Morocco Travel Guide: What to See and Do in Morocco
General Information of Morocco
Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco or the Alawite Kingdom of Morocco, is a sovereign country located in North Africa bathed by the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas.
It gained independence from France and Spain in 1956 and is separated from the European continent by the Strait of Gibraltar.
It borders to the east with Algeria, whose border has been closed since 1994, to the south with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, and to the north with Spain with whom it shares land and sea borders in Ceuta and Melilla.
Location of Morocco
Map of Morocco on Google Maps
Culture in Morocco
Morocco is the confluence between Europe and Africa, bordered by the Mediterranean and open to the grandeur of the Atlantic. The "country of the far west" is a destination full of contrasts, with two thousand years of history that is worth discovering.
Roman influences converge in the north of the country (Volubilis), the architectural remains of the old French presence are found in Rabat. The treasures of Muslim civilizations are everywhere waiting to be discovered.
Its landscapes, both on the coast and in the mountains, with a territory exposed to all the variety of Mediterranean climates, offers magnificent views that you will enjoy touring. In short, it is a destination that combines charming landscapes with the richness of a heterogeneous culture.
Eating in Morocco
Another thing that you should not stop doing in Morocco is enjoying its exquisite gastronomy. Moroccan food has managed to take over the best of African, Arab, and Mediterranean cuisine.
The best advice is to try everything you can, although we leave you some recommendations below.
Tagine
Possibly it is the typical Moroccan dish par excellence. It consists of a stew cooked over very slow heat in a clay pot (tajine), a kind of bowl with a conical lid to open it easily and that maintains the heat before and after cooking, favoring the condensed steam on the top to return to fall on food preventing it from drying out while cooking.
It is a traditional stew with meat or vegetables seasoned with its own traditional blend of spices and is often accompanied by couscous.
Moroccan Salad
Although it has few ingredients, they are very nutritious. It is made with tomatoes, green peppers, and red onion and seasoned with lemon, salt, and olive oil. The Moroccan salad is served fresh or sautéed. You shouldn't overlook it.
Pastilla
It is a dough of several layers of filled puff pastry. The filling is made with caramelized onion, meat, almonds, and parsley, as well seasoned with spices. The meat can be chicken or pigeon sprinkled with icing sugar and cinnamon.
It is a dish that combines sweet and salty, typical of Moroccan food. It really is a delight that you should not stop trying.
Moorish Skewers
They are meat skewers. Moorish skewers are one of the most typical and cheapest street foods in Morocco. In addition, they are found in practically all restaurants under the name "kebap" and are usually chicken or lamb and are accompanied by typical Moroccan bread.
Moroccan Sweets
They are usually filo pastry, fried tarts filled with nuts (especially almonds, pistachios and walnuts), and soaked in very sweet syrups or honey.
Moroccan Drinks
You cannot leave Morocco without trying the mint tea (black tea accompanied by sugar and fresh mint leaves) that you will be offered anywhere as part of the country's hospitality and the orange juice in Jemma el Fna square, the best you will ever taste.
What to See and Do in Marrakech
Marrakech is an exotic city with a large number of attractions, full of mosques, palaces, gardens, and charming places to discover.
Located in the southern part of Morocco, and the former capital of the Islamic empire, it is considered one of the most important and attractive cities for the traveler, which also accumulates several monuments considered World Heritage Sites.
Known as the Red City for the color of its buildings, made with adobe and local earth, it is one of the so-called Moroccan imperial cities, along with Rabat, Fez, and Meknes.
The old city, the medina, is located in the center, surrounded by walls 10 meters high and more than 15 kilometers in the perimeter. Outside is the most modern city, built during the period of French colonial rule, where you can immerse yourself in contemporary Morocco.
The Guéliz and Hivernage neighborhoods offer the most modern infrastructures, luxury shops and international ready-to-wear, and wide avenues, all with the hallmark of Marrakech.
Jemaa el Fna Square
It is the nerve center of Marrakech, and all the routes in the medina start and end here. In the morning you will be able to see all kinds of vendors, strange characters, snake charmers, water carriers, natural orange juice vendors, musicians, and other artists.
At night it is transformed by filling up with food stalls. The best thing is to sit on one of the terraces that surround the square and sit down to have a mint tea watching the atmosphere change.
