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    • Why go
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    • Explore regions
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    • Best time to visit
    • Travel advice
    Morocco
    Thomas Fuhrmann / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Travel Guide Morocco

    Morocco links the medinas of old imperial cities with the High Atlas, southern kasbahs and oases, and the Sahara dunes.

    by Felix Gillen

    Contents

    • Why go
    • Highlights
    • Explore regions
    • Round trips
    • Local food
    • Good to know
    • Best time to visit
    • Travel advice

    Why Go To Morocco?

    Morocco combines incredibly diverse landscapes and cultures in one trip: the winding medinas of Fès and Marrakech, the peaks of the High Atlas with the 4,167-meter-high Toubkal, and the kasbahs and dunes in the south. Nine sites in the country are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Additionally, there's the Atlantic coast with Essaouira and the surf beaches around Taghazout, as well as a cuisine that goes far beyond tagine and couscous.

    Where in Morocco?

    Pick a region. The highlights, road trips and places below follow your choice.

    Marrakech
    yeowatzup / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
    Highlight 1 of 8

    Marrakech

    Marrakech, nestled at the foot of the High Atlas, will be Morocco’s top destination in 2025, expecting over ten million passengers.

    Discover
    Imlil & Toubkal
    Mounir Neddi / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
    Highlight 2 of 8

    Imlil & Toubkal

    Imlil is located at around 1,800 metres in the High Atlas, approximately 65 kilometres south of Marrakech, and serves as the starting point for climbing Toubkal.

    Discover
    Aït-Ben-Haddou
    Highlight 3 of 8

    Aït-Ben-Haddou

    The Ksar Aït-Ben-Haddou is a fortified mud-brick settlement in the Ounila Valley on the old caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. Since 1987, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    Discover
    Merzouga & Erg Chebbi
    Thomas Fuhrmann / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
    Highlight 4 of 8

    Merzouga & Erg Chebbi

    At Merzouga in southeastern Morocco, the Erg Chebbi rises, a roughly 28-kilometer-long dune sea with dunes about 150 meters high. Many travelers come for a camel ride into the dunes and a night in a desert camp.

    Discover
    Fez
    Petar Milošević / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
    Highlight 5 of 8

    Fez

    Fès is the oldest of Morocco's imperial cities and is considered the spiritual heart of the country.

    Discover
    Highlight 6 of 8

    Chefchaouen, located in the Rif Mountains, is known for its blue-washed houses and medina alleys. Founded in 1471 as a fortress, the city today has about 46,000 residents.

    Discover
    Casablanca
    Highlight 7 of 8

    Casablanca

    Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and economic hub, with its airport being the country's busiest. Its landmark is the Hassan II Mosque, whose 210-meter-high minaret stands directly on the Atlantic.

    Discover
    Essaouira
    Highlight 8 of 8

    Essaouira

    Essaouira is a fortified port city on the Atlantic coast west of Marrakesh. Sultan Mohammed III.

    Discover

    More highlights in Morocco

    Unique experiences that make Morocco unforgettable.

    Todra Canyon

    Todra Canyon

    The Todra Gorge is located about 15 kilometers north of Tinghir, where the Todgha River has carved its way through the rock. For the final 600 meters, the gorge narrows to approximately ten meters, with walls soaring up to 160 meters high. The cliffs are a popular climbing area.
    Volubilis & Moulay Idriss

    Volubilis & Moulay Idriss

    The Roman city of Volubilis is located approximately 30 kilometers north of Meknès at the foot of the Zerhoun Massif and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. A few kilometers away is the pilgrimage site of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, home to the tomb of Idris I., the founder of Morocco's first Islamic dynasty.
    Tangier

    Tangier

    Tangier is situated on the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean and Atlantic converge, and for many travelers from Spain, it is the gateway to Morocco. From 1923 to 1956, the city was an international zone, attracting writers and artists. Today, the Al Boraq connects Tangier with Casablanca in just over two hours.
    Rabat

    Rabat

    Rabat is the capital of Morocco, home to the King and government. The city lies at the mouth of the Bouregreg into the Atlantic and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 2012 as an ensemble of a modern capital and historic city. Hassan Tower, Chellah, and the Kasbah of the Oudayas are close by.

