Morocco Travel Guide
One of the most diverse countries in all of Africa from the beaches of the Atlantic ocean to the snow in the Atlas mountains to the Berber, Islamic culture mixed with European culture a North African country very close to Europe makes Morocco one of the most popular film sittings in the world because its awesome diverse culture, demographic – climate can be changed in a few Kilometers to be totally different
Languages in Morocco:
1- Arabic
2-French.
Moroccan Currency:
Moroccan dirham – 1 USD = About 9.4 Moroccan dirham
Facts about Morocco
The Toubkal mountain peak is southwestern Morocco is the highest in North Africa and Arab region– a climbing area Very close to Marrakesh
The Moroccan king ranked as one of the richest 5 people in Africa in 2015
Best cities to visit in Morocco
1- Rabat
is the capital of Morocco you feel like you’re in France when you see its landmarks from Islamic and French colonial heritage.
How to Enjoy Rabat in one day
One Day in Rabat is enough, Start your tour by visiting Andalusian Gardens (1) for an hour which is a Tranquil public garden for quiet walks amid exotic plants, flowers & fruit trees. Then a short walk for less than 10 minutes to reach Kasbah of the Udayas (2) The Kasbah of the Udayas is a kasbah in Rabat Then a taxi for less than 10 minutes to go to The beautiful beach on the Atlantic ocean Plage de Rabat (3) then another taxi for 10 minutes Mausoleum of Mohammed V (4) which is Royal family mausoleum & mosque known for its ornate Alaouite architecture & green tiled roof.
Have you got tired? Be strong! the tour isn’t over yet
walk for about 5 minutes from Mausoleum of Mohammed V to see Hassan Tower (5) This famous red sandstone landmark is a remnant of a 12th-century minaret that was never finished. then take another ride for less than 10 minutes to enjoy the Landscaped gardens on the site of an ancient citadel featuring Roman ruins & royal tombstones in Chellah. (6) If you have enough power to walk for 15-20 minutes more to reach Mechouar park (7) it will be great but if you don’t have enough power for walking a 5 minutes ride is okay. Because you ‘ll take another ride from Mechhouar park to go to Dar al-Makhzen (8) which is the primary and official residence of the king of Morocco. Now it’s the time for some spiritual mixed by history. now it’s time to see St. Peter’s Cathedral which built in the 1930s, this art deco Roman Catholic cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of Rabat.
Suggested Day Plan in Rabat
Best Hotels in Rabat
2- Marrakesh
One of the top 25 travel destinations in 2014/2015 in the world according to TripAdvisor website and one of the largest cities in Morocco
Suggested 1 Day Plan in Marrakesh
Starting by Majorelle Garden (1) which designed by artist Jacques Majorelle full of plants, water features and a Berber culture museum (Opens daily from 8:00 AM till 5:30 PM) after enjoying the garden take a 15 minutes ride to Koutoubia Mosque (2) the largest mosque in Marrakesh opened in 1190 and enjoy the Islamic architecture before going to our 3rd stop in our trip 5 minutes walk to reach Jemaa el-Fnaa (3) Beautiful experience to walk around the square full of things to do and watch (Snakes and Monkeys to take photos with, shops, cafes, restaurants plus traditional Moroccan activities) then 15 minutes of walking you’ll be at one of the most amazing historical palaces Bahia Palace (4) astonishing place is so big with so many rooms all covered by time bites of tiles. built in the late 19th century. El Badi Palace (5) is a ruined palace commissioned by the sultan Ahmad al-Mansur of the Saadian There are plenty of signs with information detailing the history of the palace and the history that goes with it. Saadian Tombs (6) One of the finest examples of Moore architecture and their influence in North Africa. Twelve columns tomb and intricate draws awe to any visitors. Garden in the middle and flower landscape adds additional aesthetics to the historic place. Stork on the roof is a bonus. Usually long lines to see the tomb, so plan early hours.
