20 Vital Do’s and Don’ts to Help You Survive Morocco

When people ask me about my Morocco trip, I tell them to take a seat, as I have a lot to tell them! The country can be overwhelming for a first-time traveler, but with these 20 dos and don’ts in Morocco, you will travel like a pro.

After spending ten days in this Northern African country, I created a “what to do and what not to do” list for Morocco. I wish I had this list before I left for my travels as it would have helped me in some very awkward situations.

These observations are solely my own, each traveler will have their own unique experience!

Morocco was absolutely an experience, both beautiful and challenging, but it was a journey of a lifetime. The people are so lively and the landscape takes you back to simpler times.

I will walk you through 20 steps that helped me to make my time in Morocco more comfortable.

As a frame of reference, I booked everything on my own and was not part of a tour group. The only part of the excursion that I experienced with a tour group was the Sahara Desert. I stayed in two hostels, one riad, and two hotels.

To get around I rented a car and used Yelp and other travel blogs to find restaurant recommendations.

Cities visited include:  Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Marrakech, and some smaller cities on the way to the Sahara Desert; including Ouarzazate.

1. Do try a Hammam

We were told that a Hammam in Morocco was like a Turkish Bath.

Unfortunately, since we chose the budget hammam for €25 per person for a 30-minute massage and 30-minute hammam, we didn’t exactly get a hammam.

We were lightly rubbed down by two ladies blasting the songs Gasolina and Despacito, followed by them splashing some water on us; while giggling and smoking cigarettes.

We suggest paying a little more for a better hammam as not all hammans are what we experienced.

A lovely couple that we met from Georgia also suggested the Heritage Spa in Marrakesh for a luxury experience.

2. Do leave a tip

For restaurants, a tip of 5-10% of the bill is enough. There is no need to tip taxis, but you should round up to the nearest 5 dirhams on the bill for gas station attendants.

3. Do expect a merchant in the souk to place items on your head or body

Merchants are fearless and without asking first, they will place items on you such as a hat, a monkey, or possibly a snake; so be on the alert.

Giving them 1-2 dirhams (the equivalent of $0.10 – $0.20 in the US) is enough to get them to remove the item.

4. Do carry cash

It’s hit-and-miss finding establishments that take credit cards. Most gas stations did, but some did not. The same goes for the hostels and restaurants. If you rent a car, you will need cash for tolls.

5. Do be patient

In some areas of Morocco, business hours are not always what they say they are. You’ll be told souk merchants open at 9 am then they won’t open until 11 am.

You will be given a time of 20 minutes for your food to arrive, and it will not arrive for another hour. We found this to be true in hostels, and in the city centers of Rabat and Meknes mostly.

6. Do book a Sahara Desert Tour

The fact that you get to sleep in the middle of one of the largest deserts in the world is incredible.  You feel so small and get amazing pictures.

Just make sure it has reviews and is not dirt cheap. Be wary of buying it when you get there. We had a rough experience, but that doesn’t mean all experiences will be like that. This Sahara desert tour is one fellow blogger took and had an amazing experience.

If you leave from Marrakesh, it’s a 9-hour drive. Or you can fly into Ouarzazate and leave with a tour group from there, and take a 5-hour drive to the desert for most tours.

7. Do get used to hearing “No Problem” as a reoccurring response

We are not sure if it’s the language barrier or if it’s the relaxed attitude that the people seem to have, but it’s said A LOT.  We will give you two examples:

Us:  “Can we park at the hostel?”

Them: “Of course, no problem” (You arrive to find out that parking is not possible)

Us: “It’s 105 degrees in our room, do you have Air Conditioning per your website?

Them: “Of course, no problem”.  (You are given a fan and lay in sweat puddles for 3 days)

8. Do bring toilet paper or tissues everywhere you go

Most bathrooms will not have any toilet paper for two reasons.

The first is that the older generation does not use toilet paper but rather their left hand to clean themselves.

And second, it gives people a reason to make money as they will have somebody selling toilet paper at the entrance of each bathroom. 1-2 dirhams are enough to give them for a few squares.

9. Do be prepared to squat in the bathroom

You will come across a bathroom that has no toilet bowl, just a flat porcelain hole in the ground.

We suggest wearing closed-toe shoes when using these stalls to avoid backsplash.

10. Do get lost in the souks

Google Maps is not your friend inside the souks, you will stress yourself out trying to use the map when it works about 50% of the time.

It’s more fun to get lost and just enjoy the craziness of the merchants bargaining and trying to get your attention to buy something.

11. Do eat a lot of tagine and couscous

Simply because you may have no other choice.

Tagine and Couscous are the main staples on Moroccan menus. When we asked if that is what Moroccans eat, they said: “Yes, of course, we eat tagine and couscous every day!”.

