Morocco Travel Tips

The biggest threats in Morocco are road accidents and pickpockets. Scam artists also thrive in tourist hotspots, coming up with new ways to part tourists from their money, with fake tour guides being among the quite common. 

By following your common sense, most annoyances and dangers can be avoided, while a good insurance policy before you leave home will make sure you are not left out of pocket if the unavoidable happens. Avoid poorly lit areas at night and take a taxi back to your hotel rather than walk; women travelling alone should avoid going out after dark unless they are in company. Do not carry excessive amounts of cash with you and leave your valuables at home; when you do have to carry cash or credit cards, put them in a concealed money belt.

Women can have quite a tough time travelling alone in Morocco and female travellers should think twice about leaving home without a companion for the adventure. While most of the harassment is harmless, it can be intimidating, with hissing and whistling standard, and men following you or groping you also fairly common. Don’t be shy or polite in these circumstances and head to the nearest shop for help if someone is really bothering you. Dressing conservatively will reduce the problems you encounter and if need be, get yourself a head scarf and sunglasses so as to appear less conspicuous. 

Police: 19

Morocco uses the Moroccan dirham (Dh), with one dirham being made up of 100 centimes (c). Coins come in denominations of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, Dh 1, Dh 2, Dh 5 and Dh 10 coins, while banknotes are available in denominations of Dh 10, Dh 20, Dh 50, Dh 100 and Dh 200. There are ATMs available in all major towns and cities in Morocco, with good places to look for one being around tourist hotels and in shopping districts. While there aren’t plentiful ATMs in the souks, there are plenty of people who are willing to exchange dollars or euros for dirhams on the black market. The Moroccan dirham (Dh) can only be bought and sold in Morocco and should not be brought in or out of the country.

Morocco has customs regulations with regards to bringing firearms, antiquities, pornography and medication in and out of the country. Contact your nearest Moroccan embassy for further details prior to travel. Customs duties on certain items can be very high, so it is worth checking first.

Newer buildings are adapted for 220 V / 50 Hz power usage, while older buildings use 110 V / 50 Hz.

Always make sure you drink bottled water in Morocco and avoid ice if you are not sure of its source. Locals drink tap water, but its high mineral content is likely to upset most foreigners’ stomachs.

It is wise to make sure you are up-to-date with standard vaccinations before your trip to Morocco, with tetanus and hepatitis A being recommended although not obligatory. Malaria is a low risk in northern coastal areas and mosquito repellent is essential, with few people choosing to take anti malarial tablets.

In addition, avoiding uncooked fruits and vegetables that cannot be peeled will help you to avoid illness. The sun is also a significant risk in Morocco, with sunburn being a common complaint among visitors who fail to wear the correct sun screen factor. Only spend short amounts of time in the sun, wear a hat and drink plenty of fluids.

Should you get sick during your stay, pharmacies are available in all major towns and cities, and they can prescribe medication without a doctor’s authorisation. If you have a more serious medical complaint, any of the larger cities’ hospitals will be able to attend to you. The larger the city, the better equipped the hospital will be. Rabat and Casablanca have well facilitated hospitals, but standards are not always in line with European hospitals and staff have limited language skills. For specialist care, it may be better to fly outside of the country to Spain.

In contrast, rural and remote areas of the country have very poor health care and it is necessary to go well prepared and carry a medical kit with you at all times.

Emergency service: 177

With Morocco being predominantly Muslim, visitors here should modify their dress with respect to the more conservative culture of the country. Women in particular should not expose shoulders or cleavage and wearing trousers or long skirts is recommended. Failure to pay heed to this advice will simply attract unwanted attention. Be aware that a liberal dress code may be misinterpreted as an invitation for something more.

Always greet strangers with a handshake, unless it is between opposite sexes. Kissing on the cheek is reserved for close friends and family and couples making public displays of affection are severely frowned upon.

As with all Arab cultures, the left hand is reserved for ‘unclean’ things and should therefore not be used for passing food or money. Visitors should refrain from saying anything that may be considered insulting about Morocco’s king; absolute loyalty and devotion is expected among Moroccan citizens and photos of him adorn most trading establishments and homes.

A service charge is usually included in all hotel and restaurant bills, making tipping unnecessary unless you consider the service to have been especially good. It is customary to give a small tip to porters, waiters and tour guides as well as to children if you take their photos or they give you directions.

Visitors to Morocco must have a valid passport, but citizens of many countries can get visa stamps as they enter. This includes citizens of: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, the United States and the United Kingdom. Citizens of other countries should check with their nearest Moroccan embassy prior to travel as an application for a visa may have to be obtained in advance of travel. Visitors are allowed to stay for 90 days.

Morocco Visitor Information Services are the best source of tourist information in the city. You will find them at the airport.