Trips to Morocco

by thesciencetutor · Published August 19, 2022 · Updated August 21, 2022

The Kingdom of Morocco is located in North Africa on the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic. On the Atlantic coast you will also find Rabat , the capital of Morocco. To the south and east, Morocco borders on its large neighbor Algeria.

Morocco is so close to Europe that you don’t have to strain to see mainland Spain from the northernmost point . The two countries are only about 15 kilometers apart. That’s even half as far as the shortest route between France and Great Britain .

As small as Morocco is compared to other African countries, the selection of landscapes is really colorful . Extensive beaches and numerous large cities line up along the coast , while mountains over 4,000 meters high await you in the mountainous regions. In the south of the country, beautiful palm oases stretch between the sandy seas of the Moroccan desert .

Our highlights in Morocco

Marrakech

The top travel destination

According to Loverists, Marrakech is the most popular destination in Morocco . You have the choice between magnificent palaces , mosques and many other impressive sights.

Strolling over the Djemaa El Fna in the evening and trying traditional dishes will surely immerse you in the oriental world .

Chefchouen

The blue city

Chefchouen is located in northern Morocco. In the center of the city almost all houses have blue facades and that gives the city a very special charm.

You will find many small art and souvenir shops there, but also pretty cafes and great riads where you can have a good time.

Of course, the blue streets also offer many beautiful photo opportunities .

Fez

The Capital of Culture

The Medina, i.e. the old town in Fez, is the largest in North Africa and there are many sights.

Another highlight are the huge tanneries , which you can visit.

Fès is definitely worth a city trip and lets you immerse yourself in another world.

Rabat

The capital

In Rabat you can visit some highlights like the mausoleum of Mohamed V. or explore the traditional medina.

This is where modernity meets traditional flair and, along with Marrakech, Fès and Meknès, it is one of the four royal cities in Morocco.

Since the capital is on the coast, you can also combine your trip with a beach holiday .

Essaouira

port city in the west

Located on the west coast of Morocco, Eassaouira is also known as the White City . It is one of the most beautiful cities in Morocco and is a popular destination for surfers and invites you to spend a few relaxing days by the sea.

You can walk through the beautiful medina, eat fish at the port or stroll through the small shops.

Desert tour

Adventures in the Sahara

For many, a trip to Morocco also includes a trip lasting several days or at least a day trip into the desert .

You have many opportunities to visit the Sahara Desert and have unique experiences.

Riding camels through the Sahara or spending a night in a Bedouin camp are unique experiences.

Atlas Mountains

Impressive landscapes

The Atlas Mountains stretch over 2,300 kilometers and large parts of them are in Morocco. You should not miss this part, because the mountains offer impressive nature, mountains, gorges and in between beautiful cities or traditional mountain villages.

Tour of Morocco

Unique experience

If you want to see more of Morocco and have more time, a round trip is the perfect option for you. You have the opportunity to get to know the different cities, regions and facets of the country even better and to delve deeper.

When is the best time to visit Morocco?

You can actually travel to Morocco all year round . But the best time for a trip to Morocco is spring , i.e. between March and the end of May.

Temperatures are already pleasant during the day from February. At night, however, it remains sensitively cold.

In spring everything is wonderfully green and the whole landscape is in bloom. Especially the almond trees in the Anti-Atlas are a real splendor at this time.

Around Easter is high season. It gets very crowded at the central sights and, at least in Marrakech , the hotels are increasing their prices.

In summer it gets really hot in Morocco and Moroccan tourists populate the seaside resorts. However, if you want to go to the mountains, you will still find some pleasant spots at the mountain lakes in the High and Middle Atlas in summer.

In autumn you can go on trekking tours . The temperatures are then bearable again, but of course the landscape lacks the fresh color of spring.

Traveling in Ramadan

When planning your trip, you should pay particular attention to whether your travel time falls in Ramadan . Morocco is a Muslim country and therefore many Moroccans fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan.

This is nothing special at first, but it has some special features for your trip during Lent.

For one thing, out of respect and consideration , you should avoid eating anything in public during the day. Many smaller and Arabic hotels do not offer any food at all until sunset.

In larger cities there are still enough international, larger hotels and restaurants that go about their regular business as normal. In the country it can be more difficult.

Of course you can also take care of yourself. Supermarkets are open and small shops start just a little later during Lent.

Overall, public life is restricted during Lent . It just lacks the energy. Some sights and museums have limited opening hours or even close completely. Public counters are therefore often only manned in the morning.

But the turbulent nightlife after breaking the fast is all the more animated and interesting.

Money and payments in Morocco

Traveling in Morocco is generally cheap. However, the hotels are comparable with European prices. But you can always find cheap alternatives.