    How to plan your trip to Morocco

    From the guide to the road: here is what comes next.

    1. 1
      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
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      Round trip

      12 days · 4 stops

      Saved

      Pick a route

      Pick a ready-made one or save places and plan your own.

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    2. 2

      Trip to Morocco

      Live
      • 1Marrakech3 days
      • 2Imlil & Toubkal4 days
      • 3Aït-Ben-Haddou5 days
      Budget

      Plan your trip

      The planner sorts stops, days and budget. Plan together in real time.

      Go to My Trips
    3. 3
      9:41 No signal
      Morocco
      Available offline

      Use it on the road

      Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.

    Regions to Discover

    Explore the diverse regions of Morocco.

    Tangier & the North

    Tangier & the North

    Northern Morocco looks out over the Strait of Gibraltar towards Europe. Tangier is the terminus of the high-speed train Al Boraq, in the Rif Mountains lies the blue-washed mountain town of Chefchaouen, along with the Medina of Tétouan and the coastal town of Asilah.
    South: Kasbahs & Desert

    South: Kasbahs & Desert

    South of the High Atlas begins the land of mud-brick kasbahs and oases: the Ksar Aït-Ben-Haddou, the film city Ouarzazate, the gorges of Dadès and Todra and at the end the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga.
    Marrakech & The High Atlas

    Marrakech & The High Atlas

    Marrakesh is often the gateway to Morocco: The Medina has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985. South of the city, the High Atlas rises to 4,167m at Toubkal, with valleys like Ourika Valley and mountain villages like Imlil.
    Rabat & Atlantic Coast

    Rabat & Atlantic Coast

    On the northern Atlantic coast are the capital Rabat, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2012, and Casablanca, the country's largest city, home to the Hassan II Mosque. Further south lies El Jadida, featuring the Portuguese fortress city of Mazagan.
    Fès & Meknes

    Fès & Meknes

    The two Imperial Cities in the north of the country are only about 60 kilometres apart. The Medina of Fès has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1981, the Old Town of Meknès since 1996, and between them lie the Roman ruins of Volubilis.
    Essaouira & Souss

    Essaouira & Souss

    The southern Atlantic extends from the port city Essaouira, whose medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001, to the seaside resort Agadir and the surf beaches around Taghazout. Inland lies the walled city Taroudant in the Souss Plain.

    Recommended Itineraries

    Discover the best routes through Morocco.

    Royal Cities and Sahara

    Royal Cities and Sahara

    Two weeks from Marrakech over the High Atlas to the kasbahs and dunes in the south and on to Fès, Chefchaouen and Tangier.

    15 Days
    Open jaw
    Stops at a glance
    1. 1.Marrakech
    2. 2.Aït-Ben-Haddou
    3. 3.Gorge of Dadès
    4. 4.Merzouga & Erg Chebbi
    5. 5.Fez
    6. 6.Chefchaouen
    7. 7.Tangier
    View Route Details →
    Atlas and Atlantic

    Atlas and Atlantic

    Ten days from Marrakech into the High Atlas Mountains and to the Atlantic coast to Essaouira and Taghazout.

    11 Days
    5 stops

    What you eat in Morocco

    Tajine

    Braised dish, clay pot style

    Tajine refers to both the flat earthenware pot with a conical lid and the dish that slowly stews inside it. A classic is chicken with preserved lemon and olives.

    Couscous

    Steamed durum wheat semolina

    Many families traditionally eat couscous on Friday after the midday prayer, together from a large bowl with vegetables and meat. Knowledge and practices surrounding couscous have been on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2020, jointly inscribed for Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Mauritania.

    Pastilla

    Pie from Warka dough

    Pastilla is made of paper-thin layers of Warka pastry, filled with chicken, almonds, and cinnamon, and dusted with powdered sugar. It also comes with fish and seafood.

    Harira

    Soup of Lentils and Chickpeas

    The hearty soup with tomatoes, lentils, and chickpeas is a Ramadan evening Iftar staple. It's often served with dates and pastries.

