Is Morocco Safe To Travel To?
I recently headed on a trip to Marrakech and despite being a frequent traveller, found myself a little unsure of what to expect when arriving in Morocco. Friends of mine had come back with tales of being conned of cash and faulty ATMs. But what’s the real situation? Is Morocco safe? And what can you do to minimise your risks when travelling as a tourist?
Wondering if Morocco is Safe? Read on for all the need-to-knows to ensure you have the best experience during your upcoming trip.
*Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you make a purchase through my link. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.*
Is Morocco safe at night?
Yes! One of the real beauties of visiting Morocco (especially coming from the UK) is that because it’s predominantly a Muslim country you don’t have to worry about rowdy drunkards in the street! And I must say, as a young female traveller who’s often had to endure the “Friday Night Pub Scene” in London, it’s such a relief and makes the evenings in Morocco a much more pleasant affaire.
That being said, it’s still sensible to exercise the same caution as you would in any unfamiliar destination. So, stick to well-lit areas, avoid displaying valuable items openly, use reputable transportation options (licensed taxis) and follow local advice (ask the staff of your hotel about safe areas and precautions to take).
Is Morocco safe for female tourists?
As a female tourist I felt as safe in Morocco as I’ve felt in any European and US city I’ve visited. But there are a couple of quirks to get used to.
Firstly, if you’re travelling with a guy, you may find yourself ignored in favour of him by the local Moroccan men. (A funny irony considering a passer-by could have known more about our travel plans than my boyfriend) The reason for all this, I’m told, is because gender roles are more defined in Morocco than the western world and local women quite often prefer to stay at home. Try not to take too much offence from this – it’s just one of those cultural quirks and apparently, it’s out of respect for women rather than disrespect.
The second thing is attire. Although there’s no real dress code or need to wear a hijab/headscarf when walking around, I found I got a lot less attention when I dressed modestly (maxi dresses, long skirts, shawls etc) as opposed to shorts or mini skirts. This is totally up to you and down to personal preference but if you’re travelling alone and want to avoid unnecessary stares, I’d suggest packing some longer clothes. It also goes a long way with the locals when you show a respect for their local customs – they’re much more likely to help if you need it!
BEST Morocco Safety Tips for Travel In 2023
On the whole Morocco is a very safe place to travel to, but it’s always good to be cautious and following our recent trip there are 4 main safety tips I’d recommend all travellers heading to Morocco keep in mind…
#1: Buy a Local Sim Card
The only time I felt uneasy in Morocco was when it came to navigation. Morocco has a very strong tipping culture and many of the younger adults or kids have learned to make money off helping tourists. This means they can be pretty pushy when it comes to helping with directions.
For example, if you look a bit lost, you’re likely to get a few locals come up to you and start directing you where to go – whether you want the help or not! If this happens just be aware that you will have to part with some cash – there’s no such thing as a free lunch over there – if they’ve helped you get where you want to be they won’t stop until you’ve given them a nice tip. They don’t necessarily mean any harm by this, but it can be a bit of a shock if you’re used to people helping you for free.
Again, this is quite normal in Morocco and nothing to get too anxious or worried about but if you’d like to avoid any confrontation like that, make sure to get a local sim card and ask for additional help on directions from your hotel staff (they are very well equipped for this and occasionally will walk you to where you need to go).
#2: Ask your hotel staff to meet you when you arrive
Similar, to my tip above, we found ourselves relying quite heavily on our hotel staff for directions which ended up being a real godsend to be honest! The maps on our phone weren’t working very well and some streets weren’t even marked on there, meaning we were walking around in circles trying to find a hotel which was only 5 minutes away.
The hotel had already offered to meet us at the street but being the frequent travellers that we were (and clearly somewhat naïve) we’d said we were fine. Anyway, 30 mins later we gave in and asked one of the locals and had to part with our cash to get there okay. Lesson learned! If the hotel offers to help you with directions – take the offer! From then on, they helped us get where we needed to, even offering to meet us after our trip to the desert to help us navigate in the dark.
