Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about visiting Morocco, a fascinating country set on the northwest coast of Africa. Morocco is a fantastic destination, with lots of unique regions, each with its own colorful culture and cuisines. The food and the people of Morocco are worth the trip! For first-time visitors, there are some things you should know before planning a Morocco trip.
Morocco Tourist Visa
Most likely, you will not need a visa in order to visit Morocco. If you’re from the European Union, the United States, or Canada, you do not need a visa to enter Morocco. They really want to promote tourism in Morocco, so they make it relatively easy to visit. That said, you might expect some long lines at customs when you get to Morocco.
Morocco Currency
In Morocco, the currency is the dirham. I recommend exchanging some money when you arrive in Morocco, as it’s not easy to get outside of the country before you arrive. You won’t get the best exchange rate at the airport, but you will want to have some local currency on hand before leaving the airport. Cash is king in Morocco! Try to break your dirham down to smaller bills so you can tip and purchase things. Many vendors will claim to not have change, so smaller bills are key!
Some of the nicer restaurants and the hotels will accept credit cards, but you may have trouble using American Express or Discover cards. Visa and MasterCard are more widely accepted, so it’s a good idea to have a backup credit card.
Prices in Morocco
Morocco is not a “cheap” destination, but it is very affordable. Accommodation is reasonable, but where you can really get your money’s worth is eating out in Morocco. We had a great dinner for four, with dessert for less than $70. And that was in a very touristy area, so the prices for food in Morocco are great.
The Medina Experience
Visiting a medina is a unique experience and a “must do” when you visit Morocco. Haggling is part of the culture when you are shopping at the medina, so be prepared to haggle anytime you are buying something. You can expect to pay 25% of 50% less than the initial price you are offered. The more touristy the medina, the less you will haggle down the price. After a while, it can be frustrating to have to play the same old haggling game, but it’s just part of the culture.
Official Morocco Tourism Site: www.visitmorocco.com
Language in Morocco
Arabic is the official language of Morocco, and French is a strong secondary language. Within the tourism industry, you’ll find a lot of French, Spanish, and English speakers. If you are an English-speaker visiting Morocco, you won’t have any trouble finding people to communicate with, however, it definitely helps if you know a little bit of French for your Morocco trip.
Getting Around Morocco
For travel within Morocco, there’s a pretty decent train system. The ONCF goes to a lot of places in Morocco, but you may also find yourself taking buses from one place to another. It’s a large country, so getting from one part of Morocco to another can take a full day of travel. Of course, you can also fly between major destinations in Morocco.
Taking the Train from Marrakech to Casablanca
Within Moroccan cities, you can take taxis everywhere. Just make sure you negotiate the price before you get in the taxi.
Places to Visit in Morocco
Within Morocco, there are four main regions to visit. Unless you have a lot of time to spend in Morocco, I don’t recommend trying to see everything in one trip. It’s best to choose one or two regions and really have an immersive experience, rather than racing all over trying to cover too much ground.
- The Atlas Mountains
- The Sahara Desert
- The Coast
- The Plains
Popular cities to visit in Morocco include Marrakech, Fes, Chefchaouen, and Casablanca.
Casablanca Tourism website: from the Morocco Tourism Authority
Marrakech tourism website: from the Morocco Tourism Authority
Weather in Morocco
If you visit Morocco in the winter, it can get really cold. Of course, the weather will vary by which region you are visiting, but don’t just expect it to be hot and dry all the time in Morocco. We often started our day bundled up and then peeled off layers as it warmed up. If you are visiting the desert, there’s a huge swing between day and night temperatures, so be prepared with lots of layers to wear.
Staying Connected in Morocco
We had no trouble staying connected in Morocco. We had WiFi anywhere we needed it, including at restaurants and hotels. You might find the speeds a little bit slower than at home, but overall we did not have any issues getting online in Morocco. Cell service is not necessarily everywhere in Morocco, especially if you are out in the desert or the mountains far away from the cities.
When you need to charge your devices, Morocco has a standard European-style plug, with two round prongs.
Is Morocco Safe?
We brought our kids to Morocco, and we felt safe during our stay. Like any tourist destination, there are the usual pickpockets to look out for, especially in crowded areas. Female travelers may have a different perspective, and it’s definitely recommended that you dress conservatively when visiting Morocco. Moroccan culture is not as inclusive of women, and something that Jocelyn definitely noticed, so that’s something to be prepared for. Maroc Mama is a great resource for women who want to visit Morocco.
Morocco Accommodation
Morocco has been spending a lot of money on tourism infrastructure, so there are plenty of options when deciding where to stay in Morocco. There are new hotels and resorts going up all over. In the desert, you can camp out. Our favorite Morocco accommodation is the riad experience. Riads are all over Morocco and are former homes turned into hotels. Some are very basic, while others are quite luxurious.
Morocco Tours
Tours aren’t often part of our travels, but in Morocco, we found it very helpful to have a tour guide with us. It was easier to get around, especially in the medinas, and the tour guide helped us with the haggling, too. Your Morocco hotel can arrange a tour guide for you, so it’s not something you need to arrange far in advance.
Moroccan Food & Beverage
The food in Morocco is fantastic. A lot of what you will eat is local, so the coastal cities will serve a lot of seafood, while the Plains will have more fresh fruit and vegetables. You will eat really well in Morocco. Tajine is something you’ll see on every menu; it’s a style of cooking named after the pot it’s cooked in, so there are many different types of tajine you can try.
Make sure you only drink bottled water in Morocco, as the tap water might give you tummy issues. Make sure you try the mint tea, which is often served as a “welcome” drink. It’s really tasty, and we had some at every opportunity. Moroccan wine is actually pretty good, too.
Mosques in Morocco
If you are not Muslim, you will not be able to enter any of the mosques in Morocco; you will have to admire them from the outside. After touring so many beautiful churches and cathedrals in Europe and Latin America, this is new to us.
Photography in Morocco
Morocco is so beautiful and colorful; you will want to take tons of pictures. If you want to take photos of people, though, be sure you ask them for permission. Some will say no, and you have to respect that and move on. Others may ask for a tip in exchange for the photo.
Similarly, you’ll see photo opportunities set up for tourists, especially with snake charmers. Don’t take advantage of them unless you have some cash you are willing to give them. Photo opps are how some of these guys make a living.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
A Morocco trip is an amazing family vacation. The people of Morocco are so friendly and welcoming, and we just had a blast throughout our trip. With several unique regions, Morocco is definitely worth multiple trips to get the full experience. Want more travel tips on Morocco and Africa? Check out these other blog posts: