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14 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Morocco

Written by Jess Lee Updated May 10, 2024

Morocco's top tourist attractions range from grand Roman ruins to orange-toned mud-brick kasbah architecture, which makes it one of North Africa's most interesting historic destinations.

While the souqs of Marrakesh and Fes, crammed to the brim with local artisan crafts, have made it one of the world's best places to visit for shoppers, head out of the cities, and a Moroccan trip becomes an adventure into some of the region's most dramatic scenery.

The craggy heights of the Atlas Mountains cut through the center of Morocco and are prime territory for trekking and other outdoor activities, while for those willing to make the long journey out east, sleeping amid the towering sand dunes of the Sahara remains one of the country's top things to do.

Morocco is also a journey into a timeless, tranquil world of cute coastal villages, colorful-painted towns that cling to hillsides, and remote mountain outposts defended by fortress walls.

This fascinating country is a merging of the African and Arab worlds and is steeped in age-old customs. It's no wonder Morocco has been feted by artists and writers for decades, and continues to enchant all who visit.

Discover the best places to visit in this captivating country with our list of the top tourist attractions in Morocco.

1. Marrakesh Medina

2. chefchaouen, 3. erg chebbi's dunes, 4. fes el bali, 5. ait ben haddou, 6. essaouira, 7. volubilis, 8. dades valley, 9. erg chigiga, 10. bab al-mansour in meknes, 11. rif mountains, 12. draa valley, 13. casablanca's hassan ii mosque, 14. rabat's oudaias kasbah, 15. tangier, map of tourist attractions in morocco.

The bustling and vibrant buzz of Marrakesh medina sums up Morocco for many visitors and is a major tourist attraction.

The old city is entered from the vast plaza of Djemma el-fna Square where, it seems, half the city converges throughout the day and into the evening to hang out with the stall vendors, traditional musicians, snake charmers, and random acrobats.

The plaza is at its most vibrant after dark, when entertainers flood into the square and the restaurant stalls (which set up at dusk daily) are selling their grilled meat meals. Don't miss spending at least one of your Marrakesh evenings here.

Once inside the medina itself, you enter a world of maze-like alleyways and shopkeeper hustle. It's an experience full of colorful and noisy local life, and not to be missed on your Moroccan sightseeing trails.

Although the medina was affected by Morocco's devastating September 2023 earthquake, and a few of the larger government-run historic tourist attractions have been closed to visitors for an indefinite period while they await full inspections for damage, the smaller privately run museums are all fully operational and open. As are all the souqs, cafés, restaurants, and other tourist facilities.

Read More: Top Attractions & Places to Visit in Marrakesh

Sitting snug amid the lush Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is a labyrinth hill town of blue-on-blue buildings that has an incredibly photogenic glow.

There isn't much actual sightseeing to be done, and that's one of the town's main attractions.

A visit here is simply about wandering the medina alleys and lapping up all that colorful architecture.

It's a peaceful, easygoing town and a great place to recharge for a while if you've been spending a lot of time amid the cities of Fes and Marrakesh beforehand.

Keen shoppers should beeline here for rugs and blankets, woven in the Riffian style using bright, primary colors. Begin any shopping expedition in Chefchaouen at Place el-Majzen in the medina.

This is also one of Morocco's main hiking and trekking destinations and a starting point and organization center for Rif Mountains walks. The town sits on the doorstep of both Talassemtane National Park and Bouhachem Nature Reserve.

If you want to sample some of the best scenery northern Morocco can summon, trek the Chefchaouen to Bab Taza trail. This four or five-day trek in Talassemtane National Park winds through lush forests of cork oak, pine, and juniper, with views in places that sweep all the way from the slopes, down to the Mediterranean. If you can, come in spring when wildflowers burst into life.

To see Morocco's Sahara dune fields, you need to head east of the High Atlas spine to the far eastern desert region that sits near the border with Algeria.

The most popular destination for grand and rippling sand dunes is Erg Chebbi.

This is prime territory for dune surfing, four-wheel-drive dune-bashing, and sunrise and sunset camel trekking, usually combined with an overnight stay in a tented desert camp.

The desert camps have been moved away, out of the dune field itself, to help preserve the natural beauty of the dunes and instead sit on the edge with views of the sand dune splendor.

Experiencing the star-filled Sahara sky at night while bedding down at a desert camp is worthy enough of the long journey it takes to get here, but you won't want to miss camel trekking across the dune field and, for the more active, exploring some of the smaller dunes on foot.

Many travelers book a desert experience package, which includes return transport (usually from Fes or Marrakesh) and an overnight desert camp stay, but you can also independently travel to Merzouga (the village beside the Erg Chebbi dune field) and organize activities once there.

Whether you're planning to visit Erg Chebbi by organized tour or independently, make sure you understand the vast distances involved in getting here.

Erg Chebbi is 551 kilometers east of Marrakesh and 469 kilometers southeast of Fes . A one-night trip to Erg Chebbi from either city is mostly consumed by traveling there and back.

It is a much better idea to throw some wiggle room into your itinerary and either break up the journey with a night or two visiting destinations along the way, or - if you're a desert fan - spending two nights in the Erg Chebbi area.

Along with Marrakesh, Fes is Morocco's other big cultural destination.

Compared to its sister Imperial City to the south, Fes is much less gentrified. The medina here (called Fes el Bali) is a maze of skinny, back alleyways where it's near impossible to not get lost.

Amid the souqs area, you'll find the tanneries, where the huge vats of colored dyes are one of the city's iconic sights.

As well as the city's artisan heritage, with souq streets full to the brim with traditional handicrafts, and the scatter of palaces and monuments hidden amid the twisting streets, the main attraction of Fes el Bali is simply heading out on aimless wanders amid the lanes.

Read More: Top Attractions & Things to Do in Fes

This golden-stoned adobe ksar (fortified village) thrusts dramatically out of the earth amid scenery that wows all who visit.

It's a fairy-tale place, and unsurprisingly the orange-hued turrets and curvy lanes inside have become a favorite film location for Hollywood due to the surreal beauty of the place.

You can even sleep within the ksar if you want the full Ait Ben Haddou experience, though those who like their creature comforts should be aware that there's no electricity within the mud brick walled building itself.

Although the High Atlas region west of Ait Ben Haddou suffered the worst brunt of Morocco's devastating 2023 earthquake (and Ouarzazate, just to the east of Ait Ben Haddou, also suffered damage), this ancient ksar was only minimally affected and remains one of the High Atlas' most beautiful sights.

Try to come in the early morning or later in the afternoon, as the tour bus crowds on day trips from Marrakesh descend from around 10am to 2pm.

Morocco's most charming seaside town is laid-back Essaouira, which became one of the country's major hippie hangouts during the 1970s. Today a hint of this bohemian past hangs on, and the town is one of Morocco's artistic centers, with a thriving local art scene.

For visitors, Essaouira's seafront medina, encased within fortified walls, is the main attraction. Its twisty lanes are home to tiny art galleries, boutiques, and a bustling contemporary café and restaurant scene, as well as traditional souq shopping.

For those seeking more active sightseeing, there are also great walks along the beach to outlying villages, and surfing along the beach.

Morocco's number one Roman-era ruin, and its most famous historic site, is a feast for history lovers.

This rambling site is packed full of tumbled columns and temple remnants, standing as reminders that even the greatest empires eventually crumble. The major highlight here, though, is the clutch of intricate mosaic floors amid the ruins, which have been left in situ where they were unearthed.

The hilltop location allows the ruins to lord over the surrounding countryside, adding to the romantic ambience of lost glory.

Head up through the ruins to the Capitol and Forum for excellent panoramic views over the site and surrounding countryside.

Volubilis can easily be visited as a day trip from either Meknes or Fes.

Hikers, trekkers, and general nature lovers shouldn't miss a journey into the Dades Valley, one of the High Atlas region's most picturesque spots.

With the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas in the distance, the slow-paced rural life here is the perfect antidote for those who have been getting frazzled nerves amid the souqs of Marrakesh and Fes.

The tiny villages of the valley, sandwiched between high, orange-hued cliffs, are surrounded by orchards and farming fields. It's particularly photogenic during spring, when the fruit trees are in blossom.

Two of the valley's most famous sights are the Ait Youl Kasbah and the landscape of the smaller Tamlalt Valley, within the Dades Valley, with the Ait Arbi Kasbah backed by red cliffs.

Although many visitors come to the valley as a day trip, or as a stop-off on a journey further east, the best way to experience it is to stay overnight and spend some time here to take one of the plentiful day walk options in the area.