The hospitality in Morocco is on another level! All the hotel staff (especially at small riads) are so lovely and accommodating and more than happy to help so don’t be afraid to ask!
#3: Be cautious with local ATMs
I have to say, this one really took me off guard! One of my friends recently went to Marrakech and one of the ATMs completely swallowed up her cash! I didn’t have this experience myself and haven’t heard of any other issues like that since, so she must have been quite unlucky, but it just shows you how careful you have to be with these things.
So, make sure you’re choosing reputable locations when drawing out cash! Use ATMs located at well-established and trusted institutions such as banks, credit unions, or major retailers and avoid using standalone ATMs in remote or poorly lit areas. Once you’ve found a good location, make sure you inspect it for any signs of tampering or skimming devices.
If possible, use the ATMs inside bank branches! These tend to have higher security measures in place and if something goes wrong and it just sucks in your money, you can find assistance.
#4: Respect local customs – don’t show public affection and be cautious with alcohol
Respect Local Customs: when travelling to a new country it’s always good to respect local customs and cultural norms to decrease any chances of confrontation, prejudice or uncomfortable situations. In Morocco, this means dressing modestly, avoiding public displays of affection and being mindful of your behaviour in religious or conservative areas.
Use Caution with Alcohol: It’s worth noting, as a predominantly Muslim country most locals don’t drink and alcohol consumption in general is a lot less common than in the West (although places like Marrakech and Casablanca are very well catered for western habits and do have cocktail bars etc.) Either way, if you do choose to drink, just make sure you’re doing it in appropriate venues rather than on the street and be mindful of your alcohol intake.
Safest Places to Stay in Morocco
Finding a safe place to stay in Morocco is fairly straight forward, but like so many other destinations, requires a bit of time and research. As a general rule of thumb make sure you’re using reputable booking websites (e.g. Booking.com or Expedia) and that you’re reading reviews and researching the location.
If you have any concerns don’t hesitate to contact the hotel and ask them about their security measures. Or check for official ratings.
📍Riad L’Atelier ($)
We absolutely fell in love with this small, homely and authentic Riad in Marrakech’s Old Town Medina. The entrance way is filled with the scent of their orange trees and the sounds of birds while their interior is fitted with beautiful vintage items. At £100 a night, it’s a real bargain! Read my full review here
📍Riad BE Marrakech ($$)
A charming Riad located on the edge of Morocco’s famous square Jemaa el Fna, Riad BE Marrakech is a convenient and beautiful choice for a stay in Marrakech. Enjoy mint tea out on their open courtyard and bathe in their iconic mosaic pool!
📍Palais Namaskar ($$$)
For a more luxurious stay, consider checking in to the world-renowned Palais Namaskar. Facilities include mini golf, private waterways, gardens and luxurious private pools. Wake up to a relaxing Moroccan hammam and enjoy breakfast out on the breakfront of their palatial swimming pool!
Getting Around Morocco Safely
Getting around can be tricky in any new destination, especially if you’re not accustomed to the local routes and transport links. We’ve broken it all down for you so carry on reading to ensure you have everything you need to travel around Morocco safely.
By Taxi & Uber
Unfortunately, there’s no Uber in Morocco, but taxis are readily available across the country and are an incredibly convenient and cheap way to travel locally. Although taxi fares vary, you can expect to pay around 10-30 Moroccan Dirhams (MAD) for short rides making them much cheaper than European taxis – just make sure you negotiate fares before driving off!
Taxis were definitely our preferred mode of transport during our recent trip but to ensure the safest experience please make sure you’re aware of the following:
- Make sure you only use licensed taxis (these are officially marked!)
- It’s not uncommon for drivers to take indirect routes to increase fares so be vigilant and use map apps to track your route if you’re worried
- Taxis in Morocco don’t always have meters so, as mentioned above, make sure you negotiate the price beforehand.
- In Marrakech, some areas right in the centre of the Medina can’t be reached by car, so don’t be surprised if the driver has to drop you off a bit further away. In this case you might find it easier to take a tuk tuk.
