Travel Insurance for Morocco
With its ornate landmarks, diverse history, and countless opportunities for adventures, Morocco is now one of the most visited countries in Africa. If you’re already planning your next Moroccan holiday, here are some top trips for travelling to Morocco and several cities you might like to visit.
Emergency Contact Information
To reach the fire department or emergency medical services call 150. Call 190 if you need the police, or if you’re outside of the city, call 177 to reach the local gendarmerie. If your passport has been lost or stolen while you’re in Morocco, you should cancel your passport and apply for an emergency travel document. The British Embassy in Rabat and the Honorary Consulate in Marrakech can help you to replace your passport and provide you with other consular services. Make a note of your travel insurer’s contact information in case you need to make a claim on your travel insurance policy.
Travel Safety Tips
To travel to Morocco, your passport should be valid for 3 months from the date you enter the country. You should ensure that your passport is stamped when you get there and that it is not damaged. Tourists with unstamped passports can sometimes have trouble with getting home and those with damaged passports have been turned away upon arrival.
If you plan to hire a car in Morocco, you will need purchase a 1968 International Driving Permit (IDP) before your trip. If you plan to drive your own car there, you will need a green card. Don’t forget to bring your UK driving licence with you when you drive.
Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country, and tourists should dress modestly when entering religious buildings. Tourists should be respectful and follow the local customs if travelling during religious holidays, such as Ramadan.
UK tourists should look up the local laws before they travel to Morocco. Sexual relations between unmarried couples and homosexual couples are illegal, and travellers are advised against public displays of affection. Drinking in public is illegal, and travellers should only drink in licenced bars and restaurants. The use and possession of illegal drugs is punishable by incarceration in Morocco. Tourists should also avoid taking photographs of military areas or political buildings.
While there have been reported instances of violent crime, such as thefts and burglaries with weapons, pickpocketing and bag snatching are more common. Tourists should stay alert in busy areas and be wary of bag snatchers on motorbikes. Tourists are advised to use ATMs in banks where available and not to walk alone at night. Travellers should leave any valuables in their hotel safe and carry their bank cards separately from their cash. Travellers should stay on the lookout for confidence scammers, over charging merchants, and fake tour guides.
Anyone who intends to go trekking, kayaking, or rafting in the Atlas Mountains should hire a guide and be aware that there is a risk of getting altitude sickness. Trekkers should bring plenty of water and sunscreen with them and are urged to keep to the paths after the earthquake that occurred in September 2023. Travellers are asked respect the Amazigh (Berber) people who live in the area.
For more information on health and safety, entry requirements, and travel information, check out the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice for travelling to Morocco.
Places to Visit in Morocco
No matter which city you travel to, you’ll get the chance to shop at the bustling souks, try some traditional Moroccan food at a roof-top restaurant, and discover ancient ruins. If you’re not sure where to visit first, take a look at our favourite places to visit in Morocco.
Marrakech
Marrakech is one of the best-known cities in Morocco. It’s known as the "Red City" due to the red clay walls that surround the medina. Also in the medina is Jemaa el-Fna Square where there are street food stalls, orange juice sellers, storytellers, and snake charmers. You’ll find the best souks in Marrakech a short walk away, with Souk Semmarine (the clothing and accessories market), Souk el Attarine (the spice market), and Souk Dhabia (the jewellery market) worth visiting. While you’re in Marrakech, take a tour of Bahia Palace, stroll around the Museum of Marrakech in the Dar Menebhi Palace, and stop by the Jardin Majorelle. It may be a 3-hour car ride from Marrakech, but you should consider travelling through the Atlas Mountains to see Aït Benhaddou.
Fez
Fez is one of Morocco’s oldest cities, and many tourists come here to see the Bab Boujeloud city gate, the Nejjarine Fountain, and the Chouara Tannery in Fes el-Bali medina, which has used the same tanning methods for hundreds of years. In the Fes el-Jdid medina, you’ll find the Royal Palace, the Grand Mosque, and the Bab Semmarine gate. Spend some time admiring the ornate architecture of Al-Attarine Madrasa and explore the Marinid Tombs. Discover Fez’s history by visiting the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts, Borj Nord Museum (Museum of Arms), and the Dar Batha Museum (an archaeological museum housed in a former palace).
Tangier
If you want to dip your toes in the cooling water of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Oceans, Tangier is the perfect place to do it. Its top beaches are Tangier Beach, Sol Beach, and Achakkar Beach. If you go on a self-guided tour of the city, wander over to the medina to see the Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures, check out the shops on Rue Es-Siaghine, and get a cup of mint tea at Café Hafa. If you don’t mind travelling a few miles just outside of the city, spend and afternoon at Perdicaris Park and visit the Caves of Hercules in Cape Spartel, which are said to be almost 8,000 years old.
Rabat
Rabat is Morocco’s capital city, and it attracts visitor from all over the world. Many tourists’ first stop is the Kasbah of the Udayas, which is next to the Bou Regreg River. Visitors can walk up the steps to the Bab Oudaya (the Great Gate), then mosey through the museum and the Andalusian Gardens. The Exotic Gardens of Bouknadel are also worth the short trip outside of the city. Get some great photographs of the Royal Palace and Hassan Tower, before going to the Chellah ruins, Rabat Zoo, and Rabat Old Market.
Casablanca
Many people are familiar with the eponymous film, but not with the city itself. Get familiar with Casablanca’s culture at the Abderrahman Slaoui Foundation Museum, the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, and the Villa des Arts de Casablanca. Get a guided tour of Hassan II Mosque and the museum, and amble along the Palm-tree-lined paths of the Arab League Park. The most popular beaches in Casblanca are Ain Diab Beach and Lalla Meryem Beach, and there are many Turkish baths around the city that cater to tourists. Some of the best restaurants and cafes in Casablanca are in the medina, though you won’t want to miss out on the freshly prepared seafood at the eateries in the Central Market. If you’re looking for some trinkets to take home, shop at Morocco Mall, the biggest shopping centre in Africa.