Covering around 40 kilometers, the Erg Chigiga dune field is the largest in Morocco.

Due to being farther southeast than the more famous Erg Chebbi, and hence less accessible on a short Morocco trip, this vast sand sea of mammoth Saharan dunes attracts fewer crowds.

The major base for Erg Chigiga excursions is the oasis town of M'Hamid from where you can head out into the desert on 4WD tours and multi-day camel treks to overnight amid the dunes. Be aware that M'Hamid is still around 55 kilometers away from the Erg Chigiga dune field, so to reach it in one day from town, you'll need to take a 4WD tour.

There are plenty of smaller dunes surrounding M'Hamid itself, which short sunrise or sunset camel treks head to.

This mammoth gateway, which guards the entrance to Meknes ' Imperial City district leading from Meknes medina, is noted for its intricate decoration.

Meant as a monumental reminder of the sultan's might, the Bab al-Mansour is a magnificent relic of Meknes' glorious era as capital of Morocco. It's widely regarded as Morocco's grandest and best preserved gateway.

Come in the late afternoon to photograph the gate in the soft light, then wander through Meknes' small maze of a medina, which is a much more laid-back affair than the medina of nearby Fes.

Meknes can easily be visited as a day trip from Fes, but it also is a destination in its own right, and it's a good stop on any northern Morocco itinerary.

While much of Morocco's mountain scenery is craggy peaks surrounded by palm groves and arid plains, the Rif Mountains provide some lush green relief.

For hikers, bikers, and day walkers, this is a good opportunity to head out into nature with plenty of trails for both advanced trekkers and those just wanting a short easy walk.

Both Tetouan and Chefchaouen are the main bases from which to launch yourself out on a Rif Mountains adventure. Check out the trekking trails of Talassemtane National Park for its cedar and fir forest-covered mountain slopes and spectacular gorges and valleys to make the most of this region's natural beauty.

This valley, which connects the southeastern end of the High Atlas with the desert beyond, is prime territory for architecture and history fans.

All the way to the town of Zagora, the road is rimmed by palm tree oases and scattered with beautifully preserved kasbahs and ksour made from mud brick, which are fascinating to explore.

It's a great place for a road trip, stopping off at villages along the way to admire the view and delve into the shady, dimly lit passages of the kasbahs.

In particular, check out Kasbah des Caids in Tamnougalt, which has been used as a location in plenty of Hollywood films, and Timidarte village , where the village's ksar architecture has been finely restored.

Casablanca's major point of interest and landmark building, the Hassan II Mosque is a lavish symbol not only of the city, but also of Morocco itself.

This modern mosque (finished in 1993) doesn't do things by halves. The decoration detail covering every centimeter of the mammoth two-hectare site took 10,000 artisans to complete.

Intricately carved marble pieces, vibrant mosaics, and zellige tile details all pay tribute to traditional Islamic architecture ideals and the mastery of Moroccan craftsmanship and yet, at the same time, still manage to feel contemporary.

This is the only mosque that non-Muslims can enter in Morocco. Free, informative tours are run by the mosque regularly.

Read More: Top Attractions & Things to Do in Casablanca

Morocco has plenty of beautiful old town areas, but Rabat's Oudaias Kasbah neighborhood has to be one of the country's most picturesque.

This is a peaceful and perfectly quaint district that feels miles away from the city, despite being right in the city's core.

Inside the walls of this old fortress, the lanes of neat white-and-blue houses rimmed by colorful flowerpots and flapping washing have a lost-in-time atmosphere that's hard to beat.

Even better, unlike the old town areas of Fes and Marrakesh, there are hardly any other tourists here, so exploring this pretty corner of the capital feels as if you've been let in on a well-kept secret.

Read More: Top Attractions & Things to Do in Rabat

The most European of all Morocco's cities, Tangier is a major port city with regular ferry connections with Spain. This means it is often a traveler's first taste of Morocco.

Tangier has a fascinating and slightly debauched role in mid-20th century literary history, and this past is what draws many tourists here. This is the city that inspired famous works such as Paul Bowles' The Sheltering Sky and William Burroughs' Naked Lunch .

Tangier may have been scrubbed up since their day, with the bohemian cafés and louche bars long gone, but you can still catch a whiff of the decadent days gone by.

Read More: Top Attractions & Things to Do in Tangier

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Home » Travel Guides » Morocco » 15 Best Places to Visit in Morocco

15 Best Places to Visit in Morocco

Morocco is a land of mystery and magic like few in North Africa. Forged by the Carthaginians and the Berber traders, Mediterranean pirates and the military rulers of Andalusia, Sultans and Grand Viziers alike, it’s a land that fuses the styles of Europe and sub-Sahara. Its backcountry is spiked with the mighty massifs of the Atlas and the Rif, which tower – often snow-topped – above the shifting sand dunes and the sweeping oases of the Maghreb.

Its cities pulse with energy, from the spice bazaars of Fez to the endless souks of Marrakech, where cumin meets clove meets chilli powder amidst the pungent stalls. Everywhere you’ll discover elegant riad (traditional Moroccan homes with courtyards) and vast kasbahs, all adorned with intricate Islamic filigrees and beautiful arabesque motifs. You’ll sample spicy foods packed with cinnamon and dried fruits, taste mint teas, and chat the night away beneath a haze of shisha.

Lets explore the best places to visit in Morocco :

Fez has all the treats and draws you’d expect of a 1,200-year-old Maghreb city. There’s Fès el-Bali, the historic heart of the place, where a labyrinth (and we don’t use the word lightly!) of lanes and staircases and squares coalesce between the multi-coloured tanneries and the adobe cottages.

Then there’s the elegant boulevards of Ville Nouvelle. Here, the French worked to create beautiful palm-peppered avenues and babbling fountains, opulent hotels and Parisian-flavoured streets. So, move between the spice-packed souks and the fabled madrassahs, and try to get a feel for the real Morocco here.

2. Marrakech

Ah, Marrakech: the quintessential medina town of the Moroccan Maghreb. The onetime piece de resistance in the crown of the Almoravid dynasty, it sits sparkling in hues of ochre and beige stone beneath the scintillating tips of the Atlas Mountains.

At its heart is the colossal Jemaa el-Fnaa Square; the busiest in Africa and the hub of a great bazaar where everything from handwoven carpets mingle with shisha pipes and swinging golden lanterns.

Meanwhile, the medina also bursts with arabesque riad homes, their courtyards hiding mint-scented teahouses or some of the tastiest tagines you’ll ever discover. And that’s not even mentioning the Royal and Bahia palaces – a leftover from the sultans and the viziers that ruled these lands.

3. Casablanca

Known to many as the namesake and setting of Michael Curtiz’s 1942 magnum opus (entitled just Casablanca), the port city of Casablanca still reigns as the country’s largest, and the largest in the entire region of the Maghreb besides.

Booming forth onto the Atlantic coast midway between Rabat and El Jadida, it’s laden with row upon row of elegant Mauresque architecture – a unique fusion of the arabesque and the Parisian that’s seen on every roundabout and public square.

There is a small medina area, but the modern draws are of a different, more colossal character: the great King Hassan II Mosque (considered the largest in Morocco); the winding Corniche, peppered with super-clubs and chic hotels; the endless Morocco Mall – the second-biggest shopping center on the continent!

Oft referred to by its official UNESCO name, the Historic City of Meknes, this stopover on the route from Rabat on the coast to Fez under the rises of the Atlas Mountains, is a great place to wonder at the country’s fusion of Spanish and Moorish styles.

Raised to greatness by the Sultan Moulay Ismaïl during the 18th century, it’s got an enchanting medina that starts with the crenulations and motifs of the great Bab El Khemis Gate and ends with the elegant filigrees and inlays of the Dar El Makhzen royal palace.

Of course, there’s also a traditional souk here – even if it’s much smaller than the one at Fez and Marrakech – along with more spice-scented tagine houses than you can shake a dried apricot at!

5. Merzouga

The shifting desert dunes take over in earnest around the truly breathtaking town of Merzouga. Set deep in the country, on the eastward side of the Atlas ranges, this onetime camel caravan town is now a picture of the quintessential Sahara we all know from films.

Head for the great sand mounds of Erg Chebbi, which come sculpted by the ceaseless breezes of the desert. Or, take a camel ride into the borderlands with Algeria, to get lost between the ochre-yellow landscapes and the occasional nomad town where few other visitors will venture.

Steeped in the styles of the Moors and Spanish, Rabat not only boasts some of the best museums and art galleries in the country (check out the National Archaeological Museum and the Modern Art Museum) but also a prime location on the edge of the Atlantic.

