Heading to Morocco? Here are 10 important things to know before you go

While Morocco is intriguing, cultural nuances (compared to your home country) and potential challenges you could face as a foreign tourist in Morocco may have an impact on your overall experience. To help manage your expectations before and during your trip and avoid disappointment (or worse), I share with you here our top 10 observations, having spent six weeks travelling around Morocco recently.

1. English doesn’t get you very far

Let’s start with the most important one: Communication.

Many locals speak multiple languages: Tamazight (the language family of the indigenous Amazigh/Berber people – every region has its own dialect), Darija (the Arabic dialect spoken in Morocco), and French (or Spanish in the north); but many do not speak English.

To be able to connect with locals more easily and have a more immersive experience, knowing (at least a basic level of) French will come in handy. In the absence of that, hiring a (licensed) guide can bridge the language barrier. Google Translate can also help to translate to/from French or written Arabic. Make sure to download the Arabic/French language files if you don’t have a data SIM/for offline use.

At the very minimum: Learn a few words or phrases in Darija, including

• As-salaam Alaykum or just Salaam (Hello),
• Labas? (How are you?), and
• Shukran (Thank you).

2. Tourists = Easy Income

Some people call it endearing, others feel ripped off. Whichever camp you’re in: Be aware that, as a foreign tourist visiting Morocco, you will be taken advantage of at any opportunity. Unfortunately, that also made us feel like walking wallets – more so in Morocco than in ANY other country we’ve explored to date.

Scams of all kinds are widespread and too many to count. Taxi drivers will (try to) overcharge you as soon as you arrive – unless you book one at the official taxi desk at Marrakesh Menara Airport or use the Roby app (Morocco’s version of Uber) in Agadir, Casablanca or Marrakesh.

It makes sense though: Life is not easy here, especially outside the big cities (the minimum wage in Morocco is MAD3,000-3,500/USD300-350/EUR280-330 per month, and many people don’t even make that). People need to survive, and as a foreign tourist visiting Morocco, you are considered wealthy. So, why not maximise the opportunity?

The same way as sights and attractions charge one price for locals and another (at times, significantly higher) price for foreigners, shopkeepers also frequently have separate pricing for locals and tourists:

• We watched a guy at a fruit stall in Meknes change the setting on his scale from MAD10 to MAD12 (per kg) when we approached his stall. He only sold bananas, so he didn’t change it because we bought different fruit to the local in front of us.
• Likewise, a guy selling biscuits at a market stall in Essaouira charged us triple the advertised price. When we protested, he pretended he didn’t understand (it’s hard to argue if you don’t speak the language).

Guided tours often include stops at shops. Prices quoted for typical souvenirs, including royal tea, honey, argan oil, etc are heavily inflated. Your guide may tell you they don’t get commission, but of course, they do get remunerated for bringing their customers into the shop: cash changing hands might be too obvious, but in a country where corruption is rife, favours are often even more important, and they are harder to detect.

With very few exceptions, assistance from locals is usually accompanied by the expectation of a tip. And a refusal to tip or inadequate tipping (in the eye of the recipient) can lead to unfriendly or aggressive behaviour, as may walking out of a shop without a purchase after browsing a few items.

What can you do about it? Not really that much, other than being vigilant:

• Ignore people who try to sell you something (and don’t walk into shops) if you’re not likely to buy anything.
• If you want to marvel the craftsmanship of artisan products (without feeling pressured to buy), go to a traditional workshop. It’s also better to buy straight from the source than from a tourist shop that sells the same stuff as the place next door.
• Especially for more expensive items, do your research to know the adequate price and negotiate (sensibly).

3. Cash is King

And no, we are not talking about the King of Morocco, who is depicted on all of the country’s banknotes.

Morocco is primarily a cash society, with cash often the only accepted form of payment (including for accommodation) outside the big cities. So, always make sure to have enough cash to cover your expenses for a few days. And keep lots of smaller denominations… because invariably, someone will try to keep the change by pretending they have none.

