Morocco! A beautiful, colorful and vibrant country. There is so much to discover and see, and it’s definitely one of our favorite destinations of all time!

That being said, it’s not somewhere you go without a little preparation. This country can be quite overwhelming at first, and learning about the culture and customs of the place is REALLY important before leaving.

You want to be respectful of the people there, and also be mentally ready, especially if you are a woman. Let’s go over the essential things to know to make sure that you have a great experience!

IT’S A BUSY COUNTRY. LIKE REALLY BUSY.

RELIGION

» Secondly, most of the population is Muslim. You will hear the Call for Prayer 6 times a day from the Mosques around. The first one is before sunrise, so don’t be too surprised the first time!

» It also means that a lot of places close for the time of the prayer, for example in the middle of the afternoon. We made the mistake of trying to buy tickets for an activity during that time, and we had to wait half an hour for the office to reopen. Make sure to keep this in mind!

» Also, most mosques are not open to the public. If you are not Muslim, you can’t get inside most of them. That being said, there is one mosque in Casablanca, the Mosque Hassam-II, that is absolutely stunning and open to visitors! It is honestly a golden opportunity, and you should include it in your trip. Make sure to have a look at the complete itinerary we recommend here. 

WHAT ABOUT ALCOHOL?

» Even if most of the country is Muslim, alcohol is legal, but not in the streets. Besides, the majority of the population doesn’t drink. You can still buy alcohol in some bars and restaurants like in Marrakech, but definitely not everywhere.

You should instead get ready to drink liters of mint tea (they even call it Berber Whiskey!), and that’s perfect that way. It will save you a lot of money anyway!

AFFECTION IN PUBLIC

Affection in public is NOT okay in many areas. Although you are less likely to offend people in some cities like Marrakech, in some places, people will get very angry if you exchange a kiss with your partner (not talking about the big french kiss here, only a little quick kiss is too much). Believe us, we made the mistake and it wasn’t nice at all. 

So be as discreet as possible everywhere you go. Holding hands when you feel unsafe would really be the maximum we recommend. 

YES, THERE IS A DRESS CODE

Even if the definition of being properly dressed varies from region to region, if you are a woman, dress conservatively. Be respectful of the customs and cover your knees and shoulders. The best thing is to pack (or buy there) very light clothes, as we all know it is usually very hot. You could also wear a top, but have a light scarf around your shoulders.

Some tourists definitely don’t respect that, but you will only get more harassed if you don’t. Plus, you won’t be allowed to visit a lot of places. 

WOMAN HARASSMENT IS A THING

» Before talking about harassment, it’s important to know first that Morocco is a very safe country. Although you may feel otherwise sometimes, as long as you ignore the catcalls, everything will be fine. Just be aware that even if you are with a guy or in a group, it won’t prevent men from approaching you. So pass your way and try not to bother too much!

» On another note, the place of women in society is of course different than in occidental countries, so you may find it really challenging to hear men talking about women. Remember that you are in a country that welcomes you and you are only a guest there. Stay respectful and try to simply change the subject. 

YOU’LL BE THANKFUL TO HAVE SOME DATA 

» You should really get a cellphone card with data as soon as you arrive. It is really cheap and easy and it will save you a lot of headaches. Wifi is just not good in Morocco. Plus, you’ll get lost. Often. So Google Maps will be your best friend.

You can buy a phone card and have it installed directly at the airport, but you will also find them in shops. For around 5 MAD you get 5GB for 30 days, and 10 MAD will give you 10GB. As you can see, it’s not expensive and it should be more than enough, as you mostly need data to find your way around the cities. 

» Make sure to install the Maps.me app as well, because there are often more little streets on this app, and you don’t need a data signal if you download the city map previously.

TAXIS

» There are two types of taxis in most cities. The “Grands Taxis” and the “Petits Taxis”. The big ones will take you from city to city, while the small ones are to travel within one city. 

» SET THE PRICE FIRST. Before you agree to get into a cab, you must negotiate the price, otherwise, you might have a very bad surprise. Sadly, there are a lot of scams in Morocco, and people will constantly try to get as much money as they can from you. It can be exhausting, but knowing how to deal with it in advance will help. If you can’t agree on a reasonable price, find another cab. 

» Also, don’t be surprised: the taxis can’t enter the medinas. The medinas are the old walled part of the North African cities, and usually where most things take place.  Your accommodation is likely to be inside of one, so be ready to be dropped off somewhere outside. You will have to find your way from there, and it can be quite a busy maze! That’s why we recommend having data so much!

FALSE GUIDES & OTHER SCAMS

» We already talked a bit about scams, but one of the biggest you WILL encounter is the false guides. If you seem to be lost, some people will always appear out of nowhere and tell you that they will happily show you the way. (Some will also simply tell you that they can show you where the best festivities are happening at the moment, or any other kind of things like that). Whatever they may say, they will ask for money at the end. Even if they just share information, for example, “this way is closed, you should…”

Even if they first assure you that it’s free. And if you say you don’t believe it, they will seem upset and make you feel bad for not trusting them, until you finally agree to follow them. We had read about it before we went to Morocco, but we still managed to be tricked once! It wasn’t a good experience. So don’t do it like us. Whatever a “guide” tells you, firmly say no and keep walking. 

» If you absolutely need direction, we would only recommend asking shops owners or women. And it’s even best to avoid souvenirs shops owners. 

» Another thing that happened to us: They charged us more than what we were supposed to pay on the confirmation email when we arrived at the hotel. Even if you have it on paper, they can try to make you pay something else. Be firm and do not accept anything that seems not legit. If you can, pay in advance.

» Pickpockets are also very present in the cities. Keep your belongings close to you and be on your guard.

» Moroccan people are known to be very welcoming and generous, but from our experience, it has been sadly very hard to create real bonds with locals. Most of the time, people we met only wanted our money. So simply don’t expect to make a lot of nice genuine encounters in the big centers. That being said, it’s definitely possible to meet nice people and we hope your experience will be different.

MONEY & HAGGLING 

» Regarding money, few places will accept credit cards, so you really need to have cash on hand. As for the tip in restaurants, a 10% minimum is expected. You should also tip the housekeeper and the bellboy if you stay in a place where these people work.

» Paying cash is very appreciated, as businesses have to pay a lot of fees when we pay by card. 

» When it comes to shopping, haggling is the way to go. Even if it’s not your thing or you believe that you should pay what they first ask for, make no mistake. Bargaining is the way to do things, and it’s how they want it to be. So give it a try! Establish the price you are willing to pay mentally and start negotiating. 

TIP: 

You should usually start by offering 50% of what the shop owner is asking.

TOILET PAPER

Yep, we need to talk about toilet paper. We highly suggest that you always carry some with you, as it is very rarely provided in public toilets. (Or you will have to buy it from the toilets attendants every time you need to pee…) Be also aware that a lot of public toilets are simply a hole in the ground. 

WATER BOTTLES

Finally, you must not drink the water anywhere unless you want to have a really bad time. Pack some Imodium, and be very careful. Ask for drinks without ice as well. Even if locals drink it, chances are your guts are not adapted to it at all. 

Sadly, what happens is that you end up buying tons of water bottles, which is terrible for the environment. That’s why we would highly recommend packing a water filter instead, for example, a Lifestraw.

As you can see, there are a few things to know before going on a trip to Morocco. We hope these few tips will be useful. Other things you wish you knew before traveling there? Let us know in the comments!

Make sure to have a look at all our other travel guides for Morocco!