Planning a trip to the beautiful country of Morocco? Here’s an overview of something’s to know before you leave for your trip so you can fully enjoy your time there. Be prepared to fall in love with this colorful country!

Language

Morocco has two official languages: Moroccan Arabic and Berber. Many Moroccans also speak French and Spanish. In my personal experience, most people also speak English, especially in major cities. I recommend downloading Google translate before going, I often used the camera feature to translate menus and signs.

Cellular Data

Wi-Fi is usually available at most hotels, but I did find it unreliable so I was happy to have cellular data. Some people contact there phone carrier and add a data package on prior to the trip. This can be expensive (~$10-$12 a day) depending on the carrier and length of trip. I prefer to download an eSIM for the country prior to leaving. I use Airalo. This is way more budget friendly and the reception is usually better. For 15% of your esim click here.

Currency

Morocco uses the Moroccan dirham. Most other sites will tell you that credit cards are accepted in most cities, but to take cash for smaller purchases and rural areas. This was not my experience. I was only able to use my credit card twice in eight days. Morocco has a heavy cash culture, and it’s always the preferred payment method. Many places weren’t even capable of processing a card payment.

Morocco has closed currency, which means you can’t exchange money outside of the country. This means you can’t order money from your bank ahead of time. This also means you can’t bring any currency home with you, so you’ll need to use all your cash, or exchange it back at the airport. I was asked if I had any currency when I went through passport control, so they do check.

Where to get cash? I recommend withdrawing cash from an ATM in Morocco. ATM are widely available, even in rural areas. Bonus if you use a bank that refunds all foreign ATM transactions. I use Charles Schwab for this. Remember to always decline the currency conversion at the ATM, your bank will give you a better rate.

Food

One of the most asked questions I get about Morocco is the food, so let’s dive in!

Breakfast in Morocco is typically pretty light compared to a traditional American breakfast. It usually consists of baked goods and breads, fresh fruit, yogurt, and maybe hard boiled eggs. In cities or tourist hotels, you can usually find eggs, potatoes, and breakfast meats. Coffee and mint tea is widely available.

Dinner in Morocco is served later than in U.S. usually not before 8 o’clock. Which is similar to some European countries. Many restaurants won’t even open until 7 or 8 unless you are in a major city.

Typical Moroccan foods consist of couscous, vegetables, and chicken or lamb. Tangine is probably their most notable dish, named after the conical clay pot it’s made in. You can get it in vegetarian, chicken, beef, or lamb. You must try it at least once! Bread is served at every meal. For the first course they will serve “salad” which will be 5-7 dishes of different vegetables. Typically carrots, potatoes, eggplant, beets, olives, and beans.

For dessert they enjoy fresh fruits such as bananas, oranges, or apples. We often had pre-sliced oranges with cinnamon sprinkled on top, it was one of our favorites. Finish the meal with mint tea!

Let’s talk about the mint tea! It’s a huge part of Moroccan culture and is often served as a sign or welcome or hospitality. You’ll often be greeted at your hotel with mint tea or if you visit someone’s home or shop. We were offered mint tea four times in one day! The tea is different from our mint tea, it’s actually green tea with fresh mint leaves. It’s absolutely delicious so make sure to give it a try!

Water

Avoid drinking the tap water in Morocco. You will probably read many mixed reviews on this topic, but my overall advice is to stick to bottled water. While I was there we were told it was safe to drink in larger cities, but to only drink bottled water in rural areas. I decided to play it safe and have bottled water the whole trip, because I’m usually prone to stomach issues while traveling.

Remember that avoiding tap water includes brushing your teeth with bottled water, no ice, and being cautious of raw fruits and vegetables that are washed.

What To Wear

Make sure you look at the weather for your trip dates and specific locations. Temperatures varying from coast to mountains. Summer months are hot, but it can be cold during the winter months. I always recommend layers.

I recommend having clothing that covers your knees and shoulders. Many smaller cities and rural areas are conservative. Although this isn’t as important in larger cities, it’s always best to not attract unwanted attention. Most mosques are closed to non-Muslims, except the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, so be sure to cover up if you plan on visiting.

As with most places, I recommend a day bag with a zipper that is close to your body. Avoid backpacks and tote bags, as these are easy target for pickpockets. General common sense and awareness is key. Although we had no issues with this, we were told to keep our bags close to us in the markets and not to put anything in our back pocket.

Visas

Visas are not required in Morocco if you are staying less than 90 days. You must have a valid passport with at least one blank page for entry stamp. You must have six months of passport validity at the time of entry. There are currently no vaccinations requirements for U.S. citizens visiting Morocco.

Scams

Often when people talk about Morocco they will bring up that there are too many scams. Although this is true, I don’t think they’re problematic. Most of the “scams” seemed to be very obvious and were very easy to avoid. The main one to watch for is people offering to take you or “show you the way” when in the medina. They will expect money, and they may not even take you to the right place. If you need directions, always ask a shop owner.

Taxis

I wouldn’t call this a scam, but the taxis will definitely charge you more for being a tourist. The taxis in Marrakesh we rode in never had meters, and the cost was just discussed before hand. I would recommend arranging airport transportation with your hotel beforehand for the best rate. During your stay you can ask the front desk to get a taxi for you, and they will make sure you’re getting a fair price.

You are going to love Morocco! From the bustling markets to riding camels in the Sahara this place has something for everyone! If you are in the process of planning your trip and have any questions please contact me, I’d love to help!