moroccan Food Tour in Fes or Marrakech. This will enable you to enjoy local eats with little concern.

What Type of Internet Access in Morocco Should I Anticipate:

Internet access can be readily found at internet cafes and in hotel lobbies. Your riad and hotels will all have Wifi. Given you will most likely be staying in boutique properties that are restored palaces or villas during your trip you may find that Wifi is stronger in public areas. Occasionally, you can find free wi-fi in public places. While it is not easy to find internet access in rural areas, a smartphone with the proper plan will access the internet almost everywhere.

Morocco Travel Tips on Coverage of Mobile and Cell Phones:

Cell phone coverage is excellent in Moroccan metropolitan areas, with coverage in rural areas being more erratic. Check with your cell phone plan before you leave to make sure you have global coverage.

If you would like to enjoy using a Moroccan Mobile phone during your trip, then we recommend you purchase a cell phone SIM chip at the airport or request your driver take you to the local provider, Maroc Telecome. You will then be able to obtain a SIM chip for approximately $60 USA dollars and cards ranging from 100 MAD – 200 MAD ($12 – $25 of which will each provide you with approximately 10 + minutes of speaking time to the USA or other foreign countries.

Morocco Travel Tips on Banks and Money Exchange:

The main banks in Morocco are Banque Marocaine du Commercial (BMCE), Banque Marocaine due Commerce et de L’Industrie (BMCI), Banque Commercial du Maroc (BCM), Banque Populaire, and Credit du Maroc (CDM).

Banking hours in Morocco are from 8:15am – 3:45pm, however during Ramadan the hours are reduced to 9:00am – 2:00pm.

Where and How to Exchange Currency in Morocco:

BMCE and Credit du Maroc (CDM) do offer cash advances on Visa and Mastercard, however this process may take several hours to complete and is also quite costly.

We recommend on arrival that you bring with you approximately $500 Per Person for meals, gratuity and incidentals. You can then continue to visit ATM machines for additional cash or use credit cards.

Will I have ATM Access in Morocco?

Use ATM machines at the airport and in metropolitan areas and medinas, but they are rare in rural areas. When traveling outside of the cities be prepared to have enough cash, as ATM machines are not always an option.

Can I Use Credit Cards in Morocco:?

Major credit cards are welcomed at the larger stores, hotels, and restaurants, but use cash at the smaller shops and stalls.

Master Card & Visa are widely accepted. American Express is accepted only at certain locations. We advise you to bring more than one credit card with you.

What are the Foods to Avoid when traveling to Morocco?

Do not drink the tap water while in Morocco and avoid ice cubes made from tap water. Be sure to brush your teeth with bottled water, too.

Morocco Travel Tips on Doctors:

You can find doctors in the major cities in both the public and private sector. Please consider acquiring traveler’s insurance for your trip if your regular health insurance does not cover you overseas. If you are traveling to Morocco on a Private Tour, then consult your travel agency as they will be able to offer a complete list of authorized and approved public and private hospitals.

What is the Climate in Morocco?

Morocco has a Mediterranean climate along the coast, with more extreme temperatures and weather in the mountains and desert. Temperatures are high in the summer, mild in the spring and fall, and cool in the winter.

Can I Take Photographs in Morocco?

Most Moroccan do not enjoy being photographed by strangers. Some have recognized that travelers like to capture the different, exotic and attractive aspects of Moroccan life on film and will sell the right to photograph them. It is your choice whether you go along with this. In any case, try to be discrete in your photography (a phone camera is much less obvious than a large SLR) and ask if you would like to take a direct portrait. Don’t be surprised if your request is refused, and if so, please respect this decision. At times people will request for a small fee such as 10 Moroccan Dirhams ($1.00) if you want an up close photograph. It is best to request permission before taking a photograph. Given Morocco is a moderate, Muslim country, women in particular within rural communities and many in cities do not like to be photographed. For the best results when traveling to Morocco whether you are a novice or a professional photographer it is best to ask your subject first or have your private guide assist.

Can I Consume Alcohol in Morocco:

Alcohol in Morocco is available in the majority of touristic restaurants, at most boutique riads and hotels along with local bars. Wine and beer can be easily purchased at supermarkets and at several of the local wine markets in Morocco’s Imperial cities.

Although most Moroccans claim they do not drink alcohol due to religious prohibitions both locals and foreigners consume much of the country’s production of wine and beer. Morocco provides a home to groups of ex-patriots and foreigners from France, England, America, Spain, Germany and Italy who enjoy healthy alcohol consumption. The most popular beers made and consumed in Morocco are Casablanca and Special.

Morocco has been a leading wine producer for several years and its bold red and white grapes have become popular among the French, Americans and within Modern Moroccan households. When the French colonized Morocco, like the Romans centuries before them, they realized Morocco’s possibility of being a wine country. The French developed the Moroccan Imperial City of Meknès into a wine region. Today 30,000 acres of land in Morocco contribute to wine production and Morocco sells over 40 million bottles within Morocco and abroad. Moroccan wine is in a state of revival and wine producers are taking advantage of the country’s sunny, mild temperate climate, and high altitudes. Wine Tours are also available at designated wineries in the region of Meknes, Volubilis and Essaouira.

Morocco Travel Tips on Public Holidays:

Moroccans celebrate Muslim holidays and national holidays throughout the country, and more local festivals are held throughout the year in the Imperial Cities and small villages. The dates of religious holidays are based upon the lunar calendar and change every year. Plan your trip to Morocco during festivals and holidays for a real inside look into Moroccan daily life. Celebrations ranging from rural harvest feasts to music and film festivals in Morocco’s cultural centers demonstrate Morocco’s commitment to sustainable agricultural and artistic achievement. (Please note that the dates for Muslim holidays change annually as they are based on the lunar calendar. The following dates are accurate for 2019.)

• New Year’s Day is on Tuesday, January 01
• Independence Manifesto Day is on Friday, January 11
• Milad un Nabi is on Thursday, January 24
• Labor Day is on Wednesday, May 01
• Throne Day is on Tuesday, July 30
• Eid al-Fitr is on Thursday, August 08
• Oued Ed-Dahab Day is on Wednesday, August 14
• Revolution Day Morocco is on Tuesday, August 20
• King Mohammed IV’s Birthday is on Wednesday, August 21
• Eid al-Adha is on Tuesday, October 15
• Fatih Muharram (Islamic New Year) is on Monday, November 04
• Green March Day is on Wednesday, November 06
• Independence Day Morocco is on Monday, November 18

Morocco Travel Tips when Visiting During Ramadan:

Ramadan, considered as the most important holiday in Islam, happens on the ninth month of the twelve-month lunar calendar followed in Islam. During Ramadan all Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for one month, only eating after sundown. Non-Muslims are not expected to observe Ramadan, but should be sensitive about not breaking the fast in public. As a Morocco Traveler it is important to respect those fasting and make best efforts to not eat in public places such as city and medina streets. Dining in touristic restaurants and those open to Westerners is advised. Drinking water and other beverages in public is also not advised for reasons of respect. If you are visiting Morocco during the summer, which is the warmest season, it is advised to make best efforts to drink water and beverages discretely.

Can I Visit a Mosque in Morocco?

Mosques are closed to non-believers but you can visit the impressive Hassan II mosque in Casablanca, the Berber mosque at Tin Mel outside Marrakech on the way to Ouarzazate, the former Islamic college the Medersa Ben Youssef in the Marrakech Medina and the old Medersas in Fés Bali, the Bou Inania and the El Attarine. These sites will give you some idea of the glories of Moroccan Islamic architecture.

Morocco Travel Tips on Charity for Elderly & Children:  

As a foreigner traveling in a Muslim country, following the five tenants of Islam- and offering a small amount of charity is an option but not required. If you wish to offer charity to an elderly person, to children or a poor person on the street that moves your heart, please consider the following:

Giving anywhere between15 -20 Dirhams ($2.00 – $2.50) is a considered gracious and will not place a dent in your wallet but perhaps leave you with an experience in your heart. Sometimes the reciprocity you may receive as a result of giving a small amount of charity in a Muslim country like Morocco comes in the form of a big smile, a hand shake, an invitation for tea or even a hug from the recipient.

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Travel to Morocco: A Complete Guide (Tips + Morocco Itinerary).  

• By Sarah Steiner
• Updated On April 22, 2024

Welcome to our Morocco Travel Guide! It’s safe to say we love Morocco. It’s April 2024 and we are just wrapping up SIX months of travel to Morocco.

We arrived by ferry from Spain and have hugged and surfed the beautiful Atlantic coastline. We loved the contrast of the famous imperial cities (Fes, Marrakech, Chefchaouen) and desert towns (Ouarzazate, Merzouga and Zagora) heading all the way inland to the Sahara Desert. And we ventured way down south to camel markets (Guelmim), historic settlements (Sidi Ifni) and surfing hotspots (Taghazout, Tamraght and Dakhla).

So now; after six incredible months of travel to Morocco here is our complete Morocco Travel Guide and itinerary with everything you need to know for an epic trip to Morocco of your own! 

In this Morocco travel guide you will find: 

• Travel to Morocco 
• Best time to visit
• Visas  
• Traveling  to  Morocco
• Data, WIFI and connectivity 
• Safety in Morocco
• Money and ATM’s
• Food and alcohol 
• Transportation within Morocco  
• Morocco itinerary  
• Places to visit in Morocco   – Tangier – Chefchaouen – Fes   – Rabat – Casablanca – Essaouira – Marrakech – Agadir – Merzouga – Ouarzazate   – Ait Ben Haddou
• Accommodation in Morocco  
• More about travel to Morocco  

About Morocco, just quickly

• Full Name:  The Kingdom of Morocco
• Capital:  Rabat
• Official languages:  Arabic and Moroccan Berber
• Religion:  99% Islam
• Currency:  Moroccan Dirham (MAD)
• Population:  37,080,000 (2021)
• Time Zone:  National Standard Time (UTC+1)
• Calling Code:  +212
• Drives On:  Right
• Credit Cards:  Visa/MC accepted
• Outlets:   Plug Type C and E (220 V / 50 Hz)

Travel to Morocco – the country, the people and its culture

Morocco has a unique history that has largely been influenced by its geographical placement in between Europe and Africa and bordering the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.  

Size-wise it is a large country and has an incredibly varied landscape and culture in the different directions of each border.  But one thing that is constant all over the country is the Moroccan culture and warm hospitality.  

On the northern Atlantic coast the first cities that welcome any traveller are the coastal towns of Tangier and Asilah.  

Inland, the famous imperial cities of Marrakesh and Fez do not disappoint.  Marrakesh is more modern and popular as a starting point, but Fez is iconic and traditional and definitely worth adding to your Morocco itinerary. 

Agadir, Rabat and Casablanca are Morocco’s other large cities and offer the coastline as well as street food and the famous Hassan II Mosque (the only mosque you can visit as a tourist in Morocco). 

The Atlas Mountains provide truly stunning scenery and are popular as a destination for trekking and exploring or just as a daytrip from Marrakech. 

And hidden away in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is arguably Morocco’s most iconic and prettiest town.

Read more about options to choose the best Morocco itinerary below. 

Do I need a visa to travel to Morocco? 

Citizens of the following countries and territories can enter Morocco visa-free for up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted):

• All European Union member states, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States. 

Visa-free entry for Morocco is valid for both airport and land borders for the countries listed above. 

Other foreign nationals wishing to enter Morocco must obtain a visa prior to arrival. 

On July 10, 2022, the Moroccan government launched an e-Visa system   to facilitate the granting of visas to foreign nationals subject to this formality.

Best time to visit Morocco

Traditionally, the best time to visit Morocco in terms of the weather is during the spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October) months.  This is when the climate is pleasant and summery throughout the country without being too hot for day-time exploration.  

However, in our experience we would also recommend the wintertime (December, January and February) as a perfect escape from the Northern-hemisphere.  And to make the most of the sunshine and pleasant day-time temperature.  Winter is also a good time to explore the south and the Sahara fringes and further inland without overwhelming heat.  Albeit do remember that even in the desert it can get bitterly cold during the night. 

Getting  to  Morocco

Morocco is geographically located in North Africa.  It is possible to travel to Morocco by air, land and sea. 

Travel to Morocco by air

Morocco has 8 main international airports.  Casablanca is the country’s major airport and hub for the national carrier, Royal Air Maroc.  

International airports in Morocco: 

Travel to Morocco by land

If you want to travel to Morocco by land, know that it shares a border with two countries: Algeria and Mauritania. 

The border between Morocco and Algeria is closed and has been closed for years.  But it is possible to cross the border from Morocco to Mauritania.  

• Read all about crossing the Morocco – Mauritania border from Dakhla to Nouadhibou here. 

Travel to Morocco by sea

It is also possible – and easy – to enter Morocco at the port borders in the north of the country at:

• Tangier Med

It is possible to bring a vehicle or motorhome with you to Morocco on the ferry from Europe.  (This is what we did).  

• Read all about how to travel to Morocco with a motorhome on the ferry from Algeciras, Spain to Tangier Med . 

Is it safe to travel to Morocco? 

Morocco is regarded as a safe country to travel to.  Crime rates are relatively low.  And in all our travel to Morocco we have never felt unsafe or questioned our safety. 

The country has seen a huge rise is visitor numbers in recent years as tourists – especially from Europe, UK and USA – are looking for an off the beaten track and unique travel experience.  And along with travel anywhere that is more adventurous, aspects such as public safety, hygiene standards, and societal norms may be different to what you are used to. 

It is expected that you respect and understand its laws and cultural customs and adhere to the status quo. 

Unfortunately Morocco does sometimes have a reputation for scams and pickpockets, especially in the public spaces of tourist hotspots like Marrakech, Fes and Essaouira.  Much of Morocco’s economy depends on tourism and petty crime and ‘tourist traps’ can catch a visitor by surprise.  Keep your valuables safe and carry small amounts of cash.  And as with any travel around the world it is important to be aware of your surroundings. 

Internet connectivity and WIFI in Morocco

In general, internet and WIFI connection is good (surprisingly so by travel standards) across the country.  Hotels and accommodation in the cities will have WIFI available (at varying speeds).  In the desert regions and further south in Morocco the connection is often weaker.  

If you rely on WIFI for work I suggest tethering to your SIM card with data.  See below, but the mobile networks are often faster and more reliable. 

SIM cards and data

There are three mobile network operators: Maroc Telecom, Orange and INWI.  

It is easy to buy a prepaid SIM card on arrival at the airports and at Tangier Med (ferry port).  And in the cities you will see roving vendors wearing branded t-shirts of the different network providers selling SIM cards and recharge vouchers. 

Data is inexpensive and it is straightforward to recharge prepaid connections using scratch cards that can be purchased at kiosks and convenience stores all over the country. 

• Read all about buying a SIM card in Morocco and how to get unlimited data. 

Get a VPN for traveling in Morocco

You should always use a VPN when you travel.  And especially when you connect to public Wi-Fi networks.  

Your connection with a VPN will be much safer.  And you will be able to access any content that is typically censored or blocked in Morocco.  

Money, currency and cash when you travel to Morocco

The Moroccan dirham is the official currency of Morocco.

• 10 MAD = 1 USD
• 100 MAD = 10 USD 
• 1000 MAD = 100 USD

Dirham are available in banknotes of 20, 50, 100 and 200.  Coins are available in denominations of 1/2, 1, 2, 5 and 10 dirham. 

ATMs in Morocco 

You can find ATMs in the main cities and towns in Morocco. 

Credit cards (VISA and Mastercard) are accepted at mainstream city accommodations, high-end restaurants, large supermarkets and shopping malls.  

However, Morocco is a cash-based society. You will need to always carry cash with you in Moroccan Dirham.   

ATMs in Morocco will give you a maximum of 2,000 – 4000 MAD per transaction (approximately 200 – 400 EUR/USD.)

These are the ATM’s in Morocco we have used (mostly successfully) to withdraw local currency: 

• Societe Generale 
• Attijariwafa Bank
• Banque Populaire

Morocco has fairly high withdrawal charges with a standard withdrawal fee (regardless of amount withdrawn) of 35 MAD. 

How much does it cost to travel to Morocco? 

It really depends on how long you have, where you go and ultimately your Morocco itinerary.  

Typically, meals costs somewhere between 5 and 10 USD.  Accommodation in Morocco usually includes breakfast.  

• Bottle of water  (1.5L): 6 MAD
• Bread:  1.5 MAD 
• Tagine (2 person):  50 MAD
• Cappuccino:  15 MAD
• Orange juice  (fresh): 10 MAD
• Sprite or Coke  (330ml): 6 MAD
• Sandwich/Panini:  35 MAD 
• Meal at McDonalds:  65 MAD
• Bananas (1kg):  15 MAD
• Milk (1L):  8 MAD
• Beer (330ml):  25 – 40 MAD
• Wine (750ml):  60 – 110 MAD
• Petrol  (1L): 14 MAD
• Diesel  (1L): 13 MAD

Food and alcohol in Morocco 

There’s a lot more to Moroccan cuisine than couscous and tajines.  The traditional foods of Morocco are mouth-watering.  

Moroccan dishes are influenced by Berber, Jewish, Arab, Spanish and French cultures. And food plays a very important role in traditional Moroccan culture and is seen as a symbol of hospitality. 

Alcohol isn’t readily available around the country.  But it is legal to drink alcohol in Morocco. Many larger hotels will serve alcohol and in the cities (Marrakech, Fes, Essaouira, Agadir) there are restaurants and bars in and around the medina that serve alcohol.

Food in Morocco you need to try

The most common food items you will come across on your travel in Morocco include slow-cooked meats, couscous, bread, dates and sweets and of course, Moroccan mint tea. LOTS of mint tea. 

• Tagine: Slow-cooked meat and vegetables cooked and presented in a conical-shaped clay pot.
• Couscous:  Originally from Morocco and typically served with meat or vegetable stew. Traditionally prepared on Friday and served for special occasions. 
• Harira:  Lentil soup usually served as a starter or used during Ramadan to break the fast at dusk.
• Bastilla:   Flaky pie traditionally made with pigeon or chicken.
• Khobz:  Crusty bread typically baked in communal wood-fired ovens and served with meals.
• Bissara:  Hearty soup made from dried fava beans and commonly served during breakfast
• Tanjia:  Like tagine, meat slow-cooked in a covered clay pot. 
• Chebakiya:  Flower-shaped, fried sesame cookie dipped in honey. 
• Kaab el Ghazal  (Gazelle Horns): Crescent-shaped pastires made with almond paste, orange flower water and cinnamon. 

Language for your travel to Morocco 

Arriving in Morocco you’ll quickly discover that the language spoken amongst Moroccans is an amazing blend of Arabic, French, Berber (Amazigh) and sometimes a little English (or even Spanish). And without doubt the people you encounter and interact with will appreciate your effort at speaking a bit of their language.   

• Hello:  As-salaam Alaykum (literally means peace be with you)
• And unto you peace  – Walaykum As-salaam (said in response to the above)
• Thank you:  Shukran
• You’re welcome:  Al ‘afw
• How are you?  Labas? 
• Good:  Mezya
• How much?  Be kam? 
• Please:  Afak
• Delicious:  Hadshi bneen
• Yes:  Wah
• No:  La

A greeting of ‘Salam’ is always received with a smile. 

Transportation for your travel to Morocco 

Public transportation is an adventure in itself when traveling in Morocco.  It can be hit or miss with taxis and buses between cities or taking a shared taxi.  The bigger cities like Marrakech and Casablanca have public bus routes within the city but the buses are often old and overcrowded and don’t necessarily follow a route or timetable… 

But, travel to Morocco is an adventure and that is what we are here for; right? 

Travel in Morocco by train

The best way to travel between Moroccan cities is by train.  Morocco now has Africa’s fastest trains traveling at 300km/h (186mph) linking Tangier, Rabat and Casablanca every hour over a new high-speed line.  Classic trains link northern Tangier and Casablanca with Meknes, Fes and Marrakech.

Travel in Morocco by rental car

Renting a car in Morocco gives you the ultimate freedom to explore in any direction and at your own pace of travel. Car rental in Morocco costs between 15 and 50 USD a day. The price will depend on the company that you rent with and the model you rent. Don’t be put off by concerns of self-navigating Morocco.

• Read our complete guide to driving in Morocco . 

Travel in Morocco by plane

RAM (Royal Air Maroc) operates domestic flights from Casablanca to six major cities in Morocco.  You will usually have to change planes at Casablanca, unless both points are stops on a single Casa-bound flight. In general domestic flights are expensive, but it will save you a lot of time.

Travel in Morocco by bus

Intercity buses are the most common mode of transport between cities in Morocco and are a cheap and efficient way to get around.  

The most popular bus companies are: 

• Ghazala 

It is possible to book tickets online for Supratours and CTM or you can book in person at the bus station (easier; and definitely more reliable). 

Buses between cities are reasonably priced with a ticket between Marrakech and Casablanca between 80 – 110 MAD ($8 – $11 USD) per person for the 4-hour bus ride. 

Travel in Morocco by taxi

There are different types of taxis to get around Morocco.  The most common are shared taxis (which in essence operate a bit more like a mini-bus system): 

• Petit taxis:  These are small cars to get around town and can hold up to three people (yes; only three passengers are allowed at a time).  They’re very cheap to use and you can just wave one down and check with the driver where he is going and negotiate your price upfront. 
• Grand taxis:  These are shared taxis that can carry up to six passengers. They often won’t leave the taxi station until the taxi is full but because they are so popular the wait is not usually long.  You can locate a grand taxi near any taxi stand. 
• Private taxi:  Operates the same as any taxi anywhere.  Not all taxis are metered so make sure to negotiate and agree on a fare before driving. 

Morocco itinerary options 

This is the juicy part of our Morocco travel guide.  From here we are going to talk about our itinerary in Morocco as well as the unmissable and best things to do in Morocco and places you need to see.  

It really depends what you want to see in your travel to Morocco.  Because Morocco really seems to have it all! 

So whether you are looking for a relaxing riad, and Instagram-worthy vacation, history, a desert adventure or sunshine and surf.  Morocco truly has it all. 

Ready? 

Three 10-Day Morocco itinerary options 

Here are three Morocco itinerary options for a 10-day adventure (or vacation) in Morocco.  All of the places to visit in Morocco are listed below with highlights and things to do in each place so you can adjust and adapt your Morocco itinerary accordingly.

North to Sahara 10-Day Morocco Itinerary – Option 1

• Day 1 : Arrival in Tangier (1 Night)
• Day 2 : Chefchaouen (1 Nights)
• Day 3 : Volubilis & Meknes (Day Trip)
• Days 3 – 4 : Fes (2 Nights)
• Days 5 – 6 : Sahara Desert – Merzouga (2 Nights)
• Day 7 : Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou (1 Night) 
• Day 8 : Marrakech (2 nights) 
• Day 10 : Departure from Marrakech

Coast to Desert 10-Day Morocco Itinerary – Option 2

• Day 1:  Arrival in Agadir – Tamraght (1 Night) 
• Day 2:  Tamraght and Taghazout (1 Niight) 
• Day 3:  Tamraght to Marrakech (1 Night) 
• Day 4 – 5:  Sahara Desert Trip (2 Nights) 
• Day 6:  Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou (1 Night) 
• Day 7:  Return to Marrakech (1 Night) 
• Day 8:  Marrakech (1 Night) 
• Day 9:  Day trip Marrakech to Ourika Valley (1 Night) 
• Day 10:  Departure from Marrakech 

Imperial 10-day Morocco Itinerary – Option 3

• Day 1:  Casablanca (1 Night) 
• Day 2:  Chefchaouen (1 Night) 
• Day 3:  Fez (stopping off at Volubilis en route) (1 Night) 
• Day 4:  Marrakech
• Day 5 – 6:  Sahara Desert Trip (2 Nights) 
• Day 7:  Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou (1 Night) 
• Day 8 – 9:  Marrakech 

Travel to Morocco – Places to visit on your Morocco itinerary 

Travel to Morocco is unlike anywhere else in the African continent.  Geographically the country is long and thus the culture is diverse and different from top to bottom.  We have spent more than six months travel in Morocco.  And we’ve seen a LOT.  

But to summarise travel to Morocco in one Travel Guide we have chosen the likely main stops on your Morocco itinerary and the three best things to do in Morocco for each place. 

Tangier is a port city in the north of Morocco steeped in history and entangled in the literal maze of streets in the old medina. It’s hard to fathom that this magical escape to Africa is barely an hour’s boat ride away from Europe. 

Things to do in Tangier

• The Kasbah:  Pass under Bab Haha gate and enter the Kasbah in Tangier with the maze of cobbled alleyways and sweeping hilltop views of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean sea.
• Tangier Grand Mosque:  Originating in the 5 th  century the mosque was once the site of a Roman temple.  During the 8 th  century it became a place for Muslim prayer until the Portuguese conquest in the late 15 th  century when it was converted to a cathedral and subsequently back again to a mosque.
• Petit Socco:  A hub of activity – historic and otherwise – in the centre of Tangier.  The best choice to plonk yourself and drink mint tea and watch the world go by.

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen is a city in the Rif Mountains to the northwest of Morocco and known for the striking, blue-washed buildings of the old town. There are many different theories to why Chefchaouen is so blue.

Things to do in Chefchaouen 

• Take in all the BLUE:  Chefchaouen is the ultimate Moroccan medina for wandering and photography.  There are endless enchanting squares, doorways and dead-end alleys that are all very photogenic.
• Visit the Souk:  If you happen to be in Chefchaouen on a Monday or a Thursday you should definitely visit the souk. 
• See the view from the Spanish Mosque:  The best place for a beautiful panoramic view of Chefchaouen is at the Spanish mosque. This mosque sits on the hillside and it is a pleasant 45-minute walk to get there.

Fes is a UNESCO world heritage site and home to the oldest and largest medina in North Africa.  The city was once the capital of Morocco and is now regarded as the cultural epicentre of the country. 

Things to do in Fes, Morocco  

• Jnan Sbil Gardens (Bou Jeloud):  This peaceful slice of nature is the only public garden in Fes medina.  Relax, cool down and join Fes locals enjoying the park too. The park is open Tuesday – Sunday between 8AM – 7:30PM. 
• Bou Inania Madrasa:  Opposite the Grande Mosquée, this religious school, completed in 1358 is a historic madrasa (Islamic learning centre) in the city of Fes. 
• Fes Tanneries:  Be sure to check out the iconic tanneries of Fes! Take in the world-famous smells and discover hundreds of earthen pits full of coloured dye used to colour animal skins.  The tanneries are a unique part of Fes culture and a must-see in travel to Morocco. 

The capital city of Rabat is often overlooked as a destination for travel to Morocco. It is a modern city today but like it’s neighbours it boasts a rich history with another lively Moroccan medina.

Things to do in Rabat

• Visit the medina:  The medina and kasbah of Rabat are two different but connected areas. While much of Rabat is extremely modern, the medina still has reminders of a historic and different kind of life.
• Try a street food sandwich: Eenter the medina and hunt down the  viande hache  (mincemeat) sandwich in fresh Moroccan bread. 
• City of Sale:  Just across the Bou Regreg River from Rabat lies the smaller sister city of Salé; another interesting and often forgotten place. Salé has a fascinating history that is deeply linked to a past with dreaded pirating famed since the 1600’s.
• Visit Chellah:  Overlooking the lush Bou Regreg River on the Rabat city side is Chellah, a picturesque fort that dates back to the Phoenician times in the third century B.C. 

