Is Morocco Overrated? Everything You Should Know Before Visiting
Is Morocco overrated? Read on to find out the answer!
Morocco has become a hugely popular tourist destination in recent years, but is it actually overrated?
Whether it’s crossing the Sahara desert or marvelling at the blue city of Chefchaouen, there’s no doubt that you’ve heard friends or family rave about how beautiful a place it is.
But is it really as amazing as it’s made out to be, or is it actually very overhyped and disappointing? As a frequent traveller to Morocco (I’ve visited the country multiple times), I have a lot of experience with travelling there.
I’ll be answering in detail if it is actually overrated or not in this blog post, as well as looking at the best cities to visit and best things to do when in Morocco.
Plan Your Trip With My Recommended Resources:
🏨 Accommodation: I always use Booking.com
🚙 Rental Car: Discover Cars has the best car rental prices
❤️ Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage
✈️ Flights: Kiwi.com has the best prices on flights
📱eSIM: Airalo has a fantastic range of eSIMs
Is Morocco Worth Visiting?
So is Morocco overrated? Personally, no, I don’t agree that it is overrated at all! In my experience, I found it to be an extremely fascinating country with amazingly beautiful cities, glorious beaches, a rich culture, history and friendly people.
There are some negatives, as there are with any country you visit. It’s quite common in certain Moroccan cities as a tourist to draw unwanted attention by scammers and people looking for money, which I’ll detail in a moment.
And other negatives that tourists complain about Morocco are things like air pollution being bad in cities like Casablanca, as well as crime rates being quite high in places like Marrakech.
Let’s take a closer look at what is the main topic that tourists complain about when visiting Morocco:
Tourists experience harassment
This was particularly true for me when I visited both Tangier and Marrakech. When some locals see you as a tourist then they just won’t leave you alone, unfortunately.
Whether it’s youngsters begging for money and following you until you give in, or people trying to con you out of money from a taxi ride or something else, there is a non stop barrage of unwelcomed attention.
This can be quite a scary experience at first and put you off from enjoying your holiday. As a solo traveller I did feel a bit unsafe, and I can imagine it must be twice as worse if you’re a solo female traveller.
Locals can try to scam you
After a while you get used to just saying no to strangers constantly approaching you for money or offering you drugs or cheap taxi deals or just trying to scam you from money.
If you accept help from a local when it comes to directions to your hotel, then don’t be surprised when they ask for a tip. And if you refuse to pay then they can get very aggressive with you, which is not a great first impression of the country.
Shop owners are too persistent
It gets quite tiresome and overwhelming, especially when visiting one of the many souk markets in Marrakech. Haggling over a price can be a unpleasant experience rather than an enjoyable one.
As soon as you stop to visit one of the many shops then you’ll be accosted by the shop owner who will try to convince you to buy something you have no interest in buying.
I had no interest whatsoever in trying on a traditional piece of head clothing when visiting one such shop in Souk Semmarine in Marrakech, but ended up trying on the garment just to make the shop owner happy.
Moroccan cities can be unclean and polluted
Tourists also complain that some of the cities in Morocco are quite dirty and unclean and that the food is not all that amazing – once you’ve tried one tagine you’ve tried them all.
Despite being personally scammed a couple of times when visiting Morocco, as well as the excessive unwanted attention, none of this affected my overall experience when visiting the country.
I would still highly recommend people to visit Morocco, it’s a great alternative option to Europe, it has some stunning natural sights and very beautiful places and unusual culture for a Westerner.
Best Things to do in Morocco
Now that we’ve established that no, Morocco isn’t really overrated at all and yes, it is definitely worth visiting, what is there to do in Morocco? Well, let’s take a look at some of the best things to do when visiting the country:
Cross the Sahara Desert
If you’re feeling in an adventurous mood when in Morocco then a must do trip is to cross the Sahara desert. There are plenty of trips from Marrakech that usually take 2-3 days and I highly recommend these tours.
Crossing the Sahara Desert on a camel and camping out with local Berbers was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had on my travels; the views are simply incredible and unforgettable – I can’t recommend it enough!
Along the way to the desert from Marrakech you’ll stop off at several historical sites and get to see real authentic Morocco. You’ll also pass through the Atlas Mountains too…
See the Atlas Mountains
If you need to escape the hustle and bustle of Marrakech, then a trip to the Atlas Mountains is always a good choice. The views once again are incredible and being surrounded by nature is an inspiring time.
At the mountains you can visit the Ouzoud Waterfalls up close by taking a guided hike and go on a boat ride. This is an amazing tour and another great experience where you get to learn all about Berber culture and way of life.
Check out the Leather Tanneries
The city of Fes in Morocco is most famous for its three leather tanneries and the most famous is the Chouara tannery. It is the largest and oldest (over a thousand years) and is based in the medina.
