By plane

The easiest way to get there is by plane – there are direct flights from Moscow and many options with transfers in European cities. The most convenient and inexpensive option is a flight from Moscow to Casablanca with a transfer in Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight. You can choose a long transfer and admire a little the largest city in Turkey.

On water

From Spain you can go to Morocco by ferry – the walk is very romantic and takes only a couple of hours.

Transport

According to Paradisdachat, buses are the most widespread in the country; they travel between all cities of the country. Often they are overcrowded, staying in cities for a long time. There are first and second class, but in terms of convenience they are about the same.

In cities, buses run rarely, at long intervals, so it is better to use a taxi – passengers are available in them, but you can also call them separately. There are large taxis, something like minibuses, which go only after they are completely full, or if the tourist pays the cost of unoccupied seats.

Domestically, planes fly between Agadir, Casablanca, Fez and other major cities. Flights are not cheap, it is quite difficult to figure out where to go at airports.

Railways in the country are also common, it is most convenient to travel between Casablanca, Fes, Rabat, Meknes and Marrakesh. Tickets are inexpensive, the trains are comfortable, they travel fast.

It is possible to rent a car after the age of 21, with an international driving license. The main thing is not to rent a car on the street – only in a specialized salon. Also remember that in large cities, locals observe traffic rules poorly and in a strange way, so the best option would be a car with a personal driver – this way you can easily get to any sights and, as a result, even save on taxis and buses.

Money

The local currency is the Moroccan dirham. Only he is in use, you cannot pay with euros and dollars. Small coins are called satims.

An interesting fact is that Moroccans do not protect banknotes at all, so do not be surprised to see torn, dirty and crumpled money.

You can exchange currency at the airport or in the city, the rate is almost the same everywhere. The main thing is to change the currency only in official exchangers – the rate is more profitable on the black market, but there may be problems with the law. Euros and dollars are accepted for exchange, there will be problems with rubles. Be sure to keep a certificate of exchange – with it you can exchange money back upon departure at the same rate, since the export of the national currency is prohibited.

Bank cards are practically not accepted anywhere, only in hotels and the largest tourist places. In cafes and shops, even if there is a cashless payment, they are often deceived with it, so it’s better to get by with cash.

Cuisine and restaurants

When choosing Morocco for a holiday, in no case should you ignore the local original and diverse cuisine, which combines the traditions of many peoples.

The cuisine is based on local vegetables and fruits, especially citrus fruits, various legumes and cereals. Fish are very common – tuna, mackerel, sardines and perches. There is also seafood – they eat almost everything that is caught in the sea. From meat, beef, goat, lamb, poultry and camel meat are widespread, pork is prohibited by the laws of Islam. A lot of spices – garlic, saffron, onion, mint, etc. – they are added even to very simple dishes.

The meal usually begins with appetizers:

• pickled beans;
• Various vegetable salads;
• Humus;
• Very popular taboule salad, with oranges and crab meat, or a mixture of octopus, oranges and eggplant;
• Almost everywhere they serve pastille – a layered cake with nuts, chicken, herbs and eggs;
• Cakes and flat bread are always put on the table, which can be spread with harissa – hot pepper paste.

The recipes of many dishes in Morocco have changed a lot, but the soups have remained the same as before. All of them are very satisfying and thick:

• Harira, with beans, lamb and coriander;
• Chorba with chicken;
• Imjadra – lentil soup with tomato puree;
• Ab gushte fasl – vegetable soup with legumes and eggplant.

Meat is very popular in Morocco. A favorite dish of locals and tourists is Tajine, a kind of spicy stew that can be meat, fish or chicken. Another popular dish is couscous, wheat groats with vegetables, raisins, a special set of spices and meat, fish, chicken, or just a large set of vegetables. You can try meshui – lamb on a spit or shish kebab. An unusual dish will be quail with ginger and honey.

If you love fish, you will love samak-bi-tahina – baked fish in foil with lemon sauce, or samak-kebab fish skewers.

Desserts include baklama, shebakia (local halva), makrud sweet rolls and kaab el gzal bagels. Citrus fruits are added to many sweets.

Locals prefer fresh green mint tea to drink, sometimes they replace it with coffee with milk or citrus fresh juice.

Reviews

Reviews about holidays in Morocco are mostly positive – tourists really like the local nature, ancient sights and, of course, the beaches. The really unusual culture and color and excellent sunny weather are especially pleasing. Tourists have a rest in completely different places, and everywhere in general it is pleasant, regardless of the purpose of the holiday.

The main drawback, according to reviews, is the obsession of the Arabs and sometimes the sea is too cool, even in the summer. Also, no one here speaks English, which can be a problem. There are no other complaints, and the country is really remembered by vacationers for a long time and leaves only pleasant memories. As many people say, you will spend money like in Turkey, and you will get a hundred times more impressions and real exotics.

Helpful Hints

For those who are going on vacation in Morocco, we have some useful tips and life hacks:

• Always watch your pockets very carefully – there are a lot of pickpockets and thieves. Do not carry valuables with you, and park cars only in guarded parking lots. Remember that the country has a tourist police, which the local population is afraid of – its employees will be happy to help you;
• On Saturday and Sunday, many do not work, some shops are closed on Fridays. Markets are usually always open, but on weekends prices increase especially for foreigners;
• No one helps for free in Morocco, so there are two options – either go broke paying locals for petty advice, or find a trusted guide in advance. Some tourists claim that the second option is even cheaper;
• You will still need a trifle – you will have to pay even for a request to indicate the direction, while the locals are very intrusive and will not leave you until you pay;
• The city of Fez is famous for its tannery quarter. Tourists are often advised to go there, but it smells terrible, and everything does not look so beautiful – many often feel sick. So you can not include a visit there in your program;
• But you should definitely go to local bakeries – they prepare very tasty bread;
• Be sure to try camel meat – it is unusual, slightly dry, but really very tasty;
• You can escape the heat with traditional clothing – djellaboy. It will also become a wonderful souvenir, and it will look very appropriate in Morocco;
• It is better not to go here in Ramadan – at this time during the day there will be nowhere to even have a bite, not to mention some kind of entertainment.