Casablanca is a port city and commercial hub in western Morocco and the largest city in the country. 

Things to do in Casablanca, Morocco 

• Hassan II Mosque:  No trip to Casablanca is complete without visiting the spectacular Hassan II Mosque; the only mosque in Morocco open to non-Muslims. 
• Morocco Mall:  Located at the end of La Corniche area is Morocco Mall – the biggest shopping mall on the African continent.
• Old Medina:  Starkly contrasting the modern mall; the old medina of Casablanca is a vibrant and fascinating place to wander (and drink tea and eat fresh, hot M’smen).

Marrakech 

Morocco’s most well-known city is a sensory experience of vibrant colours, flavours, smells, sounds and unique sights.  It’s world-famous for the maze of markets and shopping in old city medina but there are plenty more things to do in Marrakech.  

Things to do in Marrakech

• Jamaa el Fnaa:  The main square of the Marrakech medina is the literally-bustling heart and hub of the city and an experience of culture, chaos and shopping like nowhere else!
• Try a Moroccan hammam:  This is a must-do during your travels in Morocco.  A hammam is a public bathhouse and the experience really is one of the highlights (and out-of-comfort-zone adventures) of the culture.
• Jardin Marjorelle:  Visit the famous gardens and vibrant blue house once owned and restored by Yves St Laurent.  A truly tropical desert oasis in the midst of the busy city.

Essaouira 

Essaouira is a port city on the Atlantic coast.  Just a walk in the port vicinity feels like more than a world away from Europe. 

Trade winds make Essaouira popular for surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing. And it isn’t as overcrowded as Marrakech or Fes.  It is one of the most underrated destinations for travel to Morocco.

Things to do in Essaouira

• Essaouira medina:  The labyrinth of alleyways in the old city are an assault on the senses (in a good way) with colourful souvenirs, handicrafts, Moroccan rugs and shoes.
• Surfing:  Trade winds make Essaouira a fantastic alternative for a Morocco vacation away from the big touristy cities.  There are plenty of surf shops, windsurfing and surfing schools that are great for beginners. 
• Fish market and port:  Essaouira was the main fishing port for Morocco in the 1900’s and today fishing boats line the harbour where each day they sell their catch.  It’s interesting for a walk or choose your own seafood to be cooked fresh at the many restaurants.

The Hollywood of Africa! Ouarzazate really is like a mini-Hollywood in Morocco.  There are many cool sites to visit and the city is just a hop, skip and a jump from the even more iconic Ait Ben Haddou. 

Things to do in Ouarzazate

• Visit Ben Haddou:  A 30 minute drive from Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou is an ancient village of earthen clay buildings that dates back to the 1600s.
• Atlas Film Studios:  With cheap production costs and desolate scenery, Ouarzazate has been a Hollywood base for over 200 movies and television programmes filmed at Atlas Studios including, Gladiator, Ben Hur, Game of Thrones, The Mummy, Passion of Christ, and Black Hawk Down.
• Kasbah Taourirt:  A citadel in the centre of Ouarzazate set up as a museum showcasing the historic vantage point of the city on the trade routes from Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Agadir 

Agadir is a city on Morocco’s southern Atlantic coastline connecting to the foothills of the Anti-Atlas Mountains. 

Things to do in Agadir 

• Souk el Had: Agadir’s main souk with over 6000 vendors  selling everything from spices, fruits and vegetables through to clothes, perfumes, carpets, pottery, and electronics.
• Taghazout and Tamraght:  Just a short drive north to the beach towns of Taghazout and Tamraght for surfing and sunshine. Anchor Point often considered to be Africa’s best surf spot.
• Agadir Beach (Plage d’Agadir):  A seaside resort with deep, fine sand, cafes and restaurants galore. 

Accommodation in Morocco

Riads  –  A Riad is a traditional Moroccan house of palace with an indoor garden and courtyard.  Riad accommodation is generally located withing the old city medinas.

Hostels  – Popular especially on the coast in surfing spots like Imsouane, Taghazout and Tamraght. 

Hotels  – In the bigger cities you can find high-end and mid-range to budget hotel options. 

Desert Camps –  In the Saharan region you will find nomad style camping and glamping offered in the desert. 

Campsites  – Morocco has an abundance of camping and motorhome campsites. Read our complete  guide to campsites in Morocco.

• Booking.com  – We book all our accommodation in Morocco and all over the world on Booking.com. There is a great selection of budget accommodation, beautiful riads, desert camps, hostels, and hotels.  Be sure to check the filters and make the most of cancellation flexibility that we love! 

Souks and markets in Morocco 

Once you have refined your Morocco itinerary and chosen the direction for your travel in Morocco it is time to add in some unique things to see and do for a truly memorable trip.  The weekly markets and souks in Morocco are a fascinating way to get a glimpse of traditional, rural and day-to-day life.  

Here are some of our favourites: 

• Zagora Weekly Market
• Tabounte Weekly Market
• Guelmim Camel Market
• Sidi Ifni Weekly Market
• Tafraoute Weekly Market
• Tamraght Weekly Market
• Agadir Weekly Anza Souk 
• Ouarzazate Weekly Souk

Planning travel to Morocco – more information

These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family (for five years now) and ones that we would recommend to anyone booking travel to Morocco. 

• Booking.com  – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. There is a great selection of budget accommodation and be sure to check the filters and cancellation flexibility that we love! 
• Skyscanner   – We use this for all our flights. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. 
• GetYourGuide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world.
• SafetyWing  – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country. 
• World Nomads   – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have travel insurance before traveling to Morocco!

Read our other guides and articles for traveling in Morocco 

• Taking the ferry from Spain to Morocco.
• Everything you wanted to ask about driving in Morocco.
• Crossing the Morocco Mauritania border from Dakhla to Nouadhibou.
• Motorhome services in Morocco.
• A guide to campsites in Morocco.
• Buying a SIM card in Morocco (and how to get unlimited data).

Wondering about itineraries?  Questions about schooling?  See our Family Travel Guides and FAQ here . 

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Morocco Travel Guide

Your ultimate morocco travel guide, with tips, things to do, and best things to see in morocco. great for first-time and returning travelers..

Morocco is a fascinating multicultural country blended from African, Arab and European influences.

It is our closest link to the continent of Africa and a diverse holiday destination.

The country offers an incredible amount of history, culture, art, and music along with a fascinating geographical landscape incorporating the Sahara desert, the snow-capped Atlas Mountains and the Atlantic coastline. 

This  Morocco trave l guide will help you plan your next vacation.

Popular Guides

• Moroccan Foods
• 5 Things to See in Morocco

Our Highlight

Table of contents

Table of Contents

Fast Facts about Morocco

• Moroccan power voltage  is 127/220 V 60 Hz; Power sockets C & E
• The local currency  is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD) and is around 9.50 MAD to 1 USD
• In the north of Morocco, visitors will find the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, claimed by Morocco and considered by the Moroccan state to be “occupied territory.”
• In these two towns, the main currency is the euro.
• Tipping  is a way of life in Morocco; almost any service can warrant a tip so make sure to bring small bills.
• Haggling  is also a way of life in Morocco.
• NEVER  pay the asking price, vendors often double or even triple the prices of an item to allow some wiggle room through the haggling process.
• If you are not Muslim,  you are not allowed in many of the mosques. Exceptions include the partially restored Almohad structure of Tin Mal in the High Atlas, the similarly disused Great Mosque at Smara in Western Sahara, the courtyard of the sanctuary-mosque of Moulay Ismail in Meknes and the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.
• Moroccan laws  towards alcohol are quite liberal however drinking alcohol in public places is not recommended. During Ramandan, try to avoid drinking, eating or smoking in public during the hours of fasting.
• SIM Cards :

Things to See and Do in Morocco

• Enjoy a Four-Wheeling Adventure – join the guides of Dunes Desert Exploration and take a three hour tour in the desert on your very own dune buggy or quad bike.
• Surf’s up  – Taghazout is a small fishing village 19 km north of the city of Agadir in the southwest of Morocco and houses some of the country’s best surf spots. It is nestled amongst a set of small bays just south of the legendary surf breaks of Anchor Point, Killers, and Mysteries. 
• Go to a Hammam  – A Hammam is a hot steam bath followed by a massage. Sounds simple enough doesn’t it? It definitely can be quite the experience! 
• Visit Fes  – Fes is the oldest city in the country and the Medina (or Fes el-Bali) is a World Heritage site. Fez is also famous for its leather products and most of it comes from the leather bazaar (souq). The souq is home to three ancient leather tanneries, the largest and oldest being the Chouara Tannery, which is almost a thousand years old.
• Take a cooking course  – learn how to cook traditional Morrocans dishes from a gourmet chef while enjoying great conversations, appetizers and tea.
• Watch the sun rise on a Merzouga morning – to experience a desert sunrise is an unforgettable experience and the best place to do so is at the Merzouga sand dunes of Erg Chebbi
• Take in the colors of the Dades Gorge – There is nothing in the world quite like the Dades Valley. The mineral-rich Dades Gorge sparkles in many hues of blue and green as well as white and red.
• Spend a day in Jemaa el Fna in Marrakech  – one of the main cultural spaces in Marrakech, this square has become one of the symbols of the city.

Morocco Travel Guides

• Top 5 Things You Must See in Morocco
• Things to Do in Marrakech – Practical Travel Tips and Where to Stay
• Etiquette in the Middle East- Travel for Men and Women

Accommodation

Budget:  You can find a variety of hostels from 53-175 MAD per night. Enjoy dorms or private rooms, free breakfast, hot showers, and central locations to nearby tourist destinations. The Riad Verus in Fes even offers free Arabic classes. 

Mid-Range:  For mid-range, expect to pay around 380-860 MAD per night. These hotels come with a hotel restaurant and bar, rooms with flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, a swimming pool, and room service. 

High-End:  For five-star hotels, you will pay around 860-4,100 MAD per night.Take in the best withspa services, fine dining, swimming pools with lounge areas, refined private suites with living rooms, a fitness center, and an airport shuttle. 

Moroccan cuisine has a variety of influences, including Arabic, Berber, Mediterranean, and Andalusian cuisine, among others. Staples include fruits, vegetables, meat (beef, goat, lamb, and mutton), seafood, grapes, olive oil, and spices.

Couscous is a popular dish and is often served with meat or vegetables. Morocco also has a vibrant street food scene, where you can sample dishes like harira (a soup made from tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, lamb, rice, and spices such as cinnamon) or merguez (minced beef or lamb sausages served in flatbread). There are sit-down restaurants as well where you can try more of Morocco’s cuisine. In total, expect to pay around 120 MAD per day for food. Read our full article 13 Delicious Moroccan Foods to Eat When Visiting Morocco

The Best Ways to Get Around Morocco

Getting to morocco:.

Flights:  Morocco has 25 airports, but the main airport to fly into is the Mohammed V International Airport, located 15.5 miles from the city center of Casablanca. Another popular airport is Marrakesh Menara International Airport (4.6 miles from downtown Marrakesh), but the flights are mostly from Europe. You can check for the best flights to Morocco on  Skyscanner .

Transportation:

Buses : Buses are good for traveling between cities. For more local trips between towns, expect to pay 3-5 MAD, or to go between cities, expect to pay between 210-340 MAD. A bus trip from Casablanca to Marrakesh, for example, will cost about 210 MAD.

Car Rental:  To rent a car, you need to be at least 18-21 years old with a U.S. driver’s license that you have held for 1-2 years. Car rental prices start at 450 MAD per day for drivers 25 and older.

Taxis:  Taxis are another way to get around. There are two types of taxis in Morocco: Petit and Grand. Petit taxis can seat up to 3 passengers, are metered, and only travel in the city, while Grand can seat up to and travel outside of a city. Grand taxis tend to have a fixed rate of 10.5 MAD for in-city travel.

Uber:  Uber is not available at the time.

When to go To Morocco

For cheaper hotel rates and fewer crowds, visit Morocco during the shoulder seasons of April-May and September-November. The fall season in particular is a great time for hiking.

During the summer months of June-August, temperatures can get very hot, especially the closer you are to the Sahara, while winter months see more rainfall, which can dampen outdoor activities.

Where to Stay in Morocco

Hotel Moroccan House Casablanca :  When in Casablanca, stay in this beautifully decorated hotel. Featuring traditional Moroccan-styled rooms, amenities include massage services, a restaurant, a hammam, and breakfast. For those who want to explore more of Casablanca, the tram station is just a 3-minute walk away.

Riad Rcif:  Come stay in a restored 14 th -century palace at this unique hotel in Fes. Featuring colorfully decorated hotel rooms with artwork and glass-stained windows, the hotel also comes with a restaurant, a roof terrace with great views of the city, room service, and free breakfast. The Ibn Danan Synagogue is just 1.5 miles away. 

ibis Marrakech Centre Gare Hotel:  Just a short trip to Jemaa el-Fnaa square, Majorelle Garden, and the Koutoubia Mosque, this popular hotel in Marrakesh is a great place to stay. Swim in the outdoor pool while enjoying the surrounding gardens, watch TV in your hotel room, get drinks anytime at the 24-hour bar, order room service, or dine at the hotel restaurant.

Check out our favorite booking platforms  Booking.com ,  Tripadvisor  and VRBO   for the best deals on accommodation.

What to Pack for Morocco

Morocco is about the size of France with coasts upon the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea and  has an arid climate .

The coastal regions generally have a Mediterranean climate, however as travelers move further inland the conditions can become more extreme and elevation can play a role in the changeable weather conditions.

Morocco is also a Muslim country

• Modesty is respected  and travellers are expected to follow the country’s etiquette. In villages and small towns, and even in the medinas of large cities, many women still wear the veil and the street is seen as strictly the man’s domain.
• Women travelers  should avoid wearing revealing clothes, like short shorts, low cut shirts or thin-strapped blouses.
• Sarongs  – I think we have sarongs in every packing list. From covering up when visiting mosques, being used as a towel or keeping cool on a hot night.
• Pack loose clothing with breathable fabric  – cover up with fabric you know will breathe, especially if you plan on heading into the Sahara desert or to one of the coastal regions.
• Tunics  are a great option as they can be dressed up or down, are lightweight and offer good coverage.
• Footwear  – Pack a pair of lightweight, durable and comfortable shoes. Moroccan streets can be dusty and unclean so if you are uncomfortable with the idea of getting your little piggies dirty then opt for closed-toe shoes instead of sandals/flip flops.
• Kleenex / toilet paper  – it is quite common that restaurant restrooms do not offer toilet paper to patrons, so make sure you are prepared.
• Also, don’t be surprised if you encounter squat toilets!

See our packing tips:  packing list for smart travel

And see our  Etiquette Tips for Travel to the Middle East

Morocco Travel Guide: Best Booking Resources

Whenever we travel to we make sure to start with these companies. We have tried a lot of different ones over the years and all of these have consistently proven to be the best when it comes to offering great prices.

We have used every one of these personally and continue to do so.

• Booking.com : This is our go site to when comparing prices for accommodation. It usually has the cheapest prices, especially in Europe and we love their interface. Not to mention you get free cancellation and you are guaranteed the best price.
• Trip Advisor :  What we like about Trip Advisor is that we can look at all the reviews and then book our accommodation. TripAdvisor is where we go when we want to compare prices with multiple accommodation providers.
• VRBO : is the main search engine we use when we are looking for a home or apartment rental. It can sometimes be cheaper than hotels and it is the best way to stay in areas that offer a more local feel.
• Hostelworld :  With one of the largest databases of hostels in the world, Hostelworld is the go-to site when you are looking for budget accommodation.
• Skyscanner : This is the first place we check for flights. It consistently comes back with the cheapest and best options. It allows us to compare a lot of airlines to get the best price.
• Rome 2 Rio :  If you want to see how to get somewhere by plane, train, bus, ferry or car Rome2Rio lays it all out for you as well as related costs.I love how they show it all to you on a Google Map and it works offline.
• Get Your Guide:  For all your day trip and city guide needs, we use Get Your Guide. It has the world’s largest collection of things to do with more than 30,000 activities in 7500 destinations.
• World Nomads Insurance:  When traveling to Italy you should always have travel insurance. We have found the best bang for your buck is by far World Nomads.

Morocco Travel Guide: Related Articles

To browse all our articles and guides about Morocco  click here.

Traditional Moroccan Food to Eat in Morocco or At Home

22 Best Things to Do in Marrakech, Morocco

Hammam Spa Tips – Our Surreal Moroccan Massage Experience

Mulling over Morocco? 6 questions to ask before visiting in 2022

Aug 17, 2022 • 6 min read

Headed to Morocco soon? Here are some top tips from a Morocco local to help you travel smart © Oscar Wong / Getty Images

You can see the sense of relief on the faces of shopkeepers and restaurant and hotel staff as they welcome you in. Borders are open, restrictions mostly lifted and Morocco 's impressive cities, magnificent mountains and expansive beaches are welcoming visitors once again.  

In 2018, almost 10 million people visited Morocco, but the pandemic put a wrench in the works for tourism, and less than half as many visited in 2019. While levels have still to catch up with pre-pandemic times, the Minister of Tourism, Fatim-Zahra Ammor , reports that 3.4 million tourists arrived in the first half of 2022.  She's hoping to push that to 8 million in total in 2022 and a whopping 10.5 million next year.

Tourism is one of the key industries driving economic growth in Morocco, so it's no wonder that there's that palpable sense of relief now that tourists are coming back. Numbers are still low, but hopes are high. 

So if you're one of the tourists planning to visit Morocco soon, what do you need to know before you go? 

Morocco's best food experiences

What are the requirements for entry? 

Morocco has declared an end to the latest wave of the Omicron variant and cases of COVID have dropped substantially to single-digit figures of positive cases. That's not to say it's over, though, and there are still requirements, such as wearing a mask on public transport and when you enter a hotel or restaurant. 

To enter the country, you’ll need to download and complete the new, streamlined  health form  that is also handed out on flights and at airports. It takes account of Monkeypox as well as COVID, but only one case of the former has  been recorded so far in Morocco .  

You'll also need a vaccination certificate or proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure. Children under 12 are exempt from these rules. 

16 essential places to visit in Morocco

What's the airport situation? 

While air traffic controllers were poised to strike in August, they have been persuaded to stay in their posts after recent  successful negotiations . As far as luggage is concerned, there is none of the upheaval being experienced in European airports . But keep an eye on the airport authority's ONDA Twitter account  (only in French) as they are reporting issues such as flight delays caused by blockages on incoming flights from Europe .

Morocco's 10 best beaches

Are there any disruptions to be aware of? 

Protests:  Occasionally there are protests outside government buildings on Avenue Mohammed V in Rabat, and in Casablanca . There'll likely be a protest about the rising cost of living in the coming weeks. Protests are generally peaceful but if you don't want to get swept up in crowds of people, follow advice from your embassy and avoid the areas on protest days.

Wildfires: Just like in other areas of the Mediterranean, wildfires have broken out along the coast of Morocco and destroyed acres of forest in the Rif Mountains , specifically the Bouhachem National Park around the tourist-friendly towns of  Larache , Chefchaouen and Tetouan .   Talassemtane National Park has also been affected , particularly the area of the park near Akchour . The areas affected are all popular hiking routes so if you're heading out, be sure to seek the advice of a knowledgeable guide. 

Drought: Morocco has been in a severe drought for some years. If you're going to the Sahara, try to choose eco-sensitive camps re-use their grey water, or have a sustainable water filtration systems and don't dump waste in dry riverbeds. In the cities, you can be supportive of the environment by taking quick showers instead of bathing, and choosing a hotel or riad sporting La Clef Verte logo. These establishments promote sensible use of natural resources as well as good working conditions for staff. 

The best time to go to Morocco, depending on what you want to see and where you want to go

Are museums open?

Closed for renovations now is the Batha Museum in Fez but a sparkly new version is due to open its doors again in January 2023, located as before in the old summer palace of the sultan with its lovely garden. The Heri Es-Souani granaries in Meknes are also being restored and are scheduled to reopen sometime in 2023 (insha'Allah). And slated to open in September this year is the spectacular, Zaha Hadid-designed Grand Theatre in Rabat. 

The award-winning Yves Saint Laurent Museum Marrakech reopens on September 17 after the summer break with a new temporary exhibition that will feature paintings of Morocco by French artist Théophile-Jean Delaye.

At the Majorelle Garden , gates open earlier than usual at 8am so you can beat the heat and the crowds. You can book online for easy access, too. In the garden, the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Art has just reopened after a period of renovation. 

Why you should embrace Berber culture on your Moroccan adventure

Is anything exciting planned for the rest of 2022? 

After a couple of years of no festivals, Morocco is ready to throw a party for the rest of 2022, and in 2023 everything is expected to be back to normal.  

September: Dance your way to the Into the Wild boutique festival on September 23 and 24 in Dakhla . The festival is an offshoot of the Oasis Festival in Marrakesh and features electronic, house and techno music, and wellness activities like yoga on the beach.

Where to find five of Morocco’s best music festivals

October:  On another spiritual level, the Fes Festival of Sufi Culture will take place in Fez from October 22-29. With a theme of Science and Conscience , there will be masterclasses and debates around Sufism, the esoteric branch of Islam, all in French. Perhaps more accessible, though, are the international music performances. You can enjoy Indian dance and Qawwali music, songs from Azerbaijan and performances by Sufi brotherhoods from Morocco and Kosovo. There's also Christian chant from Brittany in France, Sufi chants and the mesmeric whirling dervishes from Konya in Turkey. 

November: The Marrakech International Film Festival is scheduled for November 11-19. Keep an eye on the website to see what movies will be screened and who will be on the jury. Some movies are shown on a screen in Djemaa El Fna Square that are free for everyone. 

How to make Moroccan ras el hanout

What useful apps should I download before my trip? 

If you plan to travel across Morocco, you should download the app for the  ONCF train company and its Supratours buses that serve towns with no railway. The other top bus company, CTM , has a website showing their daily schedules. An important thing to note is that you can't book busses or trains online with a foreign bank card. But booking in advance, especially for busy destinations like Chefchaouen, is pretty much essential these days. The solution is to book through Marrakech Tickets who will send you your tickets electronically (or even deliver them to your riad if you're staying in Marrakesh) for a small fee, some of which goes towards supporting local vulnerable children. 

While many Moroccans speak English, the local language is Darija (Moroccan Arabic), with some French thrown in (and Spanish in the north). If you want to impress the locals,  Darija Direct is an app that will help you get to grips with the Darija language.

The best hikes in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains

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The Best Morocco Tips and Travel Advice

Planning a trip to Morocco? You’re in the right place! Welcome to your guide filled with Morocco tips and travel advice that will help you have the best trip!  

Morocco is a beautiful country with tons of gorgeous cities and towns to explore. It’s also a very affordable destination, making it a wonderful spot for budget travelers. Something I love about Morocco is that you’re able to have a pretty luxurious vacation, without breaking the bank. 

Let’s get right into the Morocco tips and travel advice!

Money – Morocco Currency and Exchange Rate

Exchanging money.

1: You can only obtain Moroccan currency (dirhams) within the country itself. The exchange rate to the U.S. dollar is usually somewhere around 1 dollar to 10 dirhams (MAD) – which is very favorable. If something is priced for 100 MAD, it would be roughly 10 U.S. dollars. 

Normally when I travel I pre-order currency from Citi Bank so that I have cash when I arrive. Because this was not possible, we exchanged a small amount in the airport, enough to pay for the taxi, but not much more as the airport exchange rate isn’t always the most favorable . 

There are tons of ATMs and banks all over Moroccan cities. I recommend taking out small amounts at a time, using up the cash, and then taking out more so that you do not end up with lots of cash left over at the end of your trip that you will have to re-exchange at the airport.

Morocco is Very Affordable

2: Morocco is a very affordable country to visit, and it is definitely a budget traveler’s dream. You can get taxis for as low as $1.50 across the city. Many small restaurants offer full meals for between $1.50-$5. 

In Casablanca you can find private rooms in beautiful shared AirBnbs for as low as $10 a night and private AirBnbs are as low as $20. In Marrakech you will find rooms in intricately decorated riads (also available on AirBnb) for as low as $13 . 

Riads are traditional Moroccan homes that feature interior gardens or courtyards. The riads we saw in Marrakech were absolutely beautiful. The next time I visit Morocco I absolutely plan to stay in several beautiful riads around the country.

Check out these beautiful riads in Marrakech:

• Riad La Vie
• Riad 11 Zitoune
• Casa del Sol Marrakech
• Riad Bindoo

Attire – What to Wear in Morocco

3: On almost every website we read before arriving in Morocco, travelers are urged to dress more conservatively than in Western countries. However, we quickly discovered that many tourists do show quite a bit of skin. Although we decided to stick to our original plan of covering our shoulders and knees outside of our hotel, I would have felt comfortable walking around in a midi-dress with spaghetti straps.

Around the cities and the markets, you will see locals and travelers dressed in every type of clothing. Most outfits seemed acceptable. I would still caution female travelers from wearing short shorts and skirts, however, it is definitely not unheard of to dress this way. 

We also read that men typically refrain from wearing shorts, however we did not find this to be true.

Casablanca seemed to have the most liberal fashion in comparison to the other cities we visited. Locals in Marrakech appeared to dress more conservatively. However, I saw many tourists walking in short shorts and tube tops. In Rabat, however, I do not think I saw a single person with their shoulders or knees showing. 

This all being said, I recommend packing layers – even in the summer when it’s very hot. Having a light-weight long sleeve shirt to throw on over a thin-strapped dress or shirt will be helpful, especially when entering religious sites. Check out our lookbook and packing guide for some outfit inspo!

Taxis in Morocco

Taxi meters.

4: Taxi drivers should use their taxi meter when giving you a ride. However, they rarely will if you cannot, or do not, ask them to in French or Arabic. We learned from a local guide that it is illegal for them to not use the meter. However, drivers prefer not to as they can charge triple or four times the fare without it. 

If the taxi driver is not using his meter, always ask for, and negotiate, the taxi fare before agreeing to the ride.  

Employees at your hotel will tell you the approximate rates from your location to your destination, but always be sure to double check with the driver so that you are not surprised by the fare upon arrival. During our time in Casablanca all of our taxis ranged from $1.50 to $10. All of the rides under $5 used a meter.

Petit Taxis

5: Normal sized taxis (petit taxis) can legally only take three people at a time – even though there’s space for four. If you want a taxi for four or more people you will have to ask for/flag down a special, larger sized taxi, which costs more. Often it is easier to split up your group and take two petit taxis in order to save money. 

Our petit taxi from the airport in Casablanca took all four of us plus our suitcases. However, this is not normal, as they will most often only take three at a time. Our taxi from the airport to the hotel cost us $30, which is the average rate for that kind of ride. If a petit taxi offers to take four riders within the city, expect them to try to charge you a very high fee (around $20) per ride. Instead of accepting a high fee, try to bargain with the driver or simply get out and wait for another taxi to flag down.

