Morocco has become an incredibly popular destination in recent years.
This North African country boasts impressive cities like Marrakech and Casablanca filled with colorful souks and mosques, along with smaller towns like the “Blue Pearl” Chefchaouen and the laid back beach town Essaouira.
Morocco is also a great outdoor destination, with varied landscapes ranging from the dunes of the Sahara Desert to the peaks of the Atlas Mountains. If you’re looking for adventure, you can find it here among activities like camel rides in the desert or surf lessons on the coast.
Morocco quick facts
- Population: 35.7 million
- Language: Arabic (primary language) and French (second language)
- Currency: Moroccan Dirham (MAD)
- Capital city: Rabat
- Country size: 172,414 square miles
- High season: Summer (July and August)
Top 10 things to do in Morocco
- Visit Chefchaouen, also known as Morocco’s Blue Pearl
- Explore Casablanca’s stunning Hassan II Mosque
- Stay in a picture-perfect riad in Marrakech
- Visit bustling Fez, famous for its ancient medina and tanneries
- Hit the coast in Essaouira, one of Morocco’s prettiest beach towns
- Go for a hike at the breathtaking High Atlas Mountains
- Spend the night in the Sahara Desert at a Berber camp
- Go sandboarding on the dunes of Erg Chebbi
- Shop the souks in the ancient medina of Marrakech
- Explore the ancient village of Aït Benhaddou
Getting around
Morocco has a robust and fairly reliable rail system operated by the Office National des Chemins de Fer (ONCF) that connects most of the country’s major cities like Fez, Marrakesh, Casablanca, Rabat and Meknes. While it’s not the cheapest way to get around, it’s also not too expensive, with most journeys costing between $10 and $50.
Bus travel is another option for getting around Morocco, and buses offer more comprehensive routes to smaller cities and towns around the country. Buses are more affordable as well. The two main bus companies in Morocco are Supratours (operated by ONCF) and CTM.
Finally, you can get around by grand and petit taxis in Morocco. Grand taxis are shared taxis that go between cities, while petit taxis are smaller shared taxis for getting around locally. While these taxis can be a very cost-effective transportation option, there are no meters or set fares, so do some research on typical fares in advance to make sure you don’t get ripped off!
