flywithlivEvery country has its own unique customs, traditions and ways of life. That’s why, it is important to do your research before visiting a new place: you never want to come unprepared or be disrespectful! If you’re preparing for a trip to Morocco, here are the BEST Morocco Travel Tips.
1.Dress appropriately
Morocco is a muslim country so you should dress respectfully – shoulders covered and knees covered is most appropriate. Although a headscarf is not required, but it is really helpful in covering shoulders and the women really appreciate these being worn!
As a woman, there is safety in numbers when you travel to Morocco. I would recommend coming to Morocco with at least a group of 3-4 women. Additionally, having a male join you helps take away the negative attention you might get when travelling here.
2. A French dictionary will be your best friend
Here are very few people that can communicate well in English. French, Spanish and Arabic, however, were pretty widely known to Moroccans.
3. The dirham is in the eye of the beholder!
Interestingly, Morocco has a closed currency, the dirham, which means it can only be bought once you arrive in Morocco.
4. Tap Water is a NO-NO!
You cannot drink the tap water in Morocco or your will get really sick! Please make sure to purchase water bottles and avoid ice at all costs. You can get 2 L water bottles for 5 dirhams at any of the convenience stores which are open all night – that’s not even 2 dollars!
5. Time to PARTY Alcohol FREE!
There are no alcohol or drugs readily available in Morocco. Do not come here expecting a LIT night out. It is possible that you stay at a hotel or hostel and have access to it, but I wouldn’t ask for its availability in Morocco – it can come across as disrespectful. However, there are plenty of wonderful places to visit and things to do in Morocco. Read about what to do in the major Moroccan cities here.
6. The only map to trust is you!
It’s really easy to get lost in the cities of Morocco – not even your phone maps will help in some cases! The Blue city and Marrakech both have high buildings and small side streets. Look for landmarks/points of interest to help you remember where you are going. You want to avoid getting help from other people because they may ask you to pay up!
7. Mosques are for muslims only!
While the mosques in Morocco have beautiful cultural and historical significance, they are not tourist attractions. Unless you are muslim, you cannot enter these places of worship. While I cannot comment on the architecture within a mosque, I can definitely say that the mosques spread around Morocco are hard to miss due to their beautiful, Moroccan design!
8. Photos are only for you, not the locals.
Especially within smaller communities such as Chefchaouen, the locals were really unhappy with any photos being taken with a camera in their direction – even if we didn’t mean to get them in our shot. Please be mindful of having people in the background of your photographs and make sure to get consent before you do take a picture of somebody. Besides, isn’t the photo always better when the person in it wants to be in it? Take a look at the pictures below!
9. Is your scarf made of REAL OR FAKE dyes?
If you have travelled all the way to Morocco, you need to get yourself a proper scarf made by the locals or Berber people of Morocco. Additionally, you want to make sure that when you wear your scarf and it starts to rain… you don’t end up splattered in blue dye and your scarf loses its beautiful color! To test this out, just put a drop of water onto your scarf and rub it – if the dye comes off, you know this is a low-quality scarf and may be risky to wear.
10. Don’t be fooled by the heat!
It is COLD indoors and at night. Buildings here are built of stone and so this keeps the building really cold. Once the sun is gone, the temperatures really cool down.
11. How loooow can you goooo?
The toilets in Morocco…. well, they take you back to those good ol’ camping days where there was basically a hole in the ground do your business. While the toilets in Morocco are a bit more civilized than a hole in the ground, it is the same idea – you have to crouch down low to the ground and there is no toilet paper provided! Instead, what you have is a bucket and water tap to wash it all down. But don’t worry too much, when you go to a restaurant, you will likely encounter a typical western toilet!
12. Grand taxis will be your best friend!
I have never encountered a cheaper taxi service in my life. We used grand taxis to travel all throughout Morocco. From Tangier to Chefcaouen we paid around $15 each for the 2.5 hour lift. We also used the Grand Taxi for our 8 hour car ride to Marrakech. It was maybe around $40 each. Believe it or not, our Grand Taxi had wifi, we were able to stop whenever we wanted to, and we were in charge of the AUX. It was amazing!
13. Scarf for the Sahara Desert
Is a scarf for the desert necessary? Kind of. As someone who experienced a beautiful sunny evening in the Sahara, the scarf was not necessary. However, I experienced a TRUE sandstorm during the evening and man – my eyes and face hurt so bad, and I struggled with my eyes the next day as well.
Truthfully, you never know what kind of weather you will encounter in the Sahara, so I would say it’s worth having just in case. Additionally, your scarf can be used for many other purposes – a covering over your shoulders, a sarong to go with your swimsuit, a blanket, and most of all, a souvenir of your memorable time in Morocco!
14. Learn to haggle
Ohhh the fun that comes with haggling! Moroccan souks have amazing handmade items, spices and souvenirs. Of course, they hope to sell these items for as many dirhams as they can convince you to buy them for. You are participating in their culture when you bargain with store owners, so you might as well join in and see if you can get a good bang for your buck. For some extra support, head over here to learn how to haggle.
15. Consider your travel dates
Morocco may seem like a hot country year-round, but it has its colder and wetter seasons for sure. It is cooler during the winter months and it’s possible there may be heavy rains and floods during this time. Furthermore, you may want to check the dates of Ramadan, which occurs around April to May. During this time, there will be little to no food shops open during the daytime. Another thing to note is that Fridays are holy day year round.
- I went to Morocco during Ramadan and LOVED IT, it was an insane cultural experience and we didn’t struggle with food – just had to plan a bit ahead of time!
16. Make some friends with the locals – they know everything!
My final Morocco travel tip is to talk to the locals. Get to know them and have a laugh with them. Moroccans are some of the friendliest people I have met while travelling. Most of them seem to have a close knit community among them. They can find you a guy for anything – a taxi ride, a guy with a great restaurant, a guy who hosts his own 21-day Sahara desert tours – they know it all. Locals can tell you who to watch out for in the community and where to find help. They may just invite you for dinner!
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