Travel around Morocco
Starter guide to travel around Marocco. The North african country famous for its desert, surfing beaches, tasty food and so much more!
Boring stuff to get started with…
Visa
With most of the passports you will easily get the visa for free directly at the airport. For stays up to three months long.
And a good news for the collectors (like me): Morocco is one of the few countries that still puts an actual stamp on your passport!
Internet and telephone
You can easily get a Sim Card at the airport and pretty much everywhere around the moroccan cities. Either from the specialized shops or some random vendors in the street.
The cost of the simcard itself vary between 20 and 50 Dh, but you can even get if for free in some major airports
The main companies are Orange, Maroc Telecom and Inwi
I personally didn’t get one, as I like to be disconnected while travelling.
But I knoiw sometimes having an internet access could result quite helpful and also save you some planning time
Money in Morocco
The local currency of Marocco is the Dirham (MAD). Worth about 10 cents of USD when I was there.
You can easily get them with a good rate from money exchangers around the cities and sometimes also in the hotels.
And of course at the airport. But my suggestion is always to get just you will need to get to the centre and then look for a better rate somewhere else.
Especially in touristy cities like Marraketch, lots of places will also accept payments in your currency. Sometimes it can even be more convenient, as many people will check the official rate on the internet. And also save you the little exchange fees.
Mostly for Euros holders, be aware that sometimes they try to use the same exchange rate as with the dollars.
Or generally speaking they could try to profit a little bit.
The exchange Rate in the Desert
Quite different story for those willing to visit the Sahara desert in Merzouga. Officially because it is a remote place, but most likely because it is mainly visited by tourists.
There is just a money exchange in the little village, with a rate about the 5% less convenient than in other places. And an ATM that never works.
The guy I got in touch with when planning the desert trip gave me the price in Euros, and we got there without much change, thinking it would have been the same price with any currency. But we actually found out too late we could have saved about the 10% of the money by paying in Dirham.
Not a very big deal, but it would have still been nice to know it before.
Language in Morocco
Moroccan people seems to be really good with languages!
most of them fluently speak Arabic and French. More Spanish in the northern areas closer to the country. And also a very local language in the areas around the desert.
Those working with tourists will obvoiusly speak good English, as also most of the young people.
But do not expect to have many English conversations with everyone met on the streets.
Completely different story in Marraketch, especially around the Medina and the crazy central plaza. There you can be sure they will manange to try to sell you something in literally any possible idioma of the planet!
Getting to Morocco
Fly to Morocco
The easiest way to reach Marocco is probably from air. There are just too many cheap flying options from all Europe to the country. Making Marocco one of the easiest accessible African countries.
The major airports are in Fes, Marraketch and Casablanca. But pretty much every city around Morocco also has one. Jump on skyscanner and put the whole country as a destination to find the best solution for you!
I personally decided to fly from Madrid to Tetùan (in the northern side of the country) for 15 euros. And then back to Italy from Marraketch for about the same money. But more about the trip on my Morocco Travel Itinerary
Sail to Morocco
Another option to reach Marocco is to take a ferry there from Spain. I would not advise it as the most convenient solution, especially considering the wide availability of cheap flights.But it can still be worth considering if you are planning to carry lots of stuff, or willing to explore the country with your own vehicle.
There are also ferries departing from the Italian port of Genova or Barcelona, in case you can’t make it to the southernmost part of Spain.But be ready for a long (and quite expensive) journeyHow to Travel around Morocco
Travel around Morocco by CAR
If you are looking for more freedom or comfort, having your own vehicle is always a good option. The rental prices are quite reasonable, and (surprisingly, I’d say) the fuel cost is pretty similar to the European one. And you also have the possibility to carry your car on the ferry.
Distances are never too big, but roads are not always the easiest. Especially those passing through the central mountains
Fly around Morocco
As said above, pretty much every city in Marocco has an airport. So even flying around the country could be an option, especially if you are short on time
Travel around Morocco by BUS
Marocco is covered by a very exhaustive bus connection network. Making it one of the best ways to travel around the country. The journey will obviously take more time than with a car, but whitout having to drive you can actually relax (or sleep) and save some energy for exploring the destination. And even better, along some longest routes there are also night busses. Making you save time and money on accommodation.
The main companies used by tourist are Supratour and CTM. Both bookable on
their website or directly at the bus terminal.
Pretty much every town has a bus terminal where you can go and ask. Just be careful as, while many times you can find other and cheaper options,
some others you can end up paying more than you are supposed to.
When I was in Chefchaouen, for instance, the guy at the ticket office asked us to pay almost double of the price I’ve seen on the website. Luckily I noticed that, and we mangaged to find a wifi and get the billet online.
But traveling around we discovered also some other options pretty much impossible to find without asking locals. And one of them pretty much saved my trip back from Merzouga. But more in my Marocco travel Itinerary
Travel around Morocco by Taxi
Taxis are another pretty common way to travel around Marocco. Not really much the “normal” private taxis, but the Shared ones.
The Shared Taxis, called Grand Taxi, are basically 9 sits vans always running along a fixed route. Usually between two or more nearby cities and towns.
The journey has a set cost, that has to be equally shared between all the passengers. There is no timetable, as every taxi departs once it gets full. And that could sometimes result in quite time-consuming, especially along the less common routes. So it is generally better to start the journey quite early, especially if you are planning a trip with several changes.
