11 Essential Tips for Traveling to Morocco
Morocco is definitely a country both diverse and beautiful. A trip to this North African country will blow your mind. However, there are some things you need to have in mind in advance, especially if you are a first-time traveller there. So, here are a few crucial tips for your first trip to Morocco.
WHEN TO GO
The best time to discover Morocco is either during autumn (September-mid November) or spring (late March to May) when the temperatures are pleasant and the attractions are less crowded. Avoid visiting the country during Ramadan since many restaurants, cafes and shops remain closed during the whole day.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED
I spent a full week in Morocco and it felt simply not enough to enjoy everything the country has to offer. Still, I’m happy to say that I had seen enough to fall in love with the “Kingdom of the West” – the meaning of Morocco’s name in Arabic. In order to see as much as possible in a week’s time I planned a round trip that actually crossed the country from south to north with overnight stops in multiple locations, with in between stops throughout the journey. A quite hectic program but in reality, the only possible way if you want to experience the diversity of Morocco’s regions and make the most of your stay, especially if you want to intertwine Marrakech, Merzouga Desert and Chefchaouen, which are all in very different parts of the country. I would say 15 days is a good amount of time to see as much as possible at a more relaxed pace.
HOW TO MOVE AROUND
Some travellers do rent a car (if you are ok with stressful driving), but taking the bus is the cheapest way to get around. In November 2018 Morocco unveiled Africa’s first high-speed railway system connecting Tangier with Rabat and Casablanca, so the train is also another good option. We were a group of 5 so I reached out for the assistance of a local travel agency, which helped me map out the trip and had a local driver for us, 2 city guides and arranged our accommodation. The best thing with getting a local driver is that he can explain things about his country throughout the journey, show you places not in the schedule and overall you get a better understanding of the local culture.
If you are staying in the medina (old part of the city) you will need nothing more than your feet to move around (no cars are allowed inside the medina anyway). If you have to travel outside the medina, you can take a taxi (beige petits taxis) but, don’t forget to bargain the price. Taxis are parked near train stations and popular tourist sites such as the Djemaa el-Fna. Grand taxis (large taxis) are shared taxis that carry up to 6 passengers and serve longer routes between towns.
ACCOMODATION
If you want to go authentic all the way then get a room in a Riad, a type of traditional house with an interior courtyard turned into a guesthouse. These establishments are often run by locals and breakfast is typically included in the room price. There are plenty of Riads hidden inside the medinas (old part of the city), in different styles, suitable for every budget and can be booked online. In the big cities such as Rabat and Casablanca where the medinas are not as extended as in Marrakech or Fez you can book a hotel instead. If you always dreamed of sleeping in a carpeted tent and waking up in the Sahara – which is something I totally recommend doing – then Morocco is the place to fulfill your dream. The choices for glamping (camping with the comforts of a home) in the Moroccan Sahara are endless. Most of these establishments offer camel rides, night entertainment and mouthwatering traditional meals.
VISA
Every national of the EU, the USA, Canada, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan and 60 more countries can enter Morocco visa-free for up to 90 days. You only need to fill in an immigration card after getting your luggage at the airport. It’s an easy and short process of filling in your personal data, some accommodation details, etc and handing it in to the authorities. You will be given an entry number (entrance stamp) which you will need when checking in your accommodation. Bring a pen with you for filling out the form as they tend to be rare.
CURRENCY/BUDGET
The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham – MAD (1 MAD = €0.09/$0.10). Exchanging money at the airport is a very bad idea. Although they say ‘No commission’, they use a different exchange rate than the banks in Morocco. It’s best if you exchange your money at a bank in Morocco or at a Money Exchange Shop, where you will get a much better exchange rate. We exchanged money upon arrival at Marrakech at a Bureau de change – Chez Ali (Rue Moulay Ismail, 40000), at a side street of Jemaa El Fna Square close to the Post Office.
Morocco is a budget-friendly country. On a mid-range budget expect to spend on average €100/$110 per day. This amount will include accommodation (€45-60 for a double room), meals (€8-15 for a meal), attractions (€2-10), transportation (€4-10) and tips (€5-10).
FOOD & DRINK
Moroccan cuisine is so tantalising that can make up for an article by itself. Nevertheless, here are some of the things you must try while you are there.
