How many landmarks to visit: Plan on 6 to 8 landmarks in a 10 to 14 day trip. Morocco’s sights need time because getting to them, finding the entrance and dealing with offers of help all take energy, and more than one major stop per day leaves you tired and distracted. Medina sites in particular are best taken one at a time, with an hour or two to wander afterward.
Choosing by travel style: If you travel on a tight budget and want ease, put the
imperial cities first: train access, cheap entry and plenty of hostels. If you want fewer people and more atmosphere, favor the
southern kasbahs and ksour, where you need a rented car or shared grand taxi and the payoff is empty courtyards and mud-brick villages at dawn. If you like history, add the Roman and coastal sites in the north. Skip anything …
read more 👉 How many landmarks to visit: Plan on 6 to 8 landmarks in a 10 to 14 day trip. Morocco’s sights need time because getting to them, finding the entrance and dealing with offers of help all take energy, and more than one major stop per day leaves you tired and distracted. Medina sites in particular are best taken one at a time, with an hour or two to wander afterward.
Choosing by travel style: If you travel on a tight budget and want ease, put the
imperial cities first: train access, cheap entry and plenty of hostels. If you want fewer people and more atmosphere, favor the
southern kasbahs and ksour, where you need a rented car or shared grand taxi and the payoff is empty courtyards and mud-brick villages at dawn. If you like history, add the Roman and coastal sites in the north. Skip anything that is mostly a photo stop on a day tour. Marrakech’s central square draws massive crowds, and the best moments there come early in the morning or after sunset, not at midday.
What it costs: A realistic budget is US$30 to 50 a day (300 to 500 MAD) including a hostel dorm or simple riad room, meals, local transport and about two paid sites. Entry to palaces, madrasas and tombs usually runs 50 to 100 MAD (US$5 to 10), and many medina mosques charge nothing because you cannot enter. Licensed guides charge around 300 to 600 MAD (US$30 to 60) for a half day, and hiring one for the two or three most complex sites is money well spent. Trains between cities cost about 40 to 200 MAD (US$4 to 20) depending on the route, and CTM buses are slightly cheaper. A car costs around 300 to 500 MAD (US$30 to 50) a day to rent, plus fuel.
Safety and etiquette: Morocco is generally safe, but expect persistent
unofficial guides in Fès and Marrakech who steer you toward shops for commissions. A polite “la, shukran” and continued walking works better than engaging. Agree on any price before you start, and use only guides with an official badge. Keep valuables in a front pocket in crowded alleys.
Dress with
shoulders and knees covered at religious and historic sites, which is respectful and also draws less attention. Non-Muslims cannot enter most active mosques, so do not try. Ask before photographing people, since many decline and some demand payment. During Ramadan, avoid eating and drinking in public during daylight, and note that opening hours shift. Fridays around midday are prayer time, and some sites close for a few hours.
Finally, carry small bills and coins. Ticket booths and taxi drivers rarely have change for a 200 MAD note.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.