Hit the lively corniche that weaves along the shore, or see the sparkling beach that lurks beneath the tower of the great Almohadan Citadel. The earthy Berber heart of Rabat is really the place to be though.

Named Oudaias Kasbah, it’s here that you’ll find those much-photographed alleyways of blue-and-white homes, winding and weaving up and down stairs, through hidden squares, and down towards the historic medina center.

Tangier heralds the African side of the Gibraltar Strait. A port town and a fortress that patrolled the entrance to the Med, it has been coveted by naval powers in these parts ever since the Carthaginians ruled the waves.

However, while the history remains palpable – especially amidst the historic medina and beneath the great Kasbah of the erstwhile Sultan of Tangier – this town now beats to a more modern tune.

The beaches and beachside haunts along the Avenue Mohammed VI throb with life on the weekend, Spanish holidaymakers arrive on fast ferries from Algeciras across the water, there are enticing organic eateries, and plenty, plenty more!

8. El Jadida

The great bulwarks of the El Jadida fort rise from the ocean like something out of Game of Thrones. They are just one – and certainly the most noticeable – reminder of the town’s unique history as a colony of not the French, nor the Spanish, but the Portuguese. You’ll see that influence in the baroque-topped churches and the between the synagogues of the Jewish Quarter, while heading to the seaside promenades and enjoying a mint tea in the salty breeze is just one example of how life’s a little more laid back in El Jadida than other centers like Fez and Marrakech. Don’t miss the beaches either, which are the main reason for those booming summertime weekend crowds!

9. Essaouira

Essaouira forms the northern end of the long stretch of beaches that runs all the way form Agadir (Morocco’s other favourite resort town on the sea – wait for it!).

As a town, it’s perhaps best known for its wealth of formidable 18th-century fortifications, which rise from the Atlantic Ocean in a series of keeps and crenulated lookouts.

It’s also famed for its cooling sea winds, which draw oodles of visitors from the sultry medina towns inland during the warmer months of the year. Unfortunately, this renders the sands close to Essaouira itself too blustery for combing and chilling. Still, there are harbours and awesome seafood to make up for that!

Sun-kissed Agadir rises from the salty shore of the African Atlantic in a medley of colourful homes and whitewashed Berber dives. For years now it’s been the chosen haunt of the beach-loving, surf-seeking traveler making their way to Morocco. And it’s really filled the role well.

Hotel resorts spill out of their palm-dotted gardens on the sea to offer up countless sunbathing opportunities on the main beach, while board riders attempt to conquer the roaring left-to-righters at famous surf spots like Devils Rock and Cro-Cro.

After dark you can look forward to one of the country’s best nightlife scenes too, with chances to sample traditional English ales in the pubs and whiskey-infused teas in the Moroccan riads. Nice.

11. Oukaimeden

Ever wondered what it might be like donning the skis and salotpettes some 2,600 meters above the dusty lands of the Sahara Desert and the sweeping fields of citrus fruits that spread out to the north, throughout the Maghreb? Well, Oukaimeden is your chance to find out!

Perched high atop the Atlas Mountains, it’s the highest ski resort in all of Africa (okay, there aren’t really many, but still!). Just 45 miles from the city of Marrakech, it makes for the perfect detour from the North African heat.

You’ll discover five individual runs, a series of drag lifts, a ski school, rental facilities and breathtaking views over the rugged tip of Jebel Attar.

12. Al Hoceima

A cocktail of the Andalusian influence and the traditional Berber character (which remains stronger here than in most all other cities found cascading down the ridges of the Rif Mountains in the north of the country), Al Hoceima is a chilled and charming place.

Its location is truly gorgeous, with shimmering beaches of gold sand spilling out onto the Med between rugged walls of cliffs.

What’s more, a clutch of great hotels and charming teahouses aside, the center often doffs its cap in favour of the legendary Rocade road that runs along the coast to the east and west.

This is where you’ll become immersed in grassy cliffs and soaring seaside mountains, carved gorges and more – it’s like Morocco’s answer to the Amalfi Coast!

13. Chefchaouen

A maze of winding streets and tight-knit passageways gives the legendary blue city (sorry Jodhpur!) of Chefchaouen a unique charm all of its own.

The handsome looks are only made better by the location too: the town spills its way down the green-brown ridges of the Rif Mountains, between the beautiful likes of Jebel al-Kalaa and the protected reserves of the Talasemtane (both of which are accessible on hiking expeditions).

However, it’s just wandering and wondering that tie most tourists over here. So, settle for a mint tea in one of the local teahouses and watch as the hazy blue of the hill town ticks over to its local Berber vibes.

14. Ouarzazate

Rising from the fringes of the Morccan Sahara in a medley of beige and brown adobe keeps and bulwarks, the aged trading outpost of Ouarzazate is used to receiving visitors from afar.

For centuries the camel caravans and merchants coming from the Med and Central Africa stopped here to flog their wares to the people of the impossibly beautiful Dades Valley.

Today, the old bazaar remains: a dusty conglomeration of holes-in-the-wall and emporiums that stacked with curious trinkets and goods.

Head to the nearby town of Aït Benhaddou to see an impressive UNESCO site where films like Kingdom of Heaven and Prince of Persia have been filmed!

You could be forgiven for thinking that you were travelling beneath the whitewashed cubist villages of the Greek Aegean Islands, not a coastal town on the far reaches of North Africa, when roaming between the sun-baked promenade and the glowing interior alleyways of pretty Asilah.

An artsy, creative place, the town shares its draws between the enticing little independent craft galleries that pepper the center and the run of dune-backed beaches that extend to the north and south – a surfer’s dream! One disclaimer: Asilah can often get busy during the height of the season.

Not only is it popular with locals coming from the capital, but it’s the first real resort you meet coming south from the Spanish ferries of Tangier.

15 Best Places to Visit in Morocco:

• Chefchaouen

18 things to know before traveling to Morocco

Oct 15, 2023 • 7 min read

It helps to learn a little lingo: here's what to know before your trip to Morocco Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

I am originally from the UK and have been living in Morocco since 2018. There are things I wish I'd known before jumping headfirst into the seemingly lawless world of Moroccan taxis and bargaining in the souqs.

Morocco reveals the full spectrum of real life: the good, the bad, the ugly and the oh-so beautiful. For some visitors, Morocco can be a huge culture shock. But with some awareness and understanding, it is possible to appreciate these differences, connect more deeply and see the country through a different lens without trying to change it.

1. Plan your itinerary loosely and allow for changes

Research the places in Morocco you’d like to visit but leave wiggle room for changes along the way and enjoy the spontaneity that Morocco allows. While it’s possible to pre-book tours and activities, it’s usually just as easy to reserve them when you arrive in the country.

2. Take public transport, especially in cities

Driving in cities such as Casablanca and Marrakesh is best left to the locals. Getting around Morocco is easy, even without a car. An excellent train network links many cities, including Africa’s first high-speed train, Al Boraq , between Casablanca and Tangier . A comfortable and reliable bus network connects towns big and small. Book train and bus tickets a day or two in advance to ensure the travel time you'd like.

3. Book professional guides

To get the most out of your trip to Morocco, use a guide who has in-depth expertise and speaks your language. In cities, check with the local tourism office or your accommodations for recommendations for licensed guides in the area. If you’re surfing, check ISA’s directory of certified instructors .

Hiking guides are mandatory for climbing Mt Toubkal in the High Atlas. Check with Bureau des Guides .

4. Understand the written and unwritten rules of the road

In Morocco, you drive on the right side of the road and seatbelts are mandatory, even though some taxis don't have them. Car horns are used often - not in an aggressive way, but as a means of communication. 

Watch out for people, bicycles, motorcycles and animals coming from all sides. Avoid driving at night because some vehicles do not have or use their lights. Take notice of the speed limits and the roundabouts that have stoplight systems. If you’re stopped for speeding – police speed checks are common – or other penalties, having cash on you to pay fines (usually between Dh150 ($15US) and Dh300) is preferable to going to a local police station.

5. Practice the art of haggling 

Haggling is a game and part of the shopping experience in Morocco . Try not to get frustrated – the ideal scenario is that both sides come away feeling like they got a fair price. 

For big purchases, do your research, have a price in mind or shop around until you do. Sometimes vendors say to pay what you feel like, so if you don't have a price, ask some questions: how many hours did it take to make? Where did the materials come from and at what price?

The souqs are filled with fake tennis shoes, which are just that: fakes. Many Moroccans don't care whether their Nikes are original; they just want the best price for the latest styles.