We had a tough time believing this, however. It’s not like in Thailand, you don’t see Thai people eating Pad Thai every day!

But we went to six different areas of the country and searched high and low for other food besides Moroccan food and it was seriously a challenge.

The best Moroccan food we found was Nomad in Marrakesh.

12. Do brush your teeth with bottled water

This may not be an issue for everyone, but air on the side of caution when using tap water. Keep your mouth shut in the shower as well- no singing in the shower!

13. Don’t show your shoulders

You will see female tourists in short shorts and tank tops but don’t follow suit. Be respectful and cover up your shoulders and legs.

Men should dress conservatively as well, with no tank tops. It is acceptable for a man to wear shorts, but it is considered disrespectful for a woman to show her shoulders and below her knees.

Wear shirts with a sleeve, skirts or Harem Pants. The only city where we found it to be OK to show your shoulders was Marrakech, as it’s a tourist city.

14. Don’t be turned off by the bargaining

Moroccans sell by bargaining or what they like to call “push push”.

They bargain for merchandise and taxi ride prices. Do it with a smile and assume whatever price they start with, it will be less than half of the original price.

The only challenge we had was with taxis. They will drive away with the doors locked and not let you leave until the bargaining is over, so it can be intimidating; but just remember that this is just how they sell.

If you feel that you are in a situation where you are getting ripped off say just “I will call the police”.

This scares them off immediately. You can read about my scam experience here.

15. Don’t expect to find air conditioning

Most hostels, riads, and restaurants do not have Western air conditioning, just fans.

If you visit in the summer it can be brutal. We stayed in a hostel when it was 105 degrees. It was so hot that we slept on the terrace with other guests just to try to stay cool. If you absolutely need AC, book a hotel to be safe.

We found this across the board when speaking to other budget travelers. The hostel will say they have it online, but they really mean they will provide a fan that blows warm air at your face.

16. Don’t eat from the food stalls

Only recently did Morocco implement a rule that food vendors had to wash their hands before handling the food. You will also see a lot of flies on the food.

Moroccon food is amazing but since I have a sensitive stomach I stayed away from the food stalls that served hot food. I did try some of the nuts and spices, however. Air on the side of caution!

17. Don’t text while driving 

If you rent a car in Morocco be aware that people dart out into the streets and do not use the crosswalks, so pay attention when driving. Rent from a reputable company, like Discover Cars.

I made the mistake of renting locally and did not read the reviews which was a mistake. You can read all about my car rental adventure here.

18. Don’t drink the tap water

If you have a stomach of steel you may be in the clear. But if not, it’s a also good idea to avoid raw vegetables, lettuce, and ice just to be safe.

19. Don’t be afraid to escape the crowds

If you are a budget traveler like us, you will stay in hostels.

But as noted earlier, no air conditioning in 105-degree heat, with the same choice of tagine and couscous for food options, and people constantly begging for money or bargaining with you, can get exhausting.

We treated ourselves and went to the Sofitel Marrakech Lounge & Hotel Spa on Day 5 and bought a pool day pass for €40 each. There were a lot of tourists from Portugal and Spain visiting.

The staff were kind, the hotel was impeccably clean and they had sandwiches and other non-Moroccan items on the pool bar menu to enjoy.

20. Don’t assume you are immune to being scammed

It happens to the best of us.

The scams come in different forms. Usually, they are an obvious scam with someone trying to show you the way and then not allowing you to pass them until you pay up (1-10 dirhams depending on the situation).

However, it may be a slicker scam than we encountered so be on the lookout.

Scams and bargaining seem like a way of life in Morocco but it also didn’t seem malicious, it’s just how the culture makes a living.

It’s how you say… no problem!

Final Thoughts

After meeting travelers and locals with different financial backgrounds and travel experiences, I found that you can experience Morocco in 3 very different ways:

The Budget Traveler

• Stay in hostels, and riads, and purchase budget excursions.
• Fully immerse yourself in the culture, food, and people while missing some Western luxuries.

The Mr. Money Bags Traveler

• Stay in plush hotels, order car services to get you around, party in tourist nightclubs, and chill by the pool all-day
• Experience the Moroccan culture by visiting the souks or heading to the desert on a Sahara Desert Tour.

The Tour Group Traveler

• Your schedule, hotel accommodations, and transportation are planned for you.
• You are with the same people all week with little choice on where you are taken, but if you need Western luxuries, this is a better option.

Whatever option you choose, it will be an experience of a lifetime. I had highs and lows throughout my trip however it is a country I talk the most about to fellow travelers.

I hope that this list gives you a start in helping you plan your Morocco excursion!

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