10+ Finest Matters to Do in Morocco | Places to Take a look at & Major Ideas
13 min read
Setting up a trip to Morocco and seeking for some travel concepts? Glance no further more. This manual handles some of the most effective items to do in Morocco, along with some useful suggestions.
Located in the northwest corner of Africa, Morocco borders the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. This beautiful state boasts incredible foods, pleasant locals, and rich society, earning it a must-see desired destination.
Disclosure: This vacation was a compensated collaboration with Intrepid Travel however, all sights and viewpoints are my have. This write-up incorporates affiliate links whereby I might make a small commission at no extra price to you. This aids with the costs of operating my web-site so I can continue to keep my information free for you. Many thanks as usually for your guidance! See my disclosure policy here.
I obtained to examine some of Morocco’s greatest sites to check out on a modest-team 7-working day journey itinerary with Intrepid Travel. The itinerary bundled several of northern Morocco’s top rated locations — in addition a few spots past the key Morocco tourist attractions.
This in-depth manual on what to do in Morocco covers some of the fantastic sights and locations truly worth traveling to. I also share a couple of valuable strategies and accommodation ideas and remedy some usually questioned queries. Let us soar ideal in!
Tip: Hunting for a lot more gorgeous Mediterranean destinations? Have a glance at this guideline to the best spots to go to in Seville, Spain.
How to Get to Morocco
The most straightforward way to get to Morocco from the Uk is by aircraft. A flight from London to Morocco requires all-around 3–5 hrs. If you are in the temper for a scenic trip, you could also get to Morocco by prepare. This will get about three times.
Travelling to Morocco from somewhere else in the planet? Marrakech Menara and Mohammed V Intercontinental Airport in Casablanca are two of the significant airports to fly into. A lot of substantial cities in Europe and North America take pleasure in immediate flights to Morocco.
Browsing Morocco: Best Strategies
Right before we investigate the very best of Morocco’s spots to pay a visit to, here are a handful of guidelines I’ve picked up in the course of my vacation.
Never Anticipate To Enter Mosques Unless You’re Muslim
Morocco forbids entry to mosques for non-Muslims, so do not count on to be authorized entry. The only exceptions are the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca and Tinmel Mosque, close to the city of Marrakesh.
Avoid Using Your Left Hand To Take in
In Morocco, a lot of dishes are eaten by hand — like tagine. Unless you are left-handed, try to usually use your proper hand when consuming. The left hand is historically employed for hygienic functions and it’s so viewed as unclean to eat with.
Never Be Concerned To Haggle at the Marketplaces
Haggling is a large aspect of the buying encounter in souks (Moroccan marketplaces). So really do not be afraid to haggle for a better offer, and in no way pay additional than a 3rd of the supplied cost. As a rule of thumb, make a counter give of about 50 % the asking cost and go from there.
Do not Depart Without Seeking Mint Tea
Mint tea has enormous importance in Morocco. Locals have been consuming it for generations for its wellness gains. Higher than all, nevertheless, mint tea, also identified as Maghrebi mint tea, is a symbol of friendship and hospitality in Morocco. So be guaranteed to savour each individual cup!
Have Sufficient Dollars
Hard cash is king in Morocco, in particular in the souks, so don’t count on your credit score card. Funds is frequently the only approved sort of payment, so be guaranteed to have some with you.
Never Restrict Oneself to Marrakech
There is so significantly far more to Morocco than Marrakech. Even though the city is understandably incredibly common, there are so numerous unique spots to go in Morocco. These include Asilah, Volubilis, and Chefchaouen.
Be Organized for Early Morning Phone calls to Prayer
Morocco is a greater part Muslim place, and there are around 50,000 mosques in Morocco. So, you’re possible to hear the 5 am get in touch with to prayer. Although it may possibly be a new shock, you will have to acknowledge that you are going to be hearing the simply call early every single morning. If you’re a gentle sleeper, a pair of sleeping earplugs may possibly arrive in handy.
