7 Best Places to Visit in Morocco

Morocco, a country in North Africa, is a popular holiday destination for Europeans. It’s relatively close to Europe, and the flights are cheap. Also, it’s not expensive to travel in Morocco, and the country is exotic enough and diverse. Making Morocco a great travel destination for all kinds of travelers.

More and more families with small children chose to travel to Morocco because they want to experience warm weather during the fall and spring. Morocco is also popular among surfers and a desirable retirement destination for seniors.

No matter what kind of traveler are you, you’ll definitely enjoy your time in Morocco.

But what to see in Morocco?

To help you with the task of planning we’ve made a list of some of the best places to visit in Morocco.

7 Best Places to Visit in Morocco

1. Fez

Best Places to Visit in Morocco

Fez, the second largest city in Morocco, is a great place for history and culture enthusiasts.

The most popular place to visit in Fez is the Medina (old quarter). The Fez Medina is listed as a World Heritage Site. It’s a car-free area full of traditional shops, markets, and different workshops. It’s also home to Chouara Tannery which is the largest tannery in Fez, and one of the main tourist’s attractions in the city. What makes it unique is that the leather there is still dyed naturally, and by hand, like centuries ago.

2. Marrakesh

Marrakesh is one of the major cities in the country, and one of the best places to visit in Morocco.

The city is rich with culture and history. Its old quarter, the Medina, contrasts with its modern New City, Gueliz. While the Medina has narrow roads, busy souks, and traditional shops, the new quarter is a modern neighborhood with wide roads, upscale restaurants, and fancy stores.

When in Marrakesh do not miss the impressive Jemaa el-Fnaa square and market!

It’s a huge busy square in the Medina. Snake charmers, food stalls, juice vendors, musicians, clothes, accessories and, of course, souvenirs! Visit this bustling magical place even if you don’t plan to buy anything.

On a clear day, snow-capped mountains are visible from almost any rooftop in the city. Many hotels in Marrakesh have rooftop terraces, and often breakfast is served there, so the guests can enjoy the beautiful views.

3. Ait Benhaddou

Ait Benhaddou is a fortified medieval village 170 km Southeast of Marrakesh, originally inhabited by Berbers. It is listed as a World Heritage Site, and the houses in this village are an example of unique Moroccan clay architecture.

Scenes of many films have been filmed in Ait Benhaddou, including the now popular series Game of Thrones.

The village is situated in the foothills of the High Atlas, and this makes the old clay buildings look even more unique. Exploring the little town you will feel like you have traveled back in time.

4. Merzouga

Going on a trip to the Sahara desert is one of the best things to do in Morocco.

One of the best places to go for a desert tour is Merzouga. The part of the desert near Merzouga is known for its dunes (Erg Chebbi dunes).

With an area of 9,200,000 square kilometers, the Sahara desert is the largest hot desert in the world. The Sahara desert covers parts of several countries in Africa, including such tourist destinations as Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco.

Not only you can spend a night under the stars, but also ride a camel and do some sandboarding.

Or, stay in a guest house near the dunes and go explore them on your own. Don’t forget to bring lots of water and try not to get lost!

5. Essaouira

Essaouira is a port city, and the fishing industry is strong there. However, that’s not what draws people to it, but its amazing, relaxed vibe.

Visit the fishing port to see how the catch is unloaded. Take some photos of those traditional, blue wooden fishing boats. Or enjoy the breeze on the main beach. If you are coming on a beach holiday, take into account that mostly it’s colder here than further down south.

Just like any so many other towns and cities in Morocco, Essaouira too has an old town (the Medina). The Medina of Essaouira is protected by the 18th-century defensive wall. Bronze cannons still line its walls.

6. Taghazout and Paradise Valley

Taghazout is a fishing village and a popular surfing destination just one-hour bus ride away from Agadir.

Surf beaches of Taghazout and neighboring Tamraght are great not only for experienced surfers but also for those only learning to surf.

But surfing is not the only thing to do in the area. Do not miss Paradise Valley! It’s a part of the Tamraght River valley known for its natural turquoise pools, cascades, and spectacular cliffs. It’s easy to get there by shared taxi.

7. Mirleft and Legzira

Mirleft is a small, peaceful town in Sidi Ifni province in South Morocco.

The beautiful, uncrowded Mirleft beach is situated between tall cliffs.

The town itself is surrounded by hills. To see beautiful views of the area, hike one of these hills. Just be careful – the hills are covered in large cacti and succulents, and spiky plants. If you are up for another exercise, go and walk along the cliff and enjoy the beauty and power of the ocean. There’s a path along the cliff edge. Just be careful, as there’s no railing!

If you are traveling to Mirleft, don’t miss Legzira. It’s a beautiful beach known for its impressive rock archways. Unfortunately one of them collapsed in 2016, leaving Legzira with only one arch.

Morocco travel tips

 

  1. You don’t need a visa to travel to Morocco. Citizens of most European Union countries are entitled to visa-free entry for up to 90 days.
  2. Trains are a convenient way to travel between cities in Morocco. Also, they are not that much more expensive than buses. But you can’t get everywhere by train in Morocco. When taking a train is not an option, get a bus. The most popular bus companies are CTM and Supratours.
  3. Morocco is quite large. If you want to visit both north and south, consider flying to save time. Tickets are not expensive. For example, a plane ticket from Rabat to Agadir costs 25 EUR.
  4. People in Morocco are friendly and generous, and most are honest and very helpful to tourists. But still, there are a few scams you should know about when traveling to Morocco, especially to the most touristic places of the country. Do the research and come prepared.
  5. If you plan on shopping in local markets, learn to haggle. Otherwise, you won’t get a fair price, Haggling is the norm in Morocco, but more and more shops now have fixed prices.
  6. Dress modestly – no short skirts and tight tank tops! While the largest cities are very modern, still Morocco is a rather conservative country.