What to see in Morocco

Morocco is a beautiful country just a few hours flights from Europe. Perfect for a short trip of 7 days, it also lends itself well to a 2-week trip. In this post, you will discover what to see in Morocco in a fortnight travelling between the Sahara desert, the imperial cities and the coast.

If you have decided to discover North Africa for the first time, Morocco will most likely be the first country that comes to mind. What to see in Morocco will be the second thing you will ask yourself, as the country is huge and overflowing with things to see and magical places. Morocco is a magical country, rather cheap, heterogeneous and above all easy and fast to reach, the main Italian destinations are connected to the most famous Moroccan imperial cities, Fes and Marrakesh, by low-cost airlines. The great thing about Morocco is that it offers exotic charm just a 4-hour flight away, so without having to go round the world!

Morocco:

Morocco goes far beyond the beautiful imperial cities, the beauty of this country is probably due to this mix of Arab cities with Berber cultures and desert landscapes, such as the mountains and the sea.
Discovering only the big cities would be like stopping at the appetizer of a rich dinner. The cities tantalize but it is the complex that makes this place extremely fascinating and mysterious. Settings from “tea in the desert” (Bernardo Bertolucci’s film shot in Morocco, Algeria and Niger), turbans, markets, dates and dust. A succession of landscapes that at times seem to take you to the deserts of Argentina and Chile, to the Bolivian mountains, and fluidly open up to the gates of the desert.

The sea and the waves, the surfers and the campers. 18 degrees in winter and 40 in summer, fiery colours and souls full of almost tireless vitality. Two weeks are enough to get in tune with this wonderful country which, even if seen for the most part once, generally makes you leave with the conviction that a second visit would not be a bad thing.

I’m back in Morocco for the third time, so mindful of past trips I created this travel itinerary that according to my guide during the desert tour is complex and well-articulated. I was very pleased with it and want to share it with you.

The trip began and ended in Marrakech. It includes some imperial cities, the ocean, the Rif mountains, the desert, the valleys and the Great Atlas pass.
A complete vision of the whole country that allows you to discover it in its different facets, population included.

How to get to Morocco

The fastest and cheapest way is to fly. As of this year, low-cost airlines also fly to the main Moroccan cities. Find a flight to Morocco and get ready for one of the most magical journeys you can take!

Books and guides about Morocco
As a guide, I recommend the Morocco Tour Operator agency, a complete guide covering the whole country and with excellent sections on transport.
For a more in-depth look at the history and culture of Morocco, I recommend the following books.

Morocco, novel – Tahar Ben Jelloun is the most famous Moroccan writer. In this book he describes Morocco, making us imagine landscapes, cities, places and above all people. His interest focuses on Moroccan men and women, their habits, customs, traditions and beliefs of a people proud of their history and culture.

The forbidden terrace. Life in the Harem – A book that, through the story of the protagonist, reveals the way of life in Morocco in the past and the laws in force at the time, many of which have not changed yet, and the current desire of women to have the independence they would like.

Tea in the Desert – A couple in crisis travelling in Morocco after the Second World War. A novel in which the search for the meaning of life and the scenery of Morocco come together in a journey that is more interior than anything else.

Things to know in Morocco

What is particularly cheaper in Morocco than in Europe?

Taxis are also much cheaper than in Europe:

here it is not a privileged means of transport at all, it is used daily by everyone.
The association is about 5 km from my house and the journey costs about € 1.00! If you then take a taxi to the outskirts of town, the price drops even further, but the journey is much more uncomfortable!
For the past year, they have been investing in seven-seater vehicles, but before that, there were always seven people (six passengers plus the driver) in a four-seater car… How? The passenger seat is occupied by two people, and the rear seats carry five (… the size of the person is not taken into account)!

Fish is also much cheaper:

in Rabat, being on the sea, every morning you can buy the catch of the day directly on the beach or in the various fish markets.

In Morocco, the price of products also varies depending on where you buy them. The same necklace bought in a shop in the city centre costs three times less in the old medina (“city”); a plant bought at the market in the centre of Rabat costs twice as much as the price in Salé. The city separated from Rabat by a river, which is poorer. I speak from my own experience.

In your opinion, what parameters are needed to succeed in moving to Morocco?

I don’t know if I am the best person to answer this question… I arrived here with a one-way ticket and I played all my cards to stay.

As for the language, it is not necessary to speak Arabic or Moroccan dialect. There is a lot of French being spoken, given the past of the French protectorate. Further north, Spanish is spoken, given the proximity and easy connections to Spain by sea (through the Strait of Gibraltar, which connects Morocco to Spain) or by land, wherefrom Tangier one can cross the border and reach Ceuta, a Spanish city on the African continent.

I have met many foreigners who live here and do very different jobs. However, most of the ones I know work in the field of cooperation like me.

I think the only real parameters are determined. Being willing to put yourself on the line and learning to cope with different situations and standards of living than in Italy.

Living in Morocco:

What differences are there between Italy and Morocco in terms of quality of life, in your opinion?
Morocco is still a developing country, the quality of life is directly affected.

The health system, for example, is not even comparable to the Italian one. You better hope you never have to go to the hospital because even private ones leave something to be desired.
In addition, the high cost of health services means that many citizens are unable to access them at all. Access to education is also not to be taken for granted because of its cost or the remoteness of schools from small villages in rural areas, for example. Rents themselves are very expensive and large families often live in very cramped quarters in the poorest districts.

The cost of living. In general, is high compared to the average Moroccan salary of about € 250 per month. Personally, I’m part of another segment of the population and I don’t miss anything, but for most Moroccans making ends meet requires a lot of sacrifices.