6: If you take a taxi and there are less than three people in your group, expect your taxi to pick up other travelers along the way. It’s kind of like an Uber Pool system. If you’re headed in the same direction as other travelers, taxis like to stop to pick them up as it will optimize their fares. Sometimes, this means you’ll get dropped off a few blocks away from your destination, but it’s always a close walk.

Taxi Tour Guides

7: If you meet a taxi driver who you really like, ask him/her for a private tour of the city. These taxi drivers are not registered tour guides, so you will not be getting a full history/culture lesson with your tour, but instead you will be hiring a private driver for 1/4 of the price of booking one online. 

Most taxi drivers offer these tours (they carry pamphlets in their car), and it is a great, stress-free way to visit all of the major sites and landmarks. Of course, always agree on a price before agreeing to the tour!

Private and Group Tours in Morocco

Tourism licenses.

8: In Morocco you must have a tourism license in order to legally provide tours. These tour guides are professionally trained and take courses in order to earn credentials to become a guide. 

In Morocco it is technically illegal to provide tour services if you are not a registered tour guide. However, it’s still very common and this law is not enforced. 

We hired our taxi driver to give us a day tour of Casablanca’s major sites and personally, and I think it was a great decision. We highly recommend taking an informal tour from a taxi driver if the opportunity presents itself! However, be aware that it will not be a professional tour.

Book Refundable Tours

9: We also highly recommend booking refundable tours whenever possible. Both of the tours we booked through Viator, to Marrakech and Fez , were completely refundable up to 24 hours in advance of the start time. Because of this, we were able to cancel our Fez tour and still get all of our money back – which we then put towards our tour to Rabat ! 

If a refundable tour is not an option, make sure to fully research cities, including travel times, before committing 100%.

Bring Tissues for Public Bathrooms

10: While exploring Morocco, be sure to bring along some extra tissues. Although many sites do have public restrooms, few have toilet paper for use. Therefore, it is a good rule of thumb to always carry a little with you just to be safe.

Temperature and Weather in Morocco

11: Casablanca and Rabat will consistently have lower temperatures than other major cities. For example, in August, in Casablanca the daytime temperatures are normally around 75-78 degrees, whereas in Marrakech the daytime temperatures will reach 100+ degrees. 

Because of this, if you are traveling to Morocco in the summer and do not want incredibly high temperatures, consider staying in Casablanca or Rabat (or other cities on the water) where the weather is more comfortable.

Language Spoken in Morocco

Official languages.

12: The official languages of Morocco are Arabic and Berber. However, French is taught in most all schools across the country and is often the language of classroom instruction. 

Because of this, most Moroccans speak both French and Arabic, with a smaller percentage speaking Berber. 

It is extremely helpful when visiting Morocco to speak French, as this is the language that most locals will communicate in with Western tourists. French also serves as the lingua franca for the country. 

While traveling in Morocco don’t expect that everyone will speak English, as this is not the case. Many people speak at least a little English, but not everyone. 

It is extremely likely that many taxi drivers, waiters and sales people will not speak enough English to communicate with you.  

Because of this, if you do not speak any French or Arabic you may have to rely on hand signals or pointing at menu items. If you can memorize a few French phrases before you travel to Morocco, it will be super helpful for you. You can get by with just English, and there will be plenty of people who understand you, it just won’t be everyone in every situation.

We, unfortunately, were unable to travel to the North of Morocco during our trip, but there is a large Spanish speaking population in this region – due, in part, to its proximity to Spain. 

If you speak Spanish, you will definitely be able to communicate with many locals in major northern cities such as Tangiers and Tetouan.

Food and Drinks in Morocco

Spices and flavors.

13: The cuisine in Morocco is full of delicious spices, especially in the tagine and couscous dishes! 

Because we are not used to the spices used in Moroccan cuisine, many people had recommended that we pack Imodium (or the over-the-counter equivalent) in our toiletry bags. We were lucky and did not end up needing to use this medicine, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Coffee Culture

14: Coffee is so important to many travelers when visiting a new place, and the coffee in Morocco is, generally, delicious. However, many cafes open late.

We were told by many locals that the workday starts around 8:30am. However, the coffee shop inside our hotel and the ones surrounding it did not open until 9am – even though it was a major tourist hub. There are many cafes around the city where people sit and enjoy espresso all day long, but they seem to consistently open later in the morning. 

15: When you buy a coffee in Morocco it will almost always come with a free bottle of water! This was really nice as it saved us from having to purchase lots of water bottles, but I do feel bad about the plastic waste. 

Many coffees (+ free water) are around $1.5-$3. Starbucks is the only coffee shop that we went to that did not provide free water with coffee.

Recycling in Morocco

16: One thing I struggled with in Morocco was the lack of recycling bins. I rarely ever saw them on the street in any of the cities I visited. 

Unfortunately, this means that a lot of cans and plastic bottles are being thrown away. Even in our hotel I could not find any recycling bins. Because of this, each day I collected our plastic bottles and cans and brought them to the front desk to recycle for me. I’m not sure if they actually did end up recycling them, but I had to try. 

I hope these Morocco tips and travel advice are helpful for you in your trip planning! My trip to Morocco was definitely one of my favorite trips I’ve ever been on and I cannot recommend it enough. 

It’s a beautiful, safe and fun place for families, couples and groups of friends to explore. 

If you have any questions about my Morocco tips, or any to add, please let me know in the comments. 

Lastly, if you found this post helpful I appreciate you sharing it on social media and with friends.

More Morocco posts for planning your vacation:

• Insiders’ Casablanca, Morocco Tourism Guide for the Best Trip
• Review Of Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca, Morocco
• Itinerary for the Perfect 7 Days in Casablanca, Morocco

The Best Day Trips from Casablanca, Morocco

• Packing Guide for Morocco in the Summer

Morocco Female Traveler Lookbook

This Morocco tips and travel guide also includes affiliate links. Read our disclosure  here .

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20 Comments

Thanks, Kate! Very useful tips that I can hopefully apply to a visit to Morocco if I ever make it there! Cheers!

This was really informative, I fly to Rabat in a couple of weeks 🙂

Shooting a good vlog for my spice merchant business @Diablo Seasonings

Thanks so much, Peter! We hope you have a great trip – we’ll be sure to check out your spice business!

Beautiful. Thanla for the insight. I look forward to travelling to Morocco and this really helps. 😊

Thank you, Hamid! I hope you have a wonderful trip to Morocco.

Great tips, Morocco is definitely on my list so this is indeed useful!

I love this post.

When I went to Morocco last summer I was also surprised to find that less conservative attire was acceptable.

If you ever visit Morocco again I recommend checking out the smaller villages near Agadir as they are perfect for surfing, and the locals are absolutely delightful!

I can’t wait to read more of your stuff, keep it up 🙂

Thank you for this post! I travelled to Morocco a long time ago in my teens and would love to visit again sometime soon 🙂

I love your article on Morocco. I would love to travel to Morocco some day. Thanks for explaining this in full details.

I’m wondering if there is Casablanca Uber yet… 🙂 I’ve been VERY eager to petsit my way to Morocco. Your article will be my reference when I finally make that happen – thanks!

Very useful tips! I went to Morocco several times and can only second that! It really helps to speak a bit of French as most people in cities will understand it

Such great info. We had to cancel a trip to Morocco in December of 2019 but hope to pick up that itinerary again when we are able to get back to travel.

So many great tips, will definitely keep these in mind when traveling to Morocco.

What great insights and tips for travelling in Morocco. I did a day trip from Spain to Tangier, but I’d love to explore more of the country. Learning some basic French phrases also helped us too.

This is such useful information! It is good to know about all of these, I appreciate the notes about cash and attire.

What a great list! Morocco is on my bucket list and I’ll be sure to save this info once I begin planning my trip! It’s pretty good to know that most coffee places offer a free bottle of water when you purchase a coffee!

What an informative and helpful article! Hope to use your tips when visiting Morocco in the future.Thanks!!

Awesome article! We are hoping to visit Morocco next year. This is the exact kind of article I needed to read. Thank you, Kate! Love your guides.

Awesome article! We are hoping to visit Morocco next year. This is the exact kind of article I needed to read. Thank you, Kate! Love your guides 🙂

Super helpful guide! I wish I’d read this before I went! But a reason to go back!

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25 Essential Morocco Travel Tips for Your First Time Visiting!

Morocco is a tricky destination for travelers, it’s full of harassment, touts, and scammers, but also gorgeous architecture, great food, and kind people. I’ve been traveling to Morocco frequently over the past three years and here are 25 essential Morocco travel tips I wish I had known before my first trip!

25 Essential Morocco Travel Tips

1. don’t listen to anyone who comes up to you on the street .

There are a lot of Morocco travel scams ! This is sad but really no one approaching you on the street in the bigger cities like Marrakech or Fez is doing so to be nice. Or at least, that’s the mentality you should keep. As a rule: don’t pay any attention to anyone coming up to you on the street. Just keep walking.

People will come up to you every three minutes saying “My friend”, “where are you from?”, “What is your name?”, “Where are you going?”, “you’re going the wrong way”, etc. You can’t interact with them all. If you need to ask for help, Moroccan people are really friendly, but anyone coming up to you on the street for any reason is likely a Tout and they’re just going to bother you and ask you for money at the end. 

2. Try the Amazing Street Food! I Recommend a Street Food Tour in Marrakech

Moroccan street food is AMAZING and you can find a great variety of street food and fine dining in Marrakech. I think Morocco is my favorite food location so far out of everywhere I have traveled to! Going on a street food tour is the best way to try the most while minimizing harassment from the Touts and stall vendors – If you don’t have the time/budget for a whole street food tour I recommend trying the following shortlist: 

• Tajine from Cafe Des Epices
• Couscous (but only on Fridays!)
• Calamari from stall #14 in Jemaa El Fna square
• Msemmen (Moroccan crepe)
• A mixed-meat sandwich from Chez Hicham
• Moroccan Escargot from any vendor in Jemaa El Fna Nightmarket

3. Ask Before You Take a Picture  – It Might Be Illegal!

I was trying to record a little video of me disembarking the airplane when I landed in Casablanca and was totally shocked when one of the airplane stewards ran out and told me that it was illegal to film in public and I had to delete my footage! 

I read into the laws in Morocco more after this and there are conflicting things online. Some sources state it’s only illegal to take photos and videos of police officers and other government officials, and some sources say it’s only illegal to record images of citizens if you intend to share them in a “defamatory way”.

It seems like the airline steward was incorrect and it’s not blanket illegal to take photos and videos in Morocco, but I was asking around after this incident and a lot of Moroccans  think  that is the law. So, if you’re running around taking photos and videos without asking, not only is it considered disrespectful but also  illegal  by a lot of Moroccan citizens. Make sure you ask first! 

4. Be Prepared To Haggle  (for Everything, Including Taxis)

I’ve been living out of a suitcase for the better part of a year now so I’ve gotten used to not being able to get souvenirs. But, if there’s one place I really felt like I was missing out on shopping, it would be Morocco. I’ve already promised myself that one day if I ever settle down I’m going to come back and buy everything for my home (yes, the shopping really is that good). It can also be a bargain IF you know how to haggle in Morocco . 

I was with a friend in the souks who was about to go home and was filling up her suitcase first – she spotted some glittery kaftans and asked the shopkeeper how much, he said 500 Dirhams! ($50!). That is a LOT in Morocco but was even wilder was this place was clearly selling “Moroccan-themed items that looked like they had come straight from Shein. 

After going back and forth with the shopkeeper she only got him down to 300 DH, or around $30, which was probably about 3X too much still. At the next stall, we stopped at I asked her to let me haggle for her – she was buying a little trinket and the shopkeeper wanted 150 DH, I said 50, he said he couldn’t do more than 125.

I said okay, thank you  and walked away. 

Then the shopkeeper came running after me saying “Okay, 50 for you my friend!”

That’s it. That’s the trick. That’s all you have to do.

I’ve seen people be ripped off in the souks paying 100x for what something is worth or wasting 45 minutes haggling away their vacation. The best way to haggle in Morocco is to just be very polite, say how much you’d like to pay for something – and if they say no, then move on.

All of the stores sell pretty much the same thing, and it’s the best way to get a rough estimate of how much things should cost. After you walk away, if they follow you and give it to you for the price you stated then you know you named a good price. If they let you go, then the price you named was too low, and you could either go back and agree to their price or just make a mental note going forward. 

👉 Tip:  The “correct” price in the souks is almost always at least less than half of the price originally named. 

👉 Note:  This is only for the markets, Restaurants usually will have prices posted/aren’t places for haggling. 

5. Pack Light ! Many of the Streets in Morocco’s Old Towns Cannot Fit Cars

I’ve stayed in different cities and towns all over Morocco, and unless you’re staying at a large hotel it’s unlikely you’ll be able to drive up to the door of your lodging. A lot of streets in Morocco, especially in historical areas that get a lot of tourists, don’t have streets that were designed for cars.

For example, in Marrakech cars can only enter the windy streets of the old souks after sunset, and even then it’s unlikely you’ll be dropped off at the door of your Riad like in a modern city (these streets are older than cars, after all!). In the Old Medina of Fez, cars can’t enter at all, So be prepared to have to carry all your luggage to your destination by foot. If you’re staying in the old Medina in Marrakech (which I recommend, it’s a truly unique experience) you’ll likely be dropped off in Jemaa el Fna square and have to walk the rest of the way.

If you have more than you can personally carry you’ll be at the mercy of the Touts. The Touts are pretty much anyone off the street in the Old Medina who tries to “help” tourists and then demands a big fee at the end, and no matter what you give them they’ll make a stink that it wasn’t enough. It’s not the end of the world, but to ensure you have a good time visiting the city either pack no more than you can personally carry or arrange a pickup with your Riad/hotel. 

6. Don’t Interact With Touts On The Street – AKA the People Asking “Where are You Going?”

What is a Tout? A Tout is an illegal guide common in a lot of touristy places but especially common in Morocco and Egypt. They’ll “help” you (sometimes not) and then demand a fee for their service. Often they approach tourists who don’t need help and guilt them into accepting their services. 

The Touts really are the most unfortunate part of Morocco. I just put my headphones in, and sunglasses on, and walk when I’m in a city like Marrakech or Fez. Looking straight ahead. Not making eye contact with anyone.

It’s the only way to keep from getting roped in a 20-minute struggle with someone demanding money for no reason, and then chasing you down the street saying “F you woman!” (yes. that actually happened to me on my last trip). Why do I keep going back then? Because Morocco is amazing. The food is terrific, and the people are SO kind, but the Touts are a huge problem. 

7. Don’t Hail A Taxi On The Street From The Airport  – You’ll Most Likely Get Scammed

Unfortunately for travelers, Uber in Morocco hasn’t caught on yet – so you need to negotiate taxis off of the street. The taxis from the airport charge 10-100x as much as they should. Taxis are VERY inexpensive in Morocco ( a 10-minute ride is about $2 ) but the ones at the airport know you don’t have any other options. Either take a train (the trains in Morocco are fantastic) or bus to the city center and take a cab from there or arrange a pickup with your hotel. 

If you really have to take a taxi in Morocco from a train station or airport I’ve also used a trick where I have my Riad host talk to the taxi driver over Whatsapp. They’ll do the bartering for you and you’re more likely to get the local price this way. Make sure to ask your host first if it’s okay with them, but most Moroccans I’ve met really want you to have a good time in their country so you should always be able to find someone to help. 

8. Take Out Cash As Soon As You Can  – Morocco is a “Cash is King” Country

Morocco is a “cash is king” country so taking out a chunk of change at the airport before you go anywhere will help you out in the long run. Just make sure to use an ATM connected with a bank, and also be sure to decline the conversion fee the ATM offers you. Usually, the ATMs in Morocco will charge 30-50 dirhams ($2-$5) per transaction and will ask you to approve this fee. After you hit “yes” a second screen will pop up asking you to accept their conversion.

If you read the fine print on this page, which not a lot of people do – a lot of people just hit “yes” instinctively,  you’ll see they’re adding a 6-12% markup (!!!!).  You don’t have to accept this, if you hit “no” on this page the transaction will go through, but you’ll get the better deal. 

9. Stay In A Traditional Riad (It’s Cheaper Than a Hotel & a Cultural Experience) 

A Riad is a traditional Moroccan bed and breakfast. It usually is a home with multiple stories centered around a courtyard, and most also have a rooftop terrace. Riads are unique to North Africa and are synonymous with a trip to Morocco. While Moroccan luxury tourism is world-renowned, Riads actually don’t have to be that expensive.

What really blew me away was that it was the same price per night to stay in a Riad as it was to stay in a hostel! For only around $30 a night I was able to stay in this gorgeous home with hand-carved doors and a courtyard garden, as well as have a huge homemade breakfast. Marrakech and Fez don’t have much of a hostel culture, so even if you’re on a budget I would recommend springing for at least one night in a Riad. 

10. Help The Stray Cats & Dogs

One of the things I love about Moroccan culture is how wonderful everyone is towards animals. During my time in the Old Medina, I noticed there are a lot of cats and dogs around mosques, this is because all the locals pitch in to help care for them. I always walk around Marrakech with a few tins of cat food in my pocket just in case I see some hungry fur babies, and this is encouraged by the locals! So don’t feel like you’re feeding someone’s pet when you’re not supposed to be.  

11. Don’t Shop With A Guide  – You’re Not Going to Get a “Better Deal”

Sigh. Just don’t. I took a lot more organized tours in North Africa than I usually do because I was with my friends, and it always grinds my gears the wrong way when you pay for a private tour to a certain historical site (usually I only do this when something is hard to reach, or I legally have to have a guide) and they take you to various gift shops selling wayyyyy overpriced goods.

You’d think that if you’re paying a guide to help you do the haggling, you’d get a good deal but it’s almost always the opposite. Instead, your guide is taking you somewhere they’ll get a fat commission for everything you buy – all the while the guide is saying “That’s a great price!”.

If you like your guide, tip them! But don’t encourage this! Shopping alone and bartering, unless you’re going with a close friend, will almost always get you a better deal and help you get higher-quality stuff. There are a lot of tours of the Old Medina that are really just shopping trips – being with a guide will help you a lot with the harassment but if you want to purchase something I suggest coming back alone.

12. Brush Up On Your French! Morocco is a Bi-Lingual Country

Arabic, for a native English speaker (like me), is  hard . I tried my hardest to learn a bit of Arabic in Egypt, and never really made it greetings. Luckily, in Morocco, they speak Arabic and French, and French is a  lot  easier to pick up a few phrases just to get around. In the bigger cities, where lots of tourists are, you’ll hear more French than Arabic in general, so unless you’re going to be visiting more rural parts I’d say you’re safe just brushing up on your bonjours.

Fun fact: I was talking to an anthropologist on a train in Casablanca who said there are over 100 different dialects spoken in Morocco by the indigenous Amazigh people, some of which haven’t even been written down yet!

13. Don’t Go On A “Tannery Tour” In Marrakech 

In Fes, another popular city to the north of Marrakech, the tannery is a famous tourist attraction. This is not so in Marrakech. If you see someone advertising tours to the Marrakech tannery or trying to take you there unprompted, it’s a scam. What usually happens is they take you to the tannery and then demand payment for “guiding” you there, even if you didn’t ask them to.

The Tannery is in a secluded area and I’ve heard of tourists being pressured to give up more and more money once they’re there, so just don’t go! No real tour guides in Marrakech will offer to take you to the tannery.

14. Don’t Drink The Tap Water

You see more people drinking tea over water in Morocco and that’s in part due to the way boiling water cleans it for consumption. Even the locals that are used to the tap water sometimes get an upset stomach depending on the area. The first time I traveled to Morocco in 2019 I was schlepping 20-packs of water bottles through the streets, but to save my back (and the environment) now I always travel with my GRAYL bottle that cleans out any viruses or bacteria in water.

💧 Tip: Using my GRAYL bottle I was able to drink the tap water all over Morocco without any problems! 

15. Do Download Google Maps Offline 

The Old Medinas in Morocco are windy mazes of footpaths that it’s  very  easy to get lost in. Luckily, even if you don’t get a local sim card or have cellular service while you’re in Morocco, you can download the map of the souks offline on Google Maps and always know where you’re going!

I’ve used Google Maps on my past two trips to Morocco and while it misses some tinier alleys it’s been very reliable. Downloading a map of the medina offline is the best way to avoid touts trying to convince tourists they’re going the “wrong way” (and then demand money for bringing them the “right way” 🙄.

16. Don’t Believe A Street Is “Closed”

The Touts in Morocco can be Oscar-worthy actors at times. One time a tout started  crying  while telling us a street was closed when it was clearly a well-trafficked main road! A “wrong way/ street is closed” scam is basically when someone sees a tourist and asks them where they’re trying to go.

No matter what the tourist says, the answer is always the same: “oh no, you’re going the wrong way, here follow me”, and the scammer will proceed to lead the tourist to their shop/restaurant, or in more sinister cases somewhere secluded where other guys are hiding to rob them. In Morocco, Touts bypass the formality of asking “Where are you going” and just skip to telling every tourist they’re going the wrong way.

Walking down the lanes of the souk as an obvious tourist you’ll hear: ‘wrong way miss, wrong way please follow me” every 10 feet. It’s exhausting, especially if you’re not in on the secret and wind up being led in circles. Sometimes they’ll say “The main square is this way” to people walking in the souks. It doesn’t matter to them if you’re going to the main square or not.

Then you’ll respond “Oh, I’m not going to the main square” and then they’ll say “Oh where are you going? Where are you from?” and they’ve got you.

If you interact with any of the touts it’s super hard to get rid of them, but even knowing this it’s really hard for me to just  ignore  people who are trying to talk to me. It’s human instinct to respond! The biggest tip is to just ignore anyone who comes up to you on the street – but barring that, don’t believe anyone when they tell you you’re going the “wrong way”! Trust Google Maps over the touts. 

17. Dress Appropriately (Both Men & Women)

While Morocco is safe for women travelers, remember it’s a conservative country where women are expected to cover up. A lot of women know that you should dress modestly in an Islamic country like Morocco, but did you know men should as well?

Nothing bad will happen to you if you show up to Marrakech with a suitcase full of mini skirts, but as a sign of respect it’s best to keep your shoulders and knees covered, this goes for women AND men. In the old Medina, you’ll notice a lot of men and women are completely covered – regardless of the temperature. 

There is no  legal  dress code for tourists in Morocco, but to be respectful to the country you’re visiting for both genders to cover up. For women, I’ve heard shoulders and knees should at least be covered, and for men, if you’re going to wear shorts they should be longer than knee-length. 

There will also be an expectation that women have their heads covered if they’re going to be entering a mosque, but not many mosques in Morocco are open for tourism. I’ve seen some tourists in the souks in skimpy clubbing outfits, and while it might increase the amount of harassment you receive, Morocco is pretty safe. Covering up is more of a sign of respect for the culture you’re visiting than anything else.

18. Visit the Crazy Jemaa el Fna In Marrakech 

There’s nothing like Jemaa el Fna square in Marrakech! It’s crazy, noisy, and infinitely interesting. Jemaa el Fna is the only place I’ve seen where you could get a roasted sheep’s head, fresh juice, and a BIG bowl of Escargot for under $10 – all while watching a snake charmer! During daylight cars are allowed to transverse the square, it’s still a nice place to get some shopping done in the daytime but around 5 PM when the sun sets is when Jemaa el Fna  really  starts to come alive. 

👉 Tip:  Skip Cafe de France, which is a bit of a tourist trap, and visit its next-door neighbor Café de la Place. Not only is Café de la Place cheaper (20 DH ($2) for a tea, 80 DH ($8.50) 3-course menu du jour), Café de la Place also has a better view of the Koutoubia Mosque. Go at sunset and climb the 4 flights of stairs to the patio at Cafe de la Place for the best view of Jemaa el Fna square! 

19. Get Out Of The City (At Least Once)

A lot of people come to Morocco and book a week-long stay in one of the cities like Marrakech, Fez, Casablanca, or Agadir. The cities and the historic Old Medinas are amazing – but they’re definitely not the best thing to do in Morocco. Going into the countryside in Morocco you’ll meet the indigenous Berber (also called Imazighen) people; everyone is always exceptionally kind, and the nature is gorgeous. 

On my first trip to Morocco, I fled to Imlil, a village in the High Atlas Mountains, after Marrakech became overwhelming, and on my second trip, I got to visit the hippy chill beach town of Taghazout. Morocco truly is such a diverse country in terms of climate and activities, there’s something for most types of travelers. If you’re coming to Morocco for more than three days you should take at least one day trip outside of the cities into the countryside.

20. Don’t Stay In One Place The Whole Time!

It’s best to see Morocco by hopping from one place to another. If you spend a whole week in Marrakech, Fez, or Tangier, you will probably get a bit bored. I love planning my own itineraries and traveling without a tour. However, in Morocco, the public transportation system isn’t the best. Also, most of the popular tourist attractions don’t even have public transit options available!

If you’re spending 2 weeks or less in Morocco I highly recommend taking a guided multi-day tour to save on stress and get the most out of your trip. Bonus, a lot of the time multi-day guided tours in Morocco are cheaper than if you were to plan all the activities separately! This is because transportation, which is the biggest expense, is already included.

21. Learn How To Eat With Bread Instead of Forks Like The Locals

Bread is a way of life in Morocco (to this day it’s the most amazing bread I’ve ever had). Meals like Tajines are usually eaten not with utensils but with a small piece of bread in the right hand (never the left!) used as a “scooper” for all the good stuff. This takes some getting used to, but if you’re invited into someone’s home for a meal it’s the polite thing to do.

💡 Note:  Meals in Morocco are usually eaten communally with everyone huddled around a big plate, using bread to dip into the main dish. 

22. Know Mosques Aren’t Open for Tourism 

Unlike other places I’ve visited, like Turkey and Rome, the places of worship in Morocco aren’t usually tourist attractions you can go inside of. There are some exclusions like the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, but by and large Mosques in Morocco are not open to non-worshippers. Tourists sometimes get confused because mosques are open to the public, so you’ll see people entering freely, but there are some horror stories of tourists wandering in and being quite embarrassed when they get escorted out: so unless otherwise specified just don’t enter a mosque in Morocco! 

23. Get Ready for A Lot Of Mint tea!  It’s Served With Every Meal

Mint tea is served with every meal in Morocco & Egypt, when I came back to the United States I felt weird without having it! There’s a special way Mint tea is served, and once you get it down you’ll impress all your Moroccan friends: First, dried mint and black tea leaves are soaked in hot water in a silver teapot. Then, a bunch of sugar is added to the pot, and the mixture is poured from up high (the rule is “4 fingers” height – I think that’s about 8 inches but the higher the more impressive it is).

And then you pour the tea from your cup  back  into the teapot and repeat this around 3 times. Apparently, this aerates the tea, and it makes the sugar frothy which is the desired quality (and also makes for a great show). 

24. Be prepared To Wake Up Early For Prayer Call 

In Islam call to prayer is done 5X a day, with the holy day being Friday. It usually only goes on for a few minutes, but on Fridays, the whole prayer service is broadcast depending on where you are. Even though I don’t know the language, I’ve always found the prayer calls to be very beautiful. Most restaurants, train stations, airports, etc will also have prayer rooms for people to meet the 5x a day quota if they so wish. There is no set time (from what I could tell) for the prayer calls – instead, they go at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and nightfall, and that changes throughout the year. 