Best Hotels in Marrakesh
3- Fez
The second largest city in Morocco and the home of the first university in the world (University of Karueein) as the country’s cultural and spiritual city and it’s also center of trading.
Suggested 1 Day Tour Plan in Fez
How to Enjoy Fez in one day
This is where you go if you have only one day in Fez Start by Al-Attarine Madrasa (1) a school in Fes, Morocco, near the Al-Qarawiyyin. It was built by the Marinid sultan Uthman II Abu Said in 1323. Beautiful piece of history found in the heart of the Medina. The site’s light on the literature explaining the history. Then take five minutes walk to see a diverse collection of wooden artifacts such as instruments & prayer beads in a historic building. at Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts (2) then take 10 minutes ride to see Bab Bou Jeloud (3) an ornate city gate and the main western entrance to Fes el Bali, the old city of Fez It is a main entrance to the Medina and winding streets of the market. There are some really good restaurants and places nearby. Qasr al Batha (4) a royal palace in the city of Fez was commissioned by the Alaouite Sultan Hassan I and his successor Abdelaziz in the 19th century. more 5 minutes walk to be at Garden Jnan sbil (5) Beautiful, quiet and green oasis with water fountains, a river, and a small lake. A great escape from the heat and the bustling city. Lots of shade and benches for relaxation. by walking for more 15 minutes from Jnan Sbil garden you’ll be at Ibn Danan Synagogue (6) dating from the 17th century. It was built by Mimoun Ben Sidan, a wealthy merchant from the town of Ait Ishaq. then the last stop at our tour is an amazing palace called Dar al-Makhzen (7) which is a royal palace of the Alaouite sultan.
Best Hotels in Fes
4- Casablanca
Suggested day plan in Casablanca
Starts by visiting Hassan II Mosque (1) for an hour to see a Large, elaborate oceanfront mosque, built in 1993, with intricate decor & a soaring, 210-m. minaret.
Then take 15 minutes ride to reach Plage Aïn Diab (2) for a 45 minutes tour to enjoy a Trendy beach for swimming or walking, with rentable chairs & nearby restaurants & nightclubs.
10 minutes by foot to reach the third stop which is Parc Sindibad (3) where you can spend 1.5 hours to enjoy the Adventure-themed park with a roller coaster & other rides, plus a zoo with African & Asian animals.
10 minutes by foot and you’ll be at Mausolée Sidi Abderrahmane (4) where you can enjoy the next 30 – 40 minutes of exploring before taking a 25 minutes ride to Arab League Park (5) a wide range of green area in the heart of Casablanca perfect for lovers and families
10 minutes by foot
Casablanca Cathedral (6) Casablanca Cathedral, or Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is a former Roman Catholic church located in Casablanca, Morocco. It’s also about 10 minutes by foot from Place des Nations Unies (7) This large square at the heart of the city is surrounded by many shops & restaurants.
10 minutes by foot Mohamed V Square , Casablanca Square (8) which has almost the same activities.
Best Hotels in Casablanca
5- Tangier
An important port city and a gate between Africa and Europe
A suggested day trip in Tangier
Starts by Kasbah Museum (1) then 5 minutes walk to the second stop Dar el Makhzen (2) Former sultans’ palace with ornate decor, now housing museums of Moroccan art & antiquities.
10 minutes by foot
American Legation (3) a Museum & cultural center at the American Legation featuring exhibits on the building, art & more. Less than 5 minutes walk to reach a park called Jardins de La Mendoubia (4) Less than 5 minutes by foot to reach Church of Saint Andrew (5) which is an Anglican church in Tangier, Morocco. It was consecrated in 1905.
Then take a 15 minutes ride to relax at Park Rmilat (6) followed by another 15 minutes ride to be at Cap Spartel (7) which is a promontory in Morocco about 1,000 feet above sea level at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, 12 km West of Tangier.
