Morocco is a country located in North Africa and bathed by both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and sharing border with Mauritania from the south and Algeria from the east .
It has a population of just under 33 million people and has Arabic and Berber as its official languages , French, Spanish and English are widely spoken among its people.
Barely 14 kilometers from the European continent, it is an especially interesting destination for those who want to experience a different culture; but this is far from being the only reason to push travelers year after year to visit (and re-visit) the country.
Morocco offers a range of possibilities to anyone who dares to enter it; Furthermore, its proud citizens have strived to preserve their identity and customs. If we add to this its heterogeneity, we find a country that provides endless experiences frozen in time.
You can tour its medinas while avoiding transportation with donkeys, sleep in the middle of the Sahara desert in a tent, or even transit through more advanced cities such as its capital, Rabat, while its continuous calls to prayer remind you that they will never lose what they identifies them.
In short, Morocco offers an endless number of opportunities that will make you wonder how it is possible that at such a short distance you can visit a world so different.
Among the coastal cities of Morocco, Asilah stands out. It is a beautiful coastal, located in the north of the country. With a history that dates back to the 16th century. It is a unique city in which a Portuguese fortress stands on the cliffs, or numerous white and blue houses, of a clear Moroccan style, dot each of its streets.
Chefchaouen is, without a doubt, one of the most chosen destinations in Morocco. When speaking of this urban center, it is impossible not to fall into the striking blue houses, so well known and photographed. Houses protected by the rough green and brown landscape of the Rif Mountains in northern Morocco. It is also a mixture of cultures, specifically Andalusian and Islamic architecture.
Another great recommendation when traveling to Morocco is Essaouira . It is undeniable that its good weather and endless sandy beaches are already a reason to travel there. However, it is not the only thing that stands out about this place.
Essaouira has an indisputable natural beauty, but it also has striking buildings, souks with enormous colors and a bustling port that tells us about its humblest past, its fishing past. Also, seeing the Purple Islands in the background is always a gift.
Fez is one of the largest and most bustling cities in Morocco. However, it still maintains the charm of a small city. It has more than outstanding places to visit, such as its two old medinas. One of them, Fes el Bali, has been declared a World Heritage Site, thanks to its complex architecture with alleys, souks and patios.
Monumental mosques, houses full of tiles and large squares. All this makes the city of Fez an excellent example of Islamic architecture.
This list could not miss Marrakech since it is one of the most popular cities for tourists. A destination much appreciated in recent years with more than enough reasons to continue being so.
From the bustling Jamaa el Fna square, the souk where you can buy anything, or palaces like those of the Bahia Palace. This place also has the Saadian Tombs and gardens at the height of the Majorelle Garden or the Menara Gardens. Marrakech has a lot of things to see without a doubt.
On the other hand, Rabat should also be highlighted . It is the current capital of Morocco, and although it is not the most touristic place in the country, we can say that it has a wonderful balance between ancient and modern city.
It will be necessary to visit the Hassan Tower, a minaret that was built by the Almohads that shows scandal views to tourists. In addition, you must also visit the medieval Kasbah of the Udayas. A very peculiar area full of alleys and houses painted in blue.
Morocco has a great geographical wealth , offering both rural and mountainous or desert landscapes. In addition, it has the privilege of being bathed by two different bodies of water, which means that, broadly speaking, we have to differentiate between four areas to define its climate:
The northern zone , between the Rif mountain range and the coast and with a Mediterranean climate , which translates into mild summers and cool, humid winters.
The center of the country, where temperatures increase considerably due to not being influenced by the coast, which is an advantage and a clear drawback: while winters enjoy more neutral temperatures, summers can be very hot, hovering around 38 degrees Celsius.
And if we go south the climate will become desert , with summer months exceeding 40 degrees but with more pleasant winters, although nights could get very cold.
Finally, the mountainous areas are characterized by their low temperatures , dropping from zero degrees in winter in the Rif and extending to half a year in the Atlas Mountains.
It’s recommended to drink water bottle and avoid tap water as often as possible. It is not a secret that the plumbing facilities in Morocco and its Medinas are not among the best in the world, so I recommend drinking bottled water if you do not want your visits to the bathroom to increase alarmingly. A 1 Liter water bottle cost 6 MAD and can be found at any grocery stores.
Even Alcahol is widely produce in Morocco, but it mostly aimed for exportation. It is not that it is impossible to get it in Morocco, but it is much more complicated than in a western country. Drinking is prohibited in Islam, so it is not usually offered in restaurants unless it has a special permission. Alcahol can be found in Carrefeur supermarket and few liquor stores in the downtowns.
Morocco's official currency is dirham , and the official exchange rate is usually 10.7 dirhams for every euro (more or less).
When you arrive you will have many places: money exchange offices in the port, at the airport, in the medinas, and sometimes you can even change at the hotels' own reception. In addition,most of the shops in the Medina accept you to pay in euros. However, most shops and riads have low conversion rate 10 Dirhams = 1 Euro.
If you are suspicious of haggling, but are planning to make a purchase, you should bear in mind that it is intrinsically linked to Moroccan culture and practically everything can (and should) be haggered. It is true that some stores set and label the price of the items, but that is not, by far, the norm.
Generally speaking, you should take it as a game and as part of the merchant's routine . And therefore you should not think that it is a tense situation, although sometimes it seems that they are angry at the price you offer, since it is an indispensable part of their game. Think that if they got angry every time someone insinuated a price to them that they consider unjust.
How to get around Morocco
The Moroccan national train company is the ONCF, and routes, schedules and prices are indicated on its website (in French, but easily understandable). It also allows you to book online
The train ralway does not cover all Morocco, it runs along the Atlantic Coast (from Tangier to El Jadida, passing through Asilh, Rabat, Casblanca, ...), connecting Fez with the North and Marrakech with Casablanca.
