馃惈 Morocco

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Costs

Prices here are about 42% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

Your passport determines the visa rules, so before booking, either use the official sites below or ask the nearest Moroccan embassy. Anyone who needs a visa should find out whether the official e-visa portal is open to them. A passport with at least 6 months of validity, accommodation details and proof of onward travel should be carried, since the officer may ask to see them. Staying beyond the permitted time brings a fine, even for travellers who entered without a visa.

Culture and practical - take note

Souk culture is lively in this Muslim country. Modest dress, with shoulders and knees covered, matters most outside big cities; most mosques are closed to non-Muslims, the exception being Hassan II in Casablanca. Expect to bargain: begin with an offer far under the asking price, and smile. Turn down unofficial 'guides' who come up to you in the medina, and rely on licensed guides. Offering mint tea is a sign of welcome. Ask for permission before taking photos of people. Eat with the right hand. The main day of prayer is Friday, and Ramadan alters the daily rhythm. Tourist hotels and licensed shops sell alcohol. Inside a hammam, do as the attendant says. Sahara tours should be booked through reputable operators, and nights in the desert are cold. Halal food is available everywhere. Leave a tip of about 10%.

Emergency

Police 19 (cities) or Gendarmerie 177 (countryside). Ambulance and fire 15.

Good to know

Dirham rules and cards

The Moroccan dirham cannot be exchanged outside Morocco, and Canadian advice says taking it out of the country is illegal. Unused dirhams can be converted at the airport on departure with proof of the original currency purchase. Cards are accepted at some city shops and restaurants and at major hotels, and card fraud and ATM theft occur.

Local laws and customs

Drugs, alcohol and public conduct

UK advice says illegal drugs, cannabis included, carry severe penalties, and that drinking alcohol anywhere other than a licensed restaurant or bar is illegal. It says sex between unmarried people is illegal for Moroccan nationals, while the rule on unmarried couples sharing a hotel room does not generally apply to visiting foreigners. Both UK and Canadian advice state that same-sex sexual relations are illegal. UK advice says photographing near sensitive political or military sites is illegal and drones need permission; Canadian advice says drones are prohibited and confiscated on entry.

Taxis and scams

Taxis and ride-sharing apps

Many taxis ordered through ride-sharing applications may be unregulated and unlicensed, UK travel advice warns. Their drivers may not be registered with the authorities, and the vehicles may not be insured to carry passengers. The advice also notes that petit taxi drivers will often collect other customers during the journey.

Card fraud and swapped goods

Credit card fraud and scams are common in Morocco, UK travel advice says, and it warns of scammers swapping inferior goods for the ones you bought. Canadian advice says credit and debit card fraud and thefts from ATMs happen frequently, and it lists scams among the petty crimes that occur.

Who can help

local government

Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT)

Helps with: Morocco's national tourism office, which runs the official tourism website. Visitors can write to its Rabat headquarters or use the contact form on the website.

Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Morocco or planning a trip there.

Address: Batiment 7, Avenue Omar Ibn Al Khatab, Arribat Center, Agdal, Rabat, Morocco

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

local government

National medical emergency number 141 (listed by ONMT)

Helps with: The Moroccan tourism office's website says to call the single national toll-free number 141 in a medical emergency.

Who qualifies: Anyone in Morocco, including visitors, in a medical emergency.

Phone: 141

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Morocco

Helps with: The UN migration agency, supporting Morocco's migration management since 2007. It works on protection of vulnerable people, safe and regular migration and legal pathways.

Who qualifies: Migrants and vulnerable people on the move. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Phone: +212 (0)5 37 65 28 81

Email: iomrabat@iom.int

Address: 11 rue Ait Ourir, Pinede, Souissi, Rabat, Morocco

Official website

Source 路 checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

Marrakech MarrakechThis red city has riad guesthouses and maze-like souks, Jemaa el-Fnaa square, and gardens that include Jardin Majorelle.Photo: Acp, CC BY-SA 3.0 Casablanca CasablancaArt Deco streets and the seaside Hassan II Mosque are found in the largest city, also the business hub.Photo: Chah.salah, CC0 Fes FesAl-Qarawiyyin, a centre of Islamic learning that dates back centuries, sits in a historic medina of narrow lanes with old leather tanneries.Photo: Bj酶rn Christian T酶rrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0 Agadir AgadirRelaxed holidays are the draw of this Atlantic beach resort, which has sunny weather, fresh seafood and a long sandy bay.Photo: Abdeaitali, CC BY-SA 4.0 Chefchaouen ChefchaouenSet among the Rif Mountains, this small town has blue-painted streets and a calm, photogenic old quarter.Photo: Badr Rachadi, CC BY-SA 4.0 Merzouga (Sahara) Merzouga (Sahara)This village on the edge of the Sahara, beside the Erg Chebbi dunes, is known for overnight desert camps and camel rides.Photo: bachmont, CC BY 2.0

City selection based on: Euromonitor Top 100 City Destinations (Marrakech listed), Moroccan press on arrivals, travel guides

Festivals and events

culture

Marrakech International Film Festival

around Nov-Dec 2026 路 Marrakech

Marrakech welcomes film stars.

culture

Fes Festival of World Sacred Music

around May-Jun 2027 路 Fes

Old palaces in Fes are the setting for spiritual music.

culture

Gnaoua World Music Festival

around Jun 2027 路 Essaouira

Concerts take place beside the sea, free to attend.

culture

Marrakech International Film Festival

around Nov-Dec 2027 路 Marrakech

Marrakech welcomes film stars.