The Souks of Morocco
Losing yourself in the souks is one of the great experiences in Marrakech, regardless of whether you haggle or buy something. Inside the medina and entering from the north side of the Jemaa el Fna Square you will find a maze of alleys full of shops and the occasional food stall.
You will be able to buy any typical article of the country and for greater ease, you will realize that the souk of artisans is grouped by guilds, carpenters, dyers, skins, carpets, jewelry, and natural cosmetics.
Visiting hours are Monday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and it is close on Friday mornings.
The Ben Youssef Madrasa
A madrasa is a type of Muslim school for higher studies, and here we find the largest and one of the most important in all of Morocco, built-in 1565.
Its architecture and details are incredible. Daily visiting hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Bahia Palace
Built at the end of the 19th century, it is one of the most important architectural works in Marrakech that reflects the essence of the Islamic and Moroccan styles.
It occupies 8 hectares and among the highlights is the harem with a pond in the central courtyard and surrounded by the rooms of the concubines.
It is located in the southern part of the medina, a 20-minute walk from Jemaa el Fna Square and its visiting hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Koutoubia Mosque
It is a 5-minute walk from Jemaa el Fna Square and although it can only be visited from the outside, it is worth it.
It is considered the most important mosque in Marrakech and dates from the year 1169, as curiosity to say that it was made by the same architect as the Giralda in Seville.
Mellah
It is the old Jewish quarter and is one of the least visited areas of the medina, but one of the most interesting. Its creation dates back to the 16th century when the Jews were expelled from Spain and Portugal. Its main attractions are the Al Azama synagogue and the Jewish cemetery.
It is a 15-minute walk from Jemaa el Fna Square, next to des Ferblantiers, the gateway to the neighborhood.
Majorelle Gardens
They are the most beautiful in the city, designed by the French artist Jacques Majorelle and acquired in 1980 by Yves Saint Laurent.
They are a perfect place to disconnect from the stressful Marrakech and take refuge from the heat sitting under the shade of the trees.
The garden has species from all over the world, from cacti, bamboo, and aquatic plants to coconut and banana trees.
They are half an hour's walk from the center, although you can also take a taxi and the visiting hours are from Monday to Sunday from 08:00 to 17:30.
Visit the Surroundings of Marrakech
There are several options for visits that can be made from Marrakech, from entering the desert or visiting the largest waterfalls in North Africa to visiting charming nearby cities.
The Ouzoud Waterfalls
They are a perfect destination to take a break from Marrakech, they will surprise you with their 110-meter-high waterfalls. You can even, if you are very hot, take a bath in its icy waters or enjoy the local flora and fauna.
Ourika Valley
You will discover incredible landscapes and enjoy nature on a journey through the Atlas, knowing an endless number of traditional Berber villages and their culture.
Ouarzazate
It is an ancient fortified city that is a World Heritage Site that is worth visiting. You will be surprised by its traditional adobe architecture.
The best is to get lost in its streets. As a curiosity, it is worth mentioning that it is considered the door to the desert and that an infinity of films has been filmed in this location: Star Wars, Lawrence of Arabia, the Mummy, Gladiator, or series such as Game of Thrones.
Excursion to the Sahara Desert (Zagora or Merzouga)
Excursions to the desert are one of the great attractions of Morocco. From Marrakech, we have the option of the deserts of Zagora and Merzouga.
The Zagora desert is about 6 hours by car from Marrakech, so a short getaway of two days and one night is recommended.
Zagora is a more arid and rocky desert than Merzouga, which is a bit far from the desert image you probably have in your head, but it is worth visiting.
The Merzouga desert is a little further away, so the ideal visit would be at least three days and two nights. This is the most popular desert in Morocco and the most visited where you can see dunes up to 150 meters high.
Logically, in both deserts, you will have the opportunity to do various activities such as riding a camel or sleeping in a tent, or watching the milky way lying in the desert.
Essaouira
Essaouira is the Pearl of the Atlantic, a place worth visiting and hard to forget. A perfect place to escape from the chaotic Marrakech, a haven of peace occupied by Phoenicians, Portuguese and French.
Also a World Heritage Site, it is a quiet and leisurely city with an incredible beach and a beautiful medina where you can stroll in a relaxed way, enjoy its gastronomy, discover its port or simply watch the sunset.
What to See in Tangier
Tangier is the gateway to Africa, a port city situated at the western entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, but it is also a city with a rich history and a truly multicultural environment that was a protectorate of numerous countries. Its great European influence is reflected in its streets and its inhabitants.