Be Weary of the Phony Guides
As with any big tourist spot, it is often greatest to be on the careful facet. In Morocco, you may experience someone offering to support guideline you to your lodge, a will have to-see shop, etcetera. They may also present to offer a tour. While they may possibly appear nicely-this means, these faux guides will usually anticipate decent sums of cash right after encouraging you. This is why it is significant to consult with accredited tour guides on your trip.
Depart Your Drone at Property
Morocco has banned the non-public use of drones in the nation. So if you don’t go away your drone at residence, you can hope it to be confiscated at the airport.
What to Do in Morocco | Top Destinations to Visit
Thinking wherever to go in Morocco? This nation of contrasts has anything from deserts and historic ruins to glittering beach locations and modern architecture. So it can be hard picking out just 1 location. Right here are some of the breathtaking sites I explored on my excursion with Intrepid Travel that are confident to steal your heart.
Casablanca, Morocco: Issues to Do
The bustling port metropolis of Casablanca is the greatest and 1 of the a lot more popular towns in Morocco. It is household to gorgeous beaches, historic sights and bustling markets. Casablanca is also more fashionable and serves as a key business hub.
Idea: See the best of the town on a guided Casablanca metropolis highlights tour.
Stop by the Majestic Hassan II Mosque
The sheer size of the Hassan II Mosque is brain-blowing. It characteristics a 210-metre-tall minaret and can host up to 105,000 worshippers! The intricate interiors and exteriors are the combination of decades of focused do the job by about 10,000 craftsmen.
Though the mosque celebrates classic layout, it boasts added attributes that make it 1 of the world’s most high-tech mosques. This consists of heated flooring for winter season and a retractable roof to let the breeze in all through warmer months.
Note: Ahead of your tour of Hassan II Mosque, make sure your shoulders, torso, and knees are coated as a sign of respect. You do not will need to wear a scarf.
End By Rick’s Café
You basically simply cannot pay a visit to Casablanca without the need of a cease at Rick’s Café. If you’re familiar with the common 1942 film, Casablanca, this location may well ring a bell. Rick’s Café is based on the fictional motion picture location and recreates the nostalgic, vintage aesthetic. Anticipate reside songs, refreshing cocktails, and a assorted international menu.
Idea: Looking for more common fare? Get a different perspective of the metropolis with a evening-time Casablanca tour — comprehensive with a traditional Moroccan evening meal.
Things to Do in Meknes & Volubilis
A a few-hour travel from Casablanca delivers you to Meknes a single of Morocco’s 4 historic capitals — or Imperial Towns. While generally disregarded by holidaymakers, this spectacular hilltop town is a real gem, backed by a UNESCO Environment Heritage listing.
Volubilis sits a mere 40 minutes from Meknes and is a different UNESCO World Heritage website. Background buffs will adore this end as it is house to some extraordinary ruins.
Discover the Medina of Meknes
Medinas are the beating hearts of Morocco. A medina in Morocco is commonly the aged town or historic city centre. The Meknes Medina is a wondrous location, property to mosques, palaces, hammams, and a maze of slim alleyways. You are going to locate suppliers selling every little thing from spices to superbly crafted objects.
The medina is surrounded by fortified walls and 9 massive gates. Be certain to appear out for Bab El Mansour. Accomplished in 1732, this towering gate is intricately embellished in floral and geometric styles.
Admire Morocco’s Very best-Preserved Roman Ruins
Pay a visit to the remnants of an historical Berber-Roman city recognized in the 3rd century. Spanning 42 hectares, these perfectly-preserved ruins in Volubilis give a peek into the remarkable architectural skill and enhancements of the previous.
Take a look at remnants of a basilica, towering columns, thermal baths, a marble arch, and properties adorned with mosaics. It is an complete have to-see in Morocco. Be sure to have on a hat and pay a visit to early or later in the working day, as there is restricted shade.
Tip: Meknes, Volubilis, and Moulay Idriss (considered Morocco’s holiest city) are terrific sights to see on a merged working day excursion from Fez.