6. Cash or card?  

The Moroccan dirham is a closed currency, which means you cannot use or get it outside the country. Morocco’s rural areas still operate on a cash economy, but cards are widely accepted in towns and cities.

7. Learn some of the lingo 

A mixture of French, Arabic, Amazigh and English is spoken in Morocco, depending on where you are in the country. Don't expect everyone to speak English. Apps like Google Translate can be useful, but learning some basic Arabic phrases will reward you with feeling more connected and engaged with people you meet.

8. Respect the motto of ‘God, king and country’

These words are etched on hills around the country. Islam is the state religion, and the rules of Islam are applied to personal matters in the same way that state law works in other countries. It is illegal to speak disrespectfully about religion or the king. Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter mosques or cemeteries, except the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca . Friday is a holy day across the country, and most people take a few hours off in the afternoon to go to the mosque and eat couscous with their families afterward. Check business opening times before you visit if you're heading to a particular place on a Friday.

The holy month of Ramadan and the celebrations of Eid offer a different cultural experience, and during these times many places will be closed.

9. Things to know before going to Marrakesh

Marrakesh is the most popular city in Morocco for visitors, so pre-book entrance tickets to major attractions such as Jardin Majorelle and Musée Yves Saint Laurent online to avoid waiting in line. The Marrakesh medina comes to life around 5 p.m., but the 'pink city' is more than just the medina – spend time exploring Gueliz and step off the main boulevards onto the leafy side streets to discover pretty street cafes, bistro restaurants and small indie boutiques.

10. The dress code depends on where you are

To visit the Hassan II Mosque and other religious sites, visitors – both men and women – must cover to their shoulders and knees. Dress modestly in cities and towns to avoid unwanted attention. At bars and nightclubs, almost anything goes, but in rural areas, cover up and be respectful of the local customs. 

At the beach, you can wear shorts, dresses, vest tops and swimwear including bikinis. Pack comfortable footwear that’s suitable for uneven roads and a scarf to cover your shoulders.

11. Ask before taking photos of people 

No matter where you are in the world, it’s best to ask permission before taking someone’s photo. Many people are fine with it, but others aren’t. Some may ask for money. Do not take photos of military or government buildings. Drones are not allowed in Morocco without special permission. 

12. Learn how to deal with the hassle

Simply ignore people who offer goods that you do not want. There's no need to be polite to everyone who wants to sell you something. By not reacting, they'll get bored and walk away. 

In some places you may receive comments and, at worst, inappropriate behavior, but shouting ‘Police!’ will send these people away. In Marrakesh, there's also a high chance you will alert the undercover tourist police.

13. Can you drink alcohol in Morocco? 

Even though alcohol is forbidden by Islamic law, it is widely available and sold in licensed wine shops and international grocery stores. Not all bars and restaurants serve alcohol. 

14. Eat with your right hand

Moroccan cuisine such as tagines and grilled fish are traditionally eaten with bread using your right hand. The left hand is considered unclean because it’s typically the hand used when going to the toilet. 

15. It’s okay to get lost

Getting lost is part of the joy of exploring Morocco with its unmarked roads, the maze of souq alleys and areas of no cell phone reception. Relax but be aware of your surroundings and ask for help if you need it.

In medinas, it’s helpful to know that if the street sign is a hexagon, it's a dead end. If it’s a square, it’s a through street.

16. Don’t drink the tap water

Morocco’s tap water is not safe to drink. Bring a water bottle with a filter to avoid buying plastic.

17. Bring tissues for public toilets

Some public toilets do not have toilet paper. Unless you are comfortable using water to clean yourself, keep a pack of tissues and some anti-bacterial hand gel or wipes on you.

18. Street cats and dogs are everywhere and part of the community 

It’s best not to feed street animals from your table because they might not leave, but you can keep leftovers and feed them elsewhere on the street.

See whether a rescue center is set up in the communities you’re visiting and show your support with donations or by volunteering your time.

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Traveling in Morocco: the good, the bad and the ugly

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We’ve always wanted to visit Morocco, and when we wound up in Europe with all of April free during our gap year we figured it was a great opportunity to visit. After all, flights to Morocco are very affordable (and we booked them for free using our Chase Ultimate Rewards points!) and there are lots of wonderful HomeExchange homes to choose from. April also offers ideal weather as you’ll see in many of our pictures below! But as with any country, there are highlights and disappointments (and downright aggravations) when it comes to visiting Morocco. So before you board the plane, make sure to read the good, the bad and the ugly of travel in Morocco.

Please don’t misinterpret that we disliked our time in Morocco. We had a lot of fun and interesting experiences, but we’re still processing our thoughts on the country overall as a tourist destination. Before visiting we had heard almost exclusively raves from bloggers, but since returning and talking to others we find that many people share our mixed sentiments. Because our whole purpose in writing this blog is to share genuine on-the-ground experiences, it’s only fair to be candid about what we (and apparently, many people) experienced as tourists in Morocco.

Some of the issues we encountered, like not being able to find good transportation to some places or dealing with irritating Airbnb hosts, are non-issues if you take a group tour like this one that my brother did. They’re more expensive than the DIY options we usually go for, but Morocco tours are surprisingly affordable and probably more pleasant than what we dealt with! If you’re considering that route, be sure to read up on Intrepid vs G Adventures .

Food in Morocco

Places to see in morocco, taxis in morocco, traveling by train and bus in morocco, places to stay in morocco, people in morocco, our recommendations for a first visit to morocco, plan your trip to morocco.

Use the interactive map to find vacation rentals and hotels in Morocco

We love Moroccan food! Tagine, sweet chicken and almond pastille, fluffy couscous with root vegetables, salty turkey shawarma, cheap and filling soups… we love them all. Even for families visiting Morocco with kids as picky as ours, there’s almost always something for everyone. Thanks to the heavy French influence, you can often find a plain omelette or even a flaky croissant. The oranges are the best we’ve ever had, and extremely cheap from local street vendors. We also found restaurateurs to be some of the nicest people we met (perhaps since they already know they’ve got your money – more on that later). Don’t miss Restaurant la Tolerance in Essaouira or Baarada in Fez. Baarada is an especially unique experience – your “menu” is a visit to the kitchen to sample the day’s options before deciding!

Want a really unique experience? Spend the day in a traditional Moroccan home preparing lunch and talking about your lives and your dreams! Read more about it here.

As in many developing countries, the tap water is not considered safe to drink for visitors (though many locals drink it without issue). We also found that restaurant meals were a little more expensive compared to other developing countries, though certainly less expensive than in the US or Australia for the same level of feasting.

In our experience the less-touristy areas of Essaouira and Fez don’t have many good restaurants to choose from, probably because Moroccans don’t seem to eat out for dinner as much as people who live in other major cities. Instead, especially in Fez, we mostly came across open-air cafés where men sit (perhaps while waiting for their wives to cook dinner and tend house, based on what we were told by some locals) and smoke, drink coffee and openly stare at passers by. It’s sort of like the Parisian tradition of people-watching at cafés, but much less inviting. If you’re doing solo female travel to Morocco, take note: sitting alone at one of these cafés may invite the wrong kind of attention, as only a “certain” kind of woman would do that.

I spent our first full day in Marrakech alternating between the bed and the bathroom while Ronnie and the kids enjoyed a wonderful guided tour through the medina. We still don’t know the culprit, as we all ate the same foods and I was the only one impacted.

I’ve heard from other visitors to Morocco that they experienced the same thing – though of course it definitely happens in other countries too, especially those where the local water isn’t potable. Unfortunately some of the hygiene is questionable in Morocco – we rarely encountered hot water in sinks, which makes me wonder how dishes (or hands!) can be adequately cleaned between uses.

Make sure you’re covered by a reputable travel insurance policy in case you’re seriously impacted and need medical attention – this policy is great all over the world. At a minimum, throw some Immodium in your backpack in case you get hit with a food-borne illness and aren’t able to get to a local pharmacy.

See how these issues in Morocco compare to safety in Egypt .

Morocco is a beautiful country, offering all types of tourism options! You can explore the rich history of the country going back thousands of years, appreciate the beautiful architectural details like carved wood and tile work, cool off in the beautiful snow-capped Atlas Mountains, get lost in a medina or (of course) ride a camel over seemingly-untouched dunes in the Sahara. The whole country is a feast for the eyes!

Getting to some of the coolest areas requires a bit of advance planning, as they’re not exactly next door – though their remoteness has surely kept them more amazing! It’s also helpful to have (paid) local contacts in many cases.