The Kasbah
It is one of the oldest parts of Tangier and a must-see place.
The old walled city with its network of winding streets is located at the top of the city, with which you can enjoy spectacular views of the old port of Portuguese origin and the Strait of Gibraltar with the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Other essential visits to the Kasbah are its museum and the Nahón Synagogue. And if you feel like having a drink, you can go to Café Hafa.
The Medina
It is the place in the city where people live and work, it begins and ends with a mosque, and it is so big that it is ideal to get lost in it.
In its alleyways, you can find almost anything, from Moroccan handicrafts to imports from around the world. Restaurants, cafes, bakeries, souvenir shops.
All of this is surrounded by hundreds of people at all times. Inside the medina, the Little Souk stands out, a tourist attraction in Tangier itself, a covered space where everything is sold.
Next to the Medina, you will find the Central Market (Gran Socco), which is worth visiting, divided into three areas: fish, meat, and fruit.
Boulevard Mohamed VI
It is located near the port and the promenade, and you will see wonderful buildings aged by the passage of time with architecture in the purest Portuguese style.
The Great Mosque of Tangier
It stands on what was the site of a 5th-century Roman temple. After the Portuguese conquest, the mosque became a cathedral and during the 8th century, Muslims found it a suitable place for prayer, becoming a mosque again.
Since then it has been converted back into a church and once again into a mosque. This series of conversions make it a fascinating example of Morocco's rich and varied history, as well as a point of architectural interest.
The Promenade and the Beach of Tangier
Tangier has an incredible beach in the middle of the city of no less than five kilometers, where you can enjoy a swim, or if you prefer, take a walk both on the sand and along its promenade full of leisure areas.
The Port of Marra
It is not a tourist place, but as it is a port city, its port is most interesting. You can see the fishermen doing their trade and the large number of boats that are there.
Surroundings of Tangier
Your trip to Tangier will not be complete if you do not know some of the wonderful corners that are around it.
The Caves of Hercules
It is one of the most visited places in Tangier. They are natural limestone caves of great archaeological value as they refer to Greek mythology, which says that this is where Hercules rested after doing his twelve labors, as well as separating the mountains to open the Strait of Gibraltar.
Asilah
It is a charming coastal fishing village 30 kilometers from Tangier with a beautiful medina and craft shops. It has a long history behind it, occupied by Carthaginians, Romans, Spanish and Portuguese.
What to See in Fez
With almost two million inhabitants, Fez is considered one of the most beautiful medieval cities in the world and one of the four imperial cities along with Marrakech, Rabat, and Meknes. It is considered the religious and cultural capital of Morocco.
There is a lot to visit in Fez, and it is divided into three parts, "Fez el-Bali", which is the old area where the medina is located, is the largest pedestrian area in the world and it is declared a World Heritage Site. "Fez el-Jdid" which is the new area, where the Mellah, the Jewish quarter, and finally the "Ville Nouvelle" which is the French area.
Fes el-Bali
It is the largest car-free urban area in the world with dimensions larger than the entire Maghreb and the labyrinthine place where most of the points of interest in the city of Fes that is listed below are located.
The entrance is made through "Bab Boujloud or Blue Gate" (the outer part is blue, a symbol of the city, and the green inner part, the color of Islam) is the main entrance door to the medina from which the two streets start more commercials “Tala'a Sghira and Tala'a Kbira”.
One of the few religious buildings that can be visited in the city is the "Bou Inania Madrasa", which stands out for its minaret and because it acts as both an Islamic university and a mosque.
For its part, Nejjarine Square is in the neighborhood of the carpenters and it highlights the oldest fountain in the city and the museum of wood, with beautiful architecture.
On the other hand, you will find the Chouwara tannery, the largest of the four in the city, and an essential visit. Here the tanners tirelessly treat the skin of different animals. The best way to visit it is by accessing it from the terrace of one of the leather shops that surround it, where they will try to sell you gold and Moorish. Attention because the stench is important.
In turn, Al-Qarawiyyin University is the oldest in the world (9th century) and is still active. As it is also a mosque, you cannot visit it, but with luck from one of its doors, you will be able to glimpse its central patio. In this case, the Attarine Madrasa is the most beautiful in Fez with its traditional structure of a central courtyard with classrooms around it.
