North Africa
Medinas older than most European cities, a blue mountain town, Sahara dunes at sunrise and a kasbah road across the Atlas — all within a day's drive of each other.
Photo: Thomas Fuhrmann · CC BY-SA 4.0
Morocco sits at the north-western corner of Africa, 14 km from Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar, with coasts on both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, the Rif and Atlas mountains running through its middle and the Sahara to the south-east. It has been ruled by a succession of Berber and Arab dynasties, never became part of the Ottoman Empire, and is governed today by the Alaouite dynasty, which has reigned since the 17th century.
The result is a country with several distinct identities: the imperial cities of Fes, Marrakech, Meknes and Rabat, with their medinas, madrasas and palaces; the Amazigh (Berber) culture of the mountains and desert, with its kasbahs and carpets; the blue-and-white towns of the north and the Atlantic coast, influenced by Andalusian and Portuguese builders; and the modern coastal cities of Casablanca and Rabat.
It is also one of the easiest countries in Africa to travel in, with an excellent train line along the coast, good roads to the south, guesthouses called riads in almost every medina and a long tradition of welcoming visitors. Morocco's tourism has grown quickly, and touts and hard selling in the big medinas are a fact of life, but with a little patience and a firm smile, travelling here is a pleasure.
Where to go
Ordered roughly by how strongly we would recommend each for a first visit. Marrakech and Fes are the two great medinas; the desert, the Atlas and the kasbah road take several days of driving, and the coast is easy to add.
Marrakech-Safi, central Morocco
The most visited city in Morocco: a walled medina of souks, madrasas and palaces, the great square of Jemaa el-Fnaa, the Majorelle Garden and a hundred riads.
Don't miss Jemaa el-Fnaa at dusk, when the storytellers, musicians and food stalls take over the square.
Explore Destination — MarrakechFès-Meknès, northern Morocco
Morocco's spiritual and cultural capital: a 9th-century medina of thousands of lanes, the world's oldest surviving university, ornate madrasas and traditional crafts.
Don't miss A guided walk through Fes el-Bali, ending on a terrace above the tanneries.
Explore Destination — FesTanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma, Rif Mountains
The famous 'blue pearl' of Morocco: a hillside medina of blue-washed walls and stairways, a lively square, a spring-fed river and trails into the Rif.
Don't miss The blue lanes of the old medina at first light, before the tour groups arrive.
Explore Destination — ChefchaouenDrâa-Tafilalet, south-east Morocco
The gateway to Erg Chebbi, Morocco's biggest sand sea: camel treks, desert camps, Gnawa music and starry skies at the far end of the country.
Don't miss Watching the sunrise from the top of the highest dune at Erg Chebbi.
Explore Destination — Merzouga and the SaharaMarrakech-Safi, Atlantic coast
A whitewashed fortress town on the Atlantic, with a UNESCO-listed medina, a working port, long beaches and a relaxed, breezy atmosphere.
Don't miss Grilled fish straight from the boats at the harbour stalls, with gulls wheeling above the blue fishing fleet.
Explore Destination — EssaouiraDrâa-Tafilalet, southern Morocco
A UNESCO-listed earthen ksar, the film studios of Ouarzazate and the road of a thousand kasbahs, on the southern side of the High Atlas.
Don't miss Watching the sun set on the ksar of Aït Benhaddou from the far side of the river.
Explore Destination — Aït Benhaddou and OuarzazateCasablanca-Settat, Atlantic coast
A modern port city with a monumental oceanfront mosque, French colonial Art Deco streets, a small old medina, seafood and a lively café and arts scene.
Don't miss The Hassan II Mosque at the edge of the Atlantic, its minaret rising above the waves.
Explore Destination — CasablancaRabat-Salé-Kénitra, Atlantic coast
Morocco's capital: a UNESCO-listed city with the Hassan Tower, the Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Chellah ruins and a relaxed medina.
Don't miss The Kasbah of the Udayas, with its blue-and-white lanes and Andalusian garden above the Bouregreg river.
Explore Destination — RabatMarrakech-Safi, High Atlas Mountains
A village base for walks in the Toubkal National Park, with valley treks between Amazigh villages, mule paths and the two-day ascent of Jebel Toubkal (4,167 m).
Don't miss The first view of the snow-capped Toubkal massif from the trail above Imlil.
Explore Destination — The High Atlas and ImlilFès-Meknès, northern Morocco
A UNESCO-listed imperial city built by Sultan Moulay Ismail, with vast gates and granaries, plus the Roman site of Volubilis and the holy town of Moulay Idriss nearby.
Don't miss The mosaics of Volubilis, still in place, with the Roman arch and the Zerhoun hills behind.
Explore Destination — Meknes and VolubilisExperiences
The experiences that recur across the country and that make a Moroccan trip feel like one.
The walled old cities of Fes and Marrakech are labyrinths of covered lanes, workshops, mosques and fountains, largely without cars. Getting a little lost is half the point. See Fes and Marrakech.
Tip Hire a licensed guide for the first morning, then explore alone. Walk away from persistent touts politely.
A riad is a traditional house built around a courtyard garden, often with a fountain and a roof terrace, and many have been converted into small guesthouses. It is the best way to experience a medina's calm behind its walls.
Tip Ask your riad to arrange airport pick-up, since medina lanes are impossible to find with a taxi.