For instance, our day trip to the Atlas Mountains would have been doable but much harder without our driver/guide Sharif. He not only took us to Sitti Fatima, but made sure we ate at a reasonably priced restaurant with good hygiene standards, escorted us to a Berber family’s home for tea and bread (the highlight for the kids!) and connected us with an excellent hiking guide. While you theoretically could do those things on your own, it would be much harder.

One of the best things to do in Morocco is pay a visit to the well-preserved Roman ruins at Volubilis, but that involved taking a train from Fez to Meknes, then a shared ride van to Moulay Idriss and finally a taxi (or private car, in our case) to the ruins – or you can take a paid group tour or hire a guide for the day.

As with everything else in Morocco, there’s no free lunch (though some lunches are negotiable, it turns out!). We considered taking one of the popular multi-day excursions out to the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara desert , complete with a camel ride and a night in a traditional tent (complete with traditional flush toilets, courtesy of power and water piped in from the nearby hotel) . Unfortunately those excursions are expensive. We were quoted $1400-1600 USD for four days/three nights for our family, and we were advised that anything shorter is just too fast-paced to do with young children.

Of course we are pretty sure that there are other costs to be added – meals not covered, tips for every person you meet along the way, and more. We opted to skip on the experience, though it would have been cool and we might do it if we ever return to Morocco; for now we felt that it just wasn’t something we wanted to do badly enough to justify the extremely high cost per day, especially since we got to ride camels across sand dunes in Essaouira (beware the wind!), visit a Berber family in the Atlas and take in views of the mountains in Morocco all on affordable daytrips.

Taxis are a staple of travel in Morocco – you will see them everywhere and surely take a few. If you can fit in a petite taxi (colors vary by city), prices are extremely cheap – often the equivalent of a dollar or two for short rides. Petite taxis technically accommodate three passengers, though we were sometimes able to get one even as a family of four since Shoshana is so young. Just make sure to tell the driver to turn on the meter – there’s NO NEED to agree to a fixed price for a petite taxi within the city.

The petite taxis nearly all have their seatbelts inaccessible. There’s no good reason for this, as they HAVE seatbelts but they have been deliberately covered up. It’s not as if driving in Morocco’s cities is safer than driving everywhere else! Likewise, there’s no good reason for the three person limits – it’s not like they’re worried about having too few seatbelts, and our family of four can fit in one car just fine. Grand taxis can fit more people, but with negotiated prices they’re generally much more expensive.

Just like SO MANY people we met in Morocco, taxi drivers are constantly looking for ways to take advantage of visitors. Lots of drivers insisted that they couldn’t take us since we were a party of four… unless we agreed to an inflated price. Then it was ok.

And like so many other vendors, they can be aggressive and relentless when pursuing passengers in the major tourist areas like medinas and gardens; we were once followed for a solid ten minutes even though we were walking with a local who was giving us a ride. For most rides you shouldn’t pay more than 20-30 dirham, so if a driver tries to demand more just say no. Allowing them to rip you off just empowers them to continue the ridiculously asymmetrical treatment of tourists.

There are some very convenient long-distance transportation options in Morocco and they’re generally affordable. We took the Supratours bus from Essaouira to Marrakech and it was certainly comfortable enough for the three hour ride.

Likewise, the train from Marrakech to Fez was extremely long at 8 hours, but the first class compartment had only six seats and was quite comfortable. On certain days of the week, that route is also covered by a short, cheap non-stop flight (unfortunately those dates didn’t work for us). Pro tip: Not sure what time you want to take the train? Book second class, which can be used at any time on the booked day.

While the transit itself is fine, do plan to bring your own food. Our bus from Essaouira to Fez stopped at a rest area/café/restaurant that has food and fresh juices available. We ordered what we thought would be our best choices, but the food was utterly inedible – including two orders of french fries with visible dirt all over them.

On the 8 hour train ride from Marrakech to Fez, there was no dining car as you’d find on long-distance trains in Europe or the US, but instead a small trolley selling a few junk food snacks and some questionable looking sandwiches. Let’s just say it was a hungry ride. Fortunately the train stations on either end have some ok options, namely McDonald’s and KFC in Marrakech and a really friendly and tasty Venezia Ice in Fez (not pricey either!).

Also note that there are no luggage racks at the ends of the cars, so all of your belongings need to come into your compartment. Better to avoid theft, but hopefully your cabin-mates don’t have big backpacks too! If you’re still backpack shopping, check out my hands-on reviews of women’s travel backpacks here .

Of course given the reasonable prices, if you’re already buying tickets for a family of four you could probably tell them you have two extra children to get a compartment all to yourself. Overall, traveling by train in Morocco is a decent way to get around if you’re prepared.

One of the best places to visit in Morocco is Chefchaouen, the famed “blue city” in the Rif Mountains. I was so excited to visit and see the city’s striking color and learn more about its long and fascinating history. We were warned to buy our bus tickets in advance, as we were visiting during Morocco’s school holidays in mid-April.

As a non-Moroccan, you can only buy bus tickets in person, while locals can buy them online in advance. On our first day in Fez, we dutifully headed over to the bus station to purchase our tickets for an overnight trip to Chefchaouen later in the week. We were crushed to find out that the next return bus with four seats wasn’t for another week! We could get to Chefchaouen any day, but wouldn’t have been able to return to Fez in time for our flight out of the country.

The only alternative would have been to hire a private driver to take us four hours each way, at more than five times the cost of the bus. It’s possible that we could have gone to the bus station in Marrakech or Essaouira and purchased our tickets, but there are a few different bus companies and some of them use different stations so the logistics can be complicated.

It would be nice if foreigners had access to online ticketing (as Moroccans do) or if the bus company could respond to additional seasonal demand with increased service. Judging by the number of private drivers hanging out at the station offering overpriced rides to Chefchaouen, we weren’t the only ones left out in the cold!

Morocco offers a wide range of places to stay suitable for any budget. You can spend several hundred per night for a room in a luxury riad, or you can find a decent room for $50 per night that will at least be clean and safe. Booking.com has a wide range of options – we’ve even got a few simple hacks to save you money on every reservation. We were lucky to score some great HomeExchange apartments to save money on our stays.

Even for special places to stay in Morocco, some elements may not be up to what you’d expect to find at European and American hotels. A traveling pair we met at a fancy riad complained that the traditional central courtyard layout made for very loud nights, with sound echoing off of the enormous tiled walls for hours on end. Most tourist accommodations are in or right near the medina, so they may be loud or challenging to find late at night (more an issue in a place like Fez than in sleepy Essaouira).

As with other aspects of travel in Morocco, stand up for your wallet so you aren’t taken advantage of. We heard from one mom that a hotel tried to force them into an upgraded room and charge an extra per-person rate for their three year old who would be sharing their bed anyway.

We also encountered someone trying to take advantage of us – he advertised his rental house as three rooms and accommodating six people; when we arrived, we found one bedroom and a living room and kitchen. Yep, he counted the kitchen as a “room”. That was all after we had paid for a car transfer out to his place and he was an hour and a half late. We ended up leaving and booking a last-minute Airbnb, which had its own issues. Of course there are always “bad eggs” but sadly we didn’t find the situation terribly surprising by that point in our trip.

We met some truly lovely people during our visit to Morocco. They were warm and honest. Some special folks we met were our Sidi Fatima hiking guide Mohammad, many awesome people in Essaouira (shout outs to my buddy Aziza at Gipsy Surfer Surf Shop and the staff at Restaurant la Tolerance) and Mr. Zayr whose farm we stayed at near Moulay Idriss.

Overall we did not find most people we met to be particularly warm. It’s possible that we bring a distinctly American brand of friendliness and overtness was with us, but we’re used to striking up conversations with locals nearly everywhere we go. People in Morocco just didn’t seem engaging in that way, whether we tried to converse in English or French.

We did get stared at a lot despite my being in modest dress at all times, and there were rarely smiles accompanying the looks. It may simply be a cultural difference, but it didn’t make us feel especially welcome as visitors to Morocco.

Visitors also frequently report being hassled (or even grabbed) to go into shops in the medinas and buy buy buy! but we were “lucky” not to experience that too much (except at places we were taken by our paid “guides”, which I absolutely resented).

Ugh. Every single day, we felt that people in Morocco looked at us as walking ATMs. People tried to take advantage of us every moment that we were outside of our apartment, whether in big ways or small ways. The accumulation of these experiences left a horrible taste in our mouths. Here are just a few things that pissed us off:

-On our first day, a kind older man who offered translation help between French and Arabic led us to the old synagogue since he said he was going that way. He left without asking for money and we thought “hey, people were wrong about Morocco!” Wishful thinking. The next evening he spotted us walking elsewhere in the medina and approached to ask for “a gift”.

