Morocco Tourism - Travel to Morocco
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| Quick Facts | |
| Capital | Rabat |
| Government | constitutional monarchy |
| Currency | Moroccan dirham (MAD) |
| Area | total: 446,550 sq km land: 446,300 sq km water: 250 sq km |
| Population | 31,167,783 (July 2002 est.) |
| Language | Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy |
| Religion | Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2% |
Morocco is a North African country that has a coastline on both the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. It has borders with Western Sahara to the south, Algeria to the east and the Spanish North African territories of Ceuta and Melilla on the Mediterranean coast in the north. It is just across the Strait of Gibraltar from Gibraltar.
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Cities in Morocco
- Rabat - The capital of Morocco; highlights include a 12th-century tower and minaret.
- Casablanca - This modern city by the sea is a common starting point for visitors flying into the country. If you have the time, both the historical medina and the contemporary mosque (the second largest in the world) are well worth an afternoon.
- Marrakech - Marrakech is a perfect combination of old and new Morocco. Plan to spend at least a few days wandering the huge maze of souqs and ruins in the medina. The great plaza of Djeema El Fna at dusk is not to be missed.
- Fez - Fez is the former capital of Morocco and one of the oldest and largest medieval cities in the world.
- Essaouira - An ancient sea-side town newly (re)discovered by tourists, Essaouira is still worth a visit.
- Agadir - Agadir is all about the beach. The town is a nice example of modern Moroccan design, but not much in the way of history or culture.
- Ouarzazate - Considered the Capital of the South, Ouarzazate is a great example of preservation and tourism that hasn't destroyed the feel of a fantastic and ancient city.
- The Atlas Mountains - Visit the Atlas Mountains in summer for a day long hike or a week of trekking.
- Tangier - Tangier is the starting point for most visitors arriving by ferry from Spain.
- Chefchaouen - A mountain town just inland from Tangier full of white-washed winding alleys, blue doors, and olive trees, Chefchaouen is clean as a postcard and a welcome escape from Tangier.
Map of Morocco
Understand Morocco Tourism
Morocco's long struggle for independence from France ended in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier was turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature in 1997.
Morocco Talk
- Moroccan Arabic is a dialect of Maghreb Arabic, which is fairly similar to the form of Arabic traditionally spoken in the Middle East. However the language is influenced by Spanish in the north of the country, and French in the south.
- Despite having freed itself from colonial rule, French is still widely understood in Morocco, and it is the most useful non-Arabic language to know.
- Although English is often spoken in tourist centres, it is often by touts and faux guides intent on making your life hell.
- Berber is also spoken by Morocco's Berber population in the north and centre of the country.
Buy
The local currency are Moroccan dirham.
ATMS can be found near tourist hotels and in the modern shopping districts. Make sure that the ATM accepts foreign cards (look for the Maestro, Cirrus or Plus logos) before you put your card in. Don't expect to see many banks in the souqs or medinas, but plenty of "helpful" people will exchange dollars or euros for dirhams. Traveller's checks are also a good idea. Try to have as much small change as possible and keep larger bills hidden separately.
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Stay safe - Morocco Tourism
All the usual common-sense travel safety applies:- Avoid dark alleys
- Travel in a group whenever possible
- Keep money and passports in a safety wallet or in a hotel safety deposit box
- Keep backpacks and purses with you at all times. Make sure there is nothing important in outside or back pockets.
Women will experience almost constant harassment if alone, but this is usually just cat-calls and (disturbingly) hisses. Don't feel the need to be polite-- no Moroccan woman would put up with behavior like that. Dark sunglasses make it easier to avoid eye contact. If someone won't leave you alone, look for families, a busy shop, or a local woman and don't be afraid to ask for help.
Stay Healthy While You Travel to Morocco
- Inoculations No particular inoculations are needed for Morocco, but you may want to make sure your tetanus and hepatitis inoculations are up to date.
- Food and Drink Avoid uncooked fruits and vegetable that you can not peel. Avoid any food that is not prepared when you order it (i.e. buffets, etc). Usually fried and boiled foods are safe. It is advisable to drink bottled water, and be wary of ice or cordials that may be made with tap water.
- Shoes Keep sandals/tevas etc on the beach. Moroccan streets double as garbage disposal areas and you do not want to wade though fish heads and chicken parts with open-toe shoes.
Respect
- Clothing Avoid skimpy clothing off the beach. Locals do not want to see your knees and armpits any more than you want to see someone in thong underwear walking around your neighborhood. Long sleeves and loose pants or a long skirt will be more comfortable in the heat anyway.
- Greeting After shaking hands, touch your right hand to your heart as a sign of respect.
- Left Hands Avoid doing anything with your left hand, even if you are left-handed. Offering money with the left hand is especially insulting. In Arabic cultures the left hand may be used to handle bodily excretions and is thus considered unclean.
Contact
Public telephones can be found in city centres, but private telephone offices are also commonly used, especially for international calls. Internet cafes are common in large cities and tourist areas. Rates are about 6 - 10 dirhams per hour and they are often located next to, above, or below the telephone offices.
External Links for Morocco Tourism
