10 Essential Travel Tips for Morocco

011. Carry Cash, and Carry It in Small Notes

The currency is the Moroccan dirham, and it is a closed currency: you cannot easily buy it abroad, and you should change back what you have left before you leave. Cash machines are common in every city and most towns, and they are the simplest way to get dirhams at a fair rate. In the desert, the mountains and small villages they are rare, so withdraw enough before you leave the city.

Hotels, larger restaurants and some shops accept cards, but daily life runs on cash: taxis, cafés, market stalls, tips, small entrance fees. Ask the machine or the exchange desk for smaller notes whenever you can. A stallholder who has to find change for a large note at eight in the morning will not thank you, and a pocket of coins and small notes makes tipping natural instead of awkward.

022. Dress for the Sun, the Evenings and the Culture

There is no dress code for visitors, and in Marrakech, Agadir or Tangier you will see every style. But Morocco is a conservative country outside its tourist centres, and clothes that cover shoulders and knees are both respectful and practical: they protect you from the sun far better than sunscreen alone. Loose cotton or linen trousers, long skirts and light shirts are ideal for men and women alike.

Temperature surprises more travellers than anything else. The same day can begin at five degrees in the mountains and reach thirty in the afternoon. In the Sahara, winter nights are properly cold. Pack layers: a fleece or light down jacket for evenings, a scarf that serves against sun, wind and sand, and closed shoes with a good sole for cobbled lanes. A swimsuit is welcome for riad pools and the coast.

033. Bargain, but Enjoy It

In the souks, prices for crafts, carpets, leather and souvenirs are not fixed, and bargaining is expected. It is not a fight; it is a conversation that both sides usually enjoy. The seller names a price, you answer with a lower one, and you meet somewhere between. Decide before you start what the object is worth to you, stay friendly, and be ready to walk away politely. Very often the best price follows you down the lane.

A few things are not negotiable: food in restaurants, items with printed prices, pharmacies, supermarkets and official tickets. And one rule keeps everything pleasant: do not begin to bargain for something you have no intention of buying. If you agree a price, you have made a deal.

044. Eat Everything, Drink Bottled Water

Moroccan food is one of the pleasures of the trip. Tagines are slow-cooked and arrive bubbling; couscous is the traditional Friday meal; grilled meats, lentils, white beans, fresh bread and salads of cooked vegetables are available everywhere. Food that is freshly cooked and served hot is safe almost anywhere, including at simple roadside places where the tagines stand in a row over charcoal.

Tap water is treated in cities, but its mineral content is different from what you are used to and it upsets some stomachs. Most visitors drink bottled water, which is cheap and sold everywhere. Peel fruit, be a little careful with raw salads in very basic places, and wash your hands before eating, especially when you eat with bread and fingers as Moroccans do. If you have dietary needs, say so clearly: vegetarian meals are easy, and good hosts adapt without difficulty.

055. Choose the Right Transport for Each Stretch

Trains link Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech comfortably, and the high-speed line between Tangier and Casablanca is among the fastest in Africa. Beyond the rail network, buses reach most towns. The south, however, is another story: the Atlas passes, the kasbah valleys and the desert are far from any railway, and the most beautiful places lie between the bus stops.

This is where a private vehicle with a driver changes the journey. You stop where the view is, eat where the food is good and arrive rested. Inside cities, small taxis are cheap; ask the driver to use the meter or agree the fare before you get in. The old medinas are for walking, and no vehicle can enter them, so pack a bag you can carry or expect a porter with a handcart to meet you at the gate.

066. Take a Guide for the Big Medinas

The medina of Fes has thousands of lanes and almost no straight lines. Marrakech is easier, but its souks can still turn you around in minutes. Getting lost is part of the fun for an hour; for a first visit, a good local guide is the difference between seeing doors and understanding what lies behind them. A guide also keeps the pace calm, answers every question, and makes it clear to everyone that you are not looking for another.

If someone in the street offers to show you the way, a firm and friendly “no, thank you” is enough. In smaller places such as Chefchaouen, Essaouira or Asilah you can explore happily on your own.