-The taxi drivers try to get you to negotiate a price, with their starting offer at 60 dirhams – which we’d consider cheap coming from the US. The local metered price is more likely a third of that price, or less.

-On our visit to the tanneries in Fez, Ronnie admired a messenger bag. The nice man who had been showing us around the tannery told him that the regular price was 1500 dirham, but that he’d offer a special price of 1250. A steal for camel belly leather! We politely declined.

Our “guide” had conveniently left for a while, supposedly to go pray (but I wonder now if it was just to give his associates in the shop enough time to work on us – he basically left us in every workshop and restaurant to go pray). As we waited for the guide’s return, another man who was supposedly the shop owner approached Ronnie and asked what his price was, asking if the other man had offered him 1150. Ha! Ronnie offered 400 dirham. No, that’s not possible but 1000 would work. 400. You’re too good of a negotiator – 800? 400. Please, we have to earn something – how about 600? 400.

Eventually, Ronnie walked out with his bag for 430 dirham, about one third of the initial offer. We’d been told to start negotiations at 50% of the offering price, but I think 20-25% is probably more reasonable – and then don’t budge until you’re within spitting distance. If they’re willing to sell that supposedly artisanal, hand-crafted item for 430 dirham, they must still be making a decent profit on it or they would just say no and let customers leave.

-On our final night in Morocco, we headed to Riad Rcif for a fancy meal overlooking the medina – nothing bad to say about that experience! But on the way there we paused for a moment in front of an alley under construction to regain our bearings.

Naturally, a young resident – not impoverished, probably just looking for some pizza/candy/cigarette money – wanted to point us in the right direction. He led us for a few feet and we started to see signs for the riad, and said thank you and goodbye… but he insisted on continuing to walk with us even though we clearly expressed that it wasn’t necessary.

In totality, he walked with us for less than five minutes and then stuck out his hand. Ronnie gave him a 5 dirham coin and then this 10 year old kid complained that it was too little! We heard other tourists complain that young boys demanded “paper” – meaning bank notes, beginning at 20 dirham. For a sense of purchasing power, we ate at plenty of restaurant main courses that cost 40-50 dirham.

This is just a small sampling of our frustrating interactions during three weeks. While the absolute amounts are not huge to a tourist, it is grating to spend weeks being hustled constantly.

We absolutely believe in supporting local economies and during our weeks in Thailand I don’t think we negotiated for anything since an extra dollar means much more to the many kind people we met and the tourist pricing didn’t feel as downright nasty. But in Morocco, where the intent to fleece European and American tourists is just so blatant, ingrained and accepted, I wasn’t inspired to offer the same courtesy.

Our overall impression walking away from Morocco is that it’s a beautiful and fascinating country, but with some unique challenges for tourists. We’ve heard from a number of seasoned travelers that they’re glad they visited Morocco, and that they don’t feel the need to return particularly soon. We mostly share that sentiment. You may be able to avoid some of the issues we encountered on a group tour like this one .

We generally found the major cities of Fes and Marrakech to be more frustrating than calmer areas. For those planning a first visit to Morocco and wanting to travel independently, we strongly recommend starting your travels in lovely, laid-back Essaouira – you can get a fairly complete Morocco experience but you’ll be somewhat insulated from the pitfalls described above – check out all our Essaouira favorites . You can wander the small and friendly medina, stay at a quiet riad, enjoy delicious food and friendly people, explore the complex layered history of multiple civilizations and religions, stroll along the crashing waves of the Atlantic… and yes, you can even ride a camel over a sand dune.

Need to book your Morocco hotels and riads? Check out these  easy tips to save more on every booking .

We have plenty of resources here on The Family Voyage to help you start planning your trip to Morocco! Read these next:

– What to pack for Morocco

– Complete Essaouira travel guide

– Why you should visit Morocco in spring

– Morocco with kids bucket list

Need more help planning? Pick up one of these great guide books:

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What to read next

24 thoughts on “traveling in morocco: the good, the bad and the ugly”.

Ha ha!! This sounds like 75% of our travels. It’s definitely exhausting and a downright pain in the ass sometimes, and can add a negative overtone to the trip. I can’t stand feeling like a walking ATM…for me, Bali was 100% worse than Morocco for that, and it seems like everyone’s afraid to talk about it! I love your honesty 🙂

What an honest an informative post! Morocco is still my dream destination but recently I’m read up a lot about it that’s helping me manage my expectations. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Now I know what to look out for!

Love your honest thoughts on Morocco because it is a place I have wanted to visit for so long. I found the bakshesh culture in Egypt frustrating, so it sounds like it would be similar in Morocco. One day we will get there!

A great review and this mirrors my experiences of this beautiful country. I loved the architecture, the people and the colours but the hustle and etiquette had me wanting to hide a lot of the time. I will go back but with different expectations. I think this was the first country that I really didn’t ‘understand’ if that makes sense!

What a super, comprehensive, helpful post! It’s refreshing to read thoughtful, transparent opinions about destinations these days. Thank you!

Brilliant post – this is so helpful, especially if planning on travelling with young kids. Thanks for sharing.

What a helpful post! I’m still in two minds about visiting Morocco next year but your practical and honest advice is much appreciated! 🙂

Thank you so much for your honest opinion. I have also heard a ton of mixed things about Morocco. I hate when locals try and take advantage of tourists. But glad to read this because if I do visit, I want to know what to expect.

Thanks so much for your honest opinions here. We’ve got a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old and planning to visit Morocco next year. I’ve had MANY of the “ugly” type experiences you describe traveling solo (Egypt and India stand out the most), but it will be a whole different thing to deal with it with kids. But even then, I think that taking a light-hearted attitude and not getting too worked up about it is always the best (though not easiest) approach. Thanks for the tips!

Do you have an opinion on renting a car? We are a family of 7, traveling from the US to Casablanca. My husband speaks French and has driven in many countries with driving and steering wheels on either side.

We didn’t rent a car in Morocco, though plenty of people do. The country is fairly well-connected by trains, buses and even inexpensive flights. Obviously being a family of 7 complicated things, but I believe that 2nd class train compartments have 8 seats (you can buy out the last one for extra space).

Where do you plan on going?

Hi Melissa, can you please recommend, if you remember, the tour guide your family used for the Marrakech medina? Also, can you give me more info about the Siti Fatma day trip? Thanks

Hi Roxana, we’ll have to dig around a little to find the name of the company, but we coordinated our transfers, medina tour and day trip all through the same company and they were extremely reasonably priced. Our driver’s name was Sharif and he was a really wonderful person and a good driver. The van was nice and equipped with good seatbelts.

For the day trip, we stopped at a pottery workshop, an Argan oil coop, lunch in Siti Fatma and then a (slightly treacherous) waterfall hike. Be warned that the pottery workshop makes nice stuff but 1) most of ours broke in transit and 2) prices are CRAZY high. In retrospect, we shouldn’t have bought anything there.

Thank you Melissa, it would be awesome if you could find the name of the company.

Yes! I agree with all of the good and bad. I just went three months ago and it was my first ever international trip from the United States. The food was amazing (tagine is now my second favorite food ever), it’s a gorgeous place with hand made and placed tiles on most raids, we managed to see the “goat tree” where goats climb up to eat fruit, and the weather is amazing. However, I agree I felt stared at, hustled for money continuously as if I was an ATM, and didn’t dare go outside at night because of the vibes I got from the a majority of the population looking unwelcoming. I traveled with my friend who is also a woman (so two woman) and we did fine, but we did have a tour guide with us a lot of the time and all the places and restaurants we stayed at were for collaborations for our blogs so they were well vetted. Essouria is way more chill and relaxing. We did still have people come up to us for money randomly while we were at lunch eating. We also had someone follow us (he guessed we were going to a popular tourist restaurant) in Marrakech and expect money. We hadn’t talked to this man or even look at him (I had google maps out) and we stopped walking to try and lose him (which is hard in the alley ways) and when we arrived at the door, he expected payment which we didn’t have on us. I think we got very lucky in that instance nothing bad happened. I would definitely suggest Essouria and I’d love to try to go out into the Sahara if I heard many good reviews about a travel company out there (the price you listed for that trip sounds very expensive to me compared to what I’d expect). Thanks for your honest review!!

Thanks for your feedback! Almost everyone I know who’s gone to Morocco without a full-time guide has had those disheartening experiences. Glad you enjoyed Essaouira!

I’m sorry about your experience. I was in Morocco 5 weeks – beautiful country but the people honestly pissed me off. Your term “walking ATM” is spot on. After being nice the first 3 days I learned that the best thing was to ignore or wave people away when they approached for something. Sad, but the whole thing got old. Beautiful, exotic, and I might go back one day….but the people didn’t leave me with warm feelings.

I’m sorry you had that experience as well! It really puts a damper on the whole experience 🙁 I hope that you still enjoyed your visit overall!

This sounds so similar to my experience in India. I still can’t wait to visit Morocco but I am glad to go in with the right expectations.

Morocco is truly a fascinating place to visit, but it’s always good to go in with eyes wide open 🙂

I just had solo travel in Morocco. I shared the similar experience as the writer. Thanks for sharing your honest opinion. All the culture history and buildings are wonderful. And I guess most of people not in the tourism might be good people, but my experience even started with the hotel concierge telling me to pay 150 Euros for 4 hours guided tour, which ended up with most the tour was guided shopping, where the guide gets his kick backs. Every single day from 5 years kids to barber shop, taxi drivers cheating you constantly on price. It was exhausting. I would not recommend any of friends to visit this country unless going with a tour group. It was not about money spent, in fact is not much in US standards, but the feeling cheated constantly is bad experience for me.

Thank you for sharing your experience!

Safe travels,

Me and three friends of mine decided to visit Morocco in 2020 and booked a 12 Days Tour with Days Morocco Tours. Unfortunately the pandemic took place and we had to cancel our plans. Ali who organized the tour for us, was super helpful and postponed the trip. Two years later, when we contacted them again they immediately replied and adapted our plans for June 2023

The experience was amazing: I had already visited Marrakech once but was curious to spend a few days in the Desert and also go to Fes. I must say that staying at the Desert Camp that this company booked for us was crucial for our wonderful experience. The staff there served us a delicious dinner and after we all sat around a bonfire and listened (and some of us also sang!) to the berbere drums. We got to know a lot about the berber culture and made lifelong friends!

Our guide, Mohammed, who accompanied us throughout the trip, was the perfect fit for our group: cheerful, helpful and always looking out for us. During the whole time, he told us about the country’s history and took us to places we would never find on our own. We ate at very special places, where the locals eat and the food was always tasteful. Also, he was very flexible and adapted very well to our last minute change of plans!

Fes was one of my favorite places overall and our guide Adil was a delight! He showed us the different boroughs of Fes, the tanneries, the ceramic and iron workshops and talked about Al Quaraouiyine, the world’s oldest university, founded by a Tunisian woman. Other highlights were the Blue city of Chefchaouen, which is a small cozy village in the mountains and the magnificent and rich Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.

The hotels that the tour company carefully picked for us were also an important factor to make this trip unforgettable, with beautiful Moroccan decoration, delicious breakfasts, welcoming staff and super well located.

I can speak for all four of us and say that the tour company is one of the best agencies I have traveled with and it is worth every penny

What was the name of the tour company?

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• International tourist arrivals in Morocco 2021, by nationality

As of 2021, Moroccan residents abroad constituted the leading nationality of tourists travelling to Morocco, with a share of 65 percent. French and Spanish nationals followed, at with13 percent and 2.7 percent of international tourists, respectively. 

A global tourist hotspot

Morocco holds the second-highest position for both international tourist arrivals in Africa , and tourism receipts with a value of nine billion U.S. dollars recorded in 2022. The country's main attraction lies in its cultural history, landscape, and ancient Roman and Islamic sites. International tourist spending in Morocco accounted for 56 percent of  total tourist expenditures in 2021, a drop from 68 percent in 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the restriction imposed. 

Tourism's financial footprint

In 2019, Morocco's travel and tourism sector's contribution to GDP amounted to 15.6 billion U.S. dollars. However, in 2020 a decline to 8.2 billion U.S. dollars occurred as a result of the pandemic. By 2021, the figure increased to around 9 billion U.S. dollars, reflecting a post-pandemic recovery. Moreover, the sector's  share of contribution to Morocco's GDP was 9.19 percent in 2023 and is expected to reach 11.88 percent by 2026.  

Distribution of international tourist arrivals in Morocco in 2021, by nationality

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Other statistics on the topic Tourism in Morocco

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Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

• Contribution value of tourism to GDP in Morocco 2019-2021
• Number of international tourist arrivals in Morocco 2014-2020, by region

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Statistics on " Tourism in Morocco "

• Share of the GDP of the tourism sector in Morocco 2013-2028
• Number of international tourist arrivals in Morocco 2014-2029
• Number of international tourist arrivals in Morocco 2014-2020, by mode of transport
• International tourists in Morocco 2014-2019, by form of trip organization
• Number of international tourist departures in Morocco 2014-2029
• Share of domestic and international tourist expenditure in Morocco 2019-2021
• Domestic tourist spending value in Morocco 2019-2021
• Expenditure on international tourism in Morocco 2014-2029
• Expenditure per capita on international tourism in Morocco 2001-2029
• Visitor spending on passenger travel items in Morocco 2010-2020
• Value of leisure and business travel spending in Morocco 2019-2021
• International tourism receipts in Morocco 2014-2029
• Monthly change in income received from tourism in Morocco 2020
• Number of hotels and similar establishments operating in Morocco 2010-2019
• Tourist accommodation beds capacity in Morocco 2013-2021
• Overnight stays in tourist establishments in Morocco 2012-2020
• Hotel rooms occupancy rate in Morocco 2015-2020
• Average length of stays in hotels in Morocco 2015-2020
• Tourism sector workforce in Morocco 2010-2019
• Share of employment in the tourism sector in Morocco 2010-2019
• Hotel workforce in Morocco 2013-2019
• Number of people employed in travel agencies in Morocco 2013-2019

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• Premium Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals in selected African countries 2019-2022
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• Basic Statistic Contribution value of tourism to GDP in Morocco 2019-2021
• Premium Statistic Share of the GDP of the tourism sector in Morocco 2013-2028
• Premium Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals in Morocco 2014-2029
• Premium Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals in Morocco 2014-2020, by region
• Premium Statistic International tourist arrivals in Morocco 2021, by nationality
• Premium Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals in Morocco 2014-2020, by mode of transport
• Basic Statistic International tourists in Morocco 2014-2019, by form of trip organization
• Premium Statistic Number of international tourist departures in Morocco 2014-2029

Expenditure and receipts

• Basic Statistic Share of domestic and international tourist expenditure in Morocco 2019-2021
• Basic Statistic Domestic tourist spending value in Morocco 2019-2021
• Premium Statistic Expenditure on international tourism in Morocco 2014-2029
• Premium Statistic Expenditure per capita on international tourism in Morocco 2001-2029
• Basic Statistic Visitor spending on passenger travel items in Morocco 2010-2020
• Basic Statistic Value of leisure and business travel spending in Morocco 2019-2021
• Premium Statistic International tourism receipts in Morocco 2014-2029
• Basic Statistic Monthly change in income received from tourism in Morocco 2020

Hotels and accommodation

• Premium Statistic Number of hotels and similar establishments operating in Morocco 2010-2019
• Premium Statistic Tourist accommodation beds capacity in Morocco 2013-2021
• Basic Statistic Overnight stays in tourist establishments in Morocco 2012-2020
• Premium Statistic Hotel rooms occupancy rate in Morocco 2015-2020
• Premium Statistic Average length of stays in hotels in Morocco 2015-2020
• Premium Statistic Tourism sector workforce in Morocco 2010-2019
• Premium Statistic Share of employment in the tourism sector in Morocco 2010-2019
• Premium Statistic Hotel workforce in Morocco 2013-2019
• Premium Statistic Number of people employed in travel agencies in Morocco 2013-2019

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18 Super Important Must Knows Before You Travel to Morocco

Last Updated: February 16, 2022

*FYI - this post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. for more info.

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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Morocco e-Visa Requirements

Check your eligibility and the entry documents required.

Certain nationalities must have a visa to travel to Morocco. If you meet the e-Visa requirements, you can apply online for your visa in just a few minutes.

The electronic visa for Morocco (e-Visa) is the most convenient option for your vacation or business trip — get your visa online, from home or on the move.

This page explains the requirements for the Morocco e-Visa. If you meet these criteria, you can apply using our simplified online form .

Do I Need a Visa for My Trip to Morocco?

Whether you need a visa for Morocco depends on your nationality . You’ll fall into 1 of these 3 categories:

• Visa-exempt
• Visa required
• eTA required

Check below for more information about the requirements for each category.

1. Visa-exempt

Passport holders from certain countries can enter Morocco without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.

