Morocco travel tips: 22 things to know before you go.

Petit taxis (small, coloured differently by city) are the correct way to get around Moroccan cities. They are metered and cheap. Before getting in, say 'b3addad' (with the meter) or simply confirm the meter is on. If a driver refuses to use the meter, get out and find another. Grand taxis (larger, shared, usually white) run fixed routes between cities — agree the price before departing.

ONCF (Moroccan national rail) connects Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Meknes, and Tangier with comfortable, punctual, and cheap trains. Book through the ONCF website. First class is worth the small premium on longer journeys. Marrakech–Fes takes 7–8 hours via Casablanca. Casablanca–Marrakech takes 3 hours. Train is almost always better than bus for routes where both are available.

Maps.me or Google Maps offline works well in Moroccan medinas. Download the map of your city before you arrive. GPS makes navigating Marrakech's medina significantly more manageable — Fes el Bali less so, because the density of lanes defeats even good mapping. In Fes, invest in a licensed guide rather than relying on GPS.

You cannot buy Moroccan dirhams (MAD) before you arrive. Exchange money at the airport on arrival (acceptable but not excellent rates), or use ATMs in major cities. ATMs dispense dirhams at good rates — Banque Populaire and Attijariwafa Bank machines tend to be most reliable. Keep a supply of 20 and 50 MAD notes for taxis, tips, and street food.

Bargaining is expected, enjoyed, and culturally built into souk purchases. Start at 30–40% of the asking price and work toward a middle ground. One complete rule: if you open a negotiation you intend to buy. Asking a price and walking away without buying is rude. In restaurants, fixed-menu cafés, and supermarkets, prices are fixed and bargaining is inappropriate.

Tips are expected but not demanded. Practical amounts in MAD: restaurants 10% if service not included (50–100 MAD); guided day tours 50–100 MAD per person per day for a good guide; hotel porters 10–20 MAD per bag; hammam attendants 10–20 MAD; parking attendants 2–5 MAD. At Djemaa el-Fna performers, agree a price before watching if you intend to tip.

Tap water in major Moroccan cities is treated, but the pipe infrastructure in older buildings makes quality inconsistent. Bottled water is cheap (8–15 MAD for 1.5L) and universally available. Avoid ice at street stalls and cheap restaurants unless the establishment is clearly tourist-facing with high hygiene standards.

The restaurants directly facing Djemaa el-Fna in Marrakech and equivalent main squares in other cities price for tourists and deliver accordingly. A few streets back into the medina, you find family restaurants serving better food to local clientele at 50–70% of the tourist-facing prices. Ask your riad staff for a recommendation — they know.

In Morocco, offering tea is an act of hospitality. You will be offered mint tea (atay) in shops, homes, and by guides. Accepting it does not obligate you to buy anything. If you are in a carpet shop and have no interest in buying, you can drink the tea, enjoy the conversation, and leave graciously. The hospitality is genuine even in commercial contexts.

Covered shoulders and knees in the medina is not a legal requirement but a practical one that significantly reduces unwanted attention, particularly for women. It is also genuine cultural respect in a traditional context. Lightweight linen trousers and a loose top pack small, work in 40°C heat, and remove most of the friction from medina navigation.

Photographing people in Morocco without permission is considered rude. Many Moroccans will refuse or demand payment — both are reasonable responses. Ask first. If someone has performed for you (musicians, acrobats) and you photograph them, a small tip is appropriate. Photographing the souks, architecture, and landscape freely is fine.

Moroccan Arabic (Darija) is the daily language. A few words open enormous goodwill: shukran (thank you), la shukran (no thank you), bslama (goodbye), s-hel (easy / no problem), and labas? (how are you?). French is widely spoken in cities and is often more useful than English. Even a single word of Arabic or French in the right moment transforms an interaction.

During Ramadan, most Moroccans fast from sunrise to sunset. Restaurants outside tourist areas are closed during the day. The evenings transform into a genuine communal celebration — iftar (breaking fast) is extraordinary to witness. Tourist areas largely function normally. Ramadan dates shift roughly 11 days earlier each year. Traveling during Ramadan is not harder — it is just different, and often more memorable.

Maroc Telecom (IAM) and Orange Morocco both sell prepaid SIM cards at arrivals in Marrakech, Casablanca, and Fes airports. A SIM with 20–30GB of data costs €5–10. This is significantly cheaper than international roaming from most European carriers. You will need your passport and a recent photo. The SIM works across Morocco including the Sahara (patchy but functional in most camp areas).

Morocco uses the Type C and Type E/F European round-pin plugs at 220V/50Hz — the same as most of continental Europe. UK visitors need an adapter; US visitors need both an adapter and a voltage converter for 110V devices. Most modern electronics (phones, laptops) auto-convert voltage — check the rating on your charger brick.

Majorelle Garden in Marrakech sells out regularly — particularly in peak season (March–May, October–November). Book online at jardinmajorelle.com at least 3–5 days ahead. The garden opens at 8am; early morning is the best time to visit for light and crowds. This applies also to Ben Youssef Medersa and occasionally Bahia Palace during peak periods.

Good riads in the Marrakech medina fill months in advance in peak season. In the medina, address information is difficult — delivery drivers and taxi drivers often cannot find riads by GPS. Book early, confirm your address in detail with the riad, and arrange a meet-and-greet with their staff at a nearby landmark for your arrival.

The Merzouga desert (Erg Chebbi) is 560km from Marrakech — a 9–10 hour drive. The minimum sensible tour is 3 days (2 nights): one day to drive down with a stop at Ouarzazate or Dades Gorge, one night in the desert, one day to drive back. Two-day tours result in 18+ hours of driving for a few hours of desert. Zagora (340km, 2 days) is the correct choice if you only have 2 days.

The five most common scams in Moroccan medinas: (1) Unsolicited guide offering free help — declines firm refusals and routes you to shops. (2) Henna ambush — applies henna before agreeing a price. (3) Unmetered taxi at inflated price. (4) Free mint tea in a carpet shop with heavy purchase pressure. (5) Photo demands with snakes, monkeys, or performers. Knowing the playbook ahead of time removes almost all of their power.

The most effective response to any unsolicited medina approach is one clear 'La shukran' (no thank you) without stopping, followed by no further eye contact. Engaging, explaining, arguing, or being polite repeatedly is interpreted as an opening. One refusal, then silence and movement, is consistently more effective than any elaborate response.

Moroccan pharmacies (pharmacies in French) are excellent and well-stocked. Pharmacists are often more helpful and faster than a GP visit for minor ailments. Common travel medications (Imodium, antihistamines, rehydration sachets, broad-spectrum antibiotics) are available without prescription. Still pack a basic kit — antiseptic, plasters, and rehydration sachets — for desert trips where pharmacies are very far.

Major cities have adequate private clinics. The Sahara desert and remote Atlas areas do not. A medical emergency in Erg Chebbi or on an Atlas trek can require helicopter evacuation — which costs tens of thousands without insurance. Ensure your policy covers: medical evacuation, adventure activities (camel trekking, quad biking), and the countries you are transiting.