Morocco

Arabic is Morocco's official language, alongside Tamazight (Berber); French is widely used in business, education, and signage, and Spanish is common in the north near Tangier and Tétouan. English is spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and by younger people in cities, but less so in rural areas and smaller souks.

Arabic script reads right to left, so street signs and shop names can be hard to match to a map; French-language signage is usually available alongside it in bigger cities.

Buying a local SIM or eSIM is straightforward at major airports or any phone shop in a city center; bring your passport, since Moroccan operators require ID to register a prepaid SIM. Maroc Telecom, Orange, and inwi all offer affordable data packages.

Voice calls over apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Skype were restricted in Morocco for several years. Check the current status before relying on them for calls, and keep a local SIM as a backup for calling ahead to guesthouses or drivers.

Tap water in Morocco is treated, but many travelers stick to bottled water to avoid stomach upsets, especially outside big cities. Pharmacies are common in cities and marked with a green cross, and pharmacists can advise on minor ailments; larger cities have 24-hour pharmacies on a rotating schedule.

No special vaccinations are required to enter Morocco, though routine vaccinations should be up to date. Travelers heading to rural or desert areas for an extended stay sometimes discuss additional precautions with a travel clinic beforehand.

Nationals of the EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia, and many other countries can enter Morocco visa-free for tourism, typically for up to 90 days. Travelers who do need a visa can usually apply at a Moroccan consulate in advance; visa-on-arrival is not generally available.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Morocco is a Muslim country, and dressing modestly is appreciated, especially outside beach resorts — covering shoulders and knees is a safe default. Non-Muslims are generally not permitted inside working mosques, with a few exceptions such as the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, which offers guided tours.

Greetings often involve a handshake and some warm small talk before getting to business; it's polite to accept an offer of mint tea even briefly. Bargaining is expected in souks and with unmetered taxis, but not in shops with marked prices. Ask before photographing people, especially in rural areas, and expect a small tip if you photograph a street performer in a public square.

Morocco observes both national holidays and the Islamic calendar, including Ramadan, when many restaurants and cafes close during daylight hours and shop hours shift later into the evening; expect a livelier atmosphere after sunset. Some shops close for a long lunch break, and Friday afternoons see reduced hours around prayer time.

• By train: ONCF links Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Fez, Meknes, and Marrakesh; a high-speed line connects Tangier and Casablanca in about two hours. Book at ONCF.
• By air: domestic flights on Royal Air Maroc and low-cost carriers save time reaching Agadir or the south.
• By bus: CTM and Supratours coaches reach towns without rail service, including Essaouira, Chefchaouen, and desert gateway towns like Merzouga.
• Grand taxis and ride-hailing: shared, fixed-route grand taxis and app-based ride-hailing cover shorter local hops and transfers from stations.

Breakfast is often simple — flatbread with olive oil, honey, or jam, alongside sweet mint tea or coffee. Lunch is traditionally the main meal of the day, built around a shared tagine or couscous, especially on Fridays. Dinner tends to be lighter, sometimes just soup and bread.

Street food is common in city squares and markets: grilled skewers, fried fish, and msemen (a folded flatbread) are all easy to find and cheap. Sweet treats include sesame-and-honey cookies and a wide range of almond and date pastries, usually served alongside mint tea.

Alcohol is available in licensed restaurants, bars, and hotels in cities and tourist areas, but is not part of everyday local life and is uncommon in small towns; mint tea is the default social drink instead. Locals eat at home, at simple canteen-style restaurants for lunch, and at market stalls for a quick bite, with sit-down restaurants reserved more for evenings out or special occasions.

Morocco's most-visited cities each have a different character. Marrakesh is the classic first stop, with its walled medina, souks, and gardens. Fez has the country's oldest and largest car-free medina. Casablanca is the modern business hub and home to the Hassan II Mosque, while Rabat, the capital, is calmer and more orderly.

In the north, Chefchaouen draws visitors with its blue-painted mountain streets, and Tangier sits where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, a short ferry ride from Spain. Tétouan nearby has a well-preserved Andalusian-style medina.

On the coast, Essaouira is a laid-back fishing port known for its ramparts and windsurfing. Inland, Meknes pairs a quieter medina with the nearby Roman ruins of Volubilis, and Ouarzazate is the gateway to the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou and the region's film studios. Agadir offers a modern beach-resort base on the Atlantic coast, and Merzouga is the usual starting point for camel treks into the Sahara dunes.