Tip:  I never found the prayer calls to be so loud I couldn’t sleep through them, but I know some people do. If you’re a light sleeper I recommend bringing earbuds to Morocco since the earliest call is at sunrise. 

25. Don’t Get Scammed! 

Really! I LOVE Morocco but I hear of people getting scammed in the bigger cities like Marrakech and Fes all the time, and it just ruins their travel experience. I really only fell for a Tout once on my last trip, and I didn’t really fall I just didn’t have enough energy to tell him to leave me alone. I was trying to buy food for some cats and a tout on the street asked me what I was looking for.

I said I was going to buy food for the cats: “Mangia pour chat” (Which is half in Italian, not even French, but I was making eating hand motions to go along with it and he seemed to understand – gotta do what you gotta do!).

The guy saw where I was heading and pointed at the stall up the road I was already heading to, I said thanks and went on my way. It didn’t take long to realize he was following me there, and then once I got to the stall he spoke over me and was making a big show of ordering it for me, even though I didn’t need or ask him to. 

For example, if The shopkeeper asked me how many items I wanted, I held up my fingers and said “cinq” (five in French) – and then the tout would make a big fuss of loudly asking me how many tins of cat food I wanted in English, and then translating that to French.

Again, without me asking him to.

In the end, he asked for payment. I said no. He didn’t actually help me do anything to deserve a payment.

Up until this moment, he was all nice and smiling, and then after this, he yelled “F**k you, fat woman!” In my face and then proceeded to yell it after me all the way back to my Riad!!!!

Don’t give money to these guys. 

If you pay Touts you’re just supporting the practice, which hurts tourism in the area and gives foreigners a terrible idea of Morocco when really it’s a wonderful place full of amazing people.

Also, if you DO give the touts money, you’ll probably have the same result. Even if I had paid him we would have had the same argument, but this time it would have been over the amount. Just don’t pay these guys any mind.

If I were to be in that situation again I would have landed him a firm “La” (no in Arabic) and not accept any “assistance’ from him in the first place. 

Katie Caf, founder of Katie Caf Travel, is a seasoned travel expert who has explored over 30 countries and lived abroad in places like Egypt, Morocco, Mexico, India, Indonesia Thailand, Europe, and the USA. Her goal is to help other traveler see the world by providing first-hand accounts of what to expect on the road.

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Everything to know before travelling to Morocco

Recently updated on August 1st, 2023 at 03:48 pm

Morocco is an enchanting land of medinas, markets, mosques and the famous Sahara Desert. Whether you want to explore the medieval streets of Fez or follow the path of a thousand kasbahs to the Dades Valley, there are a few things you’ll need to know before you go. We’ve put together a guide with our best Morocco travel tips including where to go, what to eat, what to wear and important cultural customs in Morocco.

Best places visit in Morocco

Dive into the romance and mystery of Casablanca, a city made famous by Hollywood. The city’s traditional Arab culture mixed with remnants from the French colonial period makes for an interesting blend of art deco buildings, regal palaces and old stone medinas. Don’t miss the iconic Hassan II Mosque, the second-largest mosque in the world, and one of few open to non-Muslims. You can also wander the beachfront district of La Corniche and see the grand King’s Palace. Explore fascinating museums like the unique Museum of Moroccan Judaism, and experience the daily life of locals in the maze of alleyways in the Old Medina.

You can’t miss Fez when you visit Morocco. As the country’s oldest imperial city, Fez is famed for its unique character and rich culture. See the royal palace or go exploring in Medina, one of the largest medieval centres in the world. Visit the colourful dye-pits and tanneries to learn about Morocco’s ancient leathercraft. We’ll even take you to a special dining experience in a traditional Riad. You’ll sample fine Moroccan food and wine and enjoy live bands and traditional entertainment like belly dancing.

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Make your way through the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass to the ‘Red City’ of Marrakesh. It’s a former imperial city with both a medina (old fortified city) and a modern city that are just begging to be explored. You’ll find the largest traditional souk (market) in the country where you can find traditional souvenirs and learn to haggle. Or head to the Djemaa el Fna Square in the Old Quarter where you’ll meet acrobats, camels and palm readers. You can also visit the gorgeous Bahia Palace, wander the beautiful Majorelle Gardens, and see the mausoleum housing the tombs of the Saadi family who ruled in the 17th century. Our top Morocco travel tip? Marrakesh gets even better by night. Explore the magical Jemaa el Fna Square for exotic sights and sounds, and enjoy dinner in a traditional Moroccan restaurant, complete with local food, music and entertainment.

Take a drive through the impressive Todra Gorge and some of the most spectacular mountains in the country to reach Tinghir. It’s one of the most beautiful oases in Morocco and is home to the ruins of the ancient Glaoui palace. Be sure to make it to the top of the ancient kasbah where you’ll enjoy breathtaking views over the whole oasis.

Dades Valley

Follow the route of a thousand kasbahs to the blooming Dades Valley, where you’ll be surrounded by stunning views of the Atlas Mountains. Take a jeep out to the sand dunes of the mighty Sahara Desert and watch the glorious sunset (or sunrise). Meet the Berber locals and learn about their life in the desert. You could even try on a traditional Berber headdress, used by tribesmen to protect themselves from the brutal desert sand and sun.

Aït Ben Haddou

The UNESCO-listed fortified village of Aït Ben Haddou can be found way up in the High Atlas Mountains near the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass. It’s known as a ksar, a group of buildings made from earth and surrounded by high defensive walls and corner towers. This traditional pre-Saharan village is an extraordinary piece of southern Moroccan architecture. Don’t forget to check out the surrounding Ouarzazate province. You might recognise the desert landscapes from famous movies like ‘Cleopatra’, ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.

Chefchaouen

Known as the ‘Blue Pearl of Morocco’, Chefchaouen’s streets are washed in beautiful shades of blue , while the striking Rif Mountains overlook the town. You can spend hours wandering through the blue in this laidback town or take a tour to learn about the rich history and culture. See the Grand Mosque and marvel at the medina’s stunning natural water spring. Pick up some souvenirs in the traditional souk and visit the Andalusian Gardens where you’ll find the fascinating Kasbah Museum. 

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Travel to the relaxing shores of Essaouira, where you can eat tons of delicious seafood and see the iconic blue boats in the harbour. You can also explore the UNESCO-listed medina, Skala fortress and the walled Jewish Quarter. We’ll even take you to a local cooperative where you can sample cosmetics made from traditional ingredients.

Head to the coastline to the magical capital city, Rabat. There are plenty of incredible sights to see, including the intricate Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. Wander the tranquil Andalusian Gardens and the king’s official residence built from an 18th-century palace. Explore Chellah, a medieval fortified city in the heart of Rabat and learn to haggle in the Old Medina. Take a walk on the beach or walk through the original door of the city in Kasbah des Oudaias, where you’ll find whitewashed streets and gorgeous ocean views.

Foods to try in Morocco

This slow-cooked stew is an icon in Morocco. Tagine gets its name from the traditional conical-shaped clay or ceramic dish it’s cooked in. There are endless types of tagine to try including tender meat (usually lamb, beef or chicken) and veggie-only stews. Tagine is traditionally eaten straight from the cooking dish. You’ll be served khobz (Moroccan bread) to scoop up every last drop of the delicious stew. One of our top Morocco travel tips is to put down the knife and fork and embrace the hands-on Moroccan way of eating.

Bastilla is Morocco’s tasty answer to the savoury pie and it’s a beloved dish originating from Fez. It’s made from layers of thin pastry layered over a blend of pigeon meat, fried almonds scented with orange flower water, and an omelette spiced with cinnamon, saffron and coriander. The whole thing is dusted with cinnamon and icing sugar and it’s a truly amazing blend of flavours and textures. Although pigeon meat is the traditional bird of choice, it’s now more common to find chicken in your bastilla.

Couscous (also known as seksu) is a staple in Morocco, often served on a super-sized plate for everyone to share. It’s a dish of steamed balls of crushed semolina, and one of the most popular ways to cook it is by steaming it over a stew of meat and vegetables. The meat is then covered by a pyramid of couscous, and the vegetables are pressed into the sides. Top it off with a sweet raisin preserve, or if you’re dining Berber-style, a bowl of buttermilk. 

RELATED CONTENT: Morocco Destination Guide

What to wear in Morocco

Morocco is a conservative country, with more than 90% of its population identifying as Muslims. When it comes to clothing in Morocco, there is no strict dress code, but you will need to dress modestly.

Both men and women should ensure that their clothes cover their shoulders, décolletage, thighs and stomach. Clothes should not be see-through or form-fitting. It is not acceptable for either sex to wear sleeveless tops or short skirts and shorts. You should also avoid wearing or carrying flashy jewellery, watches, handbags or electronics, as this may attract unwanted attention.

For women, you’ll need to wear long, loose-fitting skirts, dresses and pants that cover most of your legs and arms. Women are not required to wear a veil, but you can wear a headscarf if you like. A light scarf is a fantastic accessory for women, as you can use it to cover your head or shoulders when needed, without baking in the summer heat.

If you’re not sure what to wear, just ask your guide or observe what the locals wear and do the same.

Customs and etiquette in Morocco

Religious etiquette.

Islam is the state religion of Morocco and disrespecting Islam can be deeply offensive to locals. While it’s okay to ask questions to learn more about the religion, you should avoid offering any opinions that may be controversial. You’ll also need to respect rules that forbid non-Muslims from entering areas like mosques and shrines. Looking from the outside is fine but you should never get too close to mosques and shrines that don’t allow non-Muslims to enter.

Never disrespect the monarchy

Morocco has lèse–majesté laws that make criticising, mocking or speaking badly about the Moroccan king illegal. It’s also illegal to deface anything with the king’s image. One of our most important Morocco travel tips is to take this seriously, as breaking this law could lead to a jail sentence of up to three years.

It’s okay to wear bikinis and swimsuits at the beach, but you should always cover up when you leave, even if you’re just heading back to your hotel. It doesn’t matter how hot the temperatures get – never wear your swimsuit anywhere other than the beach.

Haggling in the souks

You can find everything in Morocco’s colourful souks, from spices and teas to lamps, pipes and leather. If you can’t resist loading up on souvenirs to take home, you’ll need to learn how to haggle! Haggling is a huge part of Moroccan culture. There are no set rules but you should always negotiate any first offer to get the best price. Always remember to smile and don’t get too hung up on forcing the price down. Anywhere from 20 to 50% off the starting price is usually a good deal.

You should always tip 10 to 15% to service staff in cafes, restaurants, museums, hotels and porters who load your bags. Taxi drivers do not expect a tip, but it is always appreciated.

Watch your hands! It’s considered rude to use your index finger to motion a person to approach you. Moroccans call someone over by placing the palm downward and sweeping the hand toward themselves.

Table etiquette

Moroccans eat with their hands rather than a knife and fork and you should give it a go. Be careful to only use your right hand as Muslims only eat with their right hand. The left hand is considered unclean as it’s the hand used for the toilet. The easiest way to do it is to hold a piece of bread between your fingers and use your thumb as a scoop. You’ll be eating like a local in no time!

In the home

If you’re invited to a home, you should take your shoes off before entering the reception rooms. If you’re not sure, just follow your host’s lead! It is also custom to take a gift like tea or sweet pastries.

Common Moroccan phrases

You won’t have much trouble finding English-speaking locals in major tourist areas like Rabat, Fez, Marrakesh and Casablanca. But don’t expect to find as many English-speakers in the more remote areas. One of our best Morocco travel tips is to learn a few phrases of basic Moroccan Arabic before you go. You’ll be able to communicate a little more easily with the locals, and even if you’re not perfect, your attempts at speaking the local language will be greatly appreciated. Here are a few common phrases to get you started:

As-salaam Alaykum – Hello (literally translates to ‘peace be with you’). Sbah l’kheir – Good morning Labas? – How are you? GoodIyah – Yes La – No Afak – Please Shukrun – Thank you Aoudi Afak – Repeat please Ma’arft – I don’t know/I’m not sure Kayna…..? – Do you have…? Atini…. – I would like… Owni afak – Help me please

Are you dreaming of a trip to Morocco? Do you have any great Morocco travel tips to share? Let us know in the comments below…

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Morocco Travel Tips: 30 Things You Must Know Before Visiting

• December 4, 2023

Planning a trip to Morocco and wondering what you must know before landing in this beautiful country? Though there are many cultural differences many of them can be summed into these travel tips, so prepare a pan and a piece of paper to make sure you get the most out of your trip to Morocco.

From beautiful old cities to snow-capped mountains, souks with every spice and handicraft you could imagine, and a mix of people, cultures, languages, and landscapes you will never forget, traveling in Morocco is a unique experience.

With all this diversity and options in Morocco, it can be a bit confusing and overwhelming at times, the following tips will help you get things done right and in the most enjoyable manner so you will have the best time in Morocco.

Food Tips – What and Where To Eat In Morocco

Try street food

There’s some pretty amazing street food to try when you travel through Morocco. Don’t leave the country without having a kebab rubbed in salt and spices and served with khobz (flatbread) and harissa (chili paste), cumin, and salt. There’s normally lamb, kefta, chicken, and mixes of all meats and heart, kidney, and liver.

Tip: if you’re having trouble finding good street food, try the Djemaa El Fna Food Stalls!

Don’t order in

Morocco has some great festivals, and they can be a good option for eating interesting food in the country. The Tyab Bladi festival, for example, includes a culinary competition as well as folkloric dance events. Marrakech hosts a Street Food Festival in Jemaa El Fna Square that shows off traditional recipes and new street food trends.

Make sure to look into the festivals happening during your vacation and plan them into your itinerary!

Try the Tajine stew

One of the most traditional dishes in Morocco, a tajine is a stew cooked in a conical earthenware pot. Because of the pot, the ingredients stay tender. Some of the most common tajines are kefta (meatballs), chicken with lemons and olives, and lamb with prunes.

Eat at a guesthouse

If you’re staying at a Riad (guesthouse) make sure to have some meals there if you can. Home-cooked food is often the best option in Morocco.

Tip: You’ll also likely be offered Maghrebi mint tea at a riad–steeped green tea with a handful of spearmint leaves and sugar–say yes!

Go before Friday

Morocco is a Muslim country and many restaurants and shops are closed on Fridays.

Since this is the day when families and friends gather at home for a meal (usually couscous), it’s not the best day to finally head to that restaurant you’ve been dying to try.

Check with restaurants if they’re open on Fridays, and if they’re not, make sure you can go on a different day.

Wear The Right Clothes In Morocco

Bring warm clothes in the winter

Houses in Morocco are poorly insulated and can get cold in Winter. If you’ll be in the country in the colder winter months, bring warm clothing! Usually, November to March is considered the colder time in Morocco.

Cover yourself

While in the city shorts are common, in many parts of Morocco, it’ll be more comfortable to cover your shoulders, hips, stomach, and legs. This is mainly for women as this is a Muslim country, so make sure to be respectful towards local traditions.

When it comes to dealing with the heat and sun, pack lightweight, loose-fitting clothes that cover your body as they will protect you from the sun but will still able your body to maintain a normal temperature. Some good options are clothes made of fabrics like silk, cotton, linen, and bamboo, yet there is also the option of bringing some advanced travel wear.

That means you should pack loose blouses, long trousers, skirts, and long dresses.

Morocco is full of Jewish heritage sites. Learn more about a Morocco Heritage Tour here.

Wear swimwear at the beach

Bring a swimsuit, it’s totally fine to wear it at the beach or pool. And make sure to protect yourself from the sun with some skin-guard lotion.

Be prepared for the desert

If you’re heading to the desert, bring a sarong or scarf to tie around your face. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

Covering up will keep away the mosquitos and the blowing sand from your face.

Protect yourself from the sun

Make sure to bring sunglasses, a hat, and to apply and reapply sunscreen throughout the day.

Getting Around Morocco

Trains in Morocco are affordable and cozy. They’re also an excellent way to see the countryside. They’re not that fast (except for the new high-speed train linking Tangier, Casablanca, and Rabat) so you might want to look at other options for travel.

It’s also easy to get around Morocco by bus. The buses are comfortable and don’t stop to pick people up along the way, so you’ll get right to your destination.

If you’re going to rely on public transport, make sure to leave some buffer time for disruptions in the system.

Grand taxis are good ways to cover longer routes between towns, but they won’t get going on their trip until they’re full (six people).

Make sure to negotiate the cost per person before you get in the car, as this may vary between cities and taxis as well.

Petit taxis (small taxis) are smaller cars perfect for short trips inside the city, they are able to pass through narrow streets and get you to your destination quickly.

Rental cars

Renting a car is an option but can be challenging due to road conditions and traffic. Some of the mountain roads are difficult to drive on and dangerous, and parking can be challenging in many places where historic centers are car-free.

If you do rent a car, make sure to download an offline map on your phone so you don’t get lost. You don’t need an international driver’s license, but it could be useful for insurance reasons.

In larger cities, you might want to skip the car, or park it as close as possible to your accommodation and switch to taxis and walking for most of your stay.

Taking Pictures In Morocco

Don’t take pictures of people without their permission.

Some people might ask for money if you take their photos. But the main thing especially in rural areas is fear, many people in Morocco are afraid of cameras so make sure to get their approval.

Drinking Water In Morocco

Play it safe with the water in Morocco. If you didn’t grow up there, your immune system likely isn’t accustomed to the bacteria present in the water sources. Drink bottled water and even use it to brush your teeth.

Tip: Avoid having ice in your drink when you’re out at a restaurant. 

Language Barriers In Morocco

Moroccans speak a mix of French, English, Berber, and Arabic. English is all right in most large cities, but a translator can be a huge help in more rural areas. Thus, it’s always a good idea to learn some basics before you arrive.

Some basic Arabic words :

• Thank you : Choukran
• No thank you : La Choukran
• Watch out : Balak
• Hello : Salaam aleikum

If you want to learn more before getting to Morocco, consider buying this Pocket Arabic Dictionary. 

Have you thought about taking a Jewish heritage tour to Morocco ?  

Basic logistics In Morocco

Get the right electric converters

Morocco uses Voltage: 220 V, Frequency: 50 HZ Power sockets: type C / E

Most converters that work in Europe work in Morocco, but if you’re traveling from the states, don’t forget an adapter.

Prepare with vaccines

There are no vaccines required by the CDC for travel to Morocco but Hepatitis A and Typhoid shots are recommended. You can find more information here .

Bring toilet paper

Bring toilet paper with you everywhere, as well as hand sanitizer. Ask bathroom attendants for the price of using the bathroom before using it.

Don’t hail a taxi from the airport

Taxis from the airport are extremely expensive. Take a train, a bus, or get picked up by whoever is arranging your tour in Morocco.

Take out cash

Once you get to Morocco, head to an ATM and take out dirhams. Many places in Morocco only take cash. You should always make sure to have some on your person.

How expensive is Morocco?

A trip to Morocco is cheaper than in Europe, but it may surprise you how expensive certain things can be. A double room could be about 100 dollars a night, and a car rental for the week could cost around 250 dollars. So you will find many things way cheaper like food, drinks and tourist attractions, but pay attention as some things like those mentioned above can get pricy.

Tipping In Morocco

Tipping is expected in many parts of Morocco. If you’re in a restaurant, a 5-10 percent tip is the appropriate amount. Service staff in hotels and riads should be tipped around 10 to 20 Dirham per day in the room.

Safety In Morocco

Morocco is safe to travel to. The crime rate is low and violent crimes against tourists are not an issue.

There are, however, some basic rules to follow to make sure your trip is as safe as possible:

• Avoid the medina at night, especially for women traveling alone.
• Travel as a couple or in groups.
• Don’t be flashy, so stow away expensive camera gear and jewelry, especially if you’ll be in crowds.

Weather In Morocco

The best time to go to Morocco is when it’s cool.

Try to schedule your trip for March through May or September through November. As Morocco’s climate is very diverse, varying with the season and region. In general, the country has a tropical climate, with temperatures reaching as high as 35°C (95°F) and as low as 5°C (41°F) in the Sahara.

There are challenges that come with the winter months, too. In the cold, snow makes mountain roads impossible to drive on.

Traveling Around Morocco

Not many mosques in Morocco are open for tourists, but if you do go into one, make sure you are covered and respectful of the space.

Non-Muslims can only visit two mosques in Morocco:

• The Hassan II mosque in Casablanca
• The Tomb Mosque of Moulay Ismail in Meknes

Even though you can’t visit many mosques in Morocco, you can visit extravagant palaces and Koran schools.

Explore outside of the city

The cities in Morocco are amazing, but there’s so much to explore in Morocco beyond the Medinas. Check out the countryside to meet the indigenous Berber people and admire the nature of Morocco.

Go to the Merzouga desert, the Essaouira seaside, or the High Atlas Mountains.

One of the best ways to travel around Morocco is with a guide, but you need to make sure they are legitimate.

There are many “touts” or illegal guides in the more touristy areas of Morocco. They’ll offer to help you, then demand a fee for their services.

They’re an unfortunate way to get your money taken for no reason and possibly harassed. It’s best to just have an expert guide from the beginning.

Where should you stay in Morocco?

One of the best places to stay in Morocco is a Riad. A Riad is a traditional, multi-story building with a courtyard and a roof terrace.

They used to be homes of very wealthy families, and now most have been converted into guest houses.

Riads are also reasonably priced. For 70-100 dollars a night, you can get a beautiful room with traditional Moorish architecture and decor, along with breakfast.

City-Specific Tips In Morocco

Fez is known for its winding Medina. It’s one of the four royal cities of the country and a must on a trip to Morocco.

Some of the most important things to see in Fez:

• Souks: Each market is divided by theme. Some are fruits and vegetables, others spices, and others artisan work. Make sure to haggle!
• Bab Rcif: the eastern entrance to the Fez medina. It’s a meeting place where families gather to eat, play, and drink. 
• The Fez tanneries: Fez is where you go to see leather traditionally tanned by hand. It’s a full-sensory experience, with a strong smell, so be prepared, but if you can’t handle the stench, you can watch from the terraces. There is no admission fee, but after visiting you can buy a bag. 
• Medersa Attarine: This former Koran school is in the medina. It dates back to the 14th century and is a feast for the eyes of mosaics, carvings, and Moroccan tiles. It’s breathtaking and a lovely place for a photo.
• If you’re looking for good food in Fez, check out the Ruined Garden for a unique experience in a vintage garden and plenty of vegetarian options, or check out Cafe Restaurant Al Oud for food at reasonable prices.  

Marrakech is one of the first stops on a trip to Morocco and is the top tourist destination in the country. We wouldn’t recommend staying in Marrakech for your whole trip; 3-4 nights is fine.

Some of the most important things to see in Marrakech:

• Ben Youssef Madrasa: This former Koran school was built in the 14th century. It’s a beautiful place to look at mosaics and take beautiful photos. 
• Djemaa el Fna: One of the first places you’ll visit and the most important site in the city, this square is the place to visit food stalls and watch jugglers and other entertainers. Head to one of the rooftop restaurants at the edge of the square to see the sunset.
• Anima: Andre Heller Garden: This three-hectare garden is a peaceful place to enjoy vegetation and art. The garden is outside the center of Marrakech, but there’s a free shuttle running about three times a day to get there from the parking lot behind the Koutoubia mosque. If you get hungry, you can stop at Cafe Paul Bowles. 
• Majorelle Gardens: Visit this botanical garden that was bought by French designer Yves Saint Laurent and redesigned by him. There are huge cacti and palm trees, as well as pavilions and benches in blue and yellow bright colors. Nearby, there’s a Berber Museum and Yves Saint Laurent Museum. 
• Bahia Palace: This palace, built in the 19th century, is a combination of Moorish and Andalusian architecture. Walk through courtyards and, around orange trees, mosaics, and fountains. Tip: The Bahia palace gets pretty busy! Go as early as possible. 
• If you’re looking for good food in Marrakech, it’s easy to find. Enjoy fresh mint tea or a tajine. The restaurant M Rooftop has a view of the minaret of the Koutoubia mosque and serves traditional dishes with a modern twist. Cafe Clock serves delicious Moroccan dishes and Nomad has a roof terrace with a breathtaking view of the Atlas Mountains.

Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco and is home to the Hassan II Mosque. It’s a financial and economic center, home to 3 million people. It’s the location of the country’s most important airport, so you’ll likely stop in Casablanca at some point on your trip.

Some of the most important things to see in Casablanca:

• Habous district: The New Medina was built in the 1920s under French Colonial rule, and feels like a cozy souk. There are plenty of shops to buy spices, handicrafts, and other souvenirs. While you’re there, check out the Patisserie Bennis Habous for marzipan. 
• Mahkama du Pacha: This city palace is covered in beautiful mosaics and carvings. 
• Hassan II Mosque: The Hassan II Mosque is the largest mosque in Africa, and the minaret is the second tallest in the world. This mosque is one of the only two in Morocco that can be visited by non-muslims. 

Casablanca is a huge city with plenty of food options. Some of the best options are Le Cabestan, which offers seafood with an ocean-front view, Le Gatsby, an art deco-inspired cafe with a view of the Hassan II Mosque, and Rick’s Cafe, which is an homage to Humphrey Bogart’s gambling parlor in the film Casablanca.

Final Thoughts

Morocco is a special place to visit–a mix of colors, spices, and languages. There are so many ways to structure a great trip to Morocco, but they all have one thing in common: any trip to Morocco will be unforgettable, a feast for all of the senses, absolutely unforgettable.

So what are you waiting for? Is Morocco high on your list? Are you ready to have your dream trip planned? The colors, flavors, and people of Morocco are waiting for you.

Planning a trip can be overwhelming, and it helps to have an expert guide. If you’re looking into booking a trip to Morocco, check out our   Jewish travel agency .

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The Travel Quandary

15 Important Things To Know Before Travelling To Morocco

From the peaks of the High Atlas mountains to the sweeping sands of the Sahara desert, Morocco’s landscapes are as varied as the colours you’ll witness in the souks. Pyramid piles of sweet dates, round loaves of bread served next to sizzling tagines and the overpowering smell of traditional tanneries. The Aladdin-esque allure of the country has travellers arriving from all over the globe so before you go, here are 15 useful Morocco travel tips – and before your shoes fill up with sand.

MOROCCO TRAVEL TIPS | MOROCCO SIM CARDS, CAMEL RIDING, BARTERING & MORE

1. taxi drivers.

Our reading from blogs and discussion boards on tripadvisor consistently revealed that taxi drivers will try to rip off unsuspecting visitors. Do NOT pay the first price they quote! (Also refer to our next point).

We flew into Marrakech and stayed in the Medina. We read of one incident whereby a poor soul paid 300 DH for this journey, however, most advice from previous travellers highlighted that a taxi from the airport should cost only 70 – 80 DH. Turns out this advice remains up-to-date. When we walked out to the taxi rank outside Marrakech Airport, we overheard an American woman arguing with some drivers, “My hotel told me it would cost no more than 80 DH!” – good on you, lady!

