From Europe, it is easy to travel to Morocco by flight or by boat from southern Spain. There are a number of international airports, and I have been to Marrakesh and Casablanca. A lot of the low-cost airlines fly to smaller airports including Fez, Rabat, and Agadir. My first visit was to Marrakesh in March 2015 and the weather was sunny and beautiful most of the time. In contrast, in Casablanca in April 2024, we had high winds and rain most of the time. We found that in Marrakesh, we were bothered a lot more by people trying to sell us anything and everything, especially in the souks. However, in Casablanca we could wander around easily and without anyone paying us much attention.
Although Morocco is a Muslim country, it is not very strict and many tourists visit with no issues. I would recommend to be respectful and dress conservatively. Women may need to cover their heads to enter mosques. And during Ramadan, you will find that some restaurants are not open during the day, and the evening menu may be a special buffet or feast.
Highlights
- Casablanca, the largest city on the northwest coast
- Marrakesh, a vibrant and popular tourist destination
- Atlas Mountains
- Rabat, the capital
- Fez
- Essaouira
- Aït Benhaddou World Heritage site with earthen clay architecture
- Ouarzazate, gateway to the Sahara
- Erg Chebbi sand dunes
- Tangier, a Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar
Before you go
- Rabat is the capital of Morocco, but Casablanca is the largest city
- US and UK citizens do not need a visa to visit for up to 90 days
- The official languages are Arabic and Berber, and many people speak French
- It is a Muslim country, and many mosques require women to cover their heads
- Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted, less so American Express
- For popular attractions, book online to avoid queues
- Opening hours may differ on Fridays and during Ramadan
- Winter is the off season and can be cheaper
Transport
- Morocco has many international airports in the larger cities
- Within cities, taxis are a good way to get around. They usually accept cash only, so ensure that you have some small change. Also, negotiate a price in advance
- Taxis can be private or shared, and it is not always possible to know in advance, so don’t be surprised if someone jumps in with you
- There are some organised tours to places outside the cities, or you can hire a driver
Accommodation
- I’ll make some specific recommendations in posts for the specific cities I have visited. In Marrakesh, we stayed at a beautiful riad and in Casablanca we stayed at a boutique hotel
- While in Morocco, it is nice to stay in a riad (traditional house with a central courtyard) rather than a hotel for a more authentic experience
- As usual I recommend checking reviews on Google Reviews or using AirBnB
Currency
The official currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD) and as of December 2024, one British pound is about 12.7 Dirham.
I recommend to check the currency conversion just before you leave as this fluctuates
Food
Moroccan food is flavourful, fresh, and delicious. Most people have heard of the couscous and tagine (or tajine) dishes. However, there is so much variety of those dishes, as well as salads, fish, seafood and desserts. This section is a brief introduction to Moroccan food, and I will share specific restaurant and cafe recommendations in the city posts. Luckily, I have a friend from Morocco who has shared many wonderful Moroccan recipes with me, and I have started to cook them at home.
Snacks
For a quick snack, the olive selection is amazing! These are available in most markets and restaurants. In Casablanca, we tried and bought delicious olives, spices and sauces from the Habbous market.
Breads and pastries are plentiful and can have sweet or savoury fillings. Cheese-filled pastries were tasty. Chicken pastillas are pastries filled with a salty and sweet mixture of chicken, almonds and spices. Another pastry called a Briouat is triangular and can be filled with savoury or sweet fillings.
Dates and nuts are also very popular, and are often on the table at restaurants. They are often on the table and can be eaten before, during or after the main meal.
Main dishes
Tagine (or Tajine) refers to a particularly shaped earthenware cooking vessel. The food cooked in this vessel is also called tagine. There are many varieties which can have chicken, lamb, beef, fish and/or vegetables. Sometimes dried fruits and nuts are added, and always there is a mixture of spices. The flavours blend well and the dish is often juicy.
Keftes are small meatballs which can be eaten on their own, or be part of a tagine.
Couscous is another popular dish and it can be fine or larger grains of wheat. The couscous is usually served with a stew of vegetables and/or meat. The flavours are often spices yet light. Most people have heard of couscous even if you haven’t had the Moroccan version!
Desserts
As mentioned, one can enjoy dates before, during and after dinner. It is a nice sweet treat, and always plentiful in markets and at restaurants.
In addition, there are many sweets and pastries. Fillings include nuts such as pistachio or walnut, and the pastry can be coated with sugar syrup or honey.
Finally, dessert is often served with mint tea, which can be quite strong and often sweetened.
FAQs
Q: Do I need a tour guide?
A: No, not for the cities, but you might want to have one for further out places
Q: Do people speak English?
A: Some people speak English, and many do in the large cities
Q: Can I travel solo?
A: Yes, but be prepared to be bothered by many people trying to sell you things or be your guide
Q: How easy is it to send postcards?
A: It is easy to find postcards in the big cities and to find a post office for stamps. See Sending Postcards from Abroad for details on cost and the time it took to reach the USA.
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