Highlights
Marrakech
The red city's Jemaa el-Fnaa square fills with food stalls, musicians and storytellers at dusk, and the souks of the medina spread out behind it. See the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Koutoubia minaret and the blue Jardin Majorelle.
Fès el-Bali
One of the largest car-free urban areas in the world, Fès's medieval medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of thousands of alleys. Watch dyers at work from the terraces above the Chouara tannery and see the outside of Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859.
Chefchaouen
A mountain town in the Rif whose medina is painted in shades of blue. It is a relaxed place to wander, with hikes into the hills to the Spanish Mosque and further afield into Talassemtane National Park.
Merzouga and Erg Chebbi
On the edge of the Sahara, the tall orange dunes of Erg Chebbi are the classic place for a camel trek at sunset and a night in a desert camp under the stars.
Aït Benhaddou
A fortified village of earthen buildings on a hillside near Ouarzazate, on the old caravan route across the Atlas. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a familiar backdrop from many films and series.
High Atlas and Toubkal
From the village of Imlil, an hour and a half from Marrakech, trails lead through Amazigh villages and walnut groves. Jebel Toubkal, at 4,167 metres the highest peak in North Africa, is usually climbed over two days with a guide.
Essaouira
A windswept Atlantic port with whitewashed walls, blue fishing boats and fortified ramparts. It is calmer than Marrakech and popular for kitesurfing, seafood and its Gnaoua music festival.
Volubilis
The best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, near Meknès, with mosaics still in place in many villas. Combine it with the hilltop holy town of Moulay Idriss and the imperial city of Meknès.
Interesting facts about Morocco
- Al-Qarawiyyin in Fès, founded in 859, is often cited as the oldest existing, continually operating educational institution in the world.
- Morocco is one of only a few countries with coastlines on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
- Al Boraq, opened in 2018 between Tangier and Casablanca, was the first high-speed railway in Africa.
- The minaret of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is one of the tallest in the world, and part of the mosque stands over the Atlantic.
- The argan tree grows naturally almost only in south-western Morocco, and goats are known to climb its branches to eat the fruit.
Best time to visit
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best times for most of the country, with warm days for cities and hiking. Summer is very hot in Marrakech, Fès and the desert, while the Atlantic coast stays milder. Winter is mild and sunny on the coast but cold at night in the desert and in the mountains, where snow closes high passes and Toubkal needs winter equipment. During Ramadan, which moves each year, many restaurants close during the day, though tourist areas remain open.
Practical information
| Capital | Rabat |
|---|---|
| Currency | Moroccan dirham (MAD) |
| Languages | Arabic, Amazigh (Tamazight) |
| Plugs | Type C, E |
| Voltage | 220 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 19 police (in cities), 177 gendarmerie (rural areas), 15 ambulance and fire |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Expected. Around 10% in restaurants, and small tips for guides, drivers, porters and anyone who helps you with directions or luggage. |
Getting around
Trains run by the national railway connect Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Fès, Meknès and Marrakech, including the high-speed line from Tangier to Casablanca. Comfortable long-distance coach companies cover the rest of the country, including the desert and the coast. Petits taxis work within cities and should use the meter; grands taxis are shared between towns. Car hire is useful for the Atlas and the south, though mountain roads require care and police checks are common. In medinas, you walk; accept that you will get lost occasionally.
Staying connected in Morocco
Mobile coverage is good in cities, along motorways and in most towns, with 4G widely available. Riads and hotels usually offer Wi-Fi, though thick walls in old medina buildings can weaken it. Coverage becomes patchy in the High Atlas valleys, the gorges and on remote desert routes, and desert camps may have little or no signal. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land, so maps work when you need them in the medina maze.
See Morocco eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Morocco
- Google Maps: Works for most city navigation, but medina alleys are often mapped imperfectly; save your riad's location offline.
- Google Translate: Arabic and French translation, with offline packs and camera translation for signs.
- ONCF: The national railway's app for timetables and train tickets between major cities.
- XE Currency: Check dirham prices while bargaining in the souks.