Morocco Travel Guide

Morocco rewards travelers who choose a few places well rather than many in a hurry. Marrakesh and Fez give you two very different historic medinas, Casablanca the Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic, Chefchaouen a blue mountain town in the Rif, and Ait Ben Haddou the earthen architecture of the south. With a week, pick two or three; with 10 days or more, you can add the Sahara.

Morocco sits at the northwest corner of Africa, facing both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, with the Atlas Mountains running through its center and the Sahara to the southeast. That geography gives the country its variety: imperial cities on the plains, villages in the mountains, oases and dunes in the south.

This guide explains what sets each major destination apart, how to combine them into a realistic route, and the practical details that help a first visit run smoothly. It also works if you are pairing Morocco with Egypt on a longer North Africa trip.

Marrakesh: the medina, the square and the palaces

Marrakesh is among the most visited cities in Morocco and an easy first stop, with many direct flights from Europe and a strong choice of riads, traditional courtyard houses converted into small hotels.

What to see

• Jemaa el-Fnaa. The main square changes through the day, from juice stalls and snake charmers in the morning to food stalls, musicians and storytellers at night. It is best experienced in the early evening from street level, then from a rooftop café.
• The medina and souks. Lanes of leatherwork, metal lamps, textiles and spices run north from the square. Treat it as a living neighborhood, not only a market.
• Bahia Palace. A 19th-century palace of painted ceilings, carved stucco and tiled courtyards.
• Koutoubia Mosque. Its minaret is the city's landmark; the interior is for worshippers, but the exterior and gardens are easy to see.
• Ben Youssef Madrasa. A former religious school with some of the finest tile and cedar work in the city.
• Jardin Majorelle. A garden with a cobalt-blue villa, best visited early to avoid lines.

How long

Two to three days gives you the medina, the main monuments and time to sit in a courtyard and slow down. Many travelers also use Marrakesh as a base for a day trip into the High Atlas.

Fez: the historic city of crafts and learning

If Marrakesh is lively and open, Fez feels older and more enclosed. Its medina, Fez el-Bali, is a vast car-free maze of lanes and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

What to see

• Bab Bou Jeloud. The blue-tiled gate that most visitors use to enter the old city.
• Al-Qarawiyyin. Founded in the 9th century and associated with one of the world's oldest continuously operating centers of learning. Non-Muslims generally view it from the doorways.
• Bou Inania Madrasa. A beautifully decorated religious school.
• The tanneries. The Chouara tannery, seen from terraces above, shows leather being dyed in stone vats as it has been for centuries. Expect a strong smell; some shops hand out mint to help.
• Craft quarters. Metalworkers, weavers and woodworkers still work in their own lanes.

Why a guide helps

The medina's lanes are hard to navigate, and a licensed local guide for at least the first half day makes it far easier to understand how the neighborhoods, workshops and religious buildings fit together. Two days is a good stay.

Casablanca and Rabat: the Atlantic coast

Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and its business center, and for most visitors the main reason to stop is the Hassan II Mosque, built partly over the ocean with a very tall minaret. It is one of the few mosques in Morocco where non-Muslims have generally been able to visit the interior on guided tours; check current arrangements and dress modestly.

Rabat, the capital, is an hour or so up the coast and is calmer and greener. Its highlights include the Kasbah of the Udayas above the river mouth, the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. If you fly into Casablanca, a night in either city makes a gentle start before heading to Fez or Marrakesh.

Chefchaouen: the blue town in the Rif

Chefchaouen sits in the Rif Mountains in the north, and its medina lanes are washed in shades of blue. It is a slower place than the big cities: the pleasure is wandering, sitting in the main square near the old kasbah, and walking up to the small mosque on the hillside for the view at sunset.

It is a fair drive from Fez, so it fits best on a northern route between Fez and Tangier or as an overnight from Fez. Remember that people live in these houses; photograph doorways and streets respectfully and do not step into private homes.

Ait Ben Haddou and the south

South of the High Atlas, the landscape turns to rock, oases and kasbahs built of earth.

Ait Ben Haddou

This fortified village, a ksar, rises up a hillside above a river and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its earthen buildings belong to a building tradition suited to the dry climate, and its appearance has made it a popular film location. Cross the river, climb to the granary at the top, and look back at the layers of walls and towers.

Ouarzazate and the High Atlas crossing

Most travelers reach Ait Ben Haddou from Marrakesh over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, a dramatic mountain road. Ouarzazate, nearby, is the usual overnight base.

The Sahara

The dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga are the classic desert experience, usually reached over two days from Marrakesh with a night in a desert camp. It is a long journey, so include it only if you have at least 10 days in total.

How to plan a Morocco itinerary

Start with the experiences you value most, then choose places that complement each other and leave enough time to enjoy them.

Questions to ask before booking

• Which monuments are included, and which are seen only from outside?
• Are entrance tickets and local guides included or arranged separately?
• Which neighborhoods will you explore on foot, and with whom?
• How many hours of driving are there on each travel day?
• How many nights are planned in each city?

Clear answers help you compare proposals and avoid a route that looks good on paper but feels rushed.

Practical information

When to go

Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons. Summer is very hot inland and in the desert, while winter brings cold nights in the mountains and the Sahara, and snow on the high passes at times.

Culture and etiquette

Morocco is a Muslim country. Dress modestly in medinas and villages, ask before photographing people, and expect some services to change hours during Ramadan, which moves earlier each year with the lunar calendar. Arabic and Amazigh (Berber) are official languages, and French is widely spoken.

Money and shopping

The currency is the Moroccan dirham. Cash is useful in medinas, while cards work in most hotels and larger shops. Bargaining is normal in the souks; decide what an item is worth to you and keep it friendly.

Entry requirements

Rules depend on your nationality and change from time to time, so check the official government guidance and your own foreign ministry's travel advice before you book.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Morocco?

A week covers two or three destinations well, such as Marrakesh with Ait Ben Haddou, or Fez with Chefchaouen. 10 to 14 days lets you add the imperial cities and a night in the Sahara without rushing.

Should I visit Marrakesh or Fez?

Choose Marrakesh for energy, palaces, gardens and easy access to the mountains. Choose Fez for crafts, learning and a deeper historic medina; include both if your route allows.

Is Chefchaouen worth visiting beyond its blue streets?

Yes. Its Rif Mountain setting, slower pace and easy walks give it a character of its own. Plan at least one night to enjoy it once day visitors leave.

Can non-Muslims visit the Hassan II Mosque?

The mosque has generally offered guided interior tours to visitors outside prayer times. Check current arrangements before making it a fixed part of your plans, and dress modestly.

Is Ait Ben Haddou another medina?

No. It is a fortified earthen village in the south, quite different from the urban medinas of Fez and Marrakesh. It is usually visited on a route over the High Atlas via Ouarzazate.

Can I combine Morocco with Egypt?

Yes, the two pair well on a longer North Africa trip, usually with a flight between Cairo and Casablanca or Marrakesh. Allow at least a week for each country.

Plan it with Nourbelle

Tell us which Moroccan places appeal to you, and whether you want to combine them with Egypt, and we will suggest a route with clear stops and pacing. Plan your trip or browse Egypt tours.