Marrakech essentials

By the ULTIMATE Marrakech Editorial Team

Passports and visas

You can visit Morocco without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism; to stay longer you must request an extension at a Moroccan police station. Your passport must have an expiry date at least three months after the date you arrive and must not be damaged. Border officials should stamp your passport when you enter: some travellers without an entry stamp have had difficulty leaving (GOV.UK).

The dirham

The Moroccan dirham is a closed, non-convertible currency, so it cannot easily be exchanged outside Morocco. You must declare foreign currency worth 100,000 dirhams or more (about £8,000) when you enter or leave. Defacing banknotes is illegal (GOV.UK).

Respecting local customs

Morocco’s laws and customs reflect that it is an Islamic country. Ramadan next begins in February 2027: eating, drinking or smoking in public in the daytime may then cause offence, opening hours change and fasting can bring tiredness by late afternoon. Alcohol is served in licensed venues, and drinking anywhere else is illegal. Dress modestly, above all near religious sites, and ask before you photograph people (GOV.UK).

Guides and scams

People posing as official guides are common in the medina: use only guides with an official badge. Pickpocketing and bag-snatching happen in the historic districts, and credit-card fraud and scams are common (GOV.UK).

Driving and drones

To drive you need the 1968 international driving permit with your UK licence, and a green card from your insurer; any alcohol in your system is an offence. Flying a drone needs permission from the civil aviation authority (GOV.UK).

Emergency numbers

Ambulance 150, fire 150, police 190, gendarmerie 177 (GOV.UK). Travel with insurance that covers medical treatment; see our health page for the university hospital and the duty pharmacy.

Questions and answers