Morocco: what you need to know to embark on an oriental adventure

Where is it located and how can I get there?

Morocco is located in the Arab part of Africa, just below Spain. The capital of the country is Rabat. There are many regular flights and low-cost airlines flying to Morocco, including Wizzair, RyanAir, EasyJet, TransAvia, Norwegian, Iberia, Vueling, and Air Arabia. We flew with UIA to Madrid, and from there we transferred to a RyanAir flight to Marrakesh.

In our opinion, the most interesting cities to visit in Morocco are Fez and Marrakesh. They offer the most authentic oriental flavor, and both cities are close to the Sahara Desert and the Atlas Mountains.

If you are looking for a beach vacation, you should go to Agadir, and if you like surfing, then you should go to Essaouira (located near Agadir).

In addition to flights, the ferry from Spain to Tangier is popular, but I do not recommend this option. First, Tangier is not the most interesting city, and second, it will not be cheaper or more convenient than flying.

Visa question

Citizens of European Union countries, as well as travelers from the United Kingdom and the United States, may enter the country visa-free and stay for up to 90 days. A passport valid for the entire duration of the trip, along with a return ticket or proof of onward travel, is usually sufficient.

A visa is required for those who plan to stay in the country for more than three months or are traveling for purposes other than tourism. In such cases, documents must be arranged in advance through a consulate or visa application center. Before traveling, it is also advisable to check the current entry requirements, as they may change from time to time.

Currency

The country has its own currency, the Moroccan dirham. You can get about 9 dirhams for 1 dollar at an exchange office or bank, and 11 dirhams for 1 euro. Locals usually convert to euros at a rate of 1 to 10 to make it easier to count. Well, and to cash in on tourists, how else!

Money can be exchanged both in banks and in exchange offices on the street. And there is no clear correlation between the exchange rate and the location of the exchange office. The exchange rate may be higher in the main square than in the suburbs, and banks are not always more profitable than exchange offices. The least favorable exchange rate is at the airport.

Population and language

The majority of Morocco's population consists of two ethnic groups: Arabs and Berbers. The Berbers are interesting in that their nation is 9,000 years old, making them older than the ancient Egyptians and Greeks! The Berbers have their own language, culture, clothing, and customs. They do not have their own country and live in several countries, including Morocco. Many of Morocco's cultural customs are primarily Berber, which is what distinguishes this country from, for example, Iran.

The Berber language has the same status as Arabic as an official language. However, it is not widely spoken, as the authorities imposed Arabic for many centuries, and all Berbers know Arabic. But now it is being revived, taught in schools, and all government institutions duplicate their names in Berber.

Half a century ago, Morocco was under French rule, so many people here know French. It is taught in schools as the first foreign language. Although the influx of tourists has led to locals learning English and Spanish, in many places people still only speak French. Cafe menus are also usually in French, so it's worth learning a few phrases before you go.

Gastronomic delights

There are four main dishes in Moroccan cuisine:

• Tajine is both the name of the pot in which the food is cooked and the name of the dish itself. Meat and vegetables are stewed in their own juices in a tajine. It is served with bread. There are variations with chicken, veal, and small meatballs in tomato sauce. After the main meal is eaten, it is customary to use bread to finish off the sauce, which is usually also delicious.

• Couscous is both the name of a grain and a dish. This yellow grain, slightly smaller than rice, is cooked with meat and vegetables in a tagine. For tourists, it is served with a spoon. It is very tasty. In many cafes, it is only served on the holy Muslim day of Friday.
• Brochette is, in fact, just a shish kebab or kebab. "Brochette" is a French word, so remember it in case you want some familiar food. It is served with French fries, roasted potatoes, and rice (not as a choice, but together!). It is often served with a salad ( ).

• Pastila is a pie made with chicken meat, topped with puff pastry and powdered sugar. It is a very interesting combination of a sweet top and a meat bottom. Pastila is also called "pigeon pie" – this dish is served at weddings, and instead of chicken, it contains pigeon meat.

As a rule, one serving of the main course costs about 50 dirhams (5 euros) and is enough for two people.

