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Morocco travel guide
Medinas, mountains and Sahara dunes.
Morocco sits in North Africa between the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Sahara. Travelers love its maze-like old medinas in Marrakech and Fes, the High Atlas mountains, the blue town of Chefchaouen and camel trips into the desert.
Travel tools
Getting there
Major international airports include Marrakech, Casablanca, Fez, Tangier and Agadir. Ferries cross the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain to Tangier, and there are routes from France and Italy.
Best time to visit: Mar–May and Sep–Nov – warm days, ideal for cities and desert.
Tougher months: July–August inland, when Marrakech, Fez and the desert become extremely hot; the coast stays milder.
Weather by month in Marrakech
- 19°J●
- 21°F●
- 24°M●
- 26°A●
- 29°M
- 33°J
- 37°J
- 37°A
- 33°S
- 28°O●
- 23°N●
- 20°D●
Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: Africa/Casablanca. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 70 of 198 other passports can enter Morocco without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 15 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 113 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of Morocco (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-09-04). Read the advisory.
Source and more: Morocco travel facts on RoamSun
Stay
Most trips to Morocco are based around Marrakech, Fez or Chefchaouen. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$30–50 for a backpacker and US$80–160 mid-range, per person.
Source: RoamSun Morocco page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: C, E. Voltage: 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +212.
Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
Do
- Marrakech (Central · medina and gardens): A sensory city of souks, riads, palaces and gardens with the Atlas Mountains on the horizon.
- Fez (North · medieval medina): A UNESCO-listed medina full of craft workshops, ancient mosques and madrasas.
- Chefchaouen (Rif Mountains · blue town): A relaxed mountain town painted in shades of blue, great for hiking.
- Merzouga and Erg Chebbi (Sahara · dunes): Towering orange dunes, camel treks and desert camps.
- Essaouira (Atlantic coast · port town): A walled seaside town with a working harbour, art galleries and windy beaches.
- Aït Benhaddou (South · kasbah): A spectacular fortified village of mud-brick buildings on the old caravan route.
- Todra Gorge (South · canyon): A dramatic narrow canyon with towering cliffs and palm oases.
- Imlil and Toubkal National Park (High Atlas · mountains): The base for trekking and climbing in the High Atlas.
Things to do
- Explore Jemaa el-Fnaa. Join the crowds in Marrakech's main square as storytellers, musicians and food stalls come alive at dusk.
- Get lost in Fez el-Bali. Wander one of the world's largest car-free urban areas, a maze of souks, madrasas and tanneries.
- Sleep in the Sahara. Ride a camel into the dunes of Erg Chebbi and spend a night under the stars in a desert camp.
- Hike the High Atlas. Trek between Amazigh villages near Imlil or tackle North Africa's highest peak, Toubkal.
- Photograph Chefchaouen. Stroll the blue-painted lanes of a mountain town in the Rif.
- Visit Aït Benhaddou. Climb through the earthen kasbah that has appeared in many films.
- Relax in a hammam. Steam, scrub and unwind in a traditional bathhouse.
- Surf in Taghazout. Catch Atlantic waves in a laid-back fishing village turned surf hub.
Source: full Morocco guide on RoamSun
Eat and drink
- Tagine – slow-cooked stew of meat, vegetables or fruit
- Couscous – steamed semolina, traditionally served on Fridays
- Pastilla – sweet and savoury pie with pigeon or chicken
- Harira – tomato and lentil soup
Source: RoamSun Morocco guide
Money and safety
Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: Expected – around 10% in restaurants and small tips for guides and helpers.
Emergency numbers: 19 police · 15 fire & ambulance · 177 gendarmerie.
- The currency is the Moroccan dirham, which is generally obtained inside the country.
- ATMs are widespread in cities, but carry cash for souks, taxis and rural areas.
- Morocco is generally safe, but petty theft and persistent hustlers are common in medinas.
- Ignore unofficial guides offering directions; use maps or ask in shops.
Source: RoamSun Morocco facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Morocco?
Mar–May and Sep–Nov – warm days, ideal for cities and desert. Mediterranean on the coast, hot and dry inland and in the desert, with snow in the high mountains in winter.
What time zone is Morocco in?
Morocco uses Africa/Casablanca.
Do I need a visa for Morocco?
It depends on your passport. In our dataset 70 of 198 other passports can enter without a prior visa, 15 need an e-visa or eTA and 113 need a visa in advance. Use the visa checker and confirm with the official government source.
What plug and voltage does Morocco use?
Morocco uses plug type C, E at 220 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Morocco?
The international calling code for Morocco is +212.
Do you tip in Morocco?
Expected – around 10% in restaurants and small tips for guides and helpers.
What is the emergency number in Morocco?
19 police · 15 fire & ambulance · 177 gendarmerie.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Morocco?
Traffic drives on the right.