Items to Do in Fez, Morocco
Occasionally referred to as the “Athens of Africa,” gorgeous Fez, or Fes, is the country’s cultural centre. It is the oldest of Morocco’s historic Imperial Cities. In this article, you will discover a bustling medina loaded with vivid souks and the stunning Bab Boujloud (also identified as the “blue gate”).
Tour the Oldest Medina in the Entire world
Fez is a single of the oldest consistently inhabited metropolitan areas in Morocco and Africa. It is also household to the oldest Medina in the world, constructed concerning the 8th and 9th centuries. Getting shed among the sprawling alleyways could be 1 of the most enjoyment issues to do in Morocco. Having said that, a guidebook is a will have to to make the most out of your go to.
Ebook a guided Fez Medina tour and see all the gems tucked away in the old town. These involve the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts and several souks. Appear out for the lovely blue and white clay pottery and mosaics Fez is regarded for whilst discovering the marketplaces.
Halt by the 16th-Century Tannery
Although in the medina, really do not overlook the 3 historic tanneries of Fez — the premier and oldest of which is Chouara tannery. The tanneries are some of the a lot more distinctive sights (and smells) in Morocco. They’re made up of hundreds of pits stuffed with leather and purely natural tanning chemical compounds.
You can check out the tanneries from the balconies bordering it. If you do not have a tutorial, just comply with your nose! Be warned while, the odor is quite pronounced. So you may want to provide a scarf to protect your nose.
Wander By means of the Al-Attarine Madrasa
Launched in the 14th century, the Medersa El Attarine is 1 of the city’s most important non secular landmarks. A madrasa is normally an Islam-centred academic establishment.
Located in the coronary heart of the Fez Medina, Al-Attarine Madrasa is a marvel of architecture and craftsmanship. It features detailed mosaic perform, intricate carved stuccoes, and a lot of features created of many noble woods. You’ll also obtain a attractive marble fountain in the opulent courtyard.
The Al-Attarine Madrasa sits upcoming to Al-Qarawiyyin mosque. This mosque is dwelling to University Kairaouine, considered 1 of the oldest universities in the earth.
Prepare dinner Moroccan Cuisine with Locals
Though on my Intrepid Journey excursion, we enjoyed an enriching hands-on expertise cooking Moroccan dishes at a local loved ones household. It was a lovely way to really get to know the locals and decide on up some cooking tactics and suggestions.
Contemplate a Fez classic home cooking tour to find out a couple of Moroccan recipes and shell out some time with locals. Just a warning, camel burgers are a factor listed here. So, be absolutely sure to test what you’re cooking if you’d somewhat not eat camel. There are also lots of vegetarian-welcoming choices in Morocco — like lentil dishes and veggie tagine. So there is some thing for anyone to try to eat.
What to Do in Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen sits about three and a 50 % hours northwest of Fez, nestled in the Rif Mountains. This breathtaking city is known as the “Blue Pearl” of Morocco and is actually one of the prettiest destinations I’ve frequented.
The previous city boasts vivid blue stairways, alleys, properties, and squares, generally contrasted with vegetation and oranges. The blue-washed city is little and simple to examine by foot. Prime sights incorporate the Grand Mosque and the Kasbah Museum.
Do not overlook a refreshing cup or two of orange juice even though right here. Chefchaouen oranges are mentioned to be some of the sweetest in the globe.
Idea: You can get to this town on a hassle-free Chefchaouen day trip from Fez.
Get a Scenic Hike
If you can tear your self absent from the sweet cats and blue properties, just take a picturesque hike nearby or in Talassemtane Nationwide Park. Positioned about a 45-minute push from Chefchaouen, this national park is crammed with organic miracles. You can seem ahead to glittering waterfalls, all-natural rock arches, and panoramic sights. It is finest to go with a proficient guidebook as the location can really feel quite remote.
Visit Asilah, Morocco
Wonderful Asilah was the concluding location soon after our journey from Casablanca to Chefchaouen. This artsy beach front city sits about two and a 50 % hrs from Chefchaouen alongside the Atlantic coastline of Morocco. Its historic white-washed medina has innovative murals and a unique slower speed of life.