Muslims are forbidden to drink alcohol, and in Morocco, people everywhere drink either coffee or mint tea. There is a special tradition of preparing and serving mint tea here. It is brewed in special iron teapots over a fire and poured into 100-gram glass cups. Experienced Moroccans pour tea from a height of up to 1 meter, so that the tea cools to a comfortable temperature and foams in the glass. The tea is already very sweet and does not need sugar added. In some cafes, we were served tea with fresh mint in the glasses, not just in the teapot.

Public transport

Every Moroccan city we visited had municipal taxis. There are two types:

• Petit taxi – for trips around the city. Very convenient for trips to the train station, for example.
• Grand taxi – for trips outside the city or to the airport.

In each city, taxis are painted a specific color so that they can be easily recognized on the street. All taxis have meters, but you can also negotiate a fixed price. In such cases, you need to bargain; you can knock 10-20 dirhams off the initial price.

In Casablanca and Rabat, a modern tram runs across the entire city. Riding it is a pleasure. Tickets can be purchased either from a machine or at the ticket office at any station. Trams run frequently and are comfortable, clean, and spacious.

There are also buses, but Google Maps does not know their routes, they look very dirty, and it is unclear where their stops are. So we did not use them.

Trains

There are two main ways to travel around the country: trains and intercity buses. The trains are quite modern, and you can check the schedule on the website. Moroccans can buy tickets online, while foreigners can buy them directly at the station, at the ticket office, or from a ticket machine. The ticket machines are very convenient, have an English interface, and can give change.

Trains run quite frequently. We had a case when we left not on our train, but on the one that leaves half an hour earlier. Seats are not specified on tickets, so you can take any seat, just like on a commuter train. There are 1st and 2nd class cars. We traveled in two types of 2nd class cars: compartments for 8 people and more classic ones with a passage in the middle.

In many large cities, train station buildings are architecturally attractive. It is very easy to find your way around inside. Ticket prices are very reasonable, not like in Europe, but closer to our prices.

Buses

There are several bus companies operating in the country. Tickets for some routes can be purchased directly at the train station. The ONCF also provides bus services.

The second major carrier is CTM, and tickets for their buses can be purchased on their website. Prices are also reasonable. We bought tickets from Fez to the blue city of Chefchaouen for 75 dirhams, a 4-hour trip. The buses are modern and comfortable. There is one drawback: these buses often do not stop where the others do. For example, in Tangier, they have their own bus station on the outskirts of the city, and in Fez, they stop at two bus stations: the old one and the new one.

Bus stations are usually much worse than train stations. They are dirty and offer zero service. However, Grand and Petit taxi drivers usually gather in front of them.

Communication

There are several mobile operators in Morocco: Maroc Telecom, Inwi, Orange. Upon arrival at Marrakesh airport, we bought an Inwi SIM card. The card includes 7 GB of Internet and 2 hours of domestic calls. It costs 100 dirhams (approximately 10 euros). In fact, I had 4G Internet in all major cities. In the narrow streets of Fez and in the Atlas Mountains, the speed dropped to Edge, and in the Sahara Desert, I had 3G. Overall, the coverage is good, I recommend it.

Safety and religion

I will say right away that Morocco is a safe country with no radical Islamists. Police and military patrol the city. This security measure is designed to prevent terrorist attacks and ensure safety; it does not cause any problems for tourists.

Unlike Saudi Arabia or Iran, the level of religiosity here is quite moderate. No one will judge you for not dressing or behaving in a certain way. However, to show respect, it is still worth dressing modestly. The only inconvenience you will have to put up with is the call to prayer at 3 a.m., which disturbs your sleep, but it only lasts a few minutes.

Conclusion

Morocco is a very colorful country that offers something for everyone: gastronomic tours, ocean surfing, trekking in the Atlas Mountains, rock climbing, camel rides in the Sahara, the beaches of Agadir, and oriental markets with Berber goods in Fez and Marrakesh. This country has locations where Game of Thrones, The Clone Wars, and many other series and films were shot.

Discover Morocco—it's a vibrant place for relaxation and new experiences!