Planning a trip to Morocco, or virtually any destination you don’t already know, is always an exciting adventure. Its imperial cities, the Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains? Morocco is a destination full of fascinating places to visit. However, sometimes the amount of things to organise can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to start.
That’s why, to help you with the task of planning your trip to Morocco, we’ve developed this post. Below we will try to answer those questions that are essential to know before travelling. From the necessary documents to the best options for getting around Morocco, in this post you will find answers to many questions. Read on and let us help you plan your trip to Morocco with our travel tool Passporter.
1. Have the necessary documents to travel to Morocco at hand
The main thing when organising a trip is to be aware of what documents are necessary to carry it out. Sometimes it will be necessary to apply for visas and process documents that take time, so it is advisable to be cautious and not leave it to the end. In the case of Morocco, a visa is not necessary, but you must present a passport that is valid for the duration of your stay. It’s also important to bear in mind that when you arrive at the airport you’ll be asked for the address of your accommodation during your stay, whether it’s a hotel or a friend or relative’s house, so it’s a good idea to have your reservation handy so you can show it or at least know the name of the place you’ll be staying.
Remember that with the app of Passporter you can have all your documents in digital version, including your visa, so that you always have it at hand and do not run the risk of losing it.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
2. Choose the date you want to travel to Morocco
As with any destination, there are certain best dates to travel to Morocco. It’s important to know this, because depending on when you go, you’ll have to take some aspects into account. For example, in high season, accommodation, especially in tourist cities such as Marrakech, can go up in price due to demand and sell out more quickly. On the other hand, it’s also worth knowing the dates of your trip to Morocco so you can plan what to pack in your luggage.
That said, the best time to visit Morocco depends on your preferences and planned activities. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are generally considered the ideal times to travel, as temperatures are mild and pleasant in most regions, making it easy to explore cities such as Marrakech, Fez and the Atlas region. However, if you want to experience the Sahara and the desert, the winter season (December to February) is more suitable, as daytime temperatures are more tolerable.
Summer (June to August) can be very hot, especially in inland cities such as Marrakech, and is best avoided if you don’t tolerate extreme heat well. However, other coastal cities such as Essaouira and Asilah come alive during these months.
3. Compare and find accommodation in Morocco
With the dates already selected, the next task in planning a trip to Morocco is much easier: choosing accommodation.
Morocco has a good range of accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets. From luxury hotels to budget hostels and even desert campsites, the country offers a wide variety of places to stay. One of the most typical accommodation options is the riads, traditional Moroccan houses that have been converted into accommodation. They usually have inner courtyards with gardens and fountains and offer an authentic and charming experience in the cities. You’ll find riads to suit all budgets. The average cost of accommodation per night per person usually ranges from €15 to €45.
It’s worth remembering that researching and booking in advance is advisable to ensure a comfortable stay that suits your needs. In addition, we suggest that you go to the Passporter App and book the best accommodation in the country with Booking. On the app itself you can also save your bookings and keep them organised.
4. How to get to and around Morocco?
To get to Morocco, the most common way is by plane, with several well-connected international airports. The most important are Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca, Menara Airport in Marrakech and Fès-Saïss Airport in Fez, served by national and international airlines such as Royal Air Maroc, Emirates, and Ryanair. Another option is to arrive by sea from neighbouring countries, such as Spain, by ferry from ports such as Algeciras or Tarifa to Moroccan cities such as Tangier. The sea crossing is operated by companies such as Acciona Trasmediterránea and FRS. There is also the option of entering by road from Algeria and Mauritania, but appropriate customs and visa formalities are required.
To get around Morocco, you can use a number of different transport options, including trains, buses, local taxis and car hire. Trains are a good option for travelling between major cities such as Casablanca, Marrakech and Fez. Buses also cover routes throughout the country and can be cheaper. Local taxis are useful for getting around within and between cities. Be sure to agree on the fare before you get in, which is usually quite cheap, especially for group travel. Car hire is also a popular option, especially if you want more freedom of movement or to explore rural areas. But be aware that roads can be challenging and road signs are written in Arabic script.
5. Sample Morocco’s gastronomy and find the best restaurants with Passporter
Moroccan food is known for its wealth of exotic flavours and aromas, with sweet and sour and spicy flavours resulting from a blend of Arab, Berber and Mediterranean influences. Moroccan dishes often include ingredients such as lamb, chicken, fish, semolina, olives, nuts, herbs and spices such as cumin, saffron and cinnamon. Some signature dishes include tajine, a stew cooked slowly in a clay pot with meat and vegetables; couscous, a semolina dish served with meat and vegetables in its own broth; and pastella, a puff pastry filled with chicken meat and almonds. In addition, the meal is often accompanied at the end with mint tea and traditional cakes such as baklava or chebakia, characterised by their enormous sweetness and the use of dried fruits.
