TRAVEL MOROCCO

practical travel tips for your journey

10 things to know when traveling to Morocco

Morocco is a diverse country. Stretching from desert to beaches, the Northern African country offers things to do for everyone. Moroccans are extremely hospitable and welcoming. Yet to us traveling Morocco challenged us at times.

If you are planning a trip to Morocco, keep those few pointers in mind.

1. What to wear on your Morocco trip?

As in many Muslims countries, the dress code for women is stricter than for men. Even though you might see some tourists strolling around in shorts and dresses, we highly urge you to cover your shoulders till knee. For once it’s a sign of respect, and secondly, it will protect you from unwanted stare and approaches.
Click here for our packing list for Morocco if you need some advice.

What to wear in Morocco: Dani in Chefchaouen, Morocco

2. Best time to travel Morocco

Morocco is generally warm (the atlas mountains mark the exception) from April till October.

In the winter months, the weather is alternating between autumnal and pleasantly sunny. To us, it served as a small escape from the German winter.
We recommend traveling to Morocco in the spring or after the extreme summer heat.

Best time to travel Morocco’s deserts

The desert can be visited all year round. However, it gets super hot during the summer months. Autumn and spring are the most pleasant months for a visit to the desert. Be prepared to bring a jacket for nighttime.

Morocco’s beaches

The best time to visit Morocco’s beaches is from May to September. Morocco has earned quite a reputation for fantastic surfing. If you are planning on spending some time on the beach, don’t forget to bring a jacket for the evenings as it can get pretty windy.

The Atlas Mountains

If you are planning on visiting the Atlas mountains, be prepared for cold weather no matter which time of the year. Bring warm clothing and a rain jacket!

Morocco’s Royal Cities:

Are pleasant all year around. Try to avoid going in summer, though. It gets really, really hot. 40 degrees isn’t a rarity.

3. Haggling is life

Shopping in Morocco is bittersweet. While colorful shops are screaming to be explored, the Moroccan salesmen are though. It seems like they have declared haggling the national sport. It’s an integral part of the culture. If you give it your all, you can quickly decrease the price by 50%. Sadly, many salesmen get very pushy and assertive. We have been in this situation several times and always felt uncomfortable. If you get into a position were the haggling gets too intense, leave! It will only leave you with a bitter aftertaste if you buy.

Travel Morocco: Be prepared to face language barriers

4. Asking for directions is most likely going to cost

A lot of people, even kids, will be on the watch for lost-looking tourists and offer to guide the way through the maze of the medina. Be aware that at almost all times you’ll have to pay them. Even if you don’t want them to walk with you, they might. On the way, you’ll most likely be guided to a restaurant or shop of a family member.

5. You may face language barriers

You may be surprised by the language expertise of many Moroccan salesmen in the city. Some of them are even able to swtitch casually between Chinese and German (we have seen it ourselves). However, once you travel of the beaten path, you’ll most likely face severe language barriers. While French might help you in some places, you’ll also be completly lost in others.

6. Fridays and other holidays

Morocco is a Muslim country, and as such Fridays are holy days. Everything will be closed. As always with Muslim countries, inform yourself about Ramadan as it may significantly affect your experience. Islam’s most significant event, Ramadan is followed by Eid al-Adha during which the end of Ramadan is celebrated. It’s a bloody affair as animals are slaughtered on the streets.

7. Visiting Morocco’s Mosques

We have to disappoint you. Morocco’s mosques are closed to Non-Muslims. Nonetheless, they are often worth a visit as they are beautiful from the outside and surrounded by stunning fountains.

8. Alcohol may not be available

Within the walls of the Medina, alcohol is prohibited. Hence, you won’t find any on the regular menu. In some cities, we were offered alcohol from the black market, which was severed in brown paper bags. Most “new cities” offer some sort of nightlife though. While we were surprised by the glamorous nightlife in Marrakech, the only bar in Meknes was a prostitute hangout.