Soak up the coastal vibes with a fresh fish tagine, admire the vibrant murals in the medina, and snap wonderful shots. It’s a little city, excellent if you’re seeking to escape the busier cities for a whilst.
Suggestion: Enjoy a blended Tangier and Asilah tour and see added sights like Cap Spartel and the Hercules Caves.
Where to Continue to be on Your Take a look at to Morocco
Searching for sites to remain in Morocco through your trip? Listed here are a few accommodation suggestions for the northern components of Morocco, tailored to every single price range.
Budget | Family Aparthotel, Casablanca
The budget-helpful residences at Loved ones Aparthotel in Casablanca are best for lengthier stays. Showcasing vivid present-day decor, these spacious residences incorporate all the needed comforts.
These include a cosy residing room and a kitchenette for seeking out some Moroccan recipes. Some even boast a spacious non-public balcony. The central area implies you’ll be in a brief length of several of the city’s major sights.
Mid-Array | Riad Oasis D’Asilah
Escape the bustling city for a tranquil stay in laid-back again Asilah. The heat and welcoming Riad Oasis D’Asilah features much more classic Moroccan interiors and is the suitable stay for family members with young ones.
Enjoy complimentary fresh new pastries and pancakes for breakfast right before location out to the close by seaside. You could also laze about in the plunge pool or the a lot of terraces on the beautiful residence.
Luxurious | Riad Salam, Fes
Appreciate the top in luxury Moroccan residing with a keep at Riad Salam in Fez. The full home is an opulent celebration of Moroccan art and tradition. Anticipate amazing mosaic art anywhere you glimpse, including flooring, columns, partitions, and even baths.
Rooms are cozy and spacious, decorated with antique home furnishings and traditional decor. There’s also an on-web site cafe serving conventional bites and treats. When below, be confident to savour a pot of Moroccan tea on the terrace.
Greatest Locations to Check out in Morocco: FAQs
Continue to have a handful of inquiries about what to see in Morocco? Have a search by these answers to some commonly requested inquiries.
What is Morocco Known For?
There are a good deal of matters Morocco is known for. The country’s most noteworthy attractions involve its remarkable architecture, amazing mosques, and wealthy tradition. The bustling medinas and souks, tasty cuisine, and leather, clay, and carpet artistry also make Morocco worthy of acclaim. This region has a large heritage, ever evident to this day, and you are positive to study lots of it on your trip.
What Should really I Dress in in Morocco?
Morocco is a the vast majority Muslim region, and folks typically costume much more modestly. As a vacationer, you do not have to put on any scarves or cover-ups. But, you can show respect by ensuring your dresses arrive below your knees and cover your shoulders and torso. Flowy, looser-fitting dresses are perfect for the Moroccan local weather.
What Are the Finest Metropolitan areas to Visit in Morocco?
There are a lot of massive towns in Morocco that are best for travelers. These contain Casablanca, Marrakech, and Tangier. Ultimately, the most effective town to pay a visit to in Morocco will depend on what you’d like to see. If coastal vibes are your point, Tangier might be excellent. If you’re far more of a lifestyle buff, you may well favor Fez. Anywhere you pick out to pay a visit to, however, will certainly depart a superior impression.
Do I Need a Tour Information in Morocco?
You never have to have a tour guide to vacation in Morocco, but there may well be periods when a guidebook will be beneficial. If you are scheduling to check out a medina, a information will aid you see the highlights with ease. Guides also present loads of insights into each location’s background and lifestyle. And specifics usually make you recognize a sight more.
Greatest Areas to Take a look at in Morocco: Wrapped Up
As you can tell, there’s so considerably more to discover in Morocco further than Marrakech. And while I have targeted on some of the gems of northern Morocco, you will learn even more beauty in the south. With its heat hospitality, dreamy architecture, and beautiful culture, Morocco is a region you are going to want to return to yet again and all over again.
If you are on the lookout for a lot more culturally wealthy Arab countries to check out, have a glimpse at this Jordan vacation information. Looking for anything additional futuristic? Take a look at this tutorial on the greatest Abu Dhabi places to visit.