Tajine – a legendary dish that comes in a myriad of combinations and can be found almost everywhere. This slow-cooked Moroccan stew takes its name after the earthenware pot in which it’s cooked. It is traditionally eaten directly from the cooking vessel, using pieces of bread to scoop up the meat, vegetables and sauce.
Couscous – a must-have dish in any Moroccan restaurant and the dish that every Moroccan family eats on Fridays. It is essentially fine-wheat semolina, accompanying either a meat of a vegetable stew but can also be eaten alone flavoured or plain.
Msemen – a Moroccan type of flatbread made from kneaded layered dough and accompanies butter, jam, or honey and it is usually eaten during breakfast time.
Rfissa – stewed chicken pieces, onions and lentils served over shredded Msemmen or old bread.
B’stilla or Pastilla – a stuffed pastry filled with pigeon or chicken meat, almonds and eggs, and spiced with saffron or cinnamon.
Mint Tea – you’ll get offered Mint Tea almost in every place you go in Morocco, from the Riad you are staying at, to the shop you stopped by to check the Berber rugs. This typical sweet mint tea is served in small transparent glasses with fresh mint leaves and it’s something you absolutely have to try.
Note: If you are a foreigner to Morocco, then your body will most probably not be accustomed to the bacteria found in the local water. Therefore, consuming tap water in Morocco can get you sick. Thus, drink only bottled water, try to avoid ice cubes in drinks and anything that is likely to have been washed in water, such as salads or raw vegetables.
SOUVENIRS
Morocco can be a shopper’s paradise, so leave a bit of space in your suitcase and start shopping. Here are some of the stuff you can take back home for you or your friends and family.
Argan Oil – extracted from the kernels of a tree native to Morocco and used for centuries for culinary and cosmetic purposes. It is extremely rich in essential nutrients and antioxidants, something that makes it beneficial for the skin and hair. Although argan oil can be found in various shops around the Medina be careful because many of these are usually mixed with olive oil. Instead try to locate the argan co-operatives for the authentic stuff. It might cost more but it’s the real thing.
Moroccan Rugs – Morocco is a diverse country both in geography and climate as well as in community cultures and traditions. Therefore, there are many different types of rugs produced by the 45 distinct Moroccan Berbers tribes. Each rug is handmade on a loom and has unique characteristics. Usually rugs are done by women and can take anywhere from some days to 6 months to make depending on its size, type and patterns.
When buying a rug, have in mind that real wool does not catch fire so if you are going for a Moroccan rug you can test it first with a lighter to see if the rug is made from synthetic materials instead. If the rug you bought is too big to carry in your suitcase don’t worry as most Rug shops can arrange to ship them to your home abroad.
Leather Goods – Even though the best leather goods are found in Fez where the largest tanneries in the country are you can still find some good quality leather products all over the country. Some of the leather products you can purchase in Morocco is babouche (traditional leather slippers), jackets, bags, poufs, wallets, belts and much more.
Ceramics & Pottery – They are hand-painted, unique in their own way and they come in all shapes and forms, colours and sizes. Morocco has a rich pottery tradition and it will be extremely hard to avoid buying one. Ceramic shops can be found in the medinas usually and the best ones, are said to come from Fez where the city is renowned for its ceramics. Some of the pieces you can buy are: plates, pots, bowls, vases and of course the unique funnel shaped Tajine pot which consists of two parts and is used for cooking the traditional dish baring the same name. Note: in Morocco it is quite typical and expected to bargain (haggling is something like a national sport) at shops. As a general rule visitors should not pay more than 1/3 of the asking price.
TIPPING
Tipping is part of daily life and is expected in most cases in Morocco. Who should you tip: the luggage cart guy, the hotel/riad staff and valet service, guides and tour drivers, meals and drinks in cafes and restaurants.
HOW TO DRESS
Dress moderately. Morocco is a far more open-minded country compared to other Muslim countries — women head scarves are not obligatory for example – but nonetheless is best if you leave your swimsuits and hot pants at the hotel. As a general rule always cover your shoulders and knees and you’ll be fine.
SAFETY/SOLO TRAVELERS
Morocco is generally quite a safe country to visit and the main things you need to watch out for is pickpockets and scammers. Yes, some women (especially solo women), will partly get male harassment in the streets and the best tactic it’s to avoid eye-contact, ignore them and walk away. Stick around other tourists if you feel threatened, avoid dark streets in the medina and walking alone during the night. Easy-to-remember rule: the less you wear, the more attention you are going to get. And don’t look lost.
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