Our riad had quoted us €15 (approx 160 DH) so we decided to take a risk and put our bartering skills to the test. The first quote given to us was for 300 DH and we refused this immediately. Our counter offer was for 100 DH and we refused to budge. The taxi driver originally offering his services reduced the price to 250 DH but would go no lower.

Eventually, the man managing the taxi rank “called a friend”. We made sure that the price was agreed upon before allowing our bags to be packed into the boot and voila! We arrived close to our destination safely and handed over 100 DH in exact change. Remain resolute. There are enough taxi drivers around and one will be willing to drive you for your stipulated price.

2. Bartering

Bartering is an everyday occurrence in Moroccan culture. And nowhere else are you likely to be ripped off or scammed than in the souks of the medinas. Do NOT pay the first price you are quoted. Advice that we received was to pay approximately half of the original quoted price to you. Obviously, this will differ on where you are and what you’re buying but stick to your guns! Even walk away. Guaranteed, nine times out of ten, the shopkeeper will chase you to coerce you back and lower their price.

Do some window shopping if it all feels a bit overwhelming at first. Wander the souks for a little while to get a feel of the goods being sold and what it is you really want to buy. Have an idea in your mind of the maximum amount you’re willing to pay. It will also help if you have exact change. You may consider joining a walking tour or hiring a private guide if it will provide you with a higher level of comfort and security. Keep in mind that you will be taken to “particular” stores with whom the guide has connections. Don’t feel obliged to purchase items from these stores. You’ll also need to tip your guide.

FUN FACT: You might see a third person hold hands with a buyer and seller to help complete a sale in a local market.

3. Morocco SIM Card

The main telecommunications networks operating in Morocco are Maroc Telecom, Inwi and Orange. It is quite simple to purchase a prepaid SIM card at the airport or tobacco stands in the cities provided your smartphone is unlocked. Before we arrived, we read online that SIM cards cost more at the airport than on the street (which is probably the case most of the time).

Whilst we didn’t inquire of the price at the airport, we were handed a free SIM card when exiting at arrivals, however, the representative took a photo of our passport. In hindsight, this was not a smart move as we don’t know where that photo went or how it was used but we did not use this SIM card in the end.

Our riad host helped us to purchase a SIM card just on the outskirts of Marrakech Medina. We purchased a prepaid Maroc Telecom SIM card for 50 DH (approx €4) which gave us 5GB of data valid for 1 month. This was all we needed for our 10-day adventure as we mainly wanted access to Google Maps during our stay in Marrakech. We read that Maroc Telecom provided the best coverage across the country and since we were travelling all over, it ensured we remained connected too.

From our experience, the Maroc Telecom SIM card provide adequate coverage across Morocco. Data speeds varied depending on coverage but for most of our trip we had 3G signal and in the major cities sometimes better.

If you’re happy to communicate with friends and family via social media, then buying data via a prepaid SIM is good value and easy to do. This way, you have access to Google Maps, you can update your Instagram and not have to worry about extortionate international roaming charges.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP? READ WHAT IS THE COST OF TRAVELLING IN MOROCCO?

4. camel riding.

The use and treatment of animals as part of tourist attractions and “experiences” continues to be a hotly debated topic and rightly so. No animal, whether in the wild or in human care, should ever be subject to abuse. We as travellers should make informed decisions before engaging in any activities associated with animals.

Almost all camels in Morocco are domesticated and prized possessions. Long associated with the kingdom’s rich trading past, the one-humped dromedaries are still used by nomads for transportation. Nowadays, camels are increasingly being used in the tourism industry. During our time in Morocco, we personally did not witness any abuse or mistreatment of camels. We participated in a camel ride with Intrepid Travel where the animals appeared in good shape and treated well by the handlers overseeing our experience. If you are still unsure, make enquiries with your tour operators. This link also provides some handy information.

Tipping in Morocco for service has become customary with the usual rule of thumb being around 10%. It is handy to carry some coins (dirhams and centimes) with you to aid in this process. Waiters will often bring the bill and mention that service is not included. Luggage porters and tour guides are usually also tipped. For taxi drivers, it is best to agree on a price before you hop into the car. The tip is usually already included in this agreed price.

6. Mint Tea

Mint tea in Morocco is what a pint of beer or cup of coffee is in the Western world. It is a much-loved tradition signifying hospitality and friendship and it would be considered impolite to refuse when it is offered to you. Morocco is one of the largest importers of Chinese gunpowder green tea which is in fact, one of the main ingredients of Moroccan tea.

Combined with fresh spearmint, boiling hot water and lots of sugar (we’re talking 4 – 6 sugar cubes per person!), you’ll be drinking mint tea at all times of the day! Moroccan tea is famously sweet so if you prefer your tea less sweet, make sure to check with your host. In restaurants and cafes, sugar cubes will usually come on the side so that you can add as much as you wish.

STILL HUNGRY? READ BEYOND THE TAGINE: WHAT TO EAT IN MOROCCO

7. children.

While primary school education is compulsory in Morocco, there are always exceptions. You’re likely to come across children often and they’re not shy to hold out their hands and ask for dirhams. As much as their faces may pull at your heartstrings, don’t give the children any money. If the children receive money from tourists and travellers, they will become reliant on it and start to or continue to skip school, which we don’t want to encourage!

8. Taking Photos

These days, we photograph everything and often without blinking an eye of how it may affect others around us. Be careful and respectful in Morocco. If you wish to take photos of locals in a certain setting, ask for their permission. Respect their wishes if they decline to have their photo taken. Be wary – some locals may say ‘yes’ and then ask for some money. As much as we love to visually document moments from our travels, it is more important to be respectful of people.

9. Money & ATMs

The official currency of Morocco is Moroccan Dirhams (MAD). Cash is widely used and is the preferred (or only) method of payment. Moroccan Dirhams is a closed currency, meaning that depending on where you arrive from, you will only be permitted to bring in and leave with a certain amount of dirhams. Don’t despair. ATMs are widely available in the major cities and towns. Make sure to notify your bank of your travel plans to prevent your card from being swallowed up!

We travelled with a tour group so our tour leader was able to advise when ATMs would and wouldn’t be available. If you’re bringing in foreign currency to buy Moroccan Dirhams on the ground, your best bet is to bring GBP, EUR or USD. Travelex and Western Union have several branches around the country and in major airports too.

Morocco has a strict NO drone policy. They are not even permitted into the country and your bags will be scanned at the airport on entry and before you exit. Make sure to leave your flying camera at home.

MOROCCO TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY - 35 PHOTOS TO INSPIRE YOU TO TRAVEL TO MOROCCO

11. helpful directions.

When our taxi driver dropped us off in the main square in Marrakech, we were quite disorientated. International roaming wasn’t working on our phones and we hadn’t purchased a local SIM card yet. Fortunately, our driver let us take a photo of the Google Maps directions on his phone. Even then, there were hardly any street signs in the medina and we stuck out like a sore thumb with our backpack and suitcase.

A few local boys offered to direct us to our riad and whilst it may appear friendly, we knew that they would expect their help to be returned in kind with a tip. Given that we didn’t have any small change on us and the fact that the boys soon began to taunt us, we were loathe to accept their offer. “You’re lost aren’t you?”. “I can help you find your riad – come with me this way”. Eventually (and thankfully!), we managed to locate our riad by ourselves.

If you are staying in the medina and have not pre-arranged door-to-door transfers with your accommodation, just keep calm. Be firm with the locals if you don’t want their help. If you have an unlocked smartphone, consider buying a local SIM and then using Google Maps to help guide you.

The official religion of Morocco is Islam. About 99% of the population is Muslim. Many women wear a hijab and it was quite common for us to see locals wearing the traditional  djellaba  (a long loose hooded garment with full sleeves). If you’re visiting during the hottest months of the year (generally from June – August), pack clothes in lightweight, breathable fabrics. Climates in Morocco will vary from the north to the south and from the mountains to the coast.

It is strongly recommended that you dress conservatively and respectively, particularly during Ramadan. For women in particular, it would be wise to cover your knees and shoulders to not draw any unwanted attention or cause any offence, especially when visiting any religious places.

13. Plastic

Since 1 July 2016, plastic bags have been banned in Morocco. The country ranks as one of the greenest in the world alongside Costa Rica, Bhutan and Ethiopia. Food markets will offer a micro-fibre cloth bag for your purchases. You can also assist by carrying reusable cloth bags and buying bottled water in larger containers.

14. Be prepared for hot & cold weather

Don’t underestimate the temperatures in Morocco like we did! We visited in late April/early May and whilst we knew we were bypassing the scorching middle-of-summer heat, we didn’t expect the mild/temperate climate. Our first night on our  Southern Morocco tour  was spent in the Atlas Mountains and had everyone rugged up in all their layers and warm blankets. Additionally, our experience in the Sahara Desert was hardly the blistering heat that we expected. In the evening, it was surprisingly and pleasantly cool. As such, we all dragged our mattresses from the tents and lay under the night sky.

Double check the climate for the time of year that you visit. The mountains tend to be much cooler given the elevation and the coastal cities will also be chilly from the wind factor. The hottest months are generally June – August.

TO THE COAST - THE WINDY CITY: A TRAVEL GUIDE TO ESSAOUIRA, MOROCCO

15. language barriers.

The official language of Morocco is Arabic and the other is Berber. Both are spoken throughout the country. In the larger cities, English and French are largely used but as you move into more rural areas, it will be more common to hear Berber and/or Arabic. Our tour guide was fluent in all four of these languages. Knowing a few phrases in French or Arabic will be helpful when you travel to Morocco.

Do you have any other Morocco travel tips to share?

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37 thoughts on “15 important things to know before travelling to morocco”.

Nice tips, thanks for sharing. can someone travel by road?

It reminds me of my trip to Morocco

I really liked reading your article. IT was just one trip and you learnt alot about our country you are doing a great job.

Great article! thanks for sharing, and we are glad you had a great trip to Morocco.

Thank you Moha! One of our most memorable trips to date! We appreciate you reading our post 🙂

Thanks for sharing such an important information.

Thank you for reading Panjene!

I am going to Morocco next month. I noticed the article said to take GBP, EUROs or USD as cash to exchange, but what about Australian Dollars? I am planning on getting a local sim and your advice was very welcomed as was the whole article Thanks

Hi Clare! So glad to hear you’ve found this article helpful. So like we said, Moroccan Dirhams is a closed currency. Although we’re Australian, we actually travelled to Morocco from London and during our trip, we met travellers from Britain, the USA and Canada but funnily no Aussies! Honestly, we don’t recall seeing many money exchange places, but ATMs are quite prominent in the big cities. So provided you advised your Aussie bank that you’re travelling to Morocco, withdrawing cash should be okay except you also have to pay ATM fees most likely, which we did with our British bank cards with no problems at all. Hope this helps and enjoy Morocco! It’s it will be cold in March so pack something warm! Jasmine x

Hi, I was wondering if you withdrew money in the airport upon arriving first or if you waited and got it elsewhere.

Hi Anthony! We did do a withdrawal from the airport upon arriving. We flew from London Gatwick to Marrakech and decided to do our first withdrawal at the airport as we knew we would need cash to pay the taxi driver. Moroccan Dirhams is a closed currency so you can only buy a small quantity from limited FX places so if you can’t access it in your home country, this is likely your only option for when you first arrive. Hope this helps! 🙂

Hello guys,

Your article was simple and very helpful! I’m currently planning a trip to Marocco.

I’ve got a question, if you don’t mind. Do you know if there are any trustworthy bus companies doing Marakech-Fez?

Thank you for your help.

Hi there! Thank you so much for your feedback – we’re always so happy to hear that it has helped somebody to plan their own trip to Morocco. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the opportunity to travel to Fez on this particular trip. I believe if you choose to catch a bus it will go via Casablanca. The two reliable bus companies we have heard of in Morocco are CTM or Supratours. We used CTM on one of our tours travelling from Essaouira to Marrakesh. They are coach style buses and the first class coaches are air-conditioned and tend to be direct routes. We would recommend reserving a seat on these buses as well. If you’re staying at a hotel or hostel, even a riad, your hosts would certainly be able to point you in the right direction. Have a wonderful time in Morocco – we hope to return one day! 🙂 Jasmine

Great post! We will be traveling to Morocco in March of 2019. I have a question: did you take out your “at home” SIM card and replace it with the one in Morocco? I know that doing so changes your phone number to a local Morocco number. What impact did that have on texts?

When we went to Australia, we took an older iPhone and put the sim card in that, so our regular phones were not impacted. I’m trying to figure out if that is necessary, or whether I should just replace the card in my newer, open iPhone. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Shelley! Yes, we did take our “at home” SIM card out and put the Moroccan SIM card in my iPhone as it is an unlocked smartphone so I knew it wouldn’t have any troubles. We mainly purchased the SIM card to have access to data so we could use Google Maps. The phone did ask me if I wanted to switch over to the local Moroccan number for WhatsApp but I just selected “No”.

Where are you travelling from? Before we arrived in Morocco, we read in quite a few blogs that some American smartphones are locked and may not welcome a local SIM card but I can’t vouch for that. My iPhone was purchased in the UK but I knew it was unlocked and it would be fine to use a local SIM card. I hope this is of some help? We hope you love Morocco!

I am travelling next month to Morocco and this was very informative article.

We’re so happy to hear this! Where are you travelling to in Morocco? 🙂

Terrific article. I’m traveling to Morocco in a couple of days and these tips are exactly what I needed to know. Super practical, straight forward and answers all questions. Thank you!

We are so thrilled to read this! Have a wonderful time in Morocco and if you come across any other handy tips, please come back and share them with us! Safe travels 🙂

I’m regards to languages, I have heard from many sources that Spanish is fairly commonly spoken in the North of Morocco so it can be helpful throughout that region. Can’t say for certain yet, but my ferry will be docking in an hour so I will find out first-hand soon enough!

Hi! You’re absolutely right! When we visited Chefchaouen, we did notice that menus would often have English, Spanish and French translations. If you get to use some Spanish in the north, do let us know! 🙂

Great article! Straight to the point with good info, yet well put. It was super helpful as I will be traveling there in a month. Thank you and good luck on the rest of your travels! ?

Thank you! How exciting for you! We hope you have an amazing time in Morocco! 😀

Such an amazing article with very helpful info ! i loved reading and loved the stunning pictures as well . Thanks for sharing

Thanks so much! We’re so glad to hear that you found this post helpful! If you’re travelling there soon, have an amazing time! 🙂

I like your article , and I’m 100 % agree . I’m from Morocco but Im living abroad . I know everything about Morocco I just want to see my country from other people view . Thank you

Thank you so much for commenting! We appreciate hearing from a native Moroccan. We loved our time there and dream of visiting another day 🙂

It’s an amazing article in favor of all the online people; they will get benefit from it I am sure.

Thank you for reading! We’re glad you enjoyed it 🙂

Nice post. Thank you for sharing!

Thanks so much for reading! 🙂

This is all sounds like good advice (I’ll test it next week :-)). One thing I would add: Google Maps has an “offline maps” feature that lets you download in advance maps for areas that you’ll be visiting, and with the maps downloaded, you can use Google Maps without any Internet connection. We now always download the Google Maps before we leave home, and then we can navigate in a foreign city even before buying a SIM card.

Google Offline maps doesn’t always work in Morocco! We’ve heard this from other travellers too as the souks are a labyrinth! The SIM card did help us many times though when navigating Marrakech. Would love to hear how you fared during your trip 🙂

Great article, precise and to the point. Unlike others, where I need to take vacation just to read them. I’m not interested in a novel, just basic info. Going to Marrakech tomorrow, this was helpful. Greetings 🙂

Thank you so much for reading and letting us know! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed this post and you found it helpful. Enjoy Morocco! It is a wonderful country 🙂

Such helpful info, thanks for sharing! And beautiful photos. Cheers! ✌?

Thank you kindly! We’re glad you found it helpful 🙂

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23 Travel Tips for Morocco – Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

What are the best travel tips for Morocco? In this article, I’ll tell you a few things that you should know before visiting Morocco. I’ll also explain some key points that make Morocco stand apart and I’ll give you travel advice that will help you enjoy your trip to Morocco even more.

Morocco is a country that attracts people from all over the world and this all year round thanks to its exotic landscapes and gorgeous traditional cities. It’s a country that has charmed our hearts with its waterfalls , port cities , and huge sand dunes .

There is definitely a lot to do in Morocco but what should travelers know before visiting this North-African country? What are the best travel tips for Morocco?

Travel tip for Morocco #1: You should definitely visit the waterfalls

Read more to find out what you should know before visiting Morocco. These are useful travel tips and small everyday life details that we couldn’t help but observe while visiting this beautiful country.

Morocco is not just a huge desert…

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Our top travel tips for Morocco

1. a lot of shops and restaurants in morocco are closed on fridays.

Morocco is a Muslim country and as such, Fridays are sacred days. A bit like Sundays for Christians. In Morocco, Fridays are usually the days when families and friends gather, stay at home and share a hearty Couscous.

Because of this a lot of cafes, stores, and restaurants are not open on Friday until the late afternoon.

Things are quiet on Friday mornings in Morocco…

Imagine walking out of your hostel in Morocco one morning with a super hungry belly just to find out that nothing is open. Not a single open restaurant in sight and no shop where you can buy some snacks.

That has happened to us on quite a few occasions and for some reason, we always forget to prepare for this ahead of time!

A quick tip: If you’re backpacking around Morocco and you’re in a small town on a Thursday night, buy food for the next morning.

In rural areas, you might not find any shop open on Friday mornings…

2. People generally get up late and stay up late

In the north of Morocco and especially in Tangier, life starts rather late in the morning. If you’re an early bird, you might have trouble finding a place open for a coffee before 10 AM.

By the same token, people stay up super late. When we were staying in a hostel in the old medina of Tangier , we could hear people talking and howling with laughter in the streets until 2 AM. Needless to say, we didn’t get much rest that night.

Two happy travelers in the old Medina of Tangier…

People in Morocco also stay up very late during Ramadan . Since they’re only allowed to eat after sunset, a lot of restaurants are opened during that month until one in the morning.

For those who enjoy a midnight snack, Ramadan will be the perfect time to travel to Morocco.

People stay up late in big touristic cities and especially during Ramadan…

3. It’s easy to travel around Morocco by bus, by train or even by hitchhiking

Trains in Morocco are super cheap and cozy. They’re also a great way to see the Moroccan countryside in comfort.

Their only downside is that they aren’t very fast except for the new high-speed train linking Tangier , Casablanca , and Rabat . That’s OK for me though since I love studying languages and long train rides in Morocco meant I had more time to study Moroccan Arabic .

Trains in Morocco are very comfortable…

In Morocco, it’s very easy to buy your train tickets in person directly at the train station. There is no need to try to buy them online ahead of time.

All the information on prices and timetables can be found on the ONCF website, once you know which train you will take you can head over to the train station to buy your ticket.

Make sure to bring cash to buy your ticket as it’s not always possible to pay by debit or credit card.

Every town or city has a bus station making it really easy to travel around the country…

It’s also equally easy to get around Morocco by bus. My advice though would be to buy a ticket from a bus company called CTM . Their buses are super comfortable, they take you directly to your destination and they don’t stop to pick people along the way.

Getting around Morocco by train or by bus is easy but hitchhiking wins the prize for the easiest means of transport around the country.

Hitchhiking in Morocco is not only possible, but it’s also super easy. We hitchhiked as a couple and almost never had to wait for more than an hour to get a ride. We also hitchhiked with two friends and our waiting time was similar, despite being 4 people and having an equal amount of big backpacks.

Hitchhiking in Morocco is super easy…

A lot of people giving us rides in Morocco invited us in their homes for a meal and they were super happy to hear our stories and talk with us. Learning a few words in Moroccan Arabic would be of tremendous help if you hitchhike around Morocco.

We sometimes got rides in pick-up trucks…

Another great tip is to ask someone to write down your destination on a piece of cardboard in Arabic.

This is a lovely family who hosted us in their home when we were hitchhiking in Morocco…

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Read our Travel Guide to Backpacking in Morocco

for mo info on how to get around the country

4. Moroccans speak so many languages!

I love learning languages and often pride myself in the fact that I speak quite a few of them. One day I was on the square of Jemma al Fenaa in Marrakesh and I was talking with two youngsters about my language skills. They didn’t seem very impressed and they quickly put me to shame by speaking in more than eleven different languages!

In Marrakesh, you’ll meet people who speak many different languages…

And that didn’t happen only once while I was in Morocco. All over Tangier, Rabat, and Meknes, I met young Moroccans who were absolute language masters.

This is a reflection of Morocco’s diverse influences. Berber, Arab, French and Spanish speaking groups of people have shaped what is now a very unique culture. It’s not uncommon to meet people who speak all of these different languages in Morocco.

Moroccans are language masters…

Want to learn Arabic?

Read: Tips and tricks to learn Moroccan Arabic

5. Morocco isn’t a party country

Morocco isn’t really the place to come and party. Although alcohol is sometimes allowed in certain hostels, generally it isn’t. Drinks in bars are also more expensive in Morocco than what you would typically pay in Europe.

Alcohol is not impossible to get though and most cities will have a few liquor stores. Because Cynthia and I are wine lovers, we continued buying our traditional weekly bottle whenever we were staying in apartments we had booked online.

Parties and drinking however always happen behind closed doors. Drinking in public in Morocco is prohibited. In general, being drunk outside is never a great idea in this Muslim country and is bound to get you in trouble.

Morocco is a Muslim country and not really the place to come and party…

6. Healthy and cheap food everywhere

Fruits and veggies in Morocco are some of the best I had in my whole life. They are plentiful, easily accessible all year round and they are super fresh. Morocco could be a very good travel option for Vegans .

Bigger Moroccan cities usually have an open-air fruit and vegetable market or they will have fruits and vegetables for sale in the old city.

Fresh fruit and veggies all year round…

My favorite fresh produce market in Morocco was the one in Tangier. It has everything you could imagine and some of the lowest prices I have seen in my life.

Apart from finding delicious food there, the place is a photographer’s paradise. Cynthia went there a few time to snap amazing pictures of the market’s atmosphere.

So many different kinds of olives…

Curious about the price of food in Morocco?

Read: Morocco on a budget

7. In Morocco always ask before taking pictures

Photographing people in Morocco is much harder than in other countries.

The Moroccans are very nice, friendly and talkative people. They usually smile, offer their help and are interested in who you are and where you come from. But the moment you aim your camera at them, their attitude changes.

Some people will suddenly cover their faces and firmly object having their photo taken, others might even scream at you.

This happened to Cynthia when she was in Chefchaouen . She had her camera in her hand and was waiting for a woman and her child to pass by so she could take a photo of the blue street. The woman thought she was going to photograph her and made a huge scene.

In this North-African country, people are rarely very keen on having their picture taken. It’s always better to approach people first and engage in conversation with them for a while to break the ice before asking to take their portrait.

approached the right way, people will gladly let you photograph them…

Taking pictures of people in Morocco is a real challenge. After a few months in the country though, Cynthia became really good at it. She wrote a cool guide in which she explains the techniques she used to approach and take pictures of people there.

With the right techniques, taking pictures of people in Morocco is not as hard as it sounds…

Read: How to photograph people in Morocco

8. Buy and register your Sim card in a shop, not on the streets

If you’re planning to stay in Morocco for a long period of time, you might be wondering how to get a good internet connection whilst in the country.

The best way to have fast, decent and reliable internet in Morocco is to buy a sim card and use your mobile data as a hotspot for your laptop.

Moroccans often sell sim cards directly on the streets…

What we recommend is that you go to an official agency to register for a sim card instead of buying one from a street vendor. You’ll need your passport to register but at least you’ll know that the number is and stays yours.

When you buy a sim card on the streets, the sim card might stop working after a couple of weeks. The agency, on the other hand, will explain how to recharge your mobile data on a weekly or monthly basis.

Read also: Surfing in Morocco – A Guide to the Best Surfing Spots in the Country

9. If you’re not Muslim you won’t be allowed to enter most of the mosques in Morocco

Unless you’re a Muslim, most mosques around the country will be off-limits. If you’d really love to see the inside of one, however, you could always visit the mosque Hassan II in Casablanca . A ticket to visit this mosque costs 120 MAD.

A mosque open to the public I highly recommend visiting is an old abandoned mud-brick mosque called Mosque Ikalane. It’s located in the small town of Tinerhir near the Todra gorges in the south of Morocco.

Mosque Ikelane in the small town of Tinghir is open to the public…

This mosque is usually guarded by a very friendly old man who will be happy to tell you about its history and the current restoration projects.

The caretaker of the mosque will be very happy to tell you about the history of the place…

Mosque Ikalane looks like a simple mud-brick building with a brown pointy cupola and is one of the few mosques you’ll be allowed to visit when in Morocco. There are no official entrance fees but if you give a small donation to the old man for the restoration work, it will be very welcome.

This is what the inside of the mosque looks like now…

10. Moroccans have the best mint tea in the world

You know how certain tastes can trigger emotions and memories? Whenever I taste mint, I can’t help but think of Morocco.

Moroccans have adopted mint tea as their national drink and they consume loads of it.

They are so fond of this sweet drink that they call it the “Moroccan Whiskey”. It is served with almost every meal and tastes absolutely delicious. I just couldn’t stop ordering this sweet drink while I was traveling in the country and it’s one of the 13 things that made me fall in love with Morocco .

Moroccans sure love mint tea…

11. Morocco has a lot of rooftop terraces

In the old Medinas of popular Moroccan cities, the streets between buildings are usually very narrow. Because of this most of the buildings have rooftop terraces and this is where women will hang their laundry and where they will socialize.

Riads in popular towns like Chefchaouen also have terraces but these are usually used by tourists to admire the sunset after a long day of hiking in the Rif mountains.

One recommendation I can give you before you visit Morocco is to take advantage of the rooftop terraces as much as you can while you’re there. They are the perfect place to see the cities from above and to get really cool views of the medinas.

The rooftop terraces in Chefchaouen are the perfect place to admire the sunset…

Tons of restaurants in cities like Meknes and Marrakesh also have rooftop terraces where you can eat while you admire the central square of the city.

Restaurant terraces will give you a cool view of the city…

12. Couscous Fridays

In Morocco, Fridays are days when families gather together and eat couscous. You’ll see this dish in every restaurant but Friday in Morocco is when it’s traditionally eaten with the families and loved ones.

I find it beautiful to see family and friends gather for that special meal. Moroccan families will also sometime put a plate of couscous with some spoons on a stall in the street for the poorest of the community or the homeless.

Nothing beats a good dish of couscous, meat, and vegetables…

When I was living in Tangier, my neighbors would always invite me for couscous on Fridays and it felt great to share that traditional moment with Moroccan friends.

Some of the different spices used with couscous…

13. Hashish is everywhere!

Hashish is absolutely everywhere in Morocco. When Cynthia and I were in Chefchaouen , we would be approached by guys who would ask us first if we were looking for a restaurant and then almost inevitably if we wanted some hashish.

This started happening so often that every time someone approached us, we knew he’d be offering us hashish at one point. Cynthia and I got offered some hashish by local dealers at least 8 times per day.