077. Ask Before You Photograph People

Morocco is endlessly photogenic, and landscapes, doors, markets and monuments are yours to capture. People are different. Many Moroccans, especially older people and women in rural areas, do not want to be photographed, and pointing a camera at someone without asking is considered rude. A smile and a gesture towards the camera is all it takes; if the answer is no, accept it gracefully.

Performers on Jemaa el-Fna, water sellers and snake charmers expect a tip for a photo, so agree before you shoot. Avoid photographing police, soldiers and official buildings. And in the tanneries or workshops, where people are working, ask your guide first.

088. Learn Five Words

Moroccans speak Darija, the Moroccan form of Arabic, and many speak Tamazight, the Amazigh language, as their mother tongue. French is widely used, Spanish is common in the north, and English is spoken by most people who work with visitors. You will have no difficulty being understood.

Still, a few words open doors. “Salam alaykum” is the universal greeting. “Shukran” means thank you, and “la, shukran” is the polite way to say no, thank you. “Bslama” is goodbye, and “inshallah”, God willing, is the answer to almost any question about the future. Use them, however badly, and you will be met with delight.

099. Know a Few Customs

Hospitality is taken seriously. If you are offered mint tea, accept at least one glass; refusing can feel like refusing the person. When you eat from a shared dish, use your right hand and take from the part of the plate in front of you. In a home or a riad, look at what others do with their shoes at the door.

Most mosques in Morocco are not open to non-Muslims, with the notable exception of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, which runs guided visits. Madrasas, palaces, gardens and shrines’ courtyards are usually open. During the month of Ramadan, daily rhythm changes: many cafés close during the day and evenings become festive. Travel remains perfectly possible, and it is a fascinating time to visit, but avoid eating, drinking or smoking in the street in daylight out of respect.

Tipping is part of the economy. Round up in cafés, leave around ten per cent in restaurants, and give a small tip to porters, drivers and guides who have looked after you well.

1010. Plan Less, See More

The most common mistake is trying to see the whole country in a week. The map makes it look possible; the mountain roads do not. A drive that looks short can take half a day, and the best moments in Morocco are unplanned: a glass of tea with a family, a detour to a viewpoint, an hour watching the light change on the dunes.

Choose a region or a clear line, for example Marrakech to the desert and back, or the north from Tangier to Fes, and give each stop enough time. Two nights are better than one almost everywhere. If you want to combine cities, mountains and the Sahara, eight to ten days is a comfortable minimum.

11A Bonus Tip: Sleep in a Riad at Least Once

A riad is a traditional town house built around an inner courtyard, usually with a fountain or a small pool, orange trees and rooms opening onto galleries. From the street you see only a plain door in a blank wall. Inside is another world: quiet, cool and decorated with carved plaster, painted wood and zellige tiles.

Hundreds of these houses in Marrakech, Fes and other medinas have been restored as small guesthouses, and staying in one is among the best experiences Morocco offers. You wake to breakfast on the roof terrace with the call to prayer in the distance, and you are inside the old city the moment you step out. Bear in mind that riads are reached on foot through narrow lanes, rooms differ in size, and sound carries across a courtyard, so they suit travellers who value character over standardised comfort.

12A Quick Checklist Before You Fly

Print it, or save it on your phone:

• PassportCheck that it is valid for the whole of your stay, and check the entry requirements for your nationality before you book.
• MoneyOne bank card that works abroad, a second as a backup, and a little cash in euros, pounds or dollars to change on arrival.
• ClothingLayers, a scarf, a hat, closed shoes, a warm jacket for evenings and for the desert.
• HealthPersonal medication, sunscreen, hand gel and something for an upset stomach, just in case.
• ConnectionA local SIM card is cheap and easy to buy at the airport or in any town; coverage is good except in remote valleys.
• PlugsMorocco uses European-style two-pin plugs at 220 volts.

13Morocco Travel Tips: Frequently Asked Questions