Morocco: Where Chaos Becomes Magic
Ancient medinas, Sahara sunsets, and the best food you’ll eat for under £5. Your complete guide.
Morocco gets under your skin fast. You land and within an hour you’re lost in a medina that’s been standing since the 12th century, someone’s pressing mint tea into your hands, and the call to prayer is echoing off walls the colour of terracotta. It’s sensory overload in the best possible way. Marrakech gets all the attention (and honestly, it earns it), but Fes is the one that stays with you. Chefchaouen looks like someone photoshopped an entire town blue. The Sahara will make you feel very, very small. And then there’s the food. Tagine, couscous, street-side msemen for about 30p. This guide covers how to plan the whole thing without overthinking it.
3-4 hrs
From the UK
Mar-May / Sep-Nov
Best time
Arabic & French
Main language
MAD (Dirham)
Currency
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See Morocco in 60 Seconds
Best Time To Visit
Spring (March-May): Warm days, blooming landscapes, ideal for sightseeing & mountain treks.
Summer (June-August): Hot & dry, perfect for beaches & Sahara camping.
Autumn (Sept-Nov): Cooler & quieter, great for medinas, souks, and mountain hikes.
Winter (Dec-Feb): Ski season in the Atlas Mountains, mild city weather, good for off-season travel.
What To Expect
32°C
- Temperature
Capital: Rabat
Population: 37.08 million (2021)
Language: Morocco is a melting pot of languages. The most common language is Arabic, but many locals also speak French (most common), Spanish (in the north), Berber (indigenous populations) and English
Currency: The official currency in Morocco is called a dirham. 1 USD is equivalent to about 10 Moroccan dirhams and 8 dirhams is around £1 GBP. Check the latest rates here
Credit Cards & ATMs: Many retailers and restaurants accept credit cards as payment, however, you will need cash for souk vendors and small shops. There are ATMs in major cities. A lot of places will now also accept contactless payments like Apple Pay or Google pay.
Plugs: Most plugs in Morocco are type C and type E. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. I recommend buying a universal adapter
Safety: Morocco is a safe country to travel to as long as you understand its laws and cultural customs, and adhere to the status quo. Its crime rates are relatively low but be aware of scam artists and pickpockets which can be common.
Morocco Travel Guides
City Guides
Itineraries + Maps
Best Places to Visit & Things to Do
Best Time to Visit
Travel Tips
Everything Else
How Much Does Morocco Cost?
One of the most affordable countries you’ll visit. Here’s exactly what to expect.
🎒
Backpacker
~MAD 250 / £20 / €23 / $25 per day
- Hostel dorms from MAD 80 / £6 / €7 / $8 per night
- Street food stalls and local restaurants
- Shared taxis and public buses
- Free medina walks, souks, and hiking
🍜
Mid-Range
~MAD 600 / £48 / €55 / $60 per day
- Private riad room or boutique hotel
- Sit-down restaurants and rooftop cafes
- Mix of trains and petit taxis
- Guided tours, hammam experiences, day trips
🏨
Upscale
~MAD 1,500+ / £120+ / €140+ / $150+ per day
- Luxury riads and 5-star resorts
- Fine dining and private chef experiences
- Private desert camps and helicopter transfers
- Exclusive guided tours and spa retreats
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Budget
- Hostel dorm: MAD 80-150 / £6-12 / €7-14 / $8-15
- Campsite: MAD 50-150 / £4-12 / €5-14 / $5-15
- Budget hotel: MAD 250-600 / £20-50 / €23-55 / $25-60
Mid–Luxury
- Riad private room: MAD 500-1,200 / £40-100 / €46-110 / $50-120
- Boutique hotel: MAD 800-2,000 / £65-160 / €73-185 / $80-200
- Luxury resort: MAD 2,500+ / £200+ / €230+ / $250+
City Travel
- Tram ticket (Casablanca/Rabat): MAD 6 / £0.50 / €0.55 / $0.60