Most of the hashish is produced in the Rif mountains near Chefchaouen…

Hashish is commonly and casually offered in the streets of Morocco and you shouldn’t be alarmed by this.

I can’t tell you how much the hash costs as we don’t smoke it but apparently it’s very cheap and you won’t likely get in trouble for buying and smoking it in your hostel in Chefchaouen . However, I wouldn’t recommend smoking it openly anywhere else, you could get into pretty serious trouble.

Chefchaouen is a place where you’re not likely to get in trouble for smoking hashish…

14. Moroccan men love to sit in Cafes

Cafes are the place where Moroccan men typically socialize. Cafes are found in every popular street and they’re usually filled to the brim with middle-age men drinking coffee, and mint tea while they watch football or have long conversations about politics and the weather.

Cafe Hafa is one of the most popular cafes in Tangier…

15. Houses and hotels can be cold in winter

Because most houses in Morocco are poorly insulated, they get quite cold in winter. Most Moroccan families will have electrical heaters though but some hostels and hotels won’t.

If you plan to travel to Morocco in winter, I suggest bringing a good warm sleeping bag . Very often hostels provide very few blankets to their guests. I can assure you that I would have been cold very often in Moroccan hostels if it wasn’t for my sleeping bag.

If your hostel doesn’t have a heater or warm blankets, you can always use it for extra warmth or as an extra comfy pillow.

16. When you buy things, always bargain

If you visit Morocco, you’ll have to learn to haggle prices. Moroccans love to haggle and bargain and it’s a big part of their culture. If you’re patient enough and don’t accept the initial deal, you can lower the price by a huge amount.

Moroccans love haggling prices and some would consider it the national sport…

Another point to consider is that there are usually tons of shops in the souks selling exactly the same things. If you can’t get a good deal with one seller, don’t despair and pay the neighboring stand a visit. You’ll probably end up getting a better offer.

If you learn how to haggle, you’ll be able to reduce the price of things by a lot…

I would suggest learning a few helpful words in Moroccan Arabic before hitting the markets.

17. Juices! So many good fruit juices everywhere

Morocco is the land of fresh fruits. Every Moroccan city has a type of fresh fruit juice stores called Makshada. You can simply walk in, look at the menu and ask for a blend of your favorite fruits.

They’re filled with vitamins and they’re the perfect way to start the day. My personal favorite juice is a mix of strawberries and orange juice. I’m crazy about it, and at one moment, it was an essential part of my daily Moroccan routine.

You can buy fresh fruit juice everywhere!

18. In hammams, strangers will gladly wash your back

Visiting a Hammam is the quintessential Moroccan experience. In Essaouira, just like in most major Moroccan cities, you will have two options when it comes to visiting Hammams. You can either go to the popular local hammam where the majority of the locals go to or you could visit a spa type hammam.

I would personally recommend the first type over the latter. Popular cheap local hammams are a great part of the Moroccan culture.

All you need to do before you go is grab some natural Argan soap and your scrubbing cloth. Once there, you’ll be handed a bucket and you have to undress in the midst of locals scrubbing each other’s back while chatting about their daily life.

This is how the soap used in hammams is made…

It’s not uncommon for strangers to offer each other a good back scrub in traditional hammams. If someone offers to wash your back, they’ll probably expect the same thing in return.

Hammams in Morocco are separate for men and women. Women will typically strip down to their panties and not wear any bra while men will wear some underpants.

19. Lookout for bedbugs in hostels

Because of the temperate climate and the steady stream of travelers, Moroccan hostels can be plagued with bedbugs.

Whenever you book a hostel in Morocco, double-check the reviews. If you see mention of bedbugs, you should avoid the place unless you want to give the little fellas a free snack and carry the bugs on your trip with you.

20. Morocco is not a huge desert and its landscapes might surprise you

Before I visited Morocco, I was expecting the country to be very arid and a huge desert. I was actually surprised and blown away by how varied the landscapes are here.

You can find everything in Morocco, from green valleys, wild-flowing waterfalls, serene lakes, snow-capped mountains and beautiful coastlines to subtropical palm groves, spectacular canyons, arid mars-like landscapes and desolate sand dunes stretching as far as the eye can see.

Morocco has some gorgeous waterfalls…

When Cynthia and I were traveling from region to region, we sometimes felt like we were traveling from one country to another.

Morocco also has some beautiful snow covered mountain peaks…

If you love nature and hiking as much as we do, you definitely won’t be disappointed in Morocco! I would suggest reading our hiking guides to Morocco:

• The Complete Guide to Imlil and Hiking Mount Toubkal in Morocco
• Rock climbing and other fun things to do in the Todra Gorges and Tinerhir
• How to get to the Akchour Waterfalls from Chefchaouen

If you love mountain hikes, you’ll have a lot of fun near the Todra gorges…

21. Morocco has a very varied culture

Morocco is a mix of cultures and ethnic groups. I love to say that the Moroccan culture is a rich tapestry that weaves tons of different influences and traditions together.

Morocco is a mix of Berber, Arabian and European cultural influences. This also reflects itself in the language. Moroccan Arabic blends words of Berber origin with classical Arabic. French and Spanish words are also assimilated in the colloquial language.

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When we were traveling through the villages of the Atlas Mountains, we saw elderly women who wore the traditional Berber facial tattoos, a rich heritage of the Berber traditions that were widespread around the country before the invasion of the Arabs.

Morocco is a melting pot of ethnicities so it’s not uncommon to meet people with blue eyes and blonde or ginger hair in the Rif mountains.

The Moroccans living in the desert near Merzouga have a very different culture than those living in big cities…  

22. Morocco doesn’t have a tipping culture

If you’re worried about whether or not you should leave a tip to your waiter in Morocco, don’t be. Moroccans don’t have a tipping culture as it exists in America.

It will still be appreciated if you do though and you could always leave 10 or 20 MAD on the table if you enjoyed the service.

In cafes or restaurants, waiters won’t necessarily expect a tip…

23. Moroccans are very expressive and talk with their hands

Moroccans are some of the most expressive and passionate people I have met. They can sometimes talk very loudly and might swing their hands in the air while doing so. They might seem like they’re angry or arguing but they’re probably only having a casual everyday conversation.

Once, Cynthia and I were in our hostel in Essaouira when we heard a Moroccan lady shouting from the neighboring roof. Another woman popped her head from another rooftop terrace and they started shouting at each other while wildly swinging their hands in the air.

We asked the hostel owner what they were talking about with the most incredulous look on our faces. Oh them? They’re simply talking about fish he replied. I swear, I never laughed so hard!

These are just a few tips fo Morocco. Is there anything you would add to this list? What are the things you wished you knew before visiting Morocco? Let us know in the comments below.

*This article contains affiliate links. If you book a hotel/hostel or purchase one of the recommended products through our website, we’ll receive a small commission at no extra costs for you. This way you’re helping us writing more informative and awesome guides like this. Thank you!

Read the rest of our articles for more travel tips for Morocco:

• The Ultimate Travel Guide to Backpacking in Morocco
• The 17 best places to visit in Morocco
• Morocco Itinerary – Discover the best places in Morocco in 7 days
• Renting a Car in Morocco – Everything you Need to Know
• 23 Travel Tips for Morocco – Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
• Is Morocco Safe? – Safety Guide to Morocco
• Planning to travel to Morocco during Ramadan? Read this first:

       How is it to travel to Morocco during Ramadan?

• Morocco travel costs: Morocco on a budget – How much does it cost to travel and live in Morocco ?
• Everything you need to know about visiting the Ouzoud Waterfalls
• How to get to the Akchour Waterfalls from Chefchaouen (Morocco)
• How to plan a desert trip to Merzouga and other fun things to do in the Sahara
• Surfing in Morocco – A Guide to the Best Surfing Spots in the Country
• How to visit Paradise Valley Agadir
• FEZ: In Photos: Visiting the Leather Tanneries of Fez
• TANGIER: Top Things to Do in Tangier – The Ultimate City Guide
• ESSAOUIRA: An In-Depth Guide to Essaouira, Morocco’s windy city
• CHEFCHAOUEN: 12 Top Things to do in and around Chefchaouen, the Blue City of Morocco
• RABAT: 10 things to see and do in Rabat
• MEKNES: The honest guide to Meknes and Volubilis– What to see and what to skip
• MARRAKECH: What to do in Marrakech – A Complete Guide to Morocco’s Red City
• CASABLANCA: What to see in Casablanca in two days – Top Things To Do in Casablanca
• AGADIR: Top Things to Do in Agadir – Our Guide to the Surfing city

MOROCCO TRAVEL RESOURCES:

• Accommodation & Lodging in Morocco: Booking.com
• Car rental in Morocco
• Travel Insurance for Morocco: World Nomads   or SafetyWing  
• Best Books set in Morocco – 10 Great Novels about Morocco   
• Lonely Planet Morocco (Travel Guide)
• The Rough Guide to Morocco (Travel Guide with Free eBook) (Rough Guides)
• Lonely Planet Moroccan Arabic Phrasebook & Dictionary

8 thoughts on “23 Travel Tips for Morocco – Everything You Need to Know Before You Go”

Another really helpful article!

Thank you, happy to hear 🙂

Hey Cynthia As local guide from morocco, i found my self learning from this wonderful completable article, and comparing what i use to say to our guests to what you wrote. Thanks a lot for sharing this Regards Ibra

Thank you Ibra, I’m really glad to hear this! Best wishes, Cynthia

Incredibly interesting review, I love reading your blog! Thanks for the tips, it’s important to know that I need to ask permission before shooting. Good luck to you!

Thank you! And yes, the Moroccans don’t like it when you bluntly point your camera at them. They appreciate it if you first have a chat with them and then ask for their permission. Enjoy your trip to Morocco!

Having been to Morocco and planning another trip, I found your article both informative and very much a nostalgic reminder of things I saw. What bothered me a lot is that, among the mentions of all of the different cultures that contributed to the mosaic of Morocco, there was no mention of Jewish culture and sites. Nevertheless, Jews contributed greatly to the construction of a number of cities, are represented in a number of buildings, and are considered by Moroccans to be an important part of their heritage. Even though the present Jewish community is very small, evidence of their contributions remain and should not be ignored.

Hi Shoshana, we don’t ignore their contributions. We write about it in our city guides like f.eg. Chefchaouen. 🙂

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50 Essential Morocco Travel Tips for First-Time Tourists

Morocco is a hot travel destination, and with good reason. It offers a degree of cultural immersion that people might seek by visiting the middle east, but with a relatively progressive government and fairly welcoming people. But if you are planning your first trip to this country, there are a few Morocco travel tips that you really should review before you leave.

Not only with these tips for visiting Morocco help ease your travels within the country, they also help you understand and respect the local culture.

Morocco Travel Tips

Money & tipping.

• The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham. It is very difficult to get Dirham outside of the country and you can’t bring it home. Therefore you should plan on exchanging currency at the airport, or visiting the airport ATM upon arrival or in major cities. There is a currency exchange desk in the baggage claim area in the Casablanca airport.
• Currently Canadian, Australian, and Scottish currency notes are not accepted for exchange in Morocco.
• Very few restaurants accept credit cards, therefore you need to exchange enough money to get you through as it can be hard to find ATMs outside of the big cities.
• Most riads only accept Visa or Mastercard. You don’t need to leave your American Express at home (the Four Seasons accepts it), but make sure you have a back up.
• When getting money at the ATM, you can withdraw a maximum of 2000 Dirham at a time (about $200), with a maximum of 4000 Dirham per day (you can do two back-to-back withdrawals of 2000 each.)
• When exchanging money at the airport, they may try to convince you to put some of the balance onto a debit card. I wouldn’t recommend this as most places still won’t take it (unless they also take credit cards.) Plus there is a fee so it really isn’t a good deal.
• Make sure you get as many small bills (20, 50, and 100 Dirham bills) as you can and try to get coins when purchasing tea, coffee, etc. as you will need them for tipping.
• At gas stations and some restaurants you will often find there is a bathroom attendant keeping it clean and possibly handing out toilet tissue. Drop 1-2 dirham per person into the dish as you go in.
• Tipping is an important part of the culture. Plan on adding about 10% on restaurants. Check the bill first to see if service is included (it usually isn’t). If they accept credit cards and you want to add a gratuity using your card, you need to tell them the amount before they run the card. Otherwise you need to leave cash.
• Guides and drivers should be tipped 100-200 dirhams per full day (at the end of the service.)
• Others that help you should also be tipped including hotel porters, housekeeping, front desk staff if they help you out, etc. We typically gave 50 Dirham to porters and left 5-10 Dirham per day for housekeeping. Pay attention though because some riads share tips (they will let you know and provide an envelope.)
• If someone in the souk allows you to take photos of their shop or goods it is polite to give them a small tip (especially if you aren’t buying something.) Just be sure to ask BEFORE taking pictures.
• You will find street buskers and vendors that will use a gimmick to attract you (like a monkey, snake, etc.) You will be asked to pay for the privilege of taking a picture with them or of them.
• Overall, Morocco is very affordable. Please refer to my Morocco trip budget to see how much a trip to Morocco costs and a breakdown by accommodations, meals, activities, transportation, etc.

Getting Around Morocco

• When you travel to Morocco, your itinerary will probably include moving from place to place. So you need to decide how you are going to get around. I wrote a whole post about driving in Morocco , but I would highly recommend hiring a driver, especially if you are going through the High Atlas Mountains and/or out to the Sahara Desert.
• I know many people worry if it is safe in Morocco . We always felt safe, especially in the care of our dedicated driver, but if you are driving yourselves or using public transportation, remember to stay alert and take standard safety precautions.
• If you decide to drive, be prepared for narrow, winding roads. They are also doing a lot of construction on the roads going through the Atlas Mountains. Don’t be surprised to get stuck behind really slow trucks, busses, and even donkey carts.
• Driving always takes much longer than predicted so plan for it!
• I have never seen as many speed traps in my life as I saw in Morocco. I joked that the government must solve unemployment by hiring police offers. There was a speed trap outside of every town and sometimes it seemed like every five miles along the road and each stop was manned by at least three officers. In addition to speed traps, there are also other police stops to check paperwork. And we saw plenty of tourists pulled over, not just locals. Keep an eye out for drivers coming from the other direction flashing their headlights as a signal of a speed trap ahead.
• There are also a lot of tolls on the highways. You can rent a car with an electronic pass. Otherwise, plan on bringing along plenty of change and small bills.
• When driving, look out for goats and sheep by the side of the road, donkeys pulling carts, people walking along the side of the road, bicycles, and scooters.
• Street signs are usually in French and Arabic but smaller signs and towns may only be in Arabic.

Moroccan Food

• Picky eaters and those with dietary restrictions and allergies may find it tough to eat in Morocco. I would recommend talking to your riad ahead of time as menus are very limited.
• Don’t drink tap water (only bottled water) and be careful about eating uncooked produce, salads, or unpeeled fruits.
• Unlike other countries where cuisine varies from region to region, we saw the same few items on the menu throughout our 12 days in Morocco . Even those that love Moroccan food may crave a little variety so I would recommend make reservations at a non-Moroccan restaurant towards the end of your trip if you will be in a larger city.
• Breakfast: Traditional Moroccan breakfast is quite a feast, especially for carb lovers. There is usually fresh fruit, delicious orange juice, eggs, yogurt (which is so good with some local honey mixed in), and a mix of pastries, breads, and Moroccan pancakes. There are three types of Moroccan pancakes. One is crepe like, one is spongier (called 1,000 holes), and melawi — which was my personal favorite. Melawi is a layered pancake that is fried, a lot like a Chinese scallion pancake without the scallions.
• Moroccan mint tea: Moroccan mint tea is served as a welcome drink and with every meal. Keep in mind that they add a LOT of sugar (probably the equivalent of four cubes), so if you are watching your sugar, ask for it without sugar.
• First course: lunch and dinner at most sit-down restaurants are pretty much the same. The first course is usually either Moroccan Harira soup, salads (tomato / onion / cucumber), pickled or marinated vegetables, or briouts, which are either cigar or triangular-shaped phyllo dough filled with cheese, meat, or seafood and deep-fried.
• Main course: The main course is typically either a tagine or couscous. Typical tagines are chicken with lemon and olives, Kefta meatballs with egg in tomato sauce, or chicken or meat (beef, lamb, or goat) with prunes and apricots. Sometimes you may also see tangia, which is a stewed meat and vegetable dish cooked in the ashes at the hammam. You may also see pastilla, which is chicken or pigeon meat baked in a “pie” with a crispy crust that is very similar to phyllo. This tends to be very dry.
• Desserts: Desserts are typically fairly light. You will see fruit, various mousse / creme, or pastilla with cream, which is layered like a Napoleon.
• Keep in mind that the traditional Friday night meal is couscous. Couscous is served in layers. The couscous is on the bottom and it has been steamed over the meat to get the flavor cooked in. Then you have the meat and all around and over the meat you will have large pieces of cooked root vegetables.
• Moroccans typically eat dinner late, usually after nine, although it is easy enough to get an earlier reservation. In between lunch and dinner, many people may stop by the souk for a sandwich of grilled turkey, kefta, or sausage, to tide them over.

Moroccan Culture

• Clothing: I wrote an entire post about what to wear in Morocco , with examples for both men and women, but the most important thing to remember is that this is a Muslim, conservative country and you should dress modestly. Women should cover their shoulders, knees, and cleavage (a scarf works well.) Knees should also be covered and clothing should be loose. So flowy pants or long skirts. If you wear tighter pants, make sure your bottom is covered. Men should wear long pants and short or long-sleeve shirts. The only exceptions I saw to this were in Marrakech, where the tourists were surprisingly ignoring these norms and I saw everything from short shorts to tank tops and cropped shirts. Personally I wouldn’t have felt comfortable in that and it is sure to draw some perhaps unwanted attention.
• Religion: Obviously Morocco is an Muslim country. This means you will hear the call to prayer throughout the city multiple times a day, starting before dawn. Many shops in the souk and restaurants will be closed on Fridays. And as beautiful as the mosques may be, non-Muslims are not allowed in to most mosques. Only a few restaurants serve alcohol and you will only find pork products at the tourist hotels.
• Photos: Photos of people are very uncommon in Islam and if you take pictures with people in them (or look like you are), most will be mad and offended. If you want pictures with people in them, try taking pictures from afar and from the back, not with people in the main focus. If you do want to take a picture of someone, such as a merchant in the souk, ask them first. It is also appreciated to tip your subject 2-10 dirhams. If someone is upset, apologize and delete if requested, or try to show you were taking a photo above or below by making sure the camera isn’t pointed at them.
• Language: The official languages in Morocco are French, Berber, and Moroccan Arabic. However, most people in restaurants and hotels will speak some English. If you are shopping in the souk, especially for produce and food (versus souvenirs), it may be harder to communicate in English so some French is very helpful.
• Hammam: The neighborhood hammam plays an important role in Moroccan culture, giving men and women a place to meet (separately) and talk during a hot steam bath and scrub. Many riads will also have their own hammam. You will first spend time in a steam room and then move to a cooler room for a vigorous scrub with black soap. Women usually go naked, but you can wear a bathing suit. Men should wear bathing trunks.

Shopping in Morocco

• Bargaining is what they call the “national sport” of Morocco. When shopping in the souk, be prepared to haggle. Start around 50-60% of asking price (unless marked fixed price), end around 60-80% depending on how much you want it. If you really want it, tell them your final best price Don’t act too eager, be ready to walk away. Often if you buy a lot, they will thrown in a gift. Some places like the pottery cooperative will ship.
• In the souk, a lot of products are imported knock offs. Ask to see how things are made and to meet the artisan. If you can find out if the shop is owned by an artisan, you know the goods are authentic. We met a metal worker who did filigree on beautiful lamps and he was fifth generation.
• Argan oil is best in Marrakech to Essaouira 
• Rose products should be purchased from a women’s cooperative in the Rose Valley near Skoura These women owned cooperatives are supporting women and therefore the price is fixed (no bargaining.)
• Spices and herbs are best to buy in Marrakech. Just watch out for those selling fake saffron. Saffron should have long threads with yellow threads connected to the red. Remember that spices and powders should be packed in your checked luggage (not your carry on.)
•  Pottery such as tagines should be purchased at the pottery cooperative in Fes (you can bargain there.)
• Leather goods such as shoes, bags, and jackets should be purchased at the tanneries in Fes (you can also bargain here.) Those pretty leather shoes will typically be $10-15, a leather jacket can be found for around $200, and nice leather purses around $40-80.

Other Things to Know

• Visas are not currently required for U.S. citizens for stays less than 90 days, however you will need a valid passport with at least six months of validity from your date of exit from Morocco.
• Fill out the visitor card they give you on the plane before you arrive. If they don’t give you one, make sure you get one before you get into the immigration line.
• Expect a long line at immigration upon arrival into Morocco. To speed things up, you can pay for expedited entry for approximately 75 euro per person. You will be greeted at the jetway upon exiting the plane and walked to the Diplomat entry line of immigration, which is much shorter. (We paid for this service on arrival because we had such a long travel day.)
• At Casablanca airport, when you depart, if your riad/hotel did not give you a visitor card to fill out, make sure you get one and fill it out BEFORE you go scan your boarding pass to go into security. Otherwise you will have to go back out to get one.
• It is recommended that you have inoculations against tetanus, hepatitis A, polio, and typhoid at least one month before you travel.
• Morocco does not observe daylight savings time and stays at GMT+1 throughout the year. If you put appointments into your calendar before the time change and you are traveling after the time change, this can create some confusion.
• Electricity is 220V, 50Hz, so U.S. visitors will need a European adaptor with two-round pin plugs.
• WiFi in riads can be limited, so don’t plan on doing any big downloads or streaming.
• The best time to visit would be from March through May or September and October. April is when the roses will be blooming in Rose Valley. Keep in mind that it can still be cool at night, especially in the north, so bring layers. It will be very hot in the summer. There is a big difference between the temperature in the sun versus the shade. Keep in mind that it is much cooler in the medina when you are out of the sun.

[plan-trip]

If you are planning a trip to Morocco, here are some other articles and travel guides that may help:

• Find out how much a trip to Morocco costs
• Get a sample 7, 10, or 14-day Morocco itinerary
• Driving in Morocco 
• What to wear in Morocco

[/plan-trip]

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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel. A former marketing executive and travel advisor, Tamara is an award-winning travel writer and recognized expert in family travel. Tamara is a member of SATW and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens travel podcast.

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Publish Date: April 15, 2019

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Tips For Traveling In Morocco: 30 Essential Things to Know [2024 Updated]

After several trips to Morocco on a road trip, more particularly in southern Morocco, I can afford to give you some useful tips for traveling in Morocco . This guide will give you all the advice for a successful stay, some warnings, the budget to plan, and the best itinerary in Morocco.

The best tips for traveling in Morocco

To  organize your trip to Morocco easily , it is good to know a few essential things before departure. I made a summary of frequently asked questions about this Maghreb country and I bring simple answers and valuable advice.

When is the best time to go to Morocco?

Table of contents.

 Depending on the route you take, the climate will change a lot and it is therefore difficult to tell you  when to go to Morocco . One thing is certain, the risk of rain is rare. It is possible to go to Morocco all year round. You should know that December and January are a little colder and you will not be able to enjoy the swimming pool or the beach. on the other hand, July / August is a very hot period where temperatures can easily reach 50 degrees in southern Morocco .

Finally, each season has advantages.  In spring Morocco has the most beautiful vegetation, the argan trees are in bloom around May,  the best season in Morocco  to see varied landscapes. Then, in summer, nature turns yellow and the desert comes into its own. The winter is cool and therefore conducive to hiking. Finally, in autumn, everything is burnt by the sun but it is less hot.

Book your plane ticket to Morocco

Preparing for your trip to Morocco as well as possible also means  booking your plane ticket to Morocco in advance . If you go in high season, the ticket price will be more expensive. To find the best price, I advise you to use a flight comparator. Remember to check the validity of your passport.

Depending on your choice of itinerary , you will choose Agadir, Marrakech, or Ouarzazate as your arrival airport.

What budget should I plan to travel to Morocco?

Here is how to prepare for your  trip to Morocco with an average budget  :

What budget for a night in Morocco?

How much does a standard double room cost in Morocco? It depends on where you are. In the cities, you will find Bed and Breakfasts or guest houses that are not too expensive. As for the desert, it has become fashionable and prices have exploded in recent years. From a night at 20 euros for a luxury hotel , prices have gone to exorbitant rates for some of them. Count at least 50 € in the desert and 20 € in the cities.

Be careful, the  Riads of Marrakech  are often magnificent but the costs are sometimes excessive. By well in advance, you are likely to find the rare pearl. A real pleasure to enjoy the rooftops and the swimming pool in the heart of the effervescence of the city center.

What food budget for a road trip in Morocco?

Eating in Morocco  is  quite cheap you can go to a restaurant every day, and it won’t ruin your budget. A meal can be worth 20 to 150 dirhams, or 2 to 14 euros. Even in a chic restaurant, you will not exceed 40 euros.  And then on a road trip, it is best to buy some snacks from the grocery.

Traveler budget ( for 2 people)

It is good to know that the  currency of Morocco  is the Dirham and keep in mind that approximately  1€ = 10 dirhams .

From exhilarating souks to camel caravans in the desert, I advise you to plan an  average budget of 900 € for 1 week in Morocco for two . This implies that you stay on a budget but at the same time can afford a few extras like a trip to the Moroccan desert or a night in a beautiful riad in Marrakech .

Morocco budget for two people :

• €50 per night for accommodation
• 30 € / day for food
• 25 € / day for the car

You have 165 euros left to indulge yourself with a  some fun things you can do in Morocco  , a camel ride or a very good meal in a hotel with a swimming pool.

I invite you to go further down in this article, I have dedicated a whole paragraph to car rental to prepare for your trip to Morocco without any problems.

Other tips for planning your budget in Morocco

Another piece of advice,  have cash on you  before going too far south of Morocco because it will be difficult to withdraw cash, as ATMs are becoming rarer. 

Which vaccines for Morocco? Health Risk Advice in Morocco

Should i be vaccinated to travel to morocco.

There are no  compulsory vaccines in Morocco  but you must  respect essential hygiene measures  to avoid getting sick. A bit like in the event of an epidemic, you must wash your hands regularly, and do not bring your fingers to your mouth. As a precaution, the  hepatitis A vaccine and the typhoid vaccine  are recommended. If you plan to travel often, it may be time to do them.

Illness and health advice in Morocco

Provide yourself with a good first aid kit . And don’t drink from the tap, only bottled water, always check that the bottle is opened in front of you. Beware of a few cases of bottle scams falsely sealed with glue. Glue residue is visible when unscrewing the cap. For washing teeth it’s the same, stay with mineral water. Alas, it’s not eco-friendly in terms of plastic bottle consumption but there are no other solutions. You can always buy a big barrel of water and refill a 1.5L bottle as needed. 

Driving in the South of Morocco

Rest assured, outside of big cities like Marrakech,  driving in Morocco is not as complicated as they say . You will tend to be in control of the road since few people are traveling long distances in the south. Be careful, however, of the huge overloaded trucks, you have to pass them or follow with caution. This is particularly the case towards the High Atlas.

