How to get there

Passports are required for entry into Morocco, but a visa is not required for stays up to three months for U.S. citizens and British citizens. Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) is the main international airport, approximately 25 km (15 miles) from Casablanca city center. There is also Marrakech international airport, Rabat international airport, Tangier’s international airport and some sixty regional airports. Royal Air Maroc is the national air carrier.

For U.S. travelers, Delta and Continental offer regularly scheduled flights. From the United Kingdom and Europe, Air France, Easy Jet, and Ryanair serve many Moroccan destinations. For domestic flights within Morocco you can use Regional Air Lines.

If cruising is your preferred style of travelling, cruise lines, such as Norwegian and Royal Caribbean offer itineraries with regular stops at the port of Casablanca and sometimes Agadir’s.

Where to stay

In the larger cities, such as Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech and Tangier, there are few international hotels chains such as the Sheraton, the Ramada and Hyatt. There are also excellent five star and four hotels throughout all of the major cities. However, many travelers find that the best accommodations in Morocco are Riads, which are traditional Moroccan homes that have been converted into small hotels and private guest houses. They are usually nestled deep in old medinas, the beating heart of the Moroccan culture and traditions.

Currency and Banking

The currency of Morocco is the Dirham (Dh, or MAD in on-line currency converters).The currency is issued in banknotes of 20, 50, 100 and 200 Dirham, coins of 1, 5, 10 Dirham and coins of 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimes. (1 dirham is subdivided into 100 centimes).

The Dirham is not available outside of the country. It is normally purchased in Morocco at the bureaux de change in international airports, banks and at some large hotel lobbies. You could use the Euro, (and to a lesser extent the British Pound and US dollars) on arrival till you make the currency change.

Banking hours are weekdays 8.15am to 3.45pm but are limited to 9am to 2pm in Ramadan and also in summer time. 

Culture and Heritage

Morocco is a tapestry of multi-ethnic groups offering a rich culture and civilization. The people of Morocco came, in addition to the indigenous Berbers, from East (Phoenicians, Jews and Arabs), south (Moors and Sub-Saharan Africans) and North (Romans and Vandals). All of these ethnicities had an impact on the social structure of Morocco and its beliefs, from paganism, Judaism, Christianity to Islam.

Politically, Morocco is called an Arab state and sometimes as an African state.  Seventy percent speak Arabic and about a third speaks the Amazigh language. French is the language of business.

Moroccan Festivals

Festivals are part of the Moroccan culture. They offer a window into the local culture, traditions, dance, music, food and religion.