◆ Before you go
Practical
tips
“Everything you need to know before setting foot in Morocco. Verified, honest, up to date.”
8 sectionsUpdated 2026
Visa & formalities
- 1EU citizens, British, Americans, Canadians: no visa required for stays under 90 days
- 2Passport valid for at least 6 months after entry date
- 3Entry form to fill in on the plane (or upon arrival)
- 4Extension possible at the local police station before the 90-day expiration
- 5Customs: max 2,000 MAD in cash upon entry, 1L of alcohol, 200 cigarettes
Currency & exchange
- 1Currency: Moroccan Dirham (MAD). 1 USD ≈ 10 MAD, 1€ ≈ 10.8 MAD (2026)
- 2Best rates: exchange offices in town (not the airport, -5 to 10%)
- 3Visa/Mastercard accepted in hotels and upscale restaurants
- 4ATMs available everywhere, bank fee 20-40 MAD per withdrawal
- 5Tipping: 10-20 MAD at restaurants, 5-10 MAD for small services, 50-100 MAD/day for guides
- 6Always keep small bills (20, 50 MAD) — many vendors don’t have change
Phone & Internet
- 13 carriers: Maroc Telecom (best coverage), Inwi, Orange
- 2Tourist SIM: 30-50 MAD with 5-10 GB of data, enough for 2 weeks
- 3Buy at the airport or in a shop (passport required)
- 4WiFi available in most riads, hotels and cafés
- 5WhatsApp works everywhere — it’s the #1 communication app in Morocco
- 6Download Google Maps offline BEFORE arriving (essential in the medina)
Health & vaccines
- 1No mandatory vaccines for Morocco
- 2Recommended: hepatitis A, typhoid. Rabies if extended rural stays
- 3Tap water is NOT DRINKABLE — only drink bottled water (5-10 MAD)
- 4Traveler’s diarrhea common in the first days: bring Imodium and Pepto-Bismol
- 5Pharmacies very accessible, common medications sold without prescription
- 6TRAVEL INSURANCE MANDATORY — check repatriation coverage before departure
Safety
- 1Morocco is SAFE for tourists — one of the safest countries in Africa
- 2Common scams: fake guides, inflated prices, taxis without meters
- 3Solo women: verbal harassment possible in the medina — ignore it, walk confidently
- 4Areas to avoid: Algerian border, isolated areas at night
- 5Tourist police present in major cities (Marrakech, Fez, Tangier)
- 6Emergency numbers: Police 19, Ambulance 15, Fire department 15
Domestic transport
- 1ONCF trains: reliable northern network (Casablanca-Marrakech-Fez-Tangier), punctual, comfortable
- 2Al Boraq high-speed train: Casablanca-Tangier in 2h10, from 300 MAD
- 3CTM / Supratours buses: cover the whole country, A/C, reliable, online booking
- 4Grand taxis: intercity, shared 6 seats — negotiate the price BEFORE getting in
- 5Petit taxis: city only — INSIST on the meter, otherwise switch taxis
- 6Car rental: 250-400 MAD/day, international license recommended, beware of mountain roads
Language & communication
- 1Official languages: classical Arabic + Amazigh (Tamazight)
- 2Everyday language: Darija (Moroccan dialect, incomprehensible even to Middle Eastern Arabs)
- 3French: widely spoken, de facto second language — you’ll get by everywhere
- 4English: tourist areas only (Marrakech, Essaouira)
- 5Useful words: Salam (hello), Shukran (thank you), Bslama (goodbye), La (no), Iyeh (yes)
- 6Saying ‘Salam alaykoum’ with a smile opens every door
Clothing & dress code
- 1No legal dress code, but respecting traditions is appreciated
- 2In the medina: shoulders and knees covered (men and women)
- 3Mosques: off-limits to non-Muslims (except Hassan II in Casablanca)
- 4Hat / cap: essential — the Moroccan sun is brutal
- 5Comfortable shoes: medina cobblestones, desert trails, Atlas paths
- 6In riads and upscale restaurants: smart casual welcome