Also, we remind you that with the Passporter app, in addition to seeing what places you should visit in each city in Morocco, you can find the best restaurants, as well as some photos and the opinions that other users have uploaded about them.
Taste the delicious food of Morocco on your trip @unsplash
6. Is Morocco safe for travellers?
As you can see on the Spanish Foreign Ministry’s website, Morocco is generally safe for travellers. Although of course, as is the case internationally, the possibility of some form of violence and pickpocketing cannot be ruled out. It is therefore recommended that you take extreme precautions in crowded places, as well as in the case of accidental company by strangers.
On the other hand, due to its geographical location, Morocco is a country with seismic risk. So, it is important to keep in mind that if this happens, you should stay away from walls, windows, glass windows, trees. Stay in open spaces or under the shelter of a sturdy piece of furniture or a doorway, keeping calm. Finally, it is advisable to avoid military zones, which are forbidden to photograph, as well as desert areas, especially on the border with Algeria.
7. Take out health insurance: cover yourself against unforeseen events
Although we hope that everything will go smoothly during our trip, unforeseen events can occur. It is best to be prepared and take out insurance when planning a trip to Morocco.
Medical insurance will give you peace of mind and protection in case of illness, accident or any medical emergency that may arise during your trip. Make sure your insurance covers medical, hospital and repatriation expenses, as well as coverage for trip cancellation or lost luggage.
Before taking out insurance, check the terms and conditions carefully, making sure you understand the clauses. Compare different insurance options and choose the one that best suits your needs and planned activities during your trip.
8. How to plan a trip with friends to Morocco?
Travelling with friends is an absolutely rewarding experience. However, planning a trip, to Morocco or to any destination, can be a somewhat complicated process. Agreeing on a trip, keeping the whole group informed, setting a budget that fits everyone involved… can sometimes be more difficult than you might expect.
With the Passporter App, organising this type of trip is easier as you can plan your travel itinerary from start to finish taking into account everyone’s opinion. Add your friends, get inspired by the experiences of other travellers and create the route together. Later on you can share your experience through the photos you take during the trip. We have also prepared this post where we leave you some useful tips for travelling with friends: Group travel: The best way to travel with your group of friends.
9. How to plan what to see on your trip to Morocco?
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by other travellers’ experiences, photos and itineraries.
- Organise your trip by the categories that suit you best: dates, number of days or type of trip (beach, mountain, restaurants).
- Add your friends so they can see and modify all the plans and trip information.
- Create your own itinerary of your destination with everything you want to visit each day.
- Add the stops that interest you the most, including your accommodation, restaurants, museums.
- Book your flights, accommodation, transfers and activities through a single app.
- Save all your documents in the app so you always have everything at hand: reservations, boarding passes, important documents.
- Make any changes you need to make and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience with other users. Upload photos of the places you have visited on your trip to the app and inspire other travellers with your experience. You can also share your own travel tips for Morocco.
- Enjoy your trip to Morocco!
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
10. Frequently asked questions about a trip to Morocco
Morocco’s climate varies by region. In general, temperatures in coastal cities such as Casablanca and Rabat range from 10°C to 20°C in winter (December to February) and 20°C to 30°C in summer (June to August). In inland cities such as Marrakech and Fez, winter can be colder, with daytime temperatures ranging from 10°C to 15°C, while summer temperatures can exceed 35°C. Temperatures can drop below freezing in winter in the Atlas Mountains, with the possibility of snowfall. Finally, in desert regions such as the Sahara, daytime temperatures in summer can exceed 40°C, while nights can be quite cold in winter, with temperatures just below 0°C.
The best time to travel to Morocco is generally spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). During these seasons, temperatures are pleasant in most regions, avoiding the extreme summer heat and winter cold. In addition, spring offers flowery landscapes, while autumn provides a calm atmosphere and good weather for exploring the country’s cities, desert and mountains.
Morocco is a fascinating country with a huge number of destinations worth visiting. It is therefore difficult to give an exact number of days, as it will depend on the traveller’s interests and the places he or she wants to visit. If you only want to visit Marrakech, for example, 3 days will be enough. To visit the most touristy places, a week or 10 days will be enough, but if you want to go deeper, at least 2 weeks will be necessary.
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