5 minutes ride to reach the last stop in our tour Caves of Hercules (8) Caverns where Hercules allegedly rested during his labors, with an opening in the shape of Africa.
peak season for travel is August – September as the weather is warm
Best Hotels in Tangier
6- Sahara Desert
Are you ready for unexpectedly trip and camping in the desert Jeep, Camels and more fun are waiting for you? The clearest shine from the starts guaranteed
7- The Blue city – Chefchaouen
Transportation in Morocco
The train is the best way to move between cities, Safe and affordable.
Best time to visit Morocco
There’s no bad time to visit Morocco. it’s all about your plan in Morroco for example if you’re going to visit Fes (Fez) and Marrakesh then April/May and September to November while the weather is perfect not hot and not cold. because during the peak summer months (June-July-August), the weather is hot in Marrakesh, Fez, and southwest Morocco as you’re close to the Sahara Desert.
Coastal destinations like Tangier, Rabat, and Essaouira are a more comfortable choice at this time of year because they benefit from the cool ocean breeze. Despite the heat, many people choose to visit Morocco at this time because it coincides with the European summer vacation.
Drinks in Morocco
The Most familiar drink in Morocco is Mint Tea
Best Moroccan Food
1- B’ssara
few pennies a bowl, this rich soup of dried broad beans is traditionally served for breakfast, topped with a swirl of olive oil, a sprinkling of cumin and bread fresh from the oven.
2- Kofta tagine
A tagine is the clay cooking pot with a conical lid that gives its name to a myriad of dishes and Kofta is Beef or lamb mince with garlic, fresh coriander and parsley, cinnamon and ground coriander is rolled into balls and cooked in a tomato and onion sauce.
3- Chicken tagine
A tagine is the clay cooking pot with a conical lid that gives its name to a myriad of dishes
4- Fish chermoula
Morocco boasts a rich array of fish dishes. Chermoula is a combination of herbs and spices used as a marinade before grilling over coals and as a dipping sauce.
5- harira
Rich with tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, and lamb, it is finished off with a squeeze of lemon juice and some chopped coriander.
6- Couscous
a fine wheat pasta traditionally rolled by hand. It is steamed over a stew of meat and vegetables. To serve, the meat is covered by a pyramid of couscous, the vegetables are pressed into the sides and the sauce served separately. It is often garnished with a sweet raisin preserve, or in the Berber tradition, with a bowl of buttermilk.
7- Zaalouk
A smoked aubergine dip, seasoned with garlic, paprika, cumin, and a little chili powder.
8- Confit duck pastilla
A Pie contains Layers of a paper-thin pastry coddle a blend of pigeon meat, almonds, and eggs spiced with saffron, cinnamon, and fresh coriander, the whole dusted with icing sugar and cinnamon.
Moroccan Visa
Citizens of the following countries don’t need a visa before traveling to Morocco if they are not planning to stay more than 90 days:
Algeria – Andorra – Argentina – Australia – Austria – Bahrain – Belgium – Brazil – Bulgaria – Canada – Chile – China – Republic of Congo – Croatia – Cyprus – Czech Republic – Denmark – Estonia – Finland – France – Germany – Great Britain – Greece – Guinea (Conakry) – Hong Kong – Hungary – Iceland – Indonesia – Ireland – Italy – Ivory Coast – Japan – Kuwait – Latvia – Liechtenstein – Lithuania – Luxembourg – Mali – Malta – Mexico – Monaco – Netherlands – New Zealand – Niger – Norway – Oman – Peru – Philippines -Poland – Portugal – Puerto Rico – Qatar – Romania – Saudi Arabia – Senegal – Singapore (Singaporean nationals may stay up to one month without visa) – Slovakia – Slovenia – South Korea – Spain – Sweden – Switzerland – Tunisia – Turkey – United Arab Emirates – United States of America.
Any citizen of a country not listed above will be required to have an entry visa. please contact the Moroccan embassy in your country to know more.
