Morocco

VISA AND OTHER PROCEDURES

Portuguese and Brazilian citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days.

HEALTH AND SAFETY CARE

Vaccination against hepatitis A and typhoid fever is indicated. There is a risk of contraction of schistosomiasis (bilharziosis) through contact with water in several Moroccan lakes and waterways.

For more information on traveling health, see the Health Portal of the Ministry of Health and Tropical Medicine and Travelers Clinic. In FitForTravel find country-specific health and disease prevention advice (in English).

Following the events of the Arab Spring, the situation in Morocco remains one of the calmest in North Africa. Even so, travel to some parts of the territory is still inadvisable, namely the extreme south of Western Sahara and the east of the country, along the border with Algeria. 

TRIP TO MOROCCO

Flight

A TAP flies directly from Lisbon to Casablanca, Fez and Marrakesh per from €150. 

by land and sea

There are only a few hundred kilometers separating southern Portugal from the Spanish port of Algeciras. From here, regular ferries depart for Ceuta (40 minutes) or Tangier (less than 2 hours). There are also boat connections between Tarifa and Tangier (35 minutes) each of these trips costs between €30 to €50 per person, per way. Vehicles obviously have additional prices that depend on their type and can be checked for example in FRS.

Other Spanish ports with connections to Morocco are Malaga which has ferries to Mellila and Almeria with ferries to Nador. 

• Chefchaouen
• Fez
• dunes
• Essaouira
• ​El Jadida to Ouladia
• Hiking in the High Atlas (Mount Toubkal)
• Tinerhir and Todra's Throat
• Rabat
• Ourika Valley
• ​Marrakech, Djemaa El-Fna square
• Ouarzazate to Nkob

INTERNAL FLIGHTS

Flying is not exactly the most popular mode of travel in Morocco but the national airline Royal Air Maroc it serves a good network of cities with an acceptable but expensive service. It can be convenient for those who have little time to explore the country. 

TRAIN

Moroccan trains – ONCF – They are a good option due to their reliability and low price, although they are not very fast or punctual. Furthermore, they are limited to the itinerary between Tangier and Marrakesh, via Casablanca and Rabat. A branch with the fate of Oujda starts in Sidi Kachem and also passes through Meknes and Fez. 

TRUCK

The most luxurious, from companies like CTM and Supratours, are an excellent alternative to train routes because they cover practically the entire country. Local buses are plentiful but only advisable for more patient and discomfort-resistant travelers.

CAR RENTAL

Mainly along the coast and between Tangier and Casablanca, Morocco has excellent quality roads, including motorways with several lanes in both directions. The roads gradually deteriorate in quality the farther we go south and from Casablanca and Rabat. Taking these conditions into account, Morocco is one of the best countries in North Africa to rent a car and explore the country, as several multinational companies from rent-a-car are present in the biggest cities.

Compact car rentals with air conditioning are usual for from €15 per day, provided they are booked in advance and outside the high season. If you venture to explore the semi-desert south of the country, do so with a rugged 4WD vehicle. Several operators and tour agencies provide 4WD vehicles with drivers/guides who speak several languages ​​and follow pre-defined itineraries.

The Moroccan climate is diverse. It has a strong Mediterranean influence in the north, Atlantic in the west and southwest and is strongly continental and in the desert interior of the country, where you can expect extremes of heat in summer and cold in winter. Summer – when maximum temperatures in the desert regions of the southern interior exceed 40°C daily and can approach 50°C is the peak season for beach resorts on the Mediterranean coast that are packed with European sunbathers. 

The ideal time to visit Morocco, in general, coincides with the coldest months from October to April.

The national currency is the Moroccan Dinar (MAD). There are ATMs in the centers of major cities and the main beach resorts in the country. Payment with credit cards is a conventional practice in the most sophisticated establishments and businesses, certainly in those belonging to multinational companies.

ACCOMMODATION

In most Moroccan cities, the most affordable accommodation is concentrated within the medinas, where inns, pensions and even the residents' houses are rented for daily rates in the order of €15 to €20 per double room. Intermediate hotels have daily rates from 20€ to 40€. The most refined hotels and resorts have prices that start at €50 and can go up to €150, in the case of those belonging to the most reputable international chains. Prices for all types of accommodation fluctuate substantially depending on the time of year. 

FOOD

It has the same base ingredients from other countries in North Africa and a series of dishes and snacks that define the national cuisine:  tagine (in great varieties) , harire and os couscous. As elsewhere, popular restaurants frequented by Moroccans have the most affordable prices, with traditional full meals costing as little as €4 per person. Reputable restaurants in major cities (Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakesh) charge substantially higher prices. Those at reputable hotels and resorts where the value of a meal can reach €20, €30 per person are even more expensive.

INTERNET

The Internet has become widespread in recent years and Internet Cafés are abundant even in smaller cities with average prices ranging from €0.40 to €1.5 per hour. However, they have been decreasing due to the proliferation of the 3G network that Moroccans and visitors to the country find it very easy to use on their Smart Phones, tablets and laptops. To purchase a SIM card, a valid passport is required.

Internet speed is generally very acceptable, especially in the north and the main towns on the west coast. It decreases a lot in the interior and south of the country.