- Petit taxi (short ride): MAD 10-30 / £0.80-2.50 / €1-3 / $1-3.50
- Local bus: MAD 4-7 / £0.35-0.60 / €0.40-0.65 / $0.40-0.70
Long Distance
- CTM bus (Marrakech-Fes): MAD 150-300 / £12-24 / €14-28 / $15-30
- Train (Casablanca-Marrakech): MAD 150-300 / £12-24 / €14-28 / $15-30
- Car rental per day: MAD 300-700 / £24-55 / €28-65 / $30-70
Eat Cheap
- Street food (tagine/harira/msemen): MAD 20-50 / £2-4 / €2-5 / $2-5
- Supermarket/market meal prep: MAD 15-30 / £1.20-2.50 / €1.40-2.80 / $1.50-3
- Mint tea: MAD 5-15 / £0.40-1.20 / €0.50-1.40 / $0.50-1.50
Eating Out
- Mid-range restaurant: MAD 80-200 / £6-16 / €7-18 / $8-20
- Coffee: MAD 10-25 / £0.80-2 / €1-2.50 / $1-2.50
- Beer (where available): MAD 30-60 / £2.50-5 / €3-6 / $3-6.50
Budget Fun
- Museum/palace entry: MAD 20-80 / £2-6 / €2-7 / $2.50-8
- Free walking tour (tip only): MAD 50-100 / £4-8 / €5-9 / $5-10
- Hammam (public): MAD 50-150 / £4-12 / €5-14 / $5-15
Big Experiences
- Sahara desert overnight: MAD 500-2,000 / £40-160 / €46-185 / $50-200
- Guided medina tour: MAD 250-800 / £20-65 / €23-73 / $25-80
- Hot air balloon (Marrakech): MAD 1,800+ / £145+ / €165+ / $180+
10 Ways to Save Money in Morocco
💧 Water bottle icon: Bring a reusable bottle with a filter. Tap water isn’t safe everywhere, and buying plastic bottles adds up fast.
🚶 Walking icon: Walk the medinas. They’re compact and you’ll find more by getting lost than you will in a taxi.
🍽️ Fork icon: Eat at street stalls. A proper tagine from a food stall costs MAD 20-30 / £2-2.50 / €2-3 / $2-3. The tourist restaurants charge five times that for the same dish.
🛏️ Bed icon: Stay in hostels or budget riads. Hostel dorms from MAD 80 / £6 / €7 / $8 a night. Budget riads offer a proper Moroccan experience for less than a hotel.
🚕 Taxi icon: Use shared grand taxis instead of private ones. Same route, fraction of the price.
🗣️ Speech icon: Haggle everything. It’s expected. Start at a third of the asking price and work from there. Never accept the first price in a souk.
🚌 Bus icon: Take CTM or Supratours buses between cities. Cheap, reliable, air-conditioned. Way better than you’d expect.
📅 Calendar icon: Travel in shoulder season (March-May or September-November). Hotels are cheaper, tourists are fewer, weather is still great.
🎫 Ticket icon: Skip the guided tours for things you can do yourself. Most medinas are free to walk. You don’t need a guide for Chefchaouen.
☕ Coffee icon: Drink mint tea, not coffee. Mint tea is basically the national drink and costs almost nothing. Coffee is a European import priced accordingly.
Getting Around Morocco
Morocco is smaller than you think but the roads are slower than you’d hope. Here’s how to move between places without losing your mind.
Domestic Flights
Best for Marrakech to Tangier or Fes to Agadir. Saves hours of bus time on long routes.
✅ Quick, especially north to south
✅ Royal Air Maroc from MAD 400 / £32 / €37 / $40
❌ Not many budget airline options
Car & Campervan
Best for the Atlas Mountains, desert routes, and coastal drives where public transport is thin.
✅ Total freedom for road trips
✅ From MAD 300 / £24 / €28 / $30 per day
❌ Driving in medinas is impossible. Don’t even try.
Petit Taxis
Best for getting around within cities. Petit taxis are metered (in theory) and cheap for short hops.
✅ Starting fare from MAD 7 / £0.60 / €0.65 / $0.70
✅ Bolt and InDriver work in Casablanca and Marrakech
❌ Always insist on the meter. Always.
Trains (ONCF)
Best for the Casablanca-Rabat-Fes-Marrakech corridor. The Al Boraq high-speed train to Tangier is genuinely impressive.
✅ Comfortable, reliable, and cheap
✅ Al Boraq: Casablanca to Tangier in 2hrs 10min
❌ Network doesn’t cover the south or desert
CTM / Supratours Buses
Best for budget travel between any two cities. CTM and Supratours run air-conditioned coaches on most routes.
