Are you traveling in Morocco and in search of a few Morocco travel tips? Morocco has long been on my “must-see” lists. The bright and colorful photos of the country held me captive, and the Sahara desert was something I had only seen in movies.
Due to Morocco’s proximity to Europe, travelers often hop on the next ferry out of Spain to visit Morocco for themselves.
As soon as you cross the border you will be taken back into another world. As enthralling as it is, there are some Morocco travel tips to know before you go. Let’s dig into those!
Our Top Morocco Travel Tips
Marrakech Is Dubbed “Scam City”, But So Is The Rest Of The Country
One of my top Morocco travel tips is to have your guard up in Marrakech. Let’s just open up with the most obvious, Marrakech has been known for years to be a city full of scams and deceitfulness.
Touts roam every corner waiting for a naive tourist to pass by to try and rip them off. You know when you read reviews online and think “Yea, this person is just paranoid, that will never happen.” Well after reading articles like this and this we thought that too.
Turns out, that every scam that we had read about and tried to prepare for was a real thing! Crazy henna ladies, constant short-changing, and intentional wrong directions became daily battles in Marrakech. However, it didn’t just stop there, almost every city we visited during our six weeks traveling in Morocco had its own way of persistently trying to scam you.
Do your research before, know what to look out for, and don’t let those scammers get the best of you. Just when you’re about to let your guard up—don’t.
Brush Up On Your Language Skills
An important Morocco travel tip is to be respectful of the language. Moroccan Arabic is the official language of Morocco. Berber is completely different than Arabic and is spoken by the Berber people. Next there is French, which many Moroccans can speak fluently. If you’re going to Northern Morocco, near Spain, you may find that many of the locals even speak Spanish.
That’s a lot of languages in one country. One of my tips for traveling to Morocco is to brush up on those high school foreign languages as it will certainly make your experience a little more enjoyable. Or pick up an Arabic language book!
And In Case You Forgot…
If you are traveling in Morocco it’s important to know about the people. Berbers are an ethnic group indigenous to Northern Africa. They make up over 70% of the Moroccan population! Get to know some of them, they are among some of the most welcoming people I have ever met.
Don’t Catch Yourself Taking A Local Bus
Besides renting a car, there are three main ways of transportation and traveling around Morocco – train, bus, and taxi. You have two options for buses—to go local or choose a private bus company. One of my best Morocco travel tips is to save yourself the hassle and pay to take a private, “touristy” bus.
The local buses are extremely crowded, run-down, and stop for literally every Joe Schmoe on the side of the road meaning your journey could take hours longer than it should.
Supratours and CTM are the two private bus companies, they are still inexpensive by western standards and provide much better comfort.
Grand Taxis Are Not Grand
One of my top Morocco travel tips is to not expect much out of the grand taxis. Your other option is to take a grand taxi to get from point A to point B. Before you go thinking that you’ll be in the back seat of a luxury crown sedan, let me explain. A grand taxi is a small 4 door jalopy that Jimi Hendrix probably rode in when he visited Morocco in the ’60s.
The taxis go to certain destinations and wait until the car is filled with 6 passengers until they hit the road. Undoubtedly, an experience and also a cheap way of transport—just not exactly comfortable.
The Sahara Is Really Really Really Far Away
If you’re going to Morocco and have some time to explore I’m sure seeing the Sahara is high on your list. It’s beautiful and will take your breath away—just know that it is extremely far away. I’m talking like 10 hours of straight driving through mountainous regions far.
I knew this going in, but it still felt like forever trying to get to the dunes. A good thing to note is that the desert gets extremely cold at night as well, so make sure to know what to wear in Morocco and pack accordingly.
Fill Up On Your Vitamin C
One thing I will certainly be missing now that we have left Morocco is my daily Vitamin C fill. You’ll find fresh-squeezed orange juice just about everywhere when you travel Morocco!
Are you ready for the best part? It’s typically less than 5 DH ($.40)! You can actually find a variety of fresh juices all around, including my personal favorite – avocado and banana juice.
Bread Lovers Unite
Anyone planning to go on a no carb diet should hold off until they leave Morocco. Bread or “Khubz” in Arabic is a daily part of life here, and is a large portion of every breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It often replaces silverware in that you essentially scoop your food with it!
We were able to escape the bread madness on a few occasions, including that one time we went to Tangier just to have this meal.
….And Sugar Fiends Unite Too
To help you achieve that perfect bikini bod is breads’ BFF—sugar. You’ll be brushing your teeth 3 times a day with all the sweet treats in Morocco. Moroccans will constantly be inviting you in for their special mint tea or “Berber whiskey,” and it is addicting! However, to save yourself an extra trip to the dentist when you get home, ask for no sugar.
Get Your Camera Ready
One of my best tips for traveling to Morocco is to pack a camera! There are so many beautiful things in Morocco. If you’re wondering what Morocco is known for it’s the colors, the textures, and the shapes. Everything in Morocco so darn mesmerizing.
Pack your camera with an extra memory card before going to Morocco, and get ready to become instafamous. For some picturesque views from above, try a hot air balloon ride with a camel ride after.
Watch Maze Runner Before You Land
It’s almost a Morocco fact that while you are in the medinas of Fez and Marrakech you will get lost. I had read about the thousands of old streets before landing in the country, but didn’t quite understand their scale until I was walking them myself.
The old medinas are an intricate maze that not even Google Maps can detect. Your best bet is to just let it happen, get lost and enjoy what you find. It’s not a matter of if, but when. Eventually you’ll find your way!
Learn To Love Riads
So what is a riad? A riad is a traditional Moroccan guesthouse, and chances are you will be staying in at least one while visiting Morocco. Usually, riads are a couple of stories with a big open courtyard in the middle. Bedrooms are on every side of the square. It is something that I found cute and fun at first, but I grew to hate them after six weeks.