Looking for a sightseeing car tour? Kiwitaxi operates in Morocco and offers sightseeing car tours which is a great way to explore the city’s best sites with a local, licensed guide.
By Train
If you’re looking to explore a few cities during your time in Morocco, you might find you want to try out the local train services. Thankfully, Morocco has a very extensive and efficient train network that connects between all of the major cities, and compared to European prices, is fairly affordable.
Trains can be quite crowded during peak times, so book tickets in advance! The official website for Moroccan Railways is ONCF although it’s all in French so if you want an English version, it’s better to use 12Go (which accepts overseas payment cards with no problem)
By Bus
If you’re looking for the cheapest alternative, buses will be your friend. Unfortunately, we found the bus timetables very confusing when using the official website, but thankfully you can access all the latest timetables on Busradar or Busbud making travel a lot more accessible, especially for budget travellers. Direct bus journeys from Marrakech to Casablanca start from as little as £8 and take just 2.5 hours.
By Rental Car
Finally, you can opt to rent a car! Like all places, renting a car in Morocco offers the most freedom, especially if you’re looking to explore remote areas and small towns (which trains and buses may not connect to). It’s also a lot more cost effective than taking taxis (especially if you’re not keen on haggling).
On average, you can expect to pay around 350-500 MAD per day for a small car (although it does depend on the type of vehicle or rental duration). We were slightly put off from reviews we’d seen of Morocco as a “chaotic and confusing place to drive as first-time visitors” but that was mainly in the highly populated areas of Marrakech and Casablanca.
So, if you’re looking for flexibility and to head off the beaten track renting a car is probably going to be your best bet, and if you’re anxious, consider getting a good GPS or buying a local SIM card so you can access a reliable map app to help navigate.
FAQs: Visiting Morocco
So, we’ve covered accommodation, transport and my 4 top tips but there’s still a few questions we haven’t yet answered. What do you need to pack? What’s the language in Morocco? Read on for the answers to our most frequently asked questions…
Is Morocco friendly to foreigners?
For the most part, yes! Tourism is a huge part of Morocco and the hospitality sector is absolutely phenomenal – all the hotel staff we met welcomed us with open arms and went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed – from walking us through the streets and helping us navigate, to local tips and ensuring we saw all the very best sites.
My only slight reservation was that when visiting we did hear a lot more racial slurs and comments that would not have been politically correct in the UK and some locals did point and stare or randomly shout out what nationality you looked like. I’m not sure it was necessarily meant in a derogatory way, but it was certainly a bit off putting! Of course, Political correctness is always bound to vary between countries, we tried to approach it all with an open mind but it’s something to be aware of.
Do tourists have to wear hijab in Morocco?
No, as a general rule, tourists don’t have to wear a hijab or headscarf – it’s only when entering a mosque that you’ll need one. If in doubt, just pack a light-weight scarf in your bag so you have one with you at all times.
Is Morocco safer than USA?
Statistically speaking, yes! The United States generally has a higher crime rate than Morocco and is prone to more natural disasters on the whole. However, like many countries these things are all relative. Understanding the local culture and customs of the country you’re visiting is just as vital as staying alert for crime. So, all in all, you’re in safe hands visiting Morocco – just do your research and pack accordingly!
Can I speak English in Morocco?
Absolutely! English is widely spoken and understood throughout the country, especially in tourist areas and the hospitality sector. So don’t fret! There will always be someone around who can speak English!
That being said, if you speak French, you’ll definitely find it handy! (Although Arrabic is the official language, French is widely spoken due to the country’s colonial history).
The Final Word: Is Morocco Safe?
All in all, you’re in safe hands visiting Morocco and I’m sure you’ll have an incredible time! Morocco was definitely one of the most beautiful and memorable countries we’ve visited and I’m already looking forward to coming back. Nevertheless, to make sure you have as smooth a trip as possible, make sure you take the time to research your accommodation and transport options and make use of some of the top tips I mentioned earlier in the article. After that, you’re set to go! Bon Voyage!
