“Is Morocco safe to travel to?” When people find out that I spent two months in Morocco as a female traveler, that is the most common question that I get asked. Yes, I did live in Morocco for two months in the spring of 2018 and got to travel all around Morocco. I was based in Casablanca and taught English at a local cultural center. When I was not teaching, I spent my time traveling around Morocco, trying to see as much of the country as I can. I traveled to popular cities such as Fes, Marrakesh, Tangier, Chefchaouen, and even the Sahara Desert, and I want to share my experience with you. So, you want to know whether solo female travel in Morocco is safe?
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Is it safe to travel around Morocco as a female?
Short answer – yes, absolutely! During my two months in Morocco, I never felt unsafe. I believe Morocco is safe for solo female travel. You’ll still want to take the same precautions as with traveling to any destination, but there was never a heightened fear for my safety. There will still be the risk of pickpocketers and scammers, so you will still want to remain vigilant. However, those crimes are common in any popular tourist destination.
I am a firm believer that there is no true “safe” place in the world. Bad things could happen anywhere even in the safety of our own comfort zone. However, it is important for you to do your research before traveling to ANY country. Check for any travel or safety notices from reputable sources such as those from your own government. If you’re US-based, then the State Government is a great site.
Unless there is a travel notice that says “do not travel” for a certain country, then I believe it is safe to do so. Additionally, please use common sense and good judgment and be aware of your surroundings in any places you travel to.
Common Scams in Morocco
During my two months in Morocco, I never felt unsafe or that I was in danger. Tourism is a large part of Morocco’s economy and Moroccans are very hospitable to visitors. However, there are common scams that I do want to point out that I want people to be aware of:
- If someone tells you that you cannot go a certain way and attempt to redirect you, do not follow them. Some excuses might be “because of prayer” or “because of religion”, but these are typically lies. You should judge for yourself whether you can go proceed in the direction.
- If you need help finding a place whether it be a restaurant or a landmark, think carefully before asking someone for help. Most of the time they will show you or give you directions, but they will want a tip for their help.
- If someone offers to show you a “shortcut”, once again do not follow them. More likely than not, they just want you to tip them at the end. This typically happens in the medinas of Fes or Marrakesh as it could be a maze getting from place to place. I always use Google Maps when I navigate and it was very trustworthy. Maps got me to where I needed to go around Morocco – including walking around the medinas.
I did not fall for any of these tricks as I’ve encountered these in other places I’ve visited before, but I would hate for unseasoned travelers to be unaware.
Other Frequently Asked Questions about Morocco Answered
1. Do they speak English in Morocco?
Yes and no – depending on where you go in Morocco. The official languages of Morocco are Arabic and Berber, the language of the Amazigh people who were the original settlers of Morocco. However, French is also widely spoken as Morocco was occupied by the French in the early 1900s.
Today, French is taught universally and serves as Morocco’s primary language in education, government, commerce, culture, and medicine. Spanish is also spoken by many Moroccans who live in northern Morocco around Tangier. To answer the question, English is not a widely spoken language in Morocco and you will be better off trying to speak French. However, there will be English speakers in the tourist business, and you will find English speakers in the more popular tourist destinations such as Marrakesh and Fes. I actually had the most trouble in Casablanca, but that’s because I was living there and I was living my day-to-day life, not sightseeing or being a tourist.
2. Can I visit the mosques?
You can only visit the mosques if you are Muslim. I was told that you are not supposed to enter the mosques if you’re not a practitioner of the Islamic faith so I never tried entering any. However, you can enter the Hasan II Mosque in Casablanca by purchasing tickets and going on a guided tour. I purchased the entrance tickets in person at the mosque and the tours were frequent – every half an hour.
3. Do I need to wear a hijab or headscarf as a woman?
There is no need to cover your head in Morocco at all. Some Muslim countries might demand that women cover themselves, however, Morocco is a very liberal Muslim country and has no such requirement. The Moroccan women choose whether or not they want to wear a hijab. Overall, Morocco is a very tolerant Muslim country.
4. What should I pack for Morocco?
In general, take loose and modest clothing to Morocco. I wore jeans, short sleeve tops, linen pants, maxi dresses, and maxi skirts, and I never felt out of place. In Marrakesh, I even wore a regular dress since it is more touristy and pretty tolerant. Once again, Morocco is a tolerant country, but do dress modestly in order to be respectful to the culture and not attract unwanted attention.
5. When is the best time to go to Morocco?
The best times to go to Morocco would be spring or fall. I spent March and April in Morocco and I thought the weather was great! The temperature was temperate and typically ranged from a low of 50 degrees to 70 degrees. Plus, it was great to visit the Sahara Desert when it is not blazing hot as it is in the summer.
Make sure to pay attention to when Ramadan starts and ends (it changes annually) before you plan your trip as some businesses will be closed in observance of Ramadan. Muslims will fast from sunrise and sundown during Ramadan so many places might not be open.
6. How do I get around Morocco? What is the transportation situation?
To get between cities, you could take buses or even hop on a train. I found buses to be reliable and I used CTM mainly. Morocco also has one of the best train systems in Africa and has routes that connect the major cities. Check out the ONCF website for times and routes. To travel within a city, there are taxis readily available. I found most cities to be walkable since most of the major sites and attractions were around the same area.
7. Are credit cards accepted in Morocco?
Morocco is still a cash-based society so you will need Moroccan Dirhams (MAD) for day-to-day expenses. You will find some restaurants that take credit cards (typically Visa and Mastercard), but it is best to just have dirhams on hand for everyday expenses. I brought US dollars with me to convert into dirhams at the exchange shops and I also withdrew from ATM machines using a fee-waived debit card.
Final Thoughts on Solo Female Travel in Morroco
In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed my two months living in Morocco, and I cannot wait to go back and visit again. I definitely did experience culture shock when I first arrived, but my advice for traveling to any place is to keep an open mind. In these situations, you’re the outsider and you need to learn to appreciate and assimilate to other cultures, not the other way around. I recommend taking the same precautions you would traveling around Morocco as you would with any place and being cautious of your actions and choice of attire, but solo female travel in Morocco is absolutely safe.
If you do decide to visit Morocco, check out my other articles on the best places to visit in Morocco, the best things to do in Marrakesh, the best riads to stay at, and going on a tour to the Sahara Desert!
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