You can have a great view watching the workers soaking the leather skins in a fermented solution of pigeon poo and tannery waste in the countless pools from the balconies of the surrounding leather shops.
A lot of tourists complain about the bad smell here, but it honestly didn’t bother me when I visited – if you can overcome that then you’ll have a great time!
It is honestly a very fascinating experience and one you simply can’t miss when in Fes.
Try a Traditional Moroccan Hammam Massage
Travelling is always an exhausting experience, so when in Morocco a good option to get refreshed and recharged is to try a traditional Moroccan Hammam massage.
A hammam is a traditional Moroccan spa and you’ll find several of these in all the popular cities in the country, both male only and female only spas are available too.
My hammam massage when visiting Fes was quite an experience. I visited a traditional male only hammam and received a full body scrub massage.
My masseuse was quite rough and it’s definitely not something to try if you don’t like your personal space being invaded.
But it’s another unique chance to experience Moroccan way of life and is a way to cleanse and detox, leaving you refreshed and ready to face the world again.
Haggle for prices at a Souk Market
As stated earlier in this blog, I didn’t exactly enjoy haggling with shop owners at the Souk Semmarine when visiting Marrakech.
But don’t let my experience deter you from trying to find a bargain! The souk markets are an amazing place full of interesting items from everything including antiques to dresses to food.
It can be an overwhelming, exotic attack on the senses for sure, but well worth checking out and of course you don’t have to haggle if you don’t intend on buying anything.
Best Cities to Visit in Morocco
Now we’ve looked at the best things to do in Morocco, what are the best cities to visit? The country has several really beautiful, fascinating cities that I would highly recommend visiting:
Tangier
Tangier lies on the Mediterranean coast and is easily reachable via ferry from Tarifa in the south of Spain, which takes just over an hour.
Leaving Spain behind for the walled medina city in Tangier is like travelling back in time. It’s a surreal cultural shift and you get a true sense of the differences between Europe and northern Africa.
The old medina is the best attraction that Tangier has to offer. This is an ancient, vibrant, lively place with countless souks (marketplaces), selling everything from rugs to spices and everything else in between.
You can easily get lost down the winding alleys, which is all part of the fun in discovering new places. The atmosphere here is overwhelming (like most cities in Morocco) but a great place to begin your adventure in this country.
Marrakech
No trip to Morocco is complete without a visit to Marrakech, the fourth largest city in Morocco and a former imperial city.
Marrakech is full of beautiful mosques, markets, palaces and gardens. The main square in the centre of the old medina in Marrakech is called Jemaa el-Fnaa. This is where all the action takes place at night.
There are countless food stalls selling all kinds of food, including whole sheep heads with the eyeballs still intact! The food stall sellers are quite the comedians as well and do great impersonations of British accents amongst others.
Summer in Marrakech
During the summer months a music festival takes place after sunset in the main square. You’ll see lots of live music in the square as well, even stand up comedy acts, which was fun but the humour can get lost in translation!
You’ll experience an early wakeup call in Marrakech as the several mosques in the city blast morning prayers. It takes a bit of getting used to at first but is actually a unique way to start the day.
Where to visit in Marrakech
Many hostels and hotels in the medina offer great rooftop views. You can enjoy a morning cup or two of mint tea (the national beverage of Morocco) while enjoying the unique city views.
There are several places that should be on your list when in Marrakech. These include: the Koutoubia Mosque, the Saadian Tombs and the El Badi Palace. This palace is super old and has a huge body of water to walk around.
The Jardin Majorelle is also a must visit when visiting Marrakech. This is the most famous garden of Marrakech and is full of stunning beauty.
It was created by the French painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920’s and restored in the 1980’s by the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.
There’s no other botanical garden like it in the world, it is full of vibrant colours and bamboo groves and is the perfect place to chill out from the busy, hectic way of life in the old medina of Marrakech.
Essaouira
A few hours from Marrakech is the beautiful, charming port city of Essaouira on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. It takes three hours from Marrakech via coach, which is cheap and easy to reach.
It’s possible to go to Essaouira on a day trip from Marrakech, but it is such an interesting place that you may want to stay a couple of days longer.
Essaouira offers a much more relaxed atmosphere to Marrakech, which is a nice change of pace. The city boasts a busy harbour where you can watch fishermen going about their business.
It’s a very historical city too, with an old fort lining the city wall’s. I absolutely loved my day trip to Essaouira and only wish I had spent more time there – I recommend at least 2 days there.
There are the famous blue boats of Essaouira to see as well. This is quite a sight, and a photographer’s dream. As it’s right next to the Atlantic ocean, there are many great seafood restaurants to explore too.
Essaouira is spectacularly beautiful place to relax and unwind. It has a cool hippy vibe which makes it a nice place to escape to, whether for just a day or a few days.
