English
Español
中文
हिन्दी
FrançaisTravel and Tourism
Travel and Tourism in Morocco
Travel alerts, currency, climate, transit, health, and safety information for visitors to Morocco.
Practical Information
Travel alert status, currency, climate, and transit details.
- Travel Alert Status
- Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
- Time Difference
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Currency
- Moroccan dirham (MAD)
- Climate
- The High Atlas are snow-capped and collect moisture from the Atlantic Ocean which climate patterns distribute over the western part of Morocco. Because this region lies between the Atlantic and the mountains, it enjoys a temperate climate. The Atlas range cannot, however, shut out an occasional shergui, the hot easterly wind from the desert. The eastern slopes of the High Atlas have a semi-desert aspect and a rigorous pre-Saharan climate. In the north, and separate from the Atlas ranges, the Rif Mountains loom up sharply along the Mediterranean coast. Here, also, a mild climate prevails, which permits agriculture typical of the Mediterranean region.
- Language(s) Spoken
- The official language is Arabic, and the Moroccan dialect of Arabic, called Derija, is the most widely spoken tongue. Derija is quite different from the classical Arabic of the Qur’an (koran), the scriptural text of Islam. Berber is the native language of about 35 % of the population, and it also includes several dialects. Other dialects are Rif, Tamazight and Shluh. French is widely spoken, especially in business, government, and higher education. Spanish can still be heard in the north, which was formerly under Spanish control. English is gaining popularity.
- Ethnic Groups
- Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
- National Holiday
- Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)
- Geographic Coordinates
- 32 00 N, 5 00 W
- Location
- Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara
- Airports
- 64
Destinations
Regions and cities, top sights, national parks, UNESCO sites, and festivals for visitors.
Top Attractions
Imperial Cities Route
The classic Moroccan itinerary threads together the four imperial cities in a route that provides the deepest possible introduction to Moroccan civilization and urban culture. Rabat, the current capital, offers the most approachable and modernized entry point, with its comfortable European-influenced new city providing a transitional space between the international visitor's home world and the full depth of the medina experience. Meknes, a short journey from Rabat by train or grand taxi, introduces the Moroccan imperial tradition on a somewhat smaller and more manageable scale than what follows. Fez, the intellectual and artisanal capital of medieval Morocco, provides the most complex and immersive medina experience available anywhere in the world. Marrakesh, completing the circuit from the north, delivers the greatest spectacle and the most accessible combination of traditional culture and contemporary comfort.
The contrast between these four cities is itself one of the most instructive aspects of the imperial cities route. Rabat is modern and governmental, with an ease of navigation and a café culture inherited from the French protectorate. Meknes is grandiose and slightly melancholy in its half-ruined imperial splendor, a city that clearly was once something much larger than it now appears.
Every country, every topic, all activities & recipes
✓ Instant access on this device · ✓ No subscription
Health and Safety
Medical facilities, vaccinations, disease risk, and sanitation conditions.
Adequate medical care is available in Morocco’s largest cities, particularly in Rabat and Casablanca, although not all facilities meet Western standards. Specialized care or treatment may not be available. Medical facilities are adequate for non-emergency matters, particularly in the urban areas, but most medical staff will have limited or no English skills. Most ordinary prescription and over-the-counter medicines are widely available. However, specialized prescriptions may be difficult to fill and availability of all medicines in rural areas is unreliable.
Every country, every topic, all activities & recipes
✓ Instant access on this device · ✓ No subscription