As a wannabe sun goddess, I became annoyed with the fact that there is virtually no natural light in the bedrooms, and that they are generally very noisy. To each their own.
What is a Riad? 7 Stunning Moroccan Riads You’ll Want to Book
Bargainers Beware
I want to note that Morocco isn’t that cheap. Sure, Morocco is much more affordable than Western Europe, Australia, and the United States but if you are coming here thinking it’s going to be like Cambodia or Bali then you may need to reassess your budget.
When we really tried we were able to get by in Chefchaouen and Essaouira for less than $25 a day per person, but some days in the bigger cities ran us upwards of $40 a day (this is for extreme budget backpacking). If you’re looking for a little more of a mid-range experience, then budget for at least $50 a day a person.
Still a relatively cheap destination depending on where you are coming from, but perhaps not what you were thinking.
No, The Moroccan Men Are Not Your Friend
Now I’m not saying that you can’t have a genuine Moroccan friend because you definitely can! However, if some strange man in the medina starts randomly approaching you, run for the hills. It seems that Morocco is just swarming with “nice guys” that are willing to show you around or assist you in some unwanted way.
Generally, some young (ish) guy will start talking to you, claiming to be your friend, asking where you’re from, and the list goes on, and on. Some of these men are sketchy at first glance, but some could be on their way to the Oscars with their 5-star performance.
Chances are you were probably raised to be a polite person. Be forewarned, your politeness may quickly lead you to a scam. Use your common sense and trust your gut. A firm “no” (or “la” in Arabic) will usually do the trick to whatever they have up their sleeve. Even just asking for directions in big cities will result in you paying some sort of “tip.”
It’s sad, but I stopped trusting anyone while in this country; men, little boys, hotel owners, and even the cats seemed shady! The only time I completely found refuge from this was in the villages with my Berber family homestay. I’m not saying Morocco isn’t a good place to visit, but just be aware that if something seems questionable – it probably is.
Safety In Morocco
Cash Is King
Don’t expect to rake in airline miles with your credit card purchases while in Morocco. We did not pay with a credit card once while in Morocco. So another Morocco travel tip for you is to have lots of cash. Everywhere is cash only unless you are in a McDonalds or in a major urban city.
Flash your Visa and you will get stared at like a crazy person. Check out our top travel banking tips for your travels!
When Is The Best Season To Travel To Morocco?
High season (June-August)
This is the time when European tourists take their summer break and the streets of Morocco are very busy. However this doesn’t mean it’s the best time to travel Morocco. As mentioned it’s the hottest times of the year so try to avoid this travel time if you can.
Shoulder Season (March-May, September and October)
There really is no true shoulder season, as it’s always a great country to visit. However with Europeans back to work, the tourism dies down a bit during these months. It’s also not so incredibly hot making it a great time to travel to Morocco. Morocco is lovely in both spring and autumn, especially if you are spending time hiking outdoors.
Low Season (November-February)
These are some of the cooler months of the year in Morocco, but it’s not really that cold with temperatures hovering around 20°C, with around 10-11 hours of sunshine per day.
Quick Travel Tips For Morocco
- Languages Spoken: Arabic is the common language, although many Moroccans speak French. In Northern Morocco, you may also get by with Spanish. Berber is the second official language spoken by the Berber population – the original inhabitants of Morocco.
- Capital: Rabat
- Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD). Some places may take USD or EUR. Morocco is a cash country. Outside of accommodation, we never paid anything via credit card.
- Visa: Most visitors can enter Morocco visa-free for 90 days – check with your embassy.
- What to Pack: Morocco is a predominately Muslim country so visitors should dress conservatively. I would suggest a scarf for covering up, harem pants, sandals, and loose shirts.
- Stay Connected: Maroc Telecom, Meditel, and Inwi are the main service providers. Maroc Telecom seemed to work the best for us. Data is cheap in Morocco and you can find sim cards in any town center.
- Be Warned: Morocco is scam city. Many locals are well versed in running cons and making a quick dirham off a traveler in any way they can. In medinas, it is common for locals to give false directions in order to get you lost and then demand payment for the correct directions. Yea, it’s messed up – remember I said we love and hate it.
What To Pack For Morocco
Shop For Travel Insurance
We don’t travel without travel insurance and neither should you. You never know what can happen in a foreign country and it’s best to be prepared. HeyMondo offers excellent short and long-term travel insurance policies.
Travel Shoes
It’s best to bring a pair of breathable shoes to walk around Morocco. The heat in Northern Africa and Morocco is intense. This means if you don’t want your feet to always feel sweaty and stinky wear cool and comfortable shoes.
I love the Allbird Tree Runners for their breathability in situations like this. I’ve been going strong in them for two years! Check out my other recommendations on women’s shoes, and the best men’s travel shoes.
Shemagh
Just throwing this into your bag is going to make packing for Morocco a breeze. A Shemagh is the perfect travel accessory for both the men and the women travelers out there. This can be worn for just about anything. It will keep you warm, cover your face, protect valuables in your backpack, and even double as an eye mask the shemagh has tons of different uses.
Sunscreen
Skin cancer is for real! Don’t forget your SPF when traveling around Morocco We recommend ordering some online before leaving the house as you will need it underneath the sun in the summer.
We highly recommend getting an eco friendly sun cream that does not contain harmful chemicals.
Travel Towel
Most hotels will provide you with a towel, but for those times when they may not I like to have a backup travel towel. I like to travel with a microfiber towel because they are light and fold up small, and they also don’t cling on to sand our dirt. Here are a few of our favorite travel towels.
Adapter
Remember that Morocco uses the Europlug. Make sure you find a good adapter like the one I have to keep you charged. Otherwise, you may be paying for a cheap one once you land.
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