How Things Work in Morocco
Everything Tourists Need to Know
Tipping is expected and culturally embedded in Morocco — budget 10% at restaurants and 10-20 MAD for guides and hotel staff.
Updated 2025-06
ONCF trains connect major cities reliably, while petit taxis serve city travel and CTM buses cover intercity routes not on the rail network.
Updated 2025-06
Travel insurance is essential in Morocco as public hospitals are overcrowded and private clinic fees must be paid upfront.
Updated 2025-06
Several activities legal elsewhere are criminal offences in Morocco, including same-sex relations, sex outside marriage, and public displays of affection between unmarried couples.
Updated 2025-06
Dial 19 for police, 15 for the SAMU ambulance, 150 for fire, and 0800 00 2424 for the dedicated tourist hotline.
Updated 2025-06
Dress modestly throughout Morocco — cover shoulders and knees especially in medinas, souks, and rural areas.
Updated 2025-06
Alcohol is available at licensed hotels, tourist restaurants, and specialist off-licences but is not sold in general supermarkets and is restricted during Ramadan.
Updated 2025-06
Bargaining is not only expected but culturally essential in Moroccan souks, medinas, and with guides and taxi drivers.
Updated 2025-06
Always ask before photographing people in Morocco as many demand payment or flat out refuse, and never photograph military or police.
Updated 2025-06
Friday is Morocco's holy day with mosque attendance and partial business closures at midday, while souks follow their own complex weekly schedules.
Updated 2025-06
Use petit taxis for city travel (always insist on the meter) and grand taxis for intercity routes; there is no Uber, and Careem operates only in Casablanca.
Updated 2025-06
Do not drink tap water in Morocco — drink only sealed bottled water and be cautious with ice and raw salads at local establishments.
Updated 2025-06
Cash is king in Morocco — withdraw dirhams from bank ATMs in cities and note that taking dirhams out of Morocco is illegal in significant quantities.
Updated 2025-06
Maroc Telecom offers the best nationwide coverage including desert and mountain areas; buy a tourist SIM at the airport with your passport.
Updated 2025-06
Morocco uses Type C/E plugs (French-style round pins) at 220V/50Hz — European plugs work directly, but UK and US visitors need adapters.
Updated 2025-06
Morocco has a well-documented range of tourist scams — the faux guide, carpet shop pressure sales, henna traps, and free spice samples are the most common.
Updated 2025-06
Morocco is generally safe for tourists with violent crime being rare, but solo women face significant street harassment in medinas and pickpocketing is a concern.
Updated 2025-06
Accept offered mint tea as a gesture of hospitality, use your right hand for eating and passing items, and eat discreetly in public during Ramadan.
Updated 2025-06
French is more useful than English in most of Morocco — learn a few words of Darija (Moroccan Arabic) and you will receive a genuinely warm reception.
Updated 2025-06
Agadir has safe, lifeguarded swimming, but Essaouira is extremely windy and the Atlantic coast can have powerful currents requiring caution.
Updated 2025-06
Drive on the right; an international driving permit is recommended, and be prepared for chaotic city driving and variable road conditions outside major routes.
Updated 2025-06
Moroccan cuisine is outstanding — tagine, couscous, harira, pastilla, and the Djemaa el-Fna food stalls are unmissable, with excellent street food from 10-30 MAD.
Updated 2025-06
Non-Muslims cannot enter most Moroccan mosques; the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the main exception open to guided tours.
Updated 2025-06
October to April is the best time for most of Morocco; summer inland (Marrakech, Sahara) reaches 40°C+ and is brutally hot for most visitors.
Updated 2025-06
Street food from 10-30 MAD, prix fixe local lunches, public hammams for 15-30 MAD, and riads over chain hotels offer outstanding value throughout Morocco.
Updated 2025-06