Risks on the roads in Morocco

You must therefore remain vigilant,  traffic is dangerous only for these reasons  :

• many do not respect the highway code
• animals roaming the roads
• certain unpredictable behavior on the part of public transport drivers (large taxis, coaches, trucks)
• people walking on the road at night without city lights
• the risk of impacts on the windshield because of many small stones on the roads
• when you come across a vehicle in the wrong direction on a bad road, it may suddenly come across you on the right (the first time is surprising)

In some places, the  roads of Morocco are in poor condition  but do not present great difficulties because they are quite flat, and made of small gravel. WARNING: Do not try to cross a wadi even with a 4×4 (a dry river most often made of crevasse). The most risky will certainly be in the desert where I advise you not to get bogged down with 45 degrees in the shade… Besides, be careful about what the rental company authorizes for rental.

Gasoline prices in Morocco

Petrol in Morocco is cheaper than in the United States and most European countries(around 1€ per liter), perfect for enjoying a long road trip without breaking the bank.

Car rental in Morocco

In Morocco, there are big  car rental  companies like Rent-A-Car or Avis. You can also take a car from a local rental company, it’s cheaper and the services are more adaptable to each situation. Also, it will get you out of trouble on the road more efficiently in general. Regarding insurance, check with the rental company. I advise you to take out comprehensive insurance.

The rental car is to be picked up as soon as you leave the airport. Dedicated car parks for these  passenger cars  are a 2-minute walk from the airport hall. It’s very simple, someone from  the rental agency  comes with you to take stock of any traces or problems visible on the bodywork. Do not hesitate to take some photos or a short film with your phone (the photo is dated on the phone in case of a problem) of the exterior and the interior  before starting your road trip . If it is a local agency, check that it has a counter at the airport or organize an appointment with it for your arrival by plane.

Should you rent a 4×4 for a road trip in Morocco? 

Some roads turn into a track but most of the time, it remains quite  passable in an ordinary car . Certainly, the 4×4 will allow you to venture further into the deserts or to progress on isolated paths without stress. But the 4×4 has a cost, count 45 euros per day against 25 euros for a city car. So depending on your budget, you will rent a 4×4 or a classic car.

How to call with your mobile phone in Morocco?

To call with your  mobile phone in Morocco , you can use your package if it has a world option or buy a not-always advantageous traveler pack which is offered to you by SMS when you switch on your phone when leaving the plane.

Otherwise, if you want to have internet everywhere, the most interesting thing is to  buy a Moroccan SIM card on the spot . This prepaid card is very easy to use on an unlocked phone and you don’t lose your phone’s data or access to your favorite applications. Only your phone number changes. You can buy communication credit if necessary in Maroc Telecom, Orange, or Inwi telephone shops.

Alternatively, disable data roaming in your phone settings and  enable wifi . You will then only have  internet access in hotels and restaurants offering WIFI .

How to prepare for your trip to Morocco? know how to speak a few words of Arabic

To appear more respectful of the country you are visiting, it is always good to know a few words in the  most spoken language , here Moroccan. The most useful is to learn the Moroccan formulas of politeness, the basis for communicating.

Hello: Salam Goodbye: Bslama Please: Afak Thank you: Choukrane No: Lla Yes: Ayeh Yallah!: Let’s go! that’s enough: Safi

When someone says Salaam Alaikoum, we answer Wa Alaikoum Saalam, it is an expression to welcome.

What are the Moroccans like?

Moroccans are  kind, smiling, and generous people .  They will be happy to welcome you to their home for the mint tea ceremony while chatting quietly. However, tourism has taken its toll on the behavior of some. It is not uncommon in large cities like Fez or Marrakech to feel a noticeable aggressiveness.  Unpleasant remarks  by shopkeepers when you don’t buy anything, gestures from passers-by to spoil the photo you wanted to take, a  growing exasperation  that breaks the pleasure of the holidays a little.

My advice on this subject is to move towards areas less damaged by  mass tourism  and to visit Morocco off the beaten track . The road trip lends itself perfectly to this, do not hesitate to pass quickly on the exchanges in the urban centers. You will have plenty of time to  meet adorable Moroccans in more remote villages  .

Traveling to Morocco during Ramadan

 Remember that the exact date of Ramadan is a little different every year, in the year 2024 it will start on the evening of Sunday, March 10, 2024, and end on the evening of Tuesday, April 9. During this period of fasting, the population no longer lives at the same pace. Prayers and meals no longer follow the usual schedules. During the day, the streets are deserted, and many take long naps to survive without eating.

Disadvantages of going to Morocco during Ramadan

• The streets are deserted, and the cities are less animated
• You will find many restaurants closed.
• Try not to eat or drink in public.

Benefits of traveling to Morocco during Ramadan

• Fewer tourists and vacationers are fleeing Ramadan, which is less favorable to all kinds of tourist activities. This leaves you free to explore the country more authentically.
• The souks are calmer, you feel less pressure from certain traders while walking in the medinas .

 IMPORTANT: Remember that the exact date of Ramadan is a little different every year, in the year 2024 it will start on the evening of Sunday, March 10, 2024, and end on the evening of Tuesday, April 9.

What is the best itinerary in Morocco?

Without a doubt, if I had to  choose the most beautiful road trip in Morocco , it would be the circuit that includes the  city of Marrakech , the oasis of Ouarzazate, and the desert of Merzouga. But the stone desert of Tafraout left me speechless and the isolated roads of southern Morocco feel like Nevada. An almost impossible choice to make. 

Which desert to choose between M’hamid and Merzouga? the most beautiful desert between erg Chegaga and erg Chebbi

M’hamid is a good compromise if you don’t want to drive too much. You will have a first experience of the sand and stone desert. Indeed, the Chegaga dunes (M’hamid) are larger than the Chebbi dunes (Merzouga), but they alternate with flat desert expanses and rocky mountains. To access the dunes, a 4×4 vehicle is necessary, or you can hire the services of a guide equipped with a suitable vehicle.

Therefore, if you want to experience the real desert, the one from the tales of One Thousand and One Nights, with endless dunes, camel caravans, and golden sand, I recommend choosing the Merzouga desert . Although the journey to get there is long, there are hotels along the desert .

Should you haggle in Morocco?

The biggest cliché of Morocco is haggling with the merchant. Indeed, it was originally a custom to take time to decide on a purchase, to have green tea with mint, to examine the item from all angles, and to reflect and negotiate the price until reaching an agreement. Unfortunately, haggling has suffered from tourism, and some Moroccan vendors no longer enjoy the game of negotiation with tourists. If you don’t wish to buy something, it’s better to say so from the beginning. Otherwise, don’t waste time haggling in overly touristy areas. It’s better to visit more remote souks where you’ll get better prices without needing to bargain too much.

Moroccan specialties not to be missed

As in all countries, there are unique dishes that you have to taste. Here are some of the  Moroccan specialties  and  typical crafts  that make the richness of this beautiful country.

• Argan oil  (oil extracted from the endemic tree of Morocco, the argan tree)
• Sweet mint tea  (at all times and for all occasions)
• Dates  (sweet fruit),  gazelle horns  (pastry with honey and almonds),  chicken tagine with candied fruit  (often with lemon),  Moroccan couscous ,  oranges from Morocco
• Moroccan craftsmanship : pottery and ceramics, Berber rugs and Kilim, recycled tire baskets, leather poufs, and basketry objects…

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Morocco Travel Guide: How to prepare and plan your Trip

Planning to travel to Morocco and looking for some trusted travel tips? Well then, read on for an adventure filled plan and our top tips! Morocco is only a four hour plane ride away from Europe – and yet it’s like you’ve just been dropped into a completely different world. Morocco is an ideal travel destination for a road trip , with adventures, oriental flair and a pleasantly warm climate.

We have compiled everything we know from our experience and all our best travel tips for Morocco in this one post so that you can best prepare for your road trip. When is the best time to travel? How safe is a trip to Morocco? How do I get from A to B? You’ll find the answers to these questions and more, in this special travel guide for Morocco. 

1. Pre-travel Tips: Important Facts about Travelling to Morocco

2. arrival tips: getting into morocco, 3. accommodation guide for morocco: where to stay, 4. eating and drinking in morocco, 5. religion and culture: dress and behaviour tips in morocco, 6. security: how safe is morocco to travel, 7. transport guide: road trip through morocco by car, 8. city transport in morocco: taxi tips, 9. travel costs: how expensive is it to travel morocco, 10. photography tips & restriction in morocco, 11. internet & apps for travelling morocco.

What to expect in Morocco

What images come up when you think of Morocco? Probably one that shows the Arabian-night lifestyle in flawless perfection, right? Yes, you can definitely look forward to that when you travel to Morocco. But: Morocco is SO much more than that.

The following three things make this country special and speak for a trip to Morocco:

• Oriental flair: it starts with the colorful markets, continues through the typical cuisine to the hamams and the wonderful hotels (riads): in Morocco you can soak up the oriental way of life from dawn to dusk.
• Landscape : From the Atlas Mountains to gigantic canyons, from the desert to the mountain passes – Morocco’s landscape will take your breath away. We had high expectations before, but we have to admit: it was even better!
• Geographical proximity to Europe : you are in a completely different world within just a few hours from Mainland Europe. No nerve-wracking jet lag, no long-haul flight. A perfect travel destination for anyone who doesn’t want to travel too far.

Do you want to know which sights you shouldn’t miss and where all the highlights are around the country? Then we recommend our detailed blog article, where we show you which places we have traveled to and what you can expect there.

You can read that here: Our Itinerary: All Destinations in Morocco

Best time and season for Travelling to Morocco

You can travel to Morocco all year round , but of course there are months that are better and those that are less suitable. It also depends on which regions of Morocco you want to travel to.

The ideal travel times for a round trip through Morocco are spring (if possible avoid the holiday season, i.e. Easter) and autumn. While it can still be cool in Europe in spring, you can usually expect bright sunshine in Morocco. And you can also spend wonderful late summer days in Morocco in autumn.

We would not recommend midsummer (July and August), especially if you want to see the desert. In addition, sand storms in the desert start brewing between April and October. Sightseeing at 35 degrees in the shade can also become unbearable. You have to expect restrictions during Ramadan , as some restaurants are closed during the day.

Around Christmas and New Year many flee into the warming sun and it gets very crowded in Morocco and accordingly more expensive. If you want to avoid this, you should also avoid this time.

We traveled to Morocco in late February / early March . During the day it was pleasantly warm, sometimes even quite hot in the sun. It cooled off in the evening. Our accommodations were all equipped with heating. Our tip: in the colder months, be sure to find rooms with heating, otherwise the nights will be rather uncomfortably cold.

Travel Guide to Morocco: Our Tip

Although you can find many tips for Morocco on the Internet, such as on our blog, we still recommend that you get a printed travel guide. Here we can highly recommend the Rough Guide Travel Guide. Rough Guide travel guides are well-known by the fact that they are fairly detailed and very well researched.

The new edition of the Morocco Travel Guide by Rough Guide was published in 2019 and is therefore quite up to date. Our conclusion: perfect for anyone travelling to Morocco!

You can buy the guide here: The Rough Guide Morocco

Good news: Austrians and Germans do not need a visa to enter the country. On the plane you will receive an entry card that you must fill out. The border police will take the card and may ask you a few questions. That was it basically.

You can expect the same procedure awaiting you as you leave. Anyone who works in journalism or in another area that could be a thorn in the side of the police should prepare for a somewhat longer question-and-answer game. That was the case with us, but all in all things are relatively relaxed, so don’t worry!

Traditionally, you spend the night in Morocco in so-called riads. Riads are traditional, multi-storey buildings that have a wonderful courtyard and often have a grand roof terrace . From the outside, it is often hard to believe which oasis is hidden behind the gates of a riad.

We swear: Nowhere else in the world have we seen such a high density of grand and stylish accommodation as in Morocco. In larger cities you are literally overwhelmed by the offerings. If possible, we definitely recommend that you stay in a riad. For about 70 to 100 Euros per night you can get a very nice room with breakfast for two people.

Here you will find all our recommendations: Hotel tips for Morocco

In Morocco, people love the combination of sweet and salty , and dried dates, apricots and raisins are used in many dishes. Honestly, we’re massive fans!

Typical of Morocco is the so-called tagine, a dish that is prepared in a clay pot (also called Tagine ) and is often served with couscous. This stew usually consists of meat and vegetables, but there are also meatless options.

Although we liked Moroccan food, to be honest the culinary offerings got a bit boring over time. Especially for vegetarians , you’ll find the same dishes being served, as the selection is unfortunately rather limited, unless you eat out at hip trendy restaurants. Meat is often eaten in Morocco, unfortunately vegetarian dishes are less common on the menu than in some other countries.

An exception is breakfast , which is almost always very bread and carbohydrate-heavy. Breakfast is included in most accommodations. You will almost always be served different dishes, including Moroccan pancakes, bread, jams and homemade yogurt.

As is well known, Islam is the state religion in Morocco. Knowing that in advance will help you adapt to the culture shock faster. Unfortunately, this means, among other things, that the patriarchal structures are very visible. You’ll find mostly men on the streets.

We therefore, especially recommend women not to wear skimpy clothing . Loose blouses, long trousers and long dresses and skirts are more practical. Honestly, as a tourist, you already stand out immediately so it’s more pleasant to be dressed as covered and casually as possible.

There is no obligation to wear a headscarf , but admittedly: even in direct sunlight we like to use a cloth. Exchanging tenderness or PDA in public is a no-go in Morocco.

Good to know: Non-Muslims can only visit two mosques in Morocco – the Hassan II mosque in Casablanca and the tomb mosque of Moulay Ismail in Meknes. But don’t worry: there are beautiful palaces and Koran schools in Morocco that you can visit.

One of the questions we were asked most often: how safe is it to travel around Morocco? First of all, we would advise you to read the most up to date section on the website of your home country’s respective Foreign Ministry Office. In terms of security, this should always be your first point of contact.

However, we will of course also be happy to share our own personal experiences and that is where the good news comes. Nothing bad ever happened to us in Morocco. We had no negative experiences. We were not robbed or harassed. Yes, we probably paid too much for a few things, but that’s about it.

Our specific tips for security:

• Travel as a couple if possible. Of course there are also many who travel through Morocco alone – including women. To be honest, we personally found it very nice to travel as a couple. 
• Avoid the medina at night. The medina (the old town) of some cities consists of very narrow streets. Especially at night, these dark alleys can feel a little shady. Try to avoid walks at night. We recommend this to women traveling alone.
• Do not flaunt your valuables. We typically are the kind of people who are often too lazy to safely stow our (rather expensive) camera gear and instead let it hang loosely around our shoulders instead. Apparently, you shouldn’t make a habit out of this – especially in crowds.
• Don’t be fooled by self-proclaimed guides. At every corner in Marrakech someone will offer to show you the way to “La Place” (the large square). In truth, he wants to take you to his shop to sell you something, or he really shows you the place and then of course charges a good amount. Our tip: If you really get lost, it’s better to ask a woman the right way.
• Cities vs. Rural region: We personally found the men in larger cities (above all in Marrakech) to be much more intrusive and uncomfortable than in rural regions. While, for example, tips are constantly demanded in cities (e.g. for photos), people in the countryside are much more chill about it. We’ll give you more tips for taking photos later in this blog article.

Morocco is a really ideal place to travel with a rental car . There are several reasons for this:

• First of all, the main streets are largely in good condition . Even with a small car you can easily reach most places.
• Traffic is very limited outside of the larger cities. It may be that you don’t see any other cars anywhere.
• There is right-hand traffic in Morocco, so you don’t have to get used to it (unless you’re from NZ, Australia, UK or other Commonwealth Countries)
• Most places are signposted in two languages ​​(English, Arabic).
• The prices for a rental car are comparatively cheap: For our Peugeot 301 we paid around 250 Euros (excluding navigation system) for a week.

Renting a car in Morocco – what should I watch out for?

Provider and deductible.

We booked our rental car through Sunny Cars . We’ve only ever had good experiences with them, because when you book through Sunny Cars you get full insurance including reimbursement of the excess in the event of damage. Sunny Cars acts as an intermediary here: You book your car on the Sunny Cars website and collect it from a local car rental company (e.g. Hertz, Europcar, etc.).

What does a deductible mean? In some countries, this is also called the ‘excess’ or ‘deposit’. e.g. If you drive a dent into the car, you will receive a refund on any additional costs incurred with that accident from Sunny Cars. However, if you book the rental car “with a deductible/excess/deposit” (this is the case with many other platforms), you have to pay a certain amount (usually a few hundred Euros) in the event of damage, which you won’t get back.

You can search for cheap rental cars (fully comprehensive) here: Sunny Cars

Is it safe to drive through Morocco with a rental car?

Honestly, we had our hesitations at first, but it was absolutely no problem ! The streets are mostly in very good condition. There is little traffic. We have never met any dubious people. We only avoided driving at night, but mostly because it is easy to miss a pothole.

Other tips for renting & driving in Morocco

We are happy to rent the car ourselves at the airport, because there is usually less traffic than in the stations in the city and you can get used to the traffic conditions in peace. We picked up our car from Marrakech on the day of departure for two reasons: Firstly, you don’t need a car in Marrakech so we were able to save costs. Secondly, as soon as you drive towards the medina, the traffic is horrendous. We didn’t want to do that to ourselves.

We bought a navigation device , but would not recommend it. It was quite expensive (approx. 12 Euros per day) and we didn’t find much benefit from having it. In addition, we couldn’t find a lot of the places in the navigation system and had to trust our own orientation or the travel guide map.We’d recommend you to better download an offline app for your smartphone. It makes a lot more sense.

An international driver’s license is usually not necessary when renting and we were never asked for it. Nevertheless, we recommend that you get one for insurance reasons alone. You can easily get your international driver’s license for around 15 Euros at the ÖAMTC (Austria) or ADAC (Germany).

In larger cities, you should avoid the car, which saves you time and stress. It is best to park the rental car as close as possible to the accommodation (e.g. in a guarded parking lot or at best at the hotel car park) and switch to taxis for the duration of the stay or cover the distances by foot.

Police controls in Morocco

What many stories are circulating on the Internet are the police controls in Morocco: Yes, it is true. They are everywhere and you are likely to be controlled if you travel to Morocco in your own car.

Our personal experience: We never had a negative experience with the Moroccan police. Even when we were stopped after crossing a stop line during an overtaking manoeuvre, the policeman was very understanding (“French campervans are always slow, I understand that.”)

However, corruption is definitely an issue: we managed to negotiate the amount of our penalty down by half. Otherwise, the control was quite heavily regulated.

Even in the larger cities ( Marrakech , Fez , Casablanca etc.) you can do most of the walking . For longer distances, it is common to take a taxi. A basic distinction is made in Morocco between Petit Taxi and Grand Taxi.

• The Petit Taxi (small taxi) is – as the name suggests – a very small car that can pass through narrow streets.
• A Grand Taxi tends to be used for longer distances, i.e. between two cities or for destinations that are slightly outside the city.

The fare is generally determined by a taximeter, but of course they will try to convince you that it is not currently working. Therefore, you should either ask another driver or negotiate the fare in advance if they try to pull the ‘taximeter trick’ on you.

Prices vary from city to city – depending on how much people are used to tourism. In Marrakech, for example, you can expect a short distance ride to cost 50 Dirhams or more. However, you should really pay a maximum of 30 Dirhams. In Casablanca, we often only paid 20 Dirhams for a longer distance. Also, you can expect a surcharge at night.

Currency & Paying in Morocco

Morocco’s currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). 1 Euro corresponds to about 10.70 Dirham (as of early 2021). With the prices written in Morocco, you simply mentally omit a zero at the end to get the approximate amount of Euros.

You can easily withdraw money from ATMs . If you are from Austria, make sure that the GeoControl function is deactivated at your bank before you leave. You can usually do that online.

Travel expenses in Morocco: price level and price examples

What does it cost in Morocco …?

• Double room in a beautiful riad in Marrakech: 70 to 100 Euros per night
• Car rental for a week: 200 to 250 Euros
• Taxi ride in Marrakech or Fez: 20 to 30 Dirhams
• Dinner for two in a nice restaurant: 200 Dirhams
• Entry to the Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech: 80 Dirhams
• Entry to the Bahia Palace in Marrakech: 50 Dirhams

We would describe the price levels in Morocco as somewhat lower than in Austria or Germany. But don’t expect to have a super cheap trip in Morocco.

Tipping Culture

Tipping is not only seen as desirable in Morocco for many services, but is actually expected . In restaurants, 5 to 10 percent is appropriate. We would also leave the service staff from our accommodation around 10 to 20 Dirham per day in the room.

If you ask for directions or if you take a picture of someone, he or she may also ask for money. We would also then give about 10 to 20 Dirhams.

Morocco is a paradise for photography enthusiasts . And yet there are a few things to consider: Especially if you want to take pictures of people (and Moroccans are really photogenic), you should always ask for permission . In larger cities where people are used to tourists, you will almost always be asked to tip if you want to take pictures of someone.

An extreme example is the Djemaa el Fna in Marrakech. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of people who earn their daily bread as a photo model. Unfortunately, you are often asked for money here, in a not overly kind approach.

On our trip, we preferred another way to get great portraits: We would simply buy something from someone and then asked the person for a photo.

It should be borne in mind that in Islam, the depiction of people is prohibited or not welcome. You should keep this restriction in mind when taking pictures, especially if you are in highly religious areas. If in doubt, we would advise against taking a photo and retreat rather than attract attention.

Under no circumstances should you photograph military facilities and uniformed officers (police, security guards, etc.) (thanks to Ricky for the tip).

Mobile Internet: SIM card in Morocco

Nowadays, most of us are used to being online while traveling. Therefore, we would highly recommend that you buy a local SIM card for your smartphone when you get there. It is a great way to navigate from A to B and can also be used to search for tips on restaurants or sights.

You can buy the SIM card directly at the airport. It is important that your smartphone is unlocked for all networks (i.e. not limited to one provider). The SIM card is usually setup and activated directly by the staff – without any problems. The price will depend on the data volume, but generally speaking SIM cards are quite cheap.

Network coverage in Morocco is good, although there are places where you don’t have a network. Especially in sparse, barren regions between the cities you often have to do without reception. However, the reception is very good in the cities themselves.

Also WiFi is quite widespread in Morocco: the vast majority of hotels offer WiFi. However, the speed leaves somethings to be said.

Helpful apps for your trip to Morocco

• Google Translate (download the French version so you can use it offline): Especially in rural areas, you’ll find many speak little to no English, but instead speak French.
• maps.me or CityMaps2Go (download the Morocco map so that you can also use it offline): perfect for marking individual sights and restaurants.
• Maps app (iPhone) or Google Maps: Great for navigating from A to B.
• Happy Cow: great for finding vegetarian restaurants nearby.

Disclaimer: Affiliate Links

This blog article contains our personal recommendations in the form of affiliate links. If you book or buy something through these links, then we will receive a small commission. This will not change the prices for you at all. A million thanks from the both of us!

Do you have any other travel tips for Morocco? Let us know in the comments. We look forward to reading about your experience!

You might also be interested in this

Marrakech Travel Guide: Travel Tips and our Honest Review

Fez Travel Guide: Best Sights and Tips for the Oldest Medina in Morocco

Casablanca Travel Guide: How to Spend the Perfect Day

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Our Top Tips For Travelling to Morocco – Everything You Need to Know

Boasting everything beautiful mountains, sandy desert, imperial cities and bustling markets, Morocco truly has something for everything type of traveller. However, with so much to explore here, it can be hard to navigate your way around a villa holiday in Morocco – and that’s before you take the country’s maze-like medinas into account! To help put your mind at ease, we’ve rounded up our top tips for travelling to Morocco, from currency to dress codes.

1. Haggle culture

The official currency of Morocco is the  Moroccan Dirham . While major stores take credit card, if you plan to shop in the medinas, you’ll need cash on hand. This is also where you can get involved with haggling – and don’t worry about causing offence, as it’s part of the culture! You may find you get up to 50% off the original price.

2. Grand taxis

A reliable bus service runs across Morocco, but the vehicles themselves can be cramped and uncomfortable. For just a slightly higher price, you can pay to ride in a shared ‘grand taxi’ . These fit around 6 people, and drivers won’t leave until all seats are filled, but they you with much more flexibility around where you want to go.

3. Dress code

This is especially true when visiting mosques, as you’ll need to cover all the way to your wrists and ankles. However, you should also note that most mosques won’t let non-Muslims in, so check in advance before making your way to one specifically. The exception is the famous  Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, so just come suitably dressed should you choose to visit.

4. Language barriers

Arabic and Berber serve as the two official languages of Morocco, but many citizens will also speak French. You may be surprised to learn that English is not widely known, so it’s worth brushing up on your French skills (or downloading a translator app) ahead of time.

If you encounter a taxi driver who doesn’t speak your language, it’s best to show them the French name for where you want to go – at least the characters will be ones you both recognise!

5. Stay alert

Should you choose to hire a car, it’s also important to note that many drivers don’t obey road rules. Add in the blind turns and winding lanes and you’ll need to be extremely focused when getting behind the wheel.

Tipping is expected in Morocco – especially when it comes to tourism services like guides and drivers – though not forced. As a rule of thumb, 10% is a good amount to leave when dining in restaurants or cafes, but 20% wouldn’t be out of place. Tips are also appreciated when using free toilets with a cleaning attendant.

Be wary of locals who offer to give you directions or take you to where you need to go. They’ll typically want something in return, so either find your own way around or have a few dirhams to hand.

7. Snap and pay

8. Not-so-TGIF?

As a Muslim country , you’ll find that some shops and cultural attractions close over lunchtime on Friday, which is the holy day. However, most restaurants and cafes will remain open as it’s still a working day.

You should also be mindful of visiting during Ramadan – exact dates change every year, but it runs for the whole ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Restaurants close during the day, so it will be difficult to eat out at ‘normal’ times.

9. Avoid street food

10. Drink safe

Even when dining in, there are still certain precautions to take. You should only drink bottled water in Morocco – and that includes when it comes to brushing your teeth. That also means avoiding ice cubes in drinks, as they’ll be made from regular tap water, plus salad leaves that will have been washed in it too. While the tap water is safe to drink, it’s chlorinated so will likely upset your stomach if you’re not used to that. Pack some digestion tablets too to be on the safe side!

Now that you’ve read our top tips on travelling to Morocco, are you ready to start planning your getaway? If so, you’re in luck because we’ve got a range of luxury villas in Morocco to help you have the best experience possible. If you’re still unsure on where to stay, contact a member of our concierge team and they’ll be happy to help you get going.

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SUch a useful post, wish I had read it before going!

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4 tips for Black travellers visiting Morocco

I’ve already made four trips to Morocco, but even then, I’ve barely scratched the surface of its incredible beaches, mountains and markets. When I was offered a trip back, this time with Intrepid, I was excited to dive back into the history, landscapes and culture of this North African again. At the same time, I know it’s not the easiest country to travel in. 

As a Black woman, I’ve encountered many instances of racism, microaggressions and sexual harassment abroad, and unfortunately, I faced many problematic situations in Morocco too. Yet, despite its challenges, Morocco has plenty to offer.