✅ Cheapest intercity option
✅ Covers routes trains don’t (Chefchaouen, Merzouga, Essaouira)
❌ Marrakech to Merzouga is 12 hours. Pack snacks.
Walking
Best for medinas and old towns. Marrakech, Fes, and Chefchaouen are all designed for walking. That’s literally how they work.
✅ Free and the only real option inside medinas
✅ You’ll find things you’d never spot from a taxi
❌ Watch for motorbikes. They don’t stop for you.
Which Is Right For You?
Exploring one city
Walk + petit taxis
Hitting multiple cities
Train for the main corridor, bus for everywhere else
Atlas Mountains & desert
Rent a car
Tight budget
CTM bus + shared grand taxis
Quick Tips
📅
Book Trains Early
Al Boraq tickets sell out, especially Fridays. Book online at oncf.ma a few days ahead.
💵
Agree Taxi Fares First
If the meter “isn’t working,” agree a price before getting in. Or just get out.
🚕
Skip Airport Taxis
Casablanca airport has a direct train to the city for MAD 40 / £3.30 / €3.70 / $4. Taxis charge 6x that.
🌙
Travel Overnight
Overnight buses save a night’s accommodation. Marrakech to Merzouga is a good candidate.
Book Tours & Tickets
Related Resources
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here’s how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Theft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won’t see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Travel Insurance
Don’t skip this one. Especially travelling solo. We compare the best policies and explain exactly what you actually need.
FAQs
Do I need a visa to visit Morocco?
Most visitors don’t. UK, EU, US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders get visa-free entry for up to 90 days. You just need a passport valid for at least 6 months from your entry date. No advance paperwork, no fees. Show up and you’re in. For other nationalities, check the Moroccan consulate website before booking.
Is Morocco safe for tourists?
Yes, broadly. Morocco is one of the safer countries in North Africa and violent crime against tourists is rare. The real annoyances are petty: persistent touts in Marrakech, fake guides, and the occasional pickpocket in crowded medinas. Use common sense, keep valuables hidden, and you’ll be fine. Solo female travellers should read our Morocco safety guide for more specific advice.
How many days do I need in Morocco?
A week is the minimum to see the highlights. Most first-timers do Marrakech (2-3 days), a Sahara excursion (2-3 days), and either Fes or Chefchaouen (2 days). Two weeks lets you slow down and add Essaouira, the Atlas Mountains, and the coast. Three weeks and you can properly explore without rushing anything.
What's the best time to visit Morocco?
March to May and September to November. Spring gives you wildflowers in the mountains and warm (not scorching) cities. Autumn is quieter, slightly cooler, and prices drop. Summer in Marrakech hits 45°C regularly, which is genuinely unpleasant. Winter is mild in the cities and great for the Sahara, but cold in the mountains. Check our full seasonal guide for a month-by-month breakdown.
Is Morocco expensive?
It’s one of the cheapest countries you can fly to from Europe. Street food costs MAD 20-30 / £2-2.50 / €2-3 / $2-3. A hostel dorm is MAD 80-150 / £6-12 / €7-14 / $8-15. You can do Morocco on £20 / €23 / $25 a day if you’re careful. Mid-range travellers will spend around £48 / €55 / $60 a day with a private riad room and restaurant meals. See our full cost breakdown above.
Do I need travel insurance for Morocco?
Yes. Morocco has no reciprocal healthcare deal with the UK or most Western countries. If something goes wrong, you’re paying full price. A broken leg in a Moroccan hospital could set you back thousands. Travel insurance costs a fraction of that. Compare policies in our Travel Insurance hub.
Can I drink the tap water in Morocco?
No. Stick to bottled or filtered water. The tap water isn’t dangerous everywhere but it’s inconsistent, and a stomach bug on day two of your trip isn’t worth the risk. Bring a reusable bottle with a built-in filter to save money and cut plastic waste.
What should I wear in Morocco?
Morocco is a Muslim country and modest dress is appreciated, especially outside major tourist areas. For both men and women: cover shoulders and knees. Women don’t need to cover their hair (it’s not required for non-Muslims) but a light scarf is handy for visiting mosques and rural areas. In Marrakech and Casablanca, people are more relaxed about it. In Fes and smaller towns, dress more conservatively.
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