Also, you cannot miss Seffarine square and its nearby streets, which are dedicated to the manufacture of copper, it is normal to see artisans working on it.
Finally, of course, you cannot forget to visit the various souks. The most striking is that of Attarine, with shops selling pharmaceuticals and spices.
Fez el-Jdid
In the new medina, "Mellah" stands out, which is the Jewish quarter, with a dilapidated architecture in which wood stands out. You will recognize that it is a Jewish area because of the balconies, something unthinkable in the Muslim part.
Also in Mellah is the "Ibn Danan Synagogue", a picturesque place as it is a kind of private home in which a seventeenth-century synagogue is located.
Another outstanding place is the "Royal Palace" of which you can only see its large brass doors, surrounded by tiles and carved cedar wood.
Ville Nouvelle
It was created by the French during the first half of the 20th century, which is why it maintains a European architectural style, and it is the most modern, wide, and populated area of the city.
Here you will find the administrative services of the city, the most modern mosques, the train station, the bank of Morocco, large hotels, and the Plaza de Florence. The wide avenues are full of shops, cafes, terraces, and restaurants.
La Ville Nouvelle is one of the places to see in Fez if you have time and like to get to know the cities beyond the exclusively touristy and incidentally take the opportunity to have a good mint tea.
Knowing the Surroundings of Fez
As in Marrakech, it is worth getting to know the surroundings of Fez with a nearby getaway and quieter places in which to seek a bit of serenity.
Meknes
Located at the foot of the Middle Atlas and, as we have already said, one of the four imperial cities of Morocco. It is a quiet and conservative city, but with a lot of life and a more pleasant treatment towards foreigners, it will not disappoint you.
Moulay Idriss
It is a small town between two mountains with more Moroccan than foreign tourism because there is a mausoleum that houses the sanctuary of Idris I whose pilgrimage takes place in the month of August, but it can only be visited by Muslims.
Volubilis
It is considered the birthplace of Islam in the area. They are Roman ruins dating from the 3rd century BC. quite well preserved and extensive. Its magnificent mosaics stand out.
Best Time to Travel to Morocco
Having such a wide variety of climates and geographical areas (coast, mountain, and desert), you will find different conditions in the same season of the year.
In general, spring and autumn are the best times to travel to Morocco, since in summer, especially in the southern zone, it is extremely hot, and going to the desert will be a little torture.
In winter, getting around the Atlas can be complicated by rain and snow. But if you want to travel to the big cities (Marrakech, Fez, Tangier or Casablanca) you won't have a problem (perhaps you should avoid the months of July and August).
Official Currency of Morocco
The official currency in Morocco is the dirham (MAD), with a fairly simple change: €1 equals approximately 10 dirhams.
Change Money in Morocco
Changing currency upon arrival at the airport is a quick way to get dirhams, but you will lose money because the exchange rate at airports is usually much worse than at exchange houses or city banks.
Ultimately you will be able to withdraw money from ATMs but check with your bank because the commissions can be quite high. The maximum amount that can be withdrawn at an ATM in Morocco is 2,000 MAD (about €200).
Internet Access in Morocco
The best options to get Internet access in Morocco are to buy a local SIM upon arrival, even at the airport itself, or bring a special SIM with data from your country to have the internet at all times and have the possibility of consulting any information (reviews of a restaurant, maps, GPS).
Is Morocco Safe?
In general, Morocco is a safe destination, although as always you will have to have common sense and, for example, avoid walking alone late at night through the medinas of the cities, attracting attention, or being disrespectful in sacred places.
Vaccines and Travel Insurance to Travel to Morocco
On the other hand, the Moroccan authorities do not require you to have taken out health insurance to be able to visit the country, but the advice is that you do not travel to Morocco (or anywhere) without being insured. In case of emergency, the big cities have good hospitals and private clinics, with great professionals.
Transportation in Morocco
Transport in Morocco is not a problem of any kind, you just have to pay special attention when traveling by taxi and demand the use of the meter or agree on the price before getting into it.
The bus is quite a common way of getting around and in the city the traffic is crazy, but outside the city, they work quite well.
The train follows pre-established schedules and is more expensive, but it does not go to all destinations.
If you are going to drive you have to know that the roads are quite good and new. You have to be careful not to exceed the posted speed limits because there are a lot of checkpoints. Traffic is only a problem in big cities.
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