8 Things to Know Before Visiting Morocco

Morocco! It was never a place I’d thought much about, but since moving to Spain, it had been at the top of my bucket list. Not only is it super close geographically — and therefore, relatively inexpensive — but its cultural history has long been intertwined with Spain’s. I finally got the chance to visit! I highly recommend it, so here are a few things you should know before visiting Morocco.

1. Be aware of the laws and customs

This one is important when visiting any country for the first time — but especially a conservative country like Morocco that follows Islamic law. It’s illegal for non-married couples to live together or even rent a hotel room. However, this is only enforced for Muslims/Moroccan citizens. Public displays of affection are taboo, and homosexuality is illegal. You’re not allowed to fly drones for private use, and make sure not to criticize the king!

Also, be careful if you’re looking for “hashish” in small-town Chefchaouen — though popular, it’s still illegal.

2. You should dress respectfully when visiting Morocco

This is one of my most important travel tips for Morocco. Though there’s a good chance it will be hot — especially if you’re near the Sahara Desert — one part of adhering to the customs is making sure to dress appropriately. Women in particular should make sure their shoulders, knees, and chest are completely covered.

Not only is it respectful, but it will also help you from attracting any unwanted attention. You already stand out for not wearing a hijab. 🙂

3. Muslim dress varies

Related to this, you’ll see a lot of variety in what Muslim women choose to wear. Many Moroccan women wear the hijab along with long sleeves and long pants. Others wear a niqab or burqa. A niqab is a veil that covers a person’s entire face, leaving only a small opening for the eyes. A burqa covers the entire face and body, with only a small mesh window for the eyes.

At least 10 countries in Europe, including Spain, have a full or partial ban on burqas and niqabs in public places. England is one country without the ban, so when I was studying abroad in London I saw them a lot. But if you’ve never seen one before, it can be startling or even a little scary. Don’t worry, though; there’s no reason to be afraid!

4. You can’t go inside any mosques

Unfortunately, non-Muslims are not permitted to visit the inside of any mosques in Morocco. I was a little disappointed – I like visiting grand examples of architectures in the countries I visit. (And once you’ve seen a few European cathedrals, you’ve seen them all.) I was excited to see something different.

However, there is one exception. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca does allow non-Muslims to enter, but only with a tour group. So if you’re going to be in Casablanca, lucky you!

5. Don’t be alarmed by the adhan

The adhan is the daily call to prayer for Muslims, broadcast via megaphone from the mosques. It’s not a recording – there’s really a man standing up in the minarets doing the call in real-time! The adhan takes place five times a day – dawn, midday, late afternoon, after sunset, and between sunset and midnight.

The first time we heard it, we were far from any mosques, so it just sounded like a group of motorcycles passing in the distance. But if you’re up close, there’s no mistaking what it is. And yes, the one at dawn or before midnight might wake you up. Sorry bout it!

 

6. It’s a tipping country

It had been so long since I was in the U.S. that I totally forgot that tipping is a thing. You’re not expected to tip anywhere in Europe, so I didn’t think twice about it in Morocco until we Googled it. Turns out, Morocco is a tipping country. Oops. However, I don’t think it’s considered as rude if you don’t, like in U.S. You can just leave a couple dirham on the table after dinner, or round up your taxi rides a bit.

7. You’re expected to haggle

When buying anything from street vendors, it’s unlikely that the items will have a set price. That’s because you’re supposed to haggle! English may not be an official language, but vendors know how to sell. Be aware that they will probably start with a really high price because they realize you’re a tourist.

While there’s no obligation for you to pay the higher price — and you’re more than welcome to haggle — I’ve changed how I personally think about situations like this since my visit in 2019. In general, I feel that those who can afford to pay higher prices (likely, if you’re traveling there at all) should pay the higher prices on occasion. Five dollars probably is worth a lot less to you than to the vendor.

But on the other side of the coin, if vendors can charge Western tourists 3x as much for certain products, why would they want to sell to those in their local communities at all, at the lower price? It’s an ethical travel dilemma that I think the linked site lays out pretty well.

8. You can be cautiously trusting

That being said, not everyone in Morocco is trying to scam you or take advantage of you. I think a lot of travelers in Morocco go into it being overly paranoid, afraid to trust or talk to any locals. There’s a difference between being cautious and being suspicious.

If you refuse to engage with any Moroccans because you’re worried about being scammed, you’re missing out on the most integral part of any place in the world: the people! Don’t be afraid to plan a day trip with a tour guide or a grand taxi. Make friends over mint tea and taste some traditional Moroccan food. Try to relax a little bit if you can.

Though I travel alone a lot, I will admit I was glad to have Matt with me on this trip. It gave me more of a security blanket than I would have had on my own. (Plus, it was great to have someone to share the experience with, of course.)

Plan Your Morocco Trip

Best Hotels in Morocco: Morocco Hotels

Top Things To Do in Morocco: Hot Air Balloon Flight with Traditional Breakfast (Marrakech) // Sahara Desert Tour via Merzouga (Marrakech to Fez) // Private City Tour including Hassan II Mosque (Casablanca) // Blue City Day Trip by High-Speed Train (Casablanca to Chefchaouen)

 

Have you ever visited Morocco? What would you add to the list? Let me know in the comments!

-Cathy

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Originally Published on May 20, 2019.