Morocco is one of the most attractive countries. Like its stunning landscapes, colorful cities, year-round pleasant weather, and unique cuisine, Morocco is a popular travel destination. Morocco is rapidly modernizing, which makes much of its ancient architecture. In this blog, we’ll highlight amazing places that you should visit in Morocco and give you useful travel tips along the way.
I know most people plan maybe between a 10 and 15 day trip to the country, so I hope this travel Traveling Morocco Everything I Need Before I Go guide gives you a lot of different ideas on places you can visit, gives you the tools you need to get around the country safely and comfortably, and maybe learn a little bit along the way. If that sounds good, let’s talk about Morocco.
As we always do in these guides, let’s talk a little historical and geographic context so we get to know Morocco a little better before we go. To start off,
1 where is Morocco On the Map?
Morocco is in the very northwestern corner of Africa, bordering Algeria to the east and to the south, and then Mauritania to the south and to the west. Morocco has a lot of coastline. On the north, they border the Mediterranean Sea, then you’ve got the Strait of Gibraltar across from Spain, and then you have the Atlantic Ocean, which is the rest of the western part of Morocco.
When I think about the country of Morocco, I like to split it up into three sort of natural landscapes that you’re going to find on a trip there. Number one, you’ve got the coastal communities. Morocco is actually a lot greener than people give it credit for. They always imagine the desert, but along the coast, which is where the majority of the population of Morocco lives, you’ve got nice forests, lots of palm trees, lots of beautiful cities dotted with a lot of nature.
Then in the middle of the country, you get this large mountainous region. This is almost a natural buffer between the Sahara Desert and the coastal part of Morocco. The mountainous people have a very specific identity. It gets much colder there than it does in the rest of the country, and this is where a lot of the indigenous and tribal peoples of Morocco find themselves.
Once you get past the mountains, the third region is really the desert or the gateway to the Sahara, the world’s largest hot desert. This is the region where you’re going to find the large sand dunes that you’ve seen in lots of pictures of Morocco, but a lot of the desert is also sort of flat, rocky, reddish sort of terrain that actually looks very similar to where I’m from in Mexico.
To give you a little historical overview, Morocco has always been a land of migration, sort of a gateway from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe, as well as from the Middle East. Morocco is well known for having its indigenous communities, often called Amazigh or Tamazigh people. You can think of these as the original peoples of Morocco. Many people around the world also call these people Berber. Some people within that community say that’s a pejorative. I typically say Amazigh just to stay on the safe side. They have a very spiritual connection to the desert and mountain places in Morocco, and they have their own language, especially if you go towards the south of the country.
Morocco today is an Arabic speaking country, and that’s due to the movement of people, trade, and migration from the Middle East, specifically from the Arabian Peninsula. The current king of Morocco, as well as the entire Alawite dynasty, which has ruled Morocco for hundreds of years, actually claims that they’re direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. So modern Morocco is definitely part of the MENA region—Middle East and North Africa—and has a lot in common with the greater Arabic-speaking world.
Although the Arabic dialect that they speak in Morocco, Darija, is basically unintelligible to other Arabic speakers. The Darija that they speak in Morocco is actually a good example of the history of Morocco. Depending on the region of Morocco that you’re in, whether it was colonized by the Spanish or the French, or if you have a high proportion of Amazigh or Berber people, the Darija, the Arabic dialect, is going to shift with the vocabulary in it. That means on a trip to Morocco, you’re going to see a country that’s really geographically diverse, linguistically diverse, has a distinct and diverse population as well, and has so many things to discover.
It’s a country with amazing things to do. And I can’t wait to tell you about them in the practical section.
2 Visas, Money, and Travel Costs
First of all, we’re going to start with visas. And it’s an easy question. How long can I stay in Morocco on my trip? As an American citizen, you can stay 90 days visa-free. All you need is a passport to enter.
Next up, money. In Morocco, they use the Moroccan dirham. And the dirham normally trades about 9 dirham to 1 U.S. dollar. You kind of round it up to 10 when you’re in the country, it just makes it easier to pay for things. People often ask me, should I bring cash when you travel to a foreign country? For me, I always like to keep some cash for an emergency, maybe $200 to $300, like $500 bills, so you can exchange if you’re in a tough situation. But for me, I typically use ATMs. ATM fees in Morocco are only between $2 and $3 to withdraw, and the limit on ATMs that I found is between $200 and $400 US dollars, depending on the bank.
Morocco is definitely a cash-based society, so you might be able to get away with using your credit card at a nicer restaurant or a hotel, but if you want to eat at a normal restaurant or go to a museum, they typically only accept cash. So you’re going to want to have cash on hand during your trip at all times.