Fes
Fes is the oldest city in Morocco and is quite similar to Marrakech with its own similar large bustling medina which I guarantee you will get lost in.
As mentioned earlier, the main attraction in Fes are its Leather Tanneries, where workers dye leathers in huge stone vats which are full of different coloured dyes.
I found Fes to be full of history, and again, like many cities in Morocco it’s like stepping back in time, with many ancient buildings and traditions still continuing everywhere you go.
It’s a bustling city quite similar to Marrakech, and is definitely worth visiting for a couple of days at least.
Chefchaouen
Last but most definitely not least is the magical, enchanting city of Chefchaouen, a few hours north of Fes. There are no train routes to Chefchaouen so you’ll have to choose either a private taxi or a bus to get there.
Based in the Rif Mountains in northwest Morocco, Chefchaouen is known as ‘the Blue Pearl’ because every building in the old town is painted a light blue colour.
Chefchaouen’s walls are called blue because some locals believe it represents the colour of the Mediterranean sea. Others believe it represents the city’s Ras el-Maa waterfall where citizens get their water from.
Whatever the real reason, it doesn’t really matter because you’ll be mesmerised by the city’s beauty. It’s easy to spend a day walking around and photographing the streets, alleys and doors all daubed in the same light blue colour.
It’s most likely that you’ve seen fellow travellers post several photos of Chefchaouen and it is the perfect place to take a few Instagram snaps.
Some people may say it’s overhyped and not all that special a place, but I couldn’t disagree more.
It’s honestly unlike anywhere else in the world. The city has a special vibe to it, everyone there is friendly and relaxed and my only regret is that I didn’t spend more days there.
I spent 2 days in Chefchaouen but I would recommend a few days more to really make the most of this special place.
Morocco FAQs
Still not convinced about visiting Morocco? Let’s answer some of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to visiting Morocco:
Is Morocco safe to visit?
Yes, Morocco is generally considered a safe place to visit for tourists and it has a low crime rate overall.
If you’re travelling alone then you may attract unwanted attention as I’ve detailed in this blog, so it’s best to stay alert at all times during your travels.
What is Moroccan food like?
Moroccan cuisine is a mix of many different cultures and influences and the dishes you’ll find in Morocco are full of complex flavours.
Tagine is probably the most popular Moroccan dish and one you’ll try several times if you visit the country.
A tagine is mostly a meat dish (but vegetable options are available too) which are cooked in a coned shaped pot and the food is cooked traditionally over a charcoal fire.
As a vegetarian I found that there was a limited amount of options whenever I visited a restaurant in Morocco. I mostly ate vegetable tagine which is tasty but can be rather bland once you’ve tried a few.
When is the best time to visit Morocco?
The best time to visit Morocco is any time during the Spring or Autumn months, when the temperature is warm but not too hot.
Summer time in Morocco can be unpleasant with temperatures in the mid 30’s or higher for extended periods of time. If you’re not a fan of oppressive heat then definitely don’t visit Morocco during these months.
Wintertime is the cheapest time to visit Morocco in terms of flights and accommodation, but temperatures can be low, between 8 to 15 degrees Celsius, and there may be a some days where the temperature is freezing.
How to reach Morocco?
Flying into Morocco is the most obvious choice when visiting the country, there are a total of 10 major international airports, the largest of which is Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport.
However, a more interesting way to reach Morocco is by ferry. The country is very close to the south of Spain, and from the municipality of Tarifa, which is a lovely beach resort area popular with surfers.
Tarifa is based near Cadiz in Andalucía and there are several ferries every day to Tangier. The tickets are quite cheap and the ferry only takes just over an hour or so to reach Morocco.
Conclusion: Is Morocco Overrated?
So, that’s everything you need to know that answers the question: is Morocco overrated? I can understand why some people may say it is overrated for the several different reasons I’ve identified in this blog post.
You can definitely have a bad experience in Morocco when it comes to scammers, persistent shop owners and attracting unwelcomed attention, which will definitely sour your vacation.
But despite this, Morocco is a very beautiful country with a rich history and a lot of diverse places to visit, whether it be the amazing old medina in Tangier or the beautiful seaside city of Essaouira or the beautiful beach location of Agadir.
Now you know if Morocco is overrated or not, you can plan your trip and see for yourself all that this magnificent country has to offer.
You may also enjoy these blog posts about North Africa:
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➡️ Discover An Epic 8 Day Itinerary For Extraordinary Egypt
➡️ The Best Way to Travel from Cairo to Luxor: A Complete Guide
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➡️ Planning your trip? Here are my favourite resources:
🏨 Accommodation: I recommend using Booking.com
🚙 Rental Car: Use Discover Cars for the best car rental prices
❤️ Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage
✈️ Flights: Use Kiwi.com for the best prices on flights