One of the ways I like to prepare before travelling is by hearing from those who have done it before. If you want to visit Morocco with more confidence and ease but aren’t sure what to expect, let me share some tips.

1. Do your research before any trip 

If you’re reading this, you’re already doing your research, which can help you avoid common pitfalls and guide your journey. Don’t forget to check the sociopolitical climate of any country before travelling.

Beyond reading about my experience, look up what it’s like to travel as a Black person in Morocco on Google and social media. You’ll find personal accounts from other Black travellers about their experiences in the country. Black travel sites like Travel Noire and my platform Melanin Travel also post regular content on what it means to be a Black traveller worldwide.  

You may not want to, but you will likely stand out and attract attention as a Black traveller in Morocco. Even more so if you don’t adhere to the local dress codes and customs. 

Morocco is a Muslim country, so remember to dress modestly and err on the side of caution. Be respectful while visiting religious sites and mindful of local etiquette like removing shoes before entering mosques, tipping and not drinking in public areas. 

2. Explore Morocco outside of Marrakech

The crowded, sometimes chaotic vibes of Marrakech are what travellers normally expect of Morocco, so the city serves as a great introduction, but there’s so much more to see. It was easier to do this with Intrepid as we visited multiple cities in one trip.

Each place in Morocco has a different personality. I encourage you to find where you feel most confident and happy exploring. Once you venture out beyond the Red City of Marrakech, you’ll discover a quieter and calmer side of Morocco. 

I loved the ancient feel of the world’s oldest medina in Fez. We explored the narrow pathways and soaked up the culture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. I felt at peace walking through the blue homes of Chefchaouen as a handful of people greeted me and complimented my outfit. While there was still some name-calling, it was isolated to particular areas instead of experienced multiple times throughout the day, as in Marrakech.  

After exploring other cities, going to a cosmopolitan city like Casablanca can be a bit unexpected. It’s very modern and feels different to the rest of Morocco. Then there was the coastline and scenery in the quaint beach town of Asilah – once Spanish territory – which transported me to Southern Europe. In Asilah, you will even find Valencian dishes like paella and tortilla. 

3. Prepare yourself for the inevitable

Every time I visit Morocco, I get called Mama Africa, Michelle Obama, Beyonce or Naomi Campbell countless times, or I feel hypersexualised by being catcalled. I get loads of stares as I walk down the street, especially if I’m alone. Some stares are tense, and some are curious. No matter how hard I try, I never blend in. 

Being so visible all the time is overwhelming at best, but once I knew that it was just going to be part of the experience, it helped me mentally prepare for it. I was honest with myself and who I wanted to travel with because I only wanted supportive people around me. You can’t escape the negatives of travelling while Black, but you can be equipped with the knowledge so you can focus on enjoying your trip as much as you can.

However, if you face an unpleasant experience abroad, my advice is to prioritise your safety and do whatever feels right for you in that moment. Your sense of safety is personal and unique, so trying to mimic how someone else might respond could potentially be harmful. Always trust your instincts. 

4. Travel with a group

I’m a solo traveller at heart, but I really appreciate group travel. When another person looks like you on a trip, you won’t feel completely alone in your experiences, thoughts and actions. 

There were other people of colour on my trip, one a Black man, so I felt understood without needing to explain certain things. Most importantly, race wasn’t at the forefront of our conversations as it often can be with others you meet while travelling.

The leader on your trip matters too. I’ve felt alienated by guides on random tours I’ve booked before and had them make my race an uncomfortable topic, but I never felt that way with Abdellah Bouraihan , our Intrepid leader.

Abdellah was a godsend. Of course, he gave us in-depth information on Morocco, but he also helped me as a mediator and translator during difficult situations that could have been more challenging to diffuse if I were alone. Having support on-hand 24/7 allowed me to relax.

Plus, things that would generally be stressful, such as booking transport and tours, were already taken care of, so I could focus on having a good time. All I had to do was show up and take in Morocco’s beauty. I’d choose that feeling as a Black traveller any day.

See Morocco for yourself on one of Intrepid’s 30+ trips in the country. Vivienne travelled as a guest of Intrepid. Follow her adventures on Instagram at @travellingwithmelanin .

Feeling inspired?

Vivienne Dovi

Vivienne Dovi is the Founder of Melanin Travel, a digital platform curating events, resources and content for the African Diaspora. Combining her 20+ years of travel and passion for diversity, Vivienne has turned her lived experiences into a bustling community to highlight the nuanced realities that travellers of the African diaspora face.

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The Perfect Spain, Portugal, Morocco Itinerary for 2 Weeks

• Post author By Melissa
• Post date June 13, 2024
• 11 Comments on The Perfect Spain, Portugal, Morocco Itinerary for 2 Weeks

Trying to plan the perfect vacation in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco? We’re here to help! This 2-week Spain, Portugal, Morocco itinerary is a whirl-wind adventure. It takes you from the tiled streets of Lisbon, Portugal to the dreamy pueblos blancos in southern Spain , ending in the majestic, maze-like medinas in Morocco. 

We’ve planned it, personally traveled it, and have laid out the details of our Portugal, Spain, Morocco itinerary to make your trip-planning a breeze.

About this Spain, Portugal, Morocco itinerary

A vacation to the Iberian Peninsula, which encompasses Portugal and Spain, is sure to be filled with fun, sun, and lots of sangria and tapas.

With only a mile of water separating the southern tip of Spain from Morocco, the north African country makes for an easy addition to any Iberian itinerary.

Although we planned and did everything on our own, if you prefer a guided tour over a self-guided one, there are a variety of tour companies that offer similar itineraries for Spain, Portugal and Morocco. 

For example, this multi-day guided Spain and Portugal tour can be paired with this Morocco tour to create a full 2-week itinerary for Portugal, Spain and Morocco.

Another option is to do a portion of the trip self-guided and then take a few day trips or guided adventures for the other destinations. You may feel totally fine doing the European portion on your own but prefer a guided tour of Morocco .

How to get around using this Spain, Portugal, Morocco itinerary

Following this itinerary will take you by plane, train, metro, bus, rental car, taxi, and even ferry. The transportation element of this itinerary was the most confusing aspect when planning our Spain, Portugal, Morocco trip. 

So, we’ve taken the headache out of the equation, providing links to all the places where you can book transportation and when you will need it. 

First, if following this Portugal, Spain, Morocco itinerary, plan to fly into Lisbon, Portugal and out of Tangier, Morocco .

We use Google Flights to find the cheapest flight information. 

Be sure to search for both open-jaw flights and one-way flights to see which option is the cheapest. Once you find the flights that work best, we always recommend booking flights directly through the airline itself. 

You’ll be able to travel around Lisbon and to the mountain town of Sintra using public transportation that you can book when you arrive in Lisbon. However, you’ll need a rental car to travel between Lisbon and Albufeira and Faro, Portugal . 

It is possible to take a bus from Lisbon to Faro, but you will want a car to travel freely along the Algarve coast.

We use DiscoverCars to compare rates and book cars when road tripping in Europe . 

Keep in mind, many of the cheapest cars to rent in Europe are manual transmissions, so if you cannot drive a stick-shift vehicle, be sure to select automatic only when searching for cars.  

From Faro, Portugal to Seville, Spain you will need to take a bus , as there are no trains connecting the two cities. 

Driving your rental car to Seville is an alternative option, but there are significant fees added when you drive a rental car across a border and drop it off in a different country than you picked it up in.

You’ll save hundreds of dollars by taking the bus. The buses are nice and roomy.

You can check the bus times, ticket costs and book directly at FlixBus . 

In Seville, you can get by mainly on foot since you will primarily be exploring the city center and old town area if you follow our Spain, Portugal, Morocco itinerary.

When you leave Seville to head to Cordoba, Ronda, and to Tarifa to board the ferry to Morocco, you will travel by train. You will take the train from Seville to Cordoba, Cordoba to Ronda, and Ronda to Tarifa .

You can review the train timetables and book your tickets at RailEurope.com .

Read our full review of Rail Europe HERE

The ferry is the easiest way to get between Spain and Morocco. There are two ferry ports in Spain and two near Tangier, Morocco. You want to be sure to go to the right one, which will save you a lot of time and frustration. 

Book your train ticket through to Tarifa, Spain rather than Algeciras. You will catch the ferry in Tarifa.

Both Tarifa and Algeciras have ports with ferries that take you to Morocco, but Algeciras is a much longer ordeal, as the ferries are primarily transporting those in vehicles driving onto the ferry. 

The port in Tarifa is primarily for those walking onto the ferry, so the wait time and process is much smoother. 

You will have to transfer trains in Algeciras to get to Tarifa, but it is well worth the extra stop and could potentially save you hours of time. The ferry from Tarifa will drop you off at the port in Tangier , as well, whereas the Algeciras ferry docks at Tangier Med which is located about 30 minutes outside of Tangier.

You can book your ferry from Tarifa on Viator.com .

Taxi/Private Transfer

When you arrive in Morocco, the easiest way to get between cities is to take a taxi or private transfer service.

You can book your transfer to Chefchaouen directly online , or when you arrive at the ferry port, you’ll find plenty of taxi drivers who will also be willing to make the trip to Chefchaouen.  

Safety and Health Information

Health and safety are the most important things to consider when booking a family trip. Fortunately, we felt safe in every part of Portugal, Spain and Morocco that we visited.

Personal Safety

Although Morocco can be intimidating for solo female travelers who might experience unwanted attention from men, it is a different story if visiting Morocco with kids .

Moroccans are very family-oriented, and children are doted on, stopped on the street, and blessed, particularly by Moroccan women. This may be somewhat disquieting for children who do not like attention or have a fear of strangers, however we never felt unsafe. In fact, our daughter loved the extra attention. 

Vaccinations

Any time you travel internationally, you’ll want to make sure your vaccinations are up to date. You’ll also want to check each country’s entry requirements regarding vaccinations, as those may differ and change over time. 

Drinking water

The drinking water or tap water in Portugal and Spain is safe to consume, but you will want to stick to purchasing bottled water in Morocco and avoid eating raw fruits that have been washed in the tap water. We even used bottled water to brush our teeth, although that isn’t considered necessary. It was more of a precaution we took to avoid “traveler’s tummy”.

Unfortunately, it is quite common to experience tummy issues like traveler’s diarrhea in Morocco, and we were not taking any chances.  For this reason, we recommend purchasing travel insurance through a reputable company like Hey Mondo .

Again, health and safety information are always changing, so we always recommend checking with the state department in your country for travel advisories for each location.   

Spain and Portugal both use the Euro and credit cards are widely accepted . Although, some places have a minimum purchase amount required if using a credit card.

When getting cash in a new currency, we recommend using an ATM and paying the minimal foreign transaction fee rather than using a currency exchange kiosk. Your bank will typically give you a much better exchange rate. 

In Morocco, you will want to take out some Moroccan dirham , as many businesses and vendors in the medinas don’t accept credit cards when purchasing Moroccan souvenirs . You’ll find an ATM at the ferry ports, as well as the airports if you choose to fly. 

Be sure to check the currency exchange so you have a general idea on how much money to withdraw. 

Visa requirements

Visa requirements will vary depending on your country of origin. Travelers from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and the European Union do not need visas for a Spain, Portugal, Morocco trip. 

Your passport and proof of onward travel is all you will need to visit any of these three countries.

However, beginning in 2025, US citizens will have to register and pay a fee to travel to Europe .

Best time of the year to travel to Spain Portugal and Morocco

We did this 2-week Spain, Portugal Morocco itinerary during the summer months – in July and August specifically. It was the peak tourism season in Europe, so many places were crowded.

Additionally, summer in southern Spain and Morocco can be extremely hot. 

Although the off-season would be more pleasant and less crowded, it isn’t always feasible for families like ours with school-aged children.

Late spring or early fall would be a much more pleasant time to visit these three countries, if your schedule allows.

2-week Spain, Portugal, Morocco itinerary in a nutshell

Although this 2-week itinerary for Spain, Portugal and Morocco takes you to all three countries, you will only get a small taste of each country.

You could easily spend 2 weeks in Spain alone marking incredible experiences off your Spain bucket list and visiting some of the many hidden gems of Spain .

You could also spend a full 2 weeks exploring all the best places to visit in Morocco or Portugal and still not cover them all.

With a limited time split between three destinations, here is a breakdown of our 2-week Spain, Portugal, Morocco itinerary.

• Lisbon, Portugal: 3 days (with a day trip to Sintra)
• Albufeira and the Algarve coast: 2 days
• Seville, Spain: 3 days
• Cordoba, Spain: 2 days
• Ronda, Spain: 1 day
• Chefchaouen, Morocco: 2 days
• Tangier, Morocco: 1 day

We have included other alternative itineraries at the end of this post so you can choose the route for your Spain, Portugal, Morocco trip that is right for you.

Places to visit on a 2-week Spain Portugal Morocco trip

Now to a full overview of what you will see and where you will visit on this Morocco, Spain and Portugal itinerary. 

To further help you plan your trip to Portugal, Spain and Morocco, we have written entire posts on many of the destinations included on our itinerary. This will give you a deeper look at the best things to do in each place and how to spend your time.

Here is a quick overview of the main stops on our Spain Portugal Morocco itinerary.

Lisbon, Portugal

Where to stay in Lisbon :  Hotel LX Rossio

Lisbon is your first stop of your 2-week trip to Portugal, Spain and Morocco. As the capital city of Portugal, Lisbon is both modern and historical. With steep, narrow streets, tiled buildings and red roofs, the city has a historical charm that is hard not to love. 

The coastal city also boasts some of the best street art in Europe and even one of the most famous statues in Europe , a replica of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil. 

When in Lisbon, wander through the Alfama District, the oldest district in Lisbon, visit the ancient Castel de St. Jorge and venture to Belem to see the Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower.

If visiting Lisbon with kids , the city is home to one of the largest aquariums in Europe, Oceanarium . 

Here are a few of the highlights and things to see in Lisbon:

• Alfama District 
• Castelo de St. Jorge 
• Praca do Comercio
• Rossio Square
• Barrio Alto
• Jeronimos Monastery
• Belem Tower

READ OUR COMPLETE LISBON ITINERARY

Sintra, Portugal

Plan to give yourself at least three days in Lisbon, with one of those days being a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra . You can get there within about 45 minutes by train from Lisbon or take a guided day trip .

Sintra is a beautiful mountain town that looks like something out of a fairy tale. Known for its magical palaces, castles, and magnificent estates that dot the hills, this picturesque community located an hour northwest of Lisbon is one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon .

The town, with its multiple famous landmarks, is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Once a popular summer home for Portuguese royalty, Sintra has a long history that dates back to the 8th century when the Moors settled the area. 

Now, one of the wealthiest cities in Portugal, it is a tourist destination with ruins, well-preserved palaces, and beautiful estates shrouded in mystery. 

Here are a few of the highlights and things to see in Sintra:

• Castle of Moors 
• Pena Palace to Sintra
• National Palace
• Old Town Sintra
• Quinta da Regaleira

READ OUR COMPLETE SINTRA DAY TRIP ITINERARY

Algarve Coast, Portugal

Where to stay along the Algarve Coast: Hotel Sol e Mar Albufeira

From Lisbon and Sintra, you’ll head to the Algarve Coast. You’ll want to pick up a rental car to drive to southern Portugal where you’ll have a relaxing couple of days at the beach. 

Remember to compare rental car prices online before you book. When picking up a rental car in Lisbon, keep in mind the city is very hilly, so an automatic transmission is beneficial unless you are very comfortable driving a standard transmission.

The Algarve Coast in southern Portugal is a popular beach destination in Europe. You can spend a couple days relaxing on the beach, playing in the ocean, and enjoying seafood and refreshing drinks in the picturesque seaside villages.

The Algarve is known for its pristine white villages perched upon low cliffs overlooking beach coves of white sand . Some popular beach towns to visit and explore include Lagos and Albufeira. 

If you rent a car and drive from Lisbon, take a scenic drive along the southern coast, stopping to visit various beaches like Praia Da Rocha and Praia Da Marinha . 

To top off your short time in the Algarve, book a guided tour to Benagil Cave , a stunning seaside cave accessible by boat. It is one of the most popular attractions in Portugal. 

Additionally, if you have more time and enjoy traveling at a slower pace, you could tack on a few extra days in this peaceful coastal area. 

Here are a few highlights along the Algarve Coast:

• Beach hopping
• Benagil Cave
• Albufeira 

Seville, Spain

Where to stay in Seville, Spain:   NINE SUITES

Your next destination on this Spain, Portugal, Morocco itinerary takes you to the beautiful Andalusia city of Seville. You’ll want to give yourself at least 3 days in Seville , as well.  

The city is known for its tapas, flamenco shows, and relaxed atmosphere. In the heart of the city, you’ll find an extravagant Moorish royal palace, the Real Alcazar , that dates back to 1248. 

Seville is also home to one of the largest and most famous cathedrals in Europe if not the world. Climb the Giralda Tower at the Seville Cathedral for panoramic views of Seville.

You’ll also want to build in some time to explore Plaza de Espana and relax at the neighboring Maria Luisa Park . 

Additionally, you will also want to spend time simply wandering the streets of the lovely Santa Cruz neighborhood or book a guided walking tour to learn more about the history of the area. Once the old Jewish quarter of the city, Santa Cruz is notable for its winding alleys with rod iron balconies and hidden squares. This is also a great place to find your souvenirs from Spain .

After your days of sightseeing, enjoy some free time during the Spanish siesta in the afternoons to regain your energy and avoid the peak heat hours. 

In Spain, it is important to build in downtime during the siesta hour . Not only do many businesses shut down for a few hours during the afternoon, but you’ll likely be staying up later than usual in Spain. 

Most people in Spain do not eat dinner until after 8. This is also when many flamenco shows and tapas tours take place. 

Plan for at least one or two late nights of delectable tapas, sangria, and flamenco performances. 

Here are a few highlights and things to do in Seville, Spain:

• Seville Cathedral
• Real Alcazar
• Plaza de Espana
• Barrio Santa Cruz
• Flamenco Show

READ OUR COMPLETE SEVILLE ITINERARY

Cordoba, Spain

Where to stay in Cordoba, Spain:   NH Collection Amistad Cordoba

From Seville, you’ll continue exploring the region of Andalusia on the Spain portion of your Portugal, Spain, Morocco itinerary. Head to the town of Cordoba via train ( BOOK HERE ), where you’ll spend two days. 

Although Cordoba can be done as a day trip from Seville, giving yourself two days in Cordoba allows you to explore the city without feeling rushed. 

Cordoba is home to one of the oldest mosques in Europe. Although it is now a Catholic church, the Mosque of Cordoba , or Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba, still maintains much of its original Islamic architecture. You can tour the Mezquita on your own or with a local guide. 

Of course, Cordoba is known for its flower-filled streets and quaint patios that are the perfect place for a late breakfast, relaxing lunch, or evening dinner.

Spend some time wandering through the Jewish Quarter and enjoying the beautiful streets.

Here are a few highlights and things to do in Cordoba, Spain:

• Jewish Quarter
• Calle de las Flores
• Viana Palace Gardens
• Roman Bridge
• Mosque of Cordoba
• Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs

READ OUR FULL 2 DAY CORDOBA ITINERARY

Ronda, Spain

Where to stay in Ronda, Spain:   Luxury apartment with wonderful views

One of the most beautiful places in Spain and even the real-life setting for a Disney movie , Ronda, Spain is a great place to relax with a glass of wine and an epic view.

Ronda is home to one of the most beautiful bridges in Europe . 

Puente Nuevo extends nearly 400 feet across the Tajo Gorge. The picturesque bridge, which took 3 decades to build, is the primary draw to the small white village in Spain , but there are a lot more things to do and see if you want to spend more than one day in Ronda, Spain .  

The old bridge, Puente Viejo, and Casa del Rey Moro are must-visits in the charming cliffside village. 

You can join a walking tour or roam at your leisure to explore the beautiful streets. The town is also the original home of bullfighting. If you are interested in learning the history behind it there is a museum and bullfighting arena in the center of town.

Here are a few highlights and things to do in Ronda, Spain:

• Puente Nuevo
• Puente Viejo
• Casa del Rey Moro
• Baños Arabes
• Plaza de Toros

READ OUR COMPLETE RONDA ITINERARY

Chefchaouen, Morocco 

Where to stay in Chefchaouen, Morocco:  Riad La Santa

After two nights in Ronda, it is time to catch a train, and then a ferry from Spain to Morocco.

As an alternative, you could also take the train back to Seville and fly to Morocco instead, if you don’t want the hassle of the ferry. This might be a better option particularly if you are planning to visit Morocco with kids , as long travel days tend to wear out children quicker. 

If you prefer to fly, consider flying in and out of Fes instead of Tangier. Fes is the cultural capital of Morocco and one of the best places to visit in the country .

Once in Tangier (or Fes), you’ll want to have pre-arranged transportation to Chefchaouen . 

 Known as the Blue Pearl of Morocco, Chefchaouen is one of the prettiest cities in the north African country. Situated in the Rif Mountains, the city is known for its charming, pastel blue medina. 

Spend a day letting yourself get lost in the narrow streets of the medina, take photos of the beautiful doors and eye-catching nooks and side streets.

Shop and haggle in the souk market for your souvenirs from Morocco , and then hike to the old Spanish Mosque for enchanting views overlooking this blue city. 

To get the full Moroccan experience, book your stay in a riad, which is a traditional Moroccan home with a shared interior courtyard. 

Here are a few highlights and things to do in Chefchaouen, Morocco:

• Explore the blue medina
• Do a photo shoot
• Visit the souk market
• Hike to the Spanish Mosque
• Stay in a riad

READ OUR COMPLETE CHEFCHAOUEN ITINERARY

Tangier, Morocco

Where to stay in Tangier, Morocco:   Royal Tulip City Center

One of the most fascinating facts about Morocco is just how close it is to the continent of Europe. And Tangier is so close to the southern tip of Spain that you can even visit Tangier as a day trip from Seville .

Located right on the coast, Tangier is a great place to end your whirlwind Spain, Portugal, Morocco itinerary. You can spend the day relaxing at the beach or exploring Tangier’s medina and Kasbah. 

Just outside of town, Hercules Caves are a popular tourist site.

To maximize your time in Tangier, it’s worth booking a full-day tour with a guide who can show you the highlights of Morocco’s gateway town to Europe.

Here are a few highlights and things to do in Tangier, Morocco:

• Wander the streets of the medina
• Relax at the beach
• Visit the Kasbah Museum
• Discover Caves of Hercules

Other Spain Portugal Morocco itinerary ideas

We considered several different itineraries for Spain, Portugal, Morocco, so we wanted to provide a few additional options that might better suit your travel style.

#1 Alternative itinerary for Spain Portugal Morocco trip (staying in fewer places with day trips)

This itinerary allows you to skip the rental car and bus and take an overnight sleeper train from Lisbon to Madrid, although you’ll be missing the scenic beaches along the Algarve coast. 

This alternative Portugal, Spain, Morocco itinerary also allows you to stay in one place for longer and take more day trips.

You can take day trips from Lisbon , Madrid, and Seville. 

You can even book a day trip from Seville to Tangier, Morocco if you just want to visit Morocco for a day or still plan to fly out of Tangier and take a day trip to Chefchaouen . 

• Lisbon, Portugal: 4 days (with a day trip to Sintra )
• Madrid, Spain: 3 days (with a day trip to Toledo )
• Seville, Spain: 5 days (with a day trip to Ronda and a day trip to Cordoba )
• Tangier, Morocco: 2 days (with a day trip to Chefchaouen ) 

#2 Alternative itinerary for Portugal Spain and Morocco (if Barcelona is a must-visit)

It is tough to visit Spain and not visit the beautiful city of Barcelona. However, Spain is a large country and getting to Barcelona in the northeast portion of Spain takes some time. 

You can elect to fly between Madrid and Barcelona or take a train. You can also elect to fly between Barcelona and either Tangier or Marrakech, Morocco, if you prefer flights to trains or road trips.

• Lisbon, Portugal: 3 days (with a day trip to Sintra )
• Madrid, Spain: 2 days (with a day trip to Toledo )
• Barcelona, Spain: 3 days
• Valencia, Spain: 1 days 
• Seville, Spain: 3 days 
• Tangier, Morocco: 2 days (with a day trip to Chefchaouen ) 

Is a 2-week trip to Spain, Portugal and Morocco enough?

If you prefer slow travel over a whirlwind trip, 2 weeks is not enough time to visit and truly appreciate Portugal, Spain and Morocco. In 2 weeks, it is a challenge to see more than a small region in each country.

It’s a challenge to get to cities like Marrakesh or Barcelona without spending too much of your time in a car or train. But this itinerary gives you a small taste of each of the countries with a good portion of your time spent in my favorite region of Spain, Andalusia.  

You’ll return home having had a wonderful trip and wanting to return to each country to explore more!

Do you have a question or comment about this Spain, Portugal, Morocco itinerary? We’d love to hear from you. Leave your thoughts or your own ideas for a Spain, Portugal, and Morocco trip in the comments below.

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11 comments on “The Perfect Spain, Portugal, Morocco Itinerary for 2 Weeks”

Wonderful information! I am planning a 2023 Spain,Portugal,Morocco trip for 7 active seniors (72 average). We can go anytime of year to save money and best weather. Highlights we would like – flying into Madrid,seeing Marrakesh and Casablanca. Any thoughts? Also would it be difficult to rent a car that could accommodate 7 people?

We were able to rent a car for 7 in Portugal, so I bet it is possible in Spain, as well. We used Sixt for our car rental, if that helps. In Morocco, we hired a driver/transport service, which was also able to accommodate 7 passengers. If your trip is 14 days long, I would probably do 3 days in Madrid (with a day trip to Toledo), 4 days in Seville (with a day trip to Cordoba or Ronda), 1 full travel day from Seville to Casablanca arriving at night for a total of 2 days/3 nights, and 3 days in Marrakesh. You could also add one night in Cadiz along the south coast of Spain if you plan to take the ferry across to Tangier. Hope that helps!

Tell me more about that tour for a single man in April or may 2023.

Single heathy age 60.

Hello how do I book any of these or do you just go? Thanks Di Matthews, Qld, australia

I just read about this route and would like to know more. My wife’s 50th birthday comes up in Dec so trying to see where we could have a great celebration.

Would like to know how much and how do we get there?

Amazing post ! thanks for sharing worth visiting article us and very informative

We are very much interested in such tours. Nice and detailed post. But if we don’t have 2 weeks. How can we make it enjoyable in 10 days, plus we are 6 adults, Me, my wife and 4 children of 19 to 25 year. Thirdly how can we apply for Visa from Pakistan.

Thanks so much for this itinerary. It makes planning for our trips so much easier. I appreciate very much.

Thank you so much for this! It is SO helpful – especially for those of us with kiddos! I am wondering if you might be willing to provide an overall cost- I know this cost will vary depending on where we are flying from, cost of items today vs. when you traveled but an estimate would be helpful if even as a starting point! Thank you!

What type of transportation did you take from Portugal to Spain? Train, plane, car ? We are finding little offered between the two. Thanks

We rented a car and drove from Lisbon to the Algarve, then dropped off our rental car in Faro and took a bus from Faro, Portugal to Seville, Spain.

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