There are currently around 70 nations who are part of this policy, including European member states, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

2. Visa required

All other nationalities must have a valid visa for Morocco. These travelers cannot enter the country without a visa. Visa-required countries include most African nations, and some countries across Asia.

Travelers from most visa-required countries can apply online if they hold a visa or residence permit from a specified country . Full details below. Visa-required nationals who do not meet the document requirements must apply through the embassy.

3. eTA required

Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa for Morocco, but they must have an Electronic Travel Authorization: Republic of Congo, Guinea and Mali .

This permit is also known as the Electronic Voyage Morocco (AEVM).

Who is eligible for a Morocco e-Visa?

Over 100 nationalities can apply for an online visa for Morocco.

As well as an eligible passport, most travelers need a residence permit or multiple entry visa valid for at least 90 days for:

• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States

Eligible passport holders with a residence permit for Bulgaria, Israel, or the UAE can also apply.

If you're a citizen of Azerbaijan, Benin, India, Israel, Guatemala, Jordan, and Thailand , then you can apply using just your passport.

Please check the list below to see if you can apply for the Morocco online visa :

• Afghanistan
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Burkina Faso
• Central African Republic
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• North Korea
• Marshall Islands
• Papua New Guinea
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• Vatican City

Show More >>

Documents You Need to Get Your e-Visa

You only need a few basic items to apply for the online visa. Before you can start the application process you’ll need to have the following:

• Residency card or visa (if applicable)
• Photograph of applicant
• Email address
• Debit or credit card

Your passport must meet the requirements mentioned below . You will also need your residency card or visa for your application, unless your passport is from Azerbaijan, India, Israel, Jordan, Guatemala, or Thailand.

Your email address must be an active account which you check regularly. All updates are sent to this address, including your approved e-Visa.

You will need a debit or credit card which is authorized for online payments to pay the Morocco e-Visa processing fee. This is the final stage of the application process.

Passport, visa, and residence permit requirements for a Morocco e-Visa

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months from the date you intend to enter Morocco. It should also have at least 1 blank page for passport stamps.

If your passport is due to expire before your trip, you must apply for a new passport then apply for your Morocco visa using the new document.

If you’re applying with a residence permit from an eligible country, it must be valid for at least 180 days .

If you have a visa from an eligible country, it must be valid for at least 90 days from the date you intend to arrive in Morocco.

Morocco visa photo specifications

For your visa to be approved, your photo must meet requirements:

• 4cm x 5cm or 3cm x 4cm
• Vertically aligned
• Taken in the last 6 months
• Show facial features clearly
• Not show glares or camera flashes
• No sunglasses or hats

Apply with moroccovisa.com and we’ll verify your photo ticks all the boxes before your application is submitted for official processing.

Providing digital copies of your documents

Thanks to the 100% online application process, only digital copies of your documents are required. You do not need to present the original documents in person at a government office.

We provide you with clear instructions to help you upload your passport image, photo, and visa or residence card.

You can upload your documents in any format —we’ll adjust the files to meet the visa requirements.

Understand the Conditions to Travel to Morocco

To travel to Morocco from overseas, you must meet the entry requirements , this includes holding the correct documents .

All passengers must have the following to enter Morocco:

• Visa (unless visa-exempt)

You’ll be refused entry if you reach the Moroccan border without these travel documents. Moroccan border officials may also ask questions about the purpose or duration of your stay.

Should I print my Morocco e-Visa?

Your approved online visa for Morocco is sent to your email address in PDF format . You can then download the visa onto any mobile device and print a paper copy.

To avoid any complications, it’s advisable to carry both a paper and digital copy of your visa.

Can I get a visa on arrival in Morocco?

There’s no visa on arrival service in Morocco . The only way to get a visa for your trip is in advance, either online or at a Moroccan embassy.

Do I need travel insurance?

There’s no mandatory requirement for health insurance in Morocco, however it’s always recommended for peace of mind when traveling.

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Cultures. Spices. Hues.

Destination Must-See's

Rick’s Cafe:

Featured in the blockbuster movie Casablanca from 1942, a visit to this restaurant is sure to spark your nostalgia. Feel like you’ve stepped into the movie as you surround yourself in the scenery reminiscent of the film. Although this is a recreation, not where it was filmed, your imagination will take hold as you watch the film on repeat and get a taste of what it was like back in the day.

Casablanca:

Morocco’s largest city, main port and most cosmopolitan city, this bustling metropolis and economic hub is sprinkled with tree-lined parks and charming colonial architecture. Its most famous landmark is the elaborate Hassan II Mosque, one of the world’s largest mosques built on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

Mud brick homes:

These homes have been used throughout the world but are extremely popular in the Middle East, India and North Africa. A mud brick is made of mud or clay that is mixed with straw and hardened by baking it in the sun or a kiln. It is very inexpensive and is environmentally friendly. And most importantly, keeps houses cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Moroccan people:

The Berber people are Morocco’s original inhabitants but it has been touched by many cultures because of its location. As a result, its people are amongst the friendliest and most hospitable people in the world. Today, it is considered an Arab nation, but you can see the diversity of the country, particularly in the variety of languages spoken – French, Spanish, Arabic and Berber dialects.

Destination Must-Do's

Enjoy the cuisine:

When visiting Morocco you have to try a local favorite – stuffed bread. It is comparable to a flat bread sandwich in America with a Moroccan touch. This savory meal is filled with traditional fillings including beef or lamb suet, onions, parsley, and Moroccan spices – ginger, white pepper, coriander, turmeric, allspice, and cinnamon.

See the Markets:

Souks, local markets, immerse you in the culture of morocco. Every Moroccan town has a souk quarter typically named after the day of the week they are open. No matter where you are you will find busy aisles lined with vendors selling many types of products – rugs, jewelry, metals, wood and pottery, clothing, leather goods and fresh food.

Visit Rug Makers:

Traditionally, Moroccan rugs were hand woven and tied by the Berber tribe women and can take up to a year to complete. Some rugs are made as a floor covering and others are woven to hang from the wall like a tapestry. Rug designs typically depict a piece of history passed down from generation to generation, or tell the story of the weaver’s life, representing things from femininity to spirituality.

Feed the Monkeys:

Learn all about MonkeyWatch, a primate eco-tourism, anti-poaching conservation program run by the Moroccan Primate Foundation in Ifrane National Park. It works to protect the Barbary apes and macaques that live in the forests of the park. Visitors will even get a chance to feed these wonderful creatures.

Expert Advice

If you have some extra time before your tour begins to explore Casablanca, you’ll find plenty to do! Venture out to Safi, a port that has been of importance since Roman times, and view its grand ramparts and the fortress of Dar el Bahar.

You’ll find many unique gifts in the souks (local markets). When venturing out during the day, it is typically very warm so be sure to wear loose, breathable but conservative clothing. In Moroccan culture, long skirts or slacks would be appropriate, but please no short hemlines, tank tops or tight fitting clothing.

You’re in for a treat as you discover the flavors of Morocco! Be sure to try fish tagine, a mqualli (or sauce made with ginger, saffron and oil) combined with chermoula, olives and preserved lemons to add some zest and extra flavor!

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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. 

Related Article: Survival Guide to Taking a Taxi in Morocco

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. Do 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!”.

Don’t Shop With Guides: 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)

Remember Morocco is 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.

Related Article: Safety Guide for Women in Morocco

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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Morocco Travel Guide

Destinations, introduction.

For a travel destination that truly lives up to the imagination, few places in the world can rival the mystique and vitality of Morocco. The country’s location on the northwestern tip of Africa makes it easily accessible from Europe’s main cities, yet a holiday in Morocco can still feel like a trip back in time. Whether rambling through ancient medinas , sampling cuisine at a local souq or relaxing in the sun at a white-washed seaside town , the past is always present in this diverse and colorful country. Shaped by a centuries-long interaction with Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Morocco has nevertheless developed its own unique cultural heritage, one that the politically stable country is dedicated to maintain.

Morocco is a land of diverse landscapes as well. With the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Morocco boasts long coastlines dotted with seaside resorts and sleepy fishing villages. The Sahara Desert stretches across its southern boundary while the Atlas Mountain delineates the country’s border with Algeria to the east.

Whether listening to traditional songs played on goatskin-covered drums in the nation’s capital city Rabat, sipping mint tea in a Marrakech café, getting lost in the medina of Fes or lazing in a steam bath in a traditional hammam, a visit to Morocco engages all the senses. Adventurous travelers can enjoy camel treks across rolling sand dunes, hikes in the forested Rif Mountains and windsurfing in beach cities like Essaouira .

Morocco reports 14% increase in tourist arrivals in Jan-June

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