10 Essential Facts About Morocco Every Traveller Should Know Before They Go

Morocco is linguistically one of the most complex countries on earth, and understanding this before you arrive prevents considerable confusion. The official languages are Modern Standard Arabic and Amazigh (Berber/Tamazight), both taught in schools. But the language most Moroccans speak daily is Darija — a Moroccan Arabic dialect significantly different from Egyptian or Gulf Arabic, incorporating Berber vocabulary, French terms, and Spanish words in the north. French is the language of government, business, and higher education, and is widely spoken in cities. In the medinas of Fez and Marrakech you will be greeted in a remarkable sequence of languages as shopkeepers try to identify yours. The most useful words: "shukran" (Arabic for thank you), "la shokran" (no thank you), "bsalama" (goodbye). "Merci" works fine everywhere.

The Moroccan dirham (MAD) is a non-convertible currency, meaning you cannot buy it outside Morocco and cannot exchange it back to your home currency at most non-Moroccan banks after your trip. Change money at the airport on arrival (rates are reasonable) or withdraw from ATMs, which are plentiful in all cities and work reliably with Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro. In rural areas, small towns, and desert villages, ATMs are absent or unreliable; carry sufficient cash when leaving the main cities. The general rule: budget accommodation, street food, and local cafes are cash-only; hotels, upscale restaurants, and established craft shops increasingly accept cards. Keep small denomination notes (10 and 20 MAD) for tips, taxis, and market purchases.

Morocco is a Muslim-majority country where approximately 99% of the population identifies as Muslim. This shapes the rhythm of daily life in ways that directly affect travel planning. The five daily prayers produce a natural cadence — a quieting of commerce and traffic around prayer times, particularly the Friday midday prayer when many businesses close for an hour. Ramadan, the month of fasting, typically falls in spring or early summer (dates shift each year with the lunar calendar) and transforms the travel experience substantially: restaurants close during daylight hours (most riads serve breakfast in private), the atmosphere after iftar (the sunset breaking of the fast) is extraordinary — joyful, generous, communal. Travelling during Ramadan requires flexible food planning but rewards with an intimacy with Moroccan social life that no other time offers.

Dress codes in Morocco are more nuanced than the blanket "cover up" advice suggests. In medinas, religious sites, and rural communities, covering shoulders and knees is a genuine sign of respect — not just a rule, but a courtesy that Moroccan hosts notice and appreciate. In beach resorts like Agadir or Essaouira, Western swimwear is completely normal and expected. In cities like Casablanca and Rabat, modern Moroccan urban dress is varied: jeans, T-shirts, and headscarves coexist without tension. The simplest approach: carry a lightweight scarf or shawl in your bag and use your judgment about context. Women who dress with basic modesty in medinas report significantly fewer unwanted interactions; this is an empirical observation rather than an endorsement of the underlying dynamic.

Bargaining in Moroccan souks is a cultural institution rather than an inconvenience, and approaching it as such makes the experience genuinely enjoyable. The initial quoted price for a carpet, leather bag, or ceramic piece is typically two to three times the price the seller expects to receive; beginning your counter-offer at roughly one-third of the asking price and negotiating toward the middle is the standard pattern. The key is to remain pleasant throughout — aggressive bargaining is considered rude, as is making an offer and then walking away if it is accepted (which is treated as a serious breach of faith). Bargaining does not apply in restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, or any shop with fixed price tags. At these places, pay what is on the label.

Morocco's intercity transport network is better than most first-time visitors expect. The ONCF rail network connects Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Fez, Tangier, and Marrakech with comfortable, punctual trains — the Casablanca to Marrakech high-speed train (Al Boraq) covers 320 kilometres in two hours and fifteen minutes. CTM buses cover destinations the train does not reach, including Ouarzazate, Agadir, and Essaouira, with reserved seats, air conditioning, and reliable schedules. Grand taxis — shared long-distance taxis that fill with six passengers before departing — connect smaller towns and offer flexibility that buses cannot. Within cities, petit taxis (colour-coded by city) are metered; always insist the driver uses the meter, or agree a price before departure.

Morocco is consistently ranked among the safest countries in Africa and the Middle East, and the overwhelming majority of visitors experience no crime beyond minor inconvenience. The specific risks worth knowing about: in the medinas of Fez and Marrakech, unofficial "guides" who approach tourists unprompted and offer to show them around typically lead to carpet shops or leather stores where they earn commission; politely decline and hire licensed guides through your riad or the official Bureau des Guides. Petty theft from bags occurs in crowded areas — use a money belt or leave valuables in your riad safe. The approach road to some tourist sites has touts who can be persistent; a firm "la shokran" (no thank you) repeated without engagement is the effective response.

Tipping in Morocco follows conventions worth knowing before you arrive so that you tip appropriately rather than either undertipping (which is noticed) or overtipping (which distorts local expectations). In restaurants, 10% of the bill is standard and appreciated; in local cafes, rounding up to the nearest 5 MAD is sufficient. Licensed guides expect 100-200 MAD per person per day for city tours; private drivers 50-100 MAD per day. Museum attendants who show you around unofficial areas typically expect 20-50 MAD. Hotel staff who carry bags or provide extra service, 20-30 MAD. None of these are mandatory obligations in the legal sense, but in a country where average monthly wages in the tourism sector run to 3,000-5,000 MAD, they represent a meaningful contribution. Morocco gives generously to its visitors — in hospitality, in beauty, in patience with the bewildered tourist standing in the wrong alley. Tipping well is one small way to give something back.