For me, Morocco definitely means inexpensive as far as travel destinations are concerned. Eating is pretty cheap in Morocco, you can normally get away with $5 to $10 per meal. Of course, you want to spend more money on food, you definitely can. There are fancy restaurants in all the major cities of Morocco, but if you want to eat like a local, it’s never going to be terribly expensive.
You can stay at a pretty decent hotel in most of the major cities for between $40 and $70 per night. If you’re traveling to some of the more rural areas, especially along the Sahara, a lot of people like to do that, you can get away with guest houses that are between $15 and $20 for the room for the night.
The transportation in the cities is also on the cheap side. Taxis are definitely not going to break the bank. Buses are incredibly cheap, sometimes less than $0.50 per ride depending on the city. Also, the historic centers or old cities in many cities of Morocco are also totally valid to just get around on foot.
So taking all that into consideration, it’s the perfect high-value, low-budget place that you can explore, eat, sleep in pretty nice places, and you’re not going to break the bank.
3 Getting Around Morocco
To get to Morocco, flights depend on what your trip looks like. Points of entry could be Tangier in the north, Rabat or Casablanca in the middle of the country, Agadir or Marrakech towards the south. All of them have major airports. Casablanca is probably the best and well-connected airport because that’s where Royal Air Maroc, the national airline of Morocco, is hubbed out of.
Once you’re in Morocco, you’re probably going to want to see a couple different cities. Internal flights are one option, but there are cheaper options. Morocco has something called the Al Boraq, Africa’s first high-speed railway. You can go from Tangier in the north to Casablanca in the center part of the country in just about two hours and ten minutes. Conventional trains take longer, but are also reasonable and comfortable.
Buses are hit or miss, but companies like Supratours and CTM are reliable. Another local experience is taking a Grand Taxi, which is shared between several passengers and travels between cities for a low price.
4 Connectivity, Safety, and Scams
When you go to Morocco, it’s definitely a country where you’re going to want to have an internet connection. You might need to translate something, or check prices so you’re not getting ripped off. Tourist SIM cards are available from Maroc Telecom, Inwi, or Orange Morocco. eSIMs are more expensive but convenient.
Morocco is generally safe, but as a tourist, be mindful of scams. Some solo female travelers may feel uncomfortable in certain cities due to the conservative culture. Moroccans can be extremely helpful, but some will try to take advantage of tourists in crowded medinas.
In markets, bargaining is normal. The first price is usually much higher than the real value. If you don’t like the price, walk away. Often, the seller will offer a better deal. Avoid interacting with people offering animals for photos—they often try to extort money.
Pickpocketing can happen, so keep your valuables close. Travel insurance is also recommended.
5 Culture, Language, and Etiquette
Morocco is multilingual. Arabic is spoken, but French, Spanish, and English are also widely used. In the south, Amazigh (Berber) languages are common. Learning a few words, like “Salam alaikum” for hello and “Shukran” for thank you, is appreciated.
Dress respectfully, especially when visiting mosques. Women don’t need to cover fully, but avoid revealing clothes. In cities, younger people may wear Western-style clothing, while rural areas are more conservative.
6 Moroccan Cuisine
Couscous is the most famous Moroccan dish, traditionally eaten on Fridays. Tagines, cooked in clay pots, come in many varieties like chicken with preserved lemon and olives or beef with prunes. Moroccan salads are simple, usually onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
Breakfast options include harira soup or besara soup made from fava beans. Msemen flatbreads with honey, chocolate, or amlou are perfect for a sweet start. Briwat and bastilla pastries combine sweet and savory flavors. Moroccan food uses spices like cumin, cinnamon, anise, and ras el hanout. It’s flavorful but not very spicy.
7 Top Cities to Visit in Morocco
Tangier has the beautiful Strait of Gibraltar and a historic Kasbah. Tetouan is white and Spanish-influenced. Chefchaouen, the blue city, has a mountain vibe and is very picturesque.
Rabat is the capital with modern infrastructure and historical monuments. Fez is traditional and intense, with tanneries and medieval streets. Casablanca is modern but not as charming, while El Jadida offers a Portuguese coastal heritage.
Marrakech is very touristy, with a busy medina and a modern new city called Gueliz. The city is also a gateway to the Sahara. Ouarzazate, Merzouga, and Zagora offer desert landscapes. Essaouira is a relaxed coastal city, Taghazout is popular for surfing, and Agadir is a large coastal city.
Dakhla in the far south is beautiful, combining desert and coastal resorts. Morocco’s diversity makes it a country worth visiting multiple times.
