Morocco is such a lovely country with so much to offer but it can be extremely overwhelming if you come unprepared. Here is a list of Morocco travel tips – everything you need to know and to be prepared for before your next trip to Morocco.
Morocco Travel Tips
Don’t Take Directions from Strangers
Locals will often offer you a “tour” or directions to wherever you’re trying to go. But, it’s typically a scam. If you follow them, you may end up lost with them demanding money. Stick to known tour guides and don’t go anywhere with strangers!
Be Careful When Taking Photos
Many locals do not like having their picture taken, especially many of the women. Often, they will hide their faces or yell if they see you with a camera and think you are taking photos of them.
Another thing to be mindful of is that the locals will often expect you to pay them for photos. Especially the snake charmers, monkey keepers, etc. If they see you snap a photo they will demand money or, in extreme cases, try to take your phone/camera and delete the photo themselves if you don’t pay.
Dress Modestly
This one is mostly for the female travelers as men can typically get away with wearing whatever they want. As a rule of thumb, keep your shoulders and knees covered. Keeping a scarf or shawl with you can be useful as well so you can easily cover up if needed.
Full disclosure: no matter how you dress in Morocco, as a female, you 100% will get catcalled. It’s inevitable. My advice? Ignore it. Don’t make eye contact, don’t smile back, and just keep walking. You can’t let this get under your skin too much or it will ruin your trip. As long as you’re prepared for this ahead of time and know what to expect, you should be fine!
Haggle Prices at the Markets & Souks
Shopping the souks can be very intimidating at first. There are so many different shops, winding streets, and alleyways. It can be so easy to get lost. And, many of the sellers can be very overbearing at times. It may be helpful to go with a local tour guide for your first trip to the souks.
Keep in mind that the sellers are always willing to go down in price. You just have to be willing to ask! Also, don’t be afraid to say no and walk away if you can’t agree on a price. However, once you mention a price, you will be expected to pay at least that much.
Mosques are for Muslims Only
Many of the big lists on “What to Do in Morocco” will include many popular mosques. However, while you can admire from afar (eg: the courtyard), entry to the mosques is strictly for Muslims (with very few exceptions).
Carry Toilet Paper With You
And, bring some hand sanitizer while you’re at it. I, personally, avoid public restrooms like the plague but if you do happen to need one it’s likely there will be no toilet paper. Also keep in mind that many public restrooms in Morocco will charge a small fee for you to use them. Keep some extra change on you just in case!
Getting Lost is Part of the Fun
We loved exploring the medina in Marrakech. We would just walk without direction going down all of the side streets seeing what we could find.
This is actually our favorite way to find all of the hidden gems that you will never find in the guidebooks, like great local restaurants!
Tipping is Not Expected
Tipping culture isn’t really a thing in Morocco. If you’re unsure of whether to tip or not, just know that it isn’t expected. It will, however, still be appreciated if you leave a little cash on the table after a meal.
What are some of your best Morocco travel tips? Share in a comment below!
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