We always withdrew money from Al Barid ATMs, as they don’t charge ATM withdrawal fees and are located nationwide. While the ATMs were largely reliable, we had a few occasions where they didn’t work (including upon arrival at Marrakesh Menara Airport). As we needed cash for the bus fare to our accommodation, we ended up exchanging our last remaining Euros. So, as a back-up, bring some EUR/USD/GBP notes to exchange if needed.

Also worth knowing: Morocco’s currency (the Moroccan Dirham – short: MAD) is a closed currency, which means you can’t get it (nor exchange any leftover cash) outside the country.

4. Accommodation standards may not be what you’re used to

Cleanliness in Morocco may fall short of Western standards. For example, guest accommodation may not always be clean/may have only been cleaned superficially. But there are other nuances that are worth mentioning to help you adjust your expectations:

• Most lodgings lack heating, even in regions that get snow in the Winter, which can make stays uncomfortably chilly in the colder months (warm layers are essential in December, January and February).
• Beds are typically firm and often come with wool blankets instead of (encased) duvets. While it allows for layering (if you’re cold you can just add another blanket or two), don’t expect those wool blankets to be washed between guests.
• Like in other (largely) Muslim countries, bathrooms are often designed as wet rooms, meaning the entire bathroom floor gets wet when you shower.
• During the off-season, some places are not getting much use, adding to the musty/dusty feel you get if you happen to be the first guest in a long while.

Riads, traditional Moroccan houses with interior courtyards, offer a unique cultural experience but can be quite noisy. The courtyard is great to keep the place cool in Summer, but also makes sounds echo through the whole building. Bring ear plugs if you’re a light sleeper.

With those disparities in mind, it’s also important to approach online reviews with caution: a 5-star rating on platforms like Airbnb in Morocco may not align with your expectations for a 5-Star listing (elsewhere), especially if most prior guests were Moroccans. We have stayed in well over 200 accommodations in 7+ years of fulltime travel, yet a 5-Star Airbnb in Tangier became the first one we moved out of after our first night. The room in someone’s home turned out to be a room in a cheap hotel, right next to the reception – dirty, noisy all night, and lacking basic things like sheets and pillow cases.

5. Morocco boasts a (surprisingly) good public transport system

When we first started researching for our trip, we were surprised to learn that Morocco had a high-speed train – the first one in Africa, in fact.

The Al Boraq train (named after Buraq/Lightning – a flying, horse-like creature that carried the Prophet Mohammed) connects Tangier (Gare Tanger Ville) with Rabat and Casablanca (Gare Casa Voyageurs). With a maximum speed of over 300km/h (we even measured 320km/h on our trip – faster than any Shinkansen we’d taken in Japan), the Al Boraq allows you to traverse the country not only very quickly but also comfortably and affordably.

Besides the Al Boraq, slower, less modern trains service other parts of the country. And where the trains don’t go, intercity buses operated by Supratours and CTM are the cleanest and best maintained. They also typically adhere to their schedules. Be aware though, that intercity buses don’t have (functioning) toilets. Instead, buses stop every 1.5 to 2 hours for toilet/coffee/smoking breaks.

Within cities, the public bus networks are extensive and affordable, though routes in cities like Fes or Meknes may not (yet) show up on Google Maps (search for the city’s bus network map online or ask your accommodation host instead).

While easy to use (you pay the bus driver in cash upon entry), navigating local transportation can take some getting used to, thanks to the “each for themselves” attitude of most locals:

• Locals push in when embarking (polite queues as in Japan are unheard of, instead everyone tries to get on at the same time/jumps ahead of anyone who may have been waiting longer), and
• Contrary to the societies we’ve lived in, younger people in Moroccan cities don’t usually give up their seats for older passengers, pregnant women or women with small children.

The quality of Morocco’s road infrastructure also surprised us, in a good way. A lot of money has been invested into upgrades in recent years, even in more remote areas, with wide roads in the High Atlas and well-lit boulevards in desert cities. While it’s easy to rent (and we recommend hiring) a car to explore this diverse country more easily, driving in major cities such as Marrakesh, Fes or Tangier is a nightmare (and best avoided) due to heavy traffic and aggressive driving styles.