A camel trek to a tented camp among the dunes of Erg Chebbi, with a night under the stars and a sunrise over the sand, is one of Morocco's classic experiences. See Merzouga.
Tip Choose a camp with private tents and check the sleeping conditions in winter, when it is cold at night.
The road from Marrakech over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Aït Benhaddou, Ouarzazate and the Dadès and Todra gorges passes mud-brick kasbahs, palm groves and film sets. See Aït Benhaddou.
Tip Allow a full day for the pass and stops, and start early.
Sweet mint tea is served on arrival and at every stage of a sale, and a friendly negotiation is expected in the souks. The tea is a courtesy, not a commitment.
Tip Start at about half the first price and settle around 60–70%, smiling throughout.
North Africa's highest peak, Jebel Toubkal (4,167 m), is a two-day climb from the village of Imlil, and gentler valley walks pass Amazigh villages. See Imlil and Toubkal.
Tip Winter needs crampons and an ice axe, and a guide.
Food and drink
Moroccan cooking blends Amazigh, Arab, Andalusian, Jewish and French traditions, using spices such as cumin, saffron, cinnamon and ras el hanout, with preserved lemons, olives, dried fruit and slow-cooked meat.
Steamed semolina served with a stew of meat and vegetables. Traditionally it is the Friday lunch after the midday prayer, and many restaurants serve it only on Fridays.
Where to try it Family restaurants on Fridays, across the country.
A pie of paper-thin warqa pastry filled with pigeon or chicken, almonds and eggs, dusted with sugar and cinnamon. The mix of sweet and savoury is a Fassi speciality.
Where to try it Upscale restaurants and riads in Fes.
A thick soup of tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas and herbs, eaten across the country and especially to break the fast during Ramadan, with dates.
Where to try it Street stalls and cafés, at any time of day.
Almond-filled gazelle horns, honey-soaked chebakia and briouat pastries, sold in bakeries and eaten with mint tea.
Where to try it Pastry shops in every medina.
Before you go
The essentials, current for 2026. Morocco is straightforward to travel in, though touts, haggling and the desert distances take some getting used to.
Excludes international flights. Figures are typical rather than absolute — cities and peak season run higher.
When to go
Morocco's climate varies enormously by region. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for most of the country. Summer is very hot inland, and winter is cold at night in the mountains and the desert, and wet on the coast.
Warm, clear days, green countryside and snow still on the Atlas. The best time for the imperial cities and the mountains.
Very hot inland — Marrakech and the south often exceed 40°C and the Sahara is extreme. The Atlantic coast, Essaouira and the mountains are more comfortable.
Warm days, cooler nights and fewer crowds. Excellent for the desert from October.
Mild by day in Marrakech and the south but very cold at night in the desert and the Atlas, with snow on the peaks. Rain and cold in Fes and the north.
Worth planning around: July and August in the interior and the desert. Ramadan changes opening hours, and restaurants outside tourist areas may close by day, though it is a fascinating time to be in the country. The dates shift by about 11 days each year.
Trip length
Morocco is more than 1,500 km from Tangier to the Sahara, and the road to the desert and back is long. A week covers Marrakech, the kasbah road and either the desert or the coast; two weeks allows the imperial cities and the north as well.
Getting around
Morocco has a modern train network on the coast, comfortable buses to most places, shared grand taxis for local hops, and a road network that makes a hire car or driver the best way to reach the desert and the mountains.
Sample route
Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Chefchaouen, the Sahara, the kasbah road, Marrakech and Essaouira, by train and driver. Covers nine of the ten destinations in this guide.
Culture
Morocco is a Muslim country with a strong tradition of hospitality and a relatively liberal, cosmopolitan outlook in the big cities. Family and religion are central, and conservative dress and behaviour are appreciated, particularly outside the main tourist areas.
Shoulders and knees should be covered, and women may feel more comfortable with loose clothes. In tourist areas, beachwear is fine at the beach or pool only.
Tea is offered as a welcome, and accepting is polite. You are not obliged to buy anything after drinking it.
Eat and pass things with the right hand, and wait for the host to begin when eating from a shared dish.
Haggling is part of shopping in souks. Agree on a price before you take something, and do not begin bargaining if you do not intend to buy.
Ask before photographing people, and expect to be asked for a tip. Do not photograph police, military or royal buildings.
Avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during Ramadan daylight hours in non-tourist areas. Do not criticise the monarchy or Islam, both of which are protected by law.
Travel tips
The things that most often catch visitors out in Morocco, several of which are specific to how the country works.
FAQ
Yes, for most visitors. Millions visit each year without problems. Expect touts, hard selling and petty theft in crowded medinas, and women travelling alone may face unwanted attention. Use licensed guides and taxis with meters, and check your government's advice.
Ten to fourteen for a first trip. A week covers Marrakech and one region, but the desert and the imperial cities are far apart.
March to May and September to November. Summer is very hot inland, and winter is cold at night in the mountains and the desert.
Many nationalities can enter without a visa for up to 90 days. Check the official Moroccan government site for your passport.
A traditional Moroccan house built around a central courtyard, often with a garden and fountain, now commonly used as a small guesthouse in the medinas.
It is safest to drink bottled water. Avoid ice in cheap places, and eat at busy restaurants.
For the desert and the Atlas, a driver is easier and safer. For the coast and the imperial cities, trains and buses are excellent.
The full travel guide covers routes, budgets, regional differences and how to string these ten destinations into a trip that actually works.
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