    Tanjia

    Marrakech Braised Stew

    Tanjia is Marrakech's specialty: meat with preserved lemon and spices slow-cooks for many hours in a bulbous clay pot, in the embers of hammam ovens.

    Msemen

    Multi-layered flatbread

    Msemen is a square, flaky layered flatbread cooked in a pan. For breakfast, it's served with honey or jam, and at street stalls, it's also filled.

    Good to Know

    Essential info for your trip planning.

    Land & People

    Population and LanguagesIn the 2024 census, Morocco counted approximately 36.

    History & Society

    Dynasties and Imperial CitiesAt the end of the 8th century, Idris I founded the first Islamic dynasty on Moroccan soil.

    Food & Drink

    The ClassicsTajine refers to both the conical-lidded clay pot and the stewed dish, for example, chicken with preserved…

    Practical Info

    For current and authoritative information on entry, safety and health, see the UK Foreign, Commonwealth &…

    Getting Around

    Trains and Intercity BusesThe state railway ONCF operates Africa's first high-speed train, the Al Boraq.

    RV Travel

    Arriving by RVMost RV travelers take the ferry from Algeciras to Tanger Med or from Tarifa to Tanger Ville.

    Traveling with Kids

    Family-Friendly CountryChildren are usually very warmly welcomed in Morocco, in restaurants, riads, and on the street.

    Best Time to Visit

    When is the best time for your trip?

    March
    April
    May
    September
    October
    November
    17–26°C·11–35 mm(little rain)
    For a tour of the Imperial Cities, Atlas, and desert, March to May and September to November are most pleasant. In July and August, daily high temperatures in Marrakech average around 37 °C, while in the desert around Merzouga, it's barely tolerable from June to early September. The Atlantic coast then remains significantly cooler.
    Monthly averages refer to Marrakech (climate mean 1991 to 2020). Along the Atlantic coast around Casablanca and Essaouira, summers are milder and windier. In the High Atlas, snow falls in winter; mountain passes can be closed. For the Sahara around Merzouga, October to April is considered the best time, though nights can cool to near freezing in winter.

    Seasons

    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    May
    Jun
    Jul
    Aug
    Sep
    Oct
    Nov
    Dec
    Spring: perfect time for a road trip
    Autumn: pleasantly warm
    Summer: hot in the interior, mild on the coast
    Winter: cool nights, snow in the Atlas
    Best Time to Visit
    ▶Show detailed monthly data
    MonthTemp (°C)Rain (mm)
    January12.525
    February14.126
    March17.035
    April19.126
    May22.311
    June25.83
    July29.22
    August29.25
    September25.615
    October22.119
    November16.930
    December13.724

    Travel advice

    Safety, entry requirements and health: the official, up-to-date advice for Morocco is published by the UK government on GOV.UK.

    Go to GOV.UK

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Pexels. Each photo carries its credit.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI
    Felix at Kuirau Park in Rotorua, New Zealand

    Who's behind Fernweh?

    Hi, I'm Felix.

    I love to travel, and I love planning even more. Fernweh.guide is my attempt at building a really good online travel guide.

    About Fernweh

    All places in Morocco

    • Agadir
    • Aït-Ben-Haddou
    • Asilah
    • Casablanca
    • El Jadida
    • Essaouira
    • Essaouira & Souss
    • Fès & Meknes
    • Fez
    • Gorge of Dadès
    • Imlil & Toubkal
    • Marrakech
    • Marrakech & The High Atlas
    • Meknès
    • Merzouga & Erg Chebbi
    • Ouarzazate
    • Ourika Valley
    • Ouzoud Waterfalls
    • Rabat
    • Rabat & Atlantic Coast
    • South: Kasbahs & Desert
    • Taghazout
    • Tangier
    • Tangier & the North
    • Taroudant
    • Tétouan
    • Todra Canyon
    • Volubilis & Moulay Idriss
    • Zagora & Drâa Tal

    More about Morocco

    • Best Time to Visit Morocco
    • Morocco with Kids