6. Buyer beware: Know the rules around alcohol, bread, couscous… and smoking

When dining out, you’ll notice: Pretty much every meal (with the exception of couscous) comes with bread on the side. It’s baked fresh daily (in communal wood-fired ovens) and does not contain preservatives. It’s delicious fresh out of the oven, but it also goes stale quickly. So, if you want to take some with you on your train/bus/road trip, don’t buy more than you eat that day.

Speaking of couscous: Couscous is traditionally prepared on Fridays only. If you find it on a Restaurant’s menu, and it’s not a Friday, don’t order it – it may not be freshly prepared/out of a packet.

And speaking of buying provisions for train/bus/road trips: In the medina (of any Moroccan city), you may have trouble finding a supermarket. Instead, you’ll find a plethora of small, family-owned grocery stores and hole-in-the-wall/kiosk-like stalls, where you tell the owner what you need (with the help of Google Translate or by pointing at the items in the shelves behind them).

Dining costs vary significantly depending on the area, with a delicious breakfast at Café Murano in Fes [Google Maps location] costing us as little as MAD29 each, while a dinner at a rooftop restaurant in Meknes set us back MAD330 (one Moroccan tea alone was MAD45) [Google Maps location]. I guess the latter must have charged for the view, as both places were mostly frequented by locals.

Many establishments offer complimentary snacks while you’re waiting for your ordered meal to arrive (usually just a small dish of olives but sometimes also vegetables/salads and bread). If you’re not very hungry, look around on other tables so that you don’t order too much.

As with our comment about accommodation in Morocco, restaurant reviews, even highly rated ones, can’t always be trusted: Paul was knocked out for a few days after a meal at a highly-rated restaurant in Chefchaouen [Google Maps location] gave him food poisoning. So, proceed with caution. If you are after a delicious, healthy and affordable dining experience (with warm and genuine local hospitality), we can highly recommend

• Le Nid´cigogne [Google Maps location] and La Table de la Kasbah [Google Maps location] in Marrakesh;
• Dar Chadia in Fes [Google Maps location]; and
• Café La Playa in Tangier [Google Maps location].

Be aware that sometimes camel milk/butter/meat is used in dishes, especially in more remote, rural areas. The taste takes some getting used to (we didn’t like it at all and met locals who also wouldn’t touch it). If in doubt, ask before you order to avoid surprises.

In line with our comment above about low(er) hygiene standards in accommodations,

• not all eateries in Morocco provide serviettes, despite the traditional practice of eating with your (right) hand, and
• smoking is still prevalent in many eateries (ash trays on tables are a tell-tale sign).

Being a Muslim country, alcohol is rarely consumed and can be hard to find, as few places sell it (even though Morocco brews its own beer). To our surprise, we didn’t mind that at all. Instead, we drank a lot of freshly prepared juices (apple, strawberry, lemon, orange – you name it) and Moroccan tea. Occasionally, we would have a non-alcoholic beer, which tastes just like the real stuff, especially ice-cold on a hot day.

And speaking of Moroccan tea – just like coffee, you can get it from very bitter to super delicious (and everything in between). In some places, they will ask if you want to have your tea with sugar (or without). Some sugar cubes in Morocco are the size of matchboxes, no kidding. So, if you’re not a sweet tooth (or you’re concerned about your blood sugar levels), say no or ask for the sugar to be given to you on the side.

7. Some people may follow you, but don’t follow everyone else

We already touched on the price policy for locals vs foreigners above. In line with the sales culture we also mentioned, a few times, people kept pestering and following us unrequested, for example

• at the Kasbah Taourirt, where we stayed in one of the local guesthouses and still couldn’t convince the guide to leave us alone, and
• outside the Islamic Library in Tamegroute, which we ended up leaving early (without visiting the pottery workshops), as all attempts of us to shake off the guide didn’t yield any results.