Of course, you can also choose to pay for the empty sits and start the drive anyway, if in an hurry.
The taxi station is usually located not far from the bus terminal, and close to the main roads. If you like a bit more planning, you can also go there the day before and arrange something with one of the drivers. And even try to bargain for a private transfer.
Many locals advised us to be careful with taking the yellow taxis driving around the cities. And to always remember to ask them to start the taximeter before taking the journey. Otherwise they will ask you for any money they want
Taking a Tour around Marocco
Last option, for lazier travellers with a little more money to spend, is to take a tour around the country. Other than the classic wide availability of tours organised by the travel agencies, in Marocco offers some little sorts of taxi tours: taxis driving along the most common tourist routes and doing all the common stops along the way. They could either be for you only or shared with other travellers.
We got an offer for one of them from our host in Merzouga, when looking for the best way to get to Marraketch from there. Obviously more expensive than the bus, as it was also going to be shared only between the two of us. But if you are lucky enough to find other travellers, it could be an option worth considering.
Just be ready for the possibility to end up paying more than agreed. As most drivers will take you to places where you are basically required to buy something or give some tips
Food in Morocco
Dear foodie friends, Morocco is definitely a place where you can have lots of fun!
From crazy cheap street food to Michelin-starred rooftop restaurants, the options are pretty much endless.
The most typical food? Probably the Tajine. And the well known cous cous, even if it is something that Maroccans seem to have only in some special occasions.
But there is so much more to try…
Soups
the most common are probably what is usually recalled the “Moroccan Soup”. The tomato-based Harira. From what I have seen pretty much everyone has their own recipe. It can have chickpeas or small pasta inside, and sometimes also meat. So better to always ask if you are vegetarian.
Another soup I got really addicted to is the Bessara. Made with fava beans and served with freshly made bread, a drizzle of olive oil and a good dust of cumin. it is mostly enjoyed for breakfast with a cup of mint tea. And Marrakech seems to have the best ones!
Mint Tea
The mint tea is the most typical drink you can get in Morocco, where it is also recalled as the “Berber Whiskey“. It is enjoyed by everyone and at everytime: at home, at the bar, in the streets. Alone, after a meal or paired with some local delicacies. It is also a very common way to welcoming guests into the house.
Making and serving the tea is a proper ritual: the fresh mint leaves have to be boiled in the traditional teapot. Then poured into a glass from a very high point, to get more oxygen and a better aroma.
Just remember to ask it without sugar, if you don’t like very sweet tastes. As they are usually quite generous with that too!
Tajine
And generally loads of spices and olive oil.
Cous Cous
Bread
I admit I got quite surprised to see how much bread Moroccan people eat. And how much bread I ate too, during my trip there! Pretty much everywhere and at any time there was someone selling delicious freshly made bread on the street. And an always different kind of, depending on the time of the day. So it was almost impossible to don’t try it out!
The most peculiar bread types are:
M’semen
a very buttery flatbrad usually eaten alone or filled with butter, cheese or honey. Mostly for brakfast and paired with a cup of tea or coffee. But you can find it pretty much at anytime
Something similar to the previous one, but with olive oil instead of butter and milk
Where to sleep in Morocco
As pretty much everywhere around the globe, Marocco offers any kind of accommodation: from hostels with shared dormitories, to private apartments, modest guest houses and fancy hotels with all sort of luxury. And even glamping or traditional berber tents, if you are going to spend a night in the desert
Sleep in a Moroccan Riad
The most authentic experience will surely be to spend the night in a Riad. Basically the most traditional kind of Moroccan housing. A building with several floors and room built around a central garden.
Riads are generally modest but beautifully decorated, and located right inside the medina. Some of them are basically still private houses used as guest houses and can be quite hard to find around the maze of streets and buildings. Jump on websites like booking.com to choose yours!
I stayed in a couple of them, in Fes and Marrakech. For around 7 euros per night with breakfast included! But you can find many highly priced and fancier options.
What to do in Morocco
Marocco has a little bit of everything: coastal towns with beautiful beaches and good waves to surf on. Crazy and busy cities to explore, filled with hidden architecture gems and shops of any sort. High mountains to climb and, of course, the Sahara Desert!
The country is also well known for the beauty treatments. First of all the tradition Hammam and anything involving the use of the Argan oil. Sold pretty much everywhere and in any form and kind of product.
So also the activities are pretty much endless, you just have to jump there and start exploring!
My Hammam experience
No trip to Morocco is completed without visiting an Hammam, so I had to give it a try
There are different kinds of Hammams, from the most traditional and rustic ones, mainly intended for locals. And where you have to do all by yourself. To the fanciest and most touristy spas.
I decided to try something in between, visiting the Hammam Essalama in Marrakech. Located slightly away from the most touristy areas. But then choosing to get the treatment done from one of their employees, with a good but delicate scraping and a very little massage at the end. It was nothing remarkably good, but not the shocking experience I have been reading about on some websites.
Slighly different experience for my male friend. Who had to lay down on the floor in the middle of an empty room, and get vigorously scraped by a naked old man.
We both paid around 10 euros for a more or less 40 minutes long treatment with everything included, and a cup of tea at the end. If you go for the cheaper DIY option you will need your own glove, towel and black soap, and just pay the entrance fee of about 1 euro.
I found this Hammam as the cheapest option with the treatment included. Together with the Hammam Mouassine, the oldest and one of the most famous. Located right in the medina.
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