An overnight stay in a very basic hotel or hostel does not cost more than 10 euros per person. A comfortable and clean double room in a pretty middle-class riad , on the other hand, costs around 40 to 80 euros, above that the equipment is already very good.

If you want to eat in international restaurants, this also costs accordingly. But even here you have the choice.

You can eat authentically and very cheaply at the food stalls on the side of the road. A tajine or a portion of couscous is also available for less than 5 euros in the small Moroccan restaurants.

Sights are usually cheap. You can admire beautiful palaces and museums from 1 euro entry. More than 10 euros is extremely rare for a sight.

In the following overview you can see what a few typical things cost you in Morocco:

Bottle of water: 0.50 to 1 euro
Peppermint tea in the restaurant: approx. 1 euro
Taxi fare: Up to 3 euros in town
Overland bus ride: For example Marrakech – Essaouira about 7 euros
Food in the food stall: 2 to 3 euros
Eat in a simple Moroccan restaurant: from 4 euros
3-course menu (soup, main course, dessert): approx. 15 to 30 euros (middle-class restaurant)
Visit to a tourist attraction: 1 to 10 euros

Currency

The currency of Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham (Dh). How many dirhams you get for one euro varies as the exchange rate is tied to the fluctuating US dollar.

Currently (June 2022) 100 Dh correspond to about 9.60 euros, the other way around, 10 euros are about 104 Dh. It is best to remember the conversion rate 1:10. You are almost right on that.

This is how you get dirhams

The most convenient way is to withdraw dirhams directly from the ATMs in the country with your credit card. In all cities you will find banks that accept Master and Visa cards. You can usually get money here with your Maestro bank card.

Payment by credit card, on the other hand, is not common in Morocco. This is only possible in some large hotels, restaurants or in very touristy areas.

Our tip : small change seems to be scarce in Morocco. On the market or in small shops, dealers often cannot issue larger bills.

So always try to have enough change in your pocket. You can pay with bills in restaurants, hotels or supermarkets and keep the coins of the change or even have another bill changed into small change.

So you always have a few dirhams in your pocket, either for small services or to slip something to a beggar.

Do you tip in Morocco?

Of course, yes! Tipping plays an important role in the tourism sector in Morocco, after all, the wages paid are very low. Many servants therefore rely on tips for additional income.

That doesn’t mean you have to tip randomly. Even a few coins show that you were satisfied with the service. You simply make the amount of the tip dependent on the performance and your satisfaction.

Food and drink in Morocco

What do you eat in Morocco? Moroccan cuisine is fantastic and incredibly diverse . you will love them!

Many influences from the countries on the Mediterranean and the eastern, Arabic areas mix with the preparation of fresh dishes.

The unmistakable taste of many Moroccan dishes comes from the spices used : Cumin in particular, but also cinnamon, coriander, ginger and saffron are often used.

Herbs are also indispensable, thyme, mint and laurel are simply part of Moroccan cuisine. Not to forget the Moroccan olive oil, which Moroccans like to use liberally.

You should not miss these specialties on your trip through Morocco:

Couscous – the national dish in Morocco! There are many different variations of couscous, cooked in a sieve over a stew with meat, vegetables and chickpeas.
Tajine – this is simply the typical national dish. The preparation in the clay pot with its pointed lid is characteristic. All sorts of things are simmered over the charcoal in here.
Brochette – these are kebabs, i.e. grilled meat skewers, which can be found at almost every simple street kitchen. Served with fries or salad.
Kefta – You may know this? The spicy and fried lamb meatballs are native to the entire Maghreb.
Harira – a nutritious, traditional Lenten soup eaten primarily to break the fast. They are found throughout the Arab world, including Morocco.
Maakouda – these are small dumplings or flatbreads made from potatoes and eggs, seasoned with onion, butter, garlic, coriander, ground pepper, turmeric and cumin, which are fried. You can get them in bakeries or at small food stalls in the streets.
Briouat – small crispy fried dumplings (usually in the shape of a triangle or cigar), filled with either minced meat, chicken, feta cheese or vegetables. Also a street food and super tasty. They are also available with a sweet filling for dessert.

Travel guide for your trip to Morocco

Are you looking for more travel tips for your trip to Morocco? We can recommend these travel guides:

Marco Polo travel guide Morocco: The all-rounder is particularly worthwhile for round trips . It describes all the sights of Morocco, there are many insider tips from the author about the country and its people, and there is also a free tour app with offline maps.

Travel know-how travel guide Morocco: The book is primarily aimed at those who want to discover Morocco individually by rental car or public transport . You will get many practical tips and lots of background information.

Reise Know-how CityTrip Marrakech : This is currently the most up-to-date travel guide for a city trip to Marrakech. There are tips for city walks, excursions into the surrounding area, food and what to do in the evening as well as a removable city map.