It’s a real shame, as this kind of behaviour left a sour mark on the whole experience.

As in many other destinations around the world, a lot of visitors frequenting the same places (at the same time) can cause overcrowding and make for a less pleasant experience (think of the Bahia Palace or the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakesh). Thankfully, you can still find true underrated gems, like

• the Musee MACMA [Google Maps location] and the Culinary Arts Museum [Google Maps location] in Marrakesh or
• the Dar Jamai Museum in Meknes [Google Maps location] (an underrated gem of a city itself).

So, don’t just follow the top lists of things to see and do but venture off the beaten path.

One of the real standouts, in a positive way, was to see that old traditional crafts still exist in many places all over Morocco: from weaving to woodwork, instrument making and metalwork. If you visit traditional workshops, you can still observe leather products, carpets/rugs, blankets and towels, musical instruments as well as copperware being made the traditional way, with younger generations learning from the older craftsmen and women. These traditional workshops are also the best places to buy genuine souvenirs.

8. If you’re lost, just wander (or use MapsMe to find your way)

Strolling around Morocco’s medinas, especially if you’re on the hunt for souvenirs, it’s easy to get lost. But it’s also part of the fun of exploring Morocco’s labyrintian old towns, so don’t panic if you do.

The most challenging medinas for us (at least initially) were Eassouira and Meknes (not Fes or Marrakesh): In both cases, our accommodation was hidden in back alleys (and Google Maps showed the wrong location). It also doesn’t help when alleyways completely transform during the day (when all the shops are open) vs at night (when the shops are boarded up). If your accommodation is in the medina, choose landmarks for orientation that look the same 24/7 (for example, mosques, public toilets etc).

And speaking of Google Maps: Inside medinas, it’s not always useful. Make sure to download MapsMe (and the offline map for your destination) to find your way.

9. Animal welfare isn’t high on the agenda

One of the first things you’ll notice when arriving in any city in Morocco is the presence of (gazillions of) street cats and stray dogs. While cats tend to be taken better care of than dogs, efforts to manage and reduce stray animal populations, and ensure their wellbeing are (largely) left to privately funded organisations and fall way short of what’s needed.

As pet sitters and animal lovers, seeing these animals suffer, broke our hearts more than once. If you like us want to help, here are a few of the organisations that would appreciate your support – from donations of money and equipment to volunteer work and adoption. These organisations are also important points of call if you see an animal in need during your trip.

Likewise, animal exploitation is still commonplace, especially in tourist hotspots, where

• snakes, monkeys, parrots and peacocks are commonly used for entertainment in public places, and
• singing birds like finches are being kept in tiny cages in guest accommodations and restaurants.

The best we/you can do is not participate in those entertainment practices/not frequent places where wild animals are being held captive.

10. Morocco is more than deserts and mountains

When planning your trip to Morocco, it’s also important to understand the country’s diverse climate and vegetation, which vary dramatically across different regions.

In/around Marrakesh and the regions to the East, West and South, you can expect a warmer and very dry climate. With arid landscapes and sparse vegetation, these are the quintessential desert landscapes, Morocco as a filming location is famous for.

As you travel further north, the climate becomes cooler and vegetation noticeably greener. Cities like Meknes and Fes are surrounded by lush landscapes that reminded us of Tuscany, with rolling hills, olive trees, cypresses and fruit orchards offering a stark contrast to the barren landscapes of the south.

And finally, if you venture into the Rif Mountains, located in the far north of the country, you’ll encounter landscapes reminiscent of the Julian Alps and Dinaric Alps of the Balkan Peninsula – perfect hiking territory.

For details on the climate/weather in various Moroccan cities year-round, check out Weatherspark.

And before you go: If you liked my article and found it helpful, I would appreciate it if you could share it with your friends and family via the Share buttons below. Even better: Leave a short review on Trustpilot or Google, which would help us further build our online reputation as a (trustworthy and helpful) travel and lifestyle blog.