The best things to do in Morocco range from getting lost in a centuries-old medina to sleeping under the stars in the Sahara. This guide covers 10 must-do experiences, in the order most travelers meet them on a classic route, with the practical details that help you plan each one.
Morocco covers 712,500 square kilometers, so distances matter. The things to do in Morocco below follow a natural line from the Imperial Cities to the desert and back. Each entry says what to expect and how much time to allow.
The 10 Best Things to Do in Morocco
1. Get Lost in the Marrakech Medina and Jemaa el-Fnaa
Marrakech is the usual starting point, and its medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Give it a full day. Walk the souks in the morning, when the lanes are calmer and the shopkeepers are in a good mood. Then cross to Jemaa el-Fnaa in the late afternoon.
By sunset the square fills with food stalls, musicians and storytellers. A local guide makes the first walk much easier, because the lanes twist and the craft quarters are easy to pass without noticing. Bargaining is part of the shopping, so start well below the first price and settle with a smile. Finish with mint tea on a rooftop terrace as the call to prayer drifts across the city.
2. Visit Majorelle Garden, Bahia Palace and Ben Youssef Madrasa
Marrakech also has quieter sights. Majorelle Garden is known for its deep blue buildings and its collection of cacti. Bahia Palace dates from the late 19th century and shows zellij tilework, painted cedar ceilings and a marble courtyard. Ben Youssef Madrasa, a former Quranic school in the medina, has a courtyard of carved cedar, stucco and zellij tilework that is worth the short walk.
Book Majorelle tickets online before you go, because queues build by mid-morning. Allow a half day for the three sights.
3. Walk the Fes Medina and Meet the Craftsmen
The medina of Fes is another UNESCO World Heritage site, and it feels very different from Marrakech. The lanes are narrower, the crafts are older, and the pace is slower. Look down on the leather tanneries from a terrace, step inside the carved Bou Inania Madrasa, and visit a pottery workshop to watch the artisans at work.
Monuments appear at every turn. Enter through Bab Boujloud, the blue-tiled gate on the western side of the medina. Visit Al-Attarine Madrasa for its carved cedar and zellij tilework. Pass Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in the ninth century and among the oldest centers of learning in the world. Non-Muslims cannot enter its prayer hall, but you can peek through the doorways. At sunset, climb to the Merenid Tombs for a view over the whole medina.
Give Fes two days. A licensed guide is worth hiring, since the medina is a maze. On the way to Fes, stop at Volubilis for its Roman ruins and at Meknes for the monumental Bab Mansour gate. Both fit easily into one travel day.
4. Spend at Least One Night in the Sahara Desert
Of all the things to do in Morocco, the Sahara is the one most travelers remember longest. The dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga rise to about 150 meters. A camel trek at sunset takes you into the sand, and dinner at the camp is followed by a sky packed with stars.
One night is the minimum, and it gives you the sunset trek, dinner and the stars. A second night works even better. It lets you climb a dune for sunrise, rest, and take the dunes at your own pace instead of leaving tired after a long drive. Choose a camp with private tents and a private bathroom. Quad biking is optional and booked separately at the camp.
5. Climb Through Ait Ben Haddou
Ait Ben Haddou is a fortified village of earthen buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Many films and series have used it as a set, and walking its lanes shows why. The village sits on the road between the Dades Valley and Marrakech, so it makes a natural morning stop.
The climb to the top is optional. If stairs are a concern, walk the foothill instead and take your photos from there.
6. Drive the Dades Valley and Gorge
The Dades Valley is classic Moroccan scenery. Red cliffs, old kasbahs and green palm groves line a road that twists up into the gorge. Stay a night in the valley, take a short walk along the gorge in the evening, and let the landscape do the rest.
This stretch also breaks the long journey between the Sahara and Marrakech into manageable pieces.
7. See the Blue Streets of Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen sits in the Rif Mountains and is famous for its blue-washed medina. Wander the lanes at an easy pace, drink coffee on a small terrace and photograph the doorways. The town is built on a hillside, so expect steps and slopes.
Chefchaouen lies north of Fes, while the Sahara lies to the southeast. That makes it a long detour on some routes, so add it only when you have the days to enjoy it.
8. Visit the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca
The Hassan II Mosque stands on the edge of the Atlantic, with part of its great hall built over the water. Guided visits are open to people of all faiths, and the tour takes about an hour. Many travelers land in Casablanca, so this is an easy first or last stop. Look closely at the carved wood, the marble and the zellij work.
9. Relax in a Traditional Hammam
Every Moroccan town has a hammam, and larger cities have dozens. These communal bathhouses are a real part of daily life. For a first visit, book a hammam and scrub at a spa or in your riad. It is a calm way to recover after a long day of walking.
10. Take a Moroccan Cooking Class
A cooking class in Marrakech or Fes starts at the market. You choose seasonal vegetables and spices with your teacher, then cook classics such as tagine and couscous together. You eat what you make. Plan it for a full day in the city, not for the day you arrive, when you will want an easy evening.
How to Fit These Things to Do in Morocco Into One Trip
Ten days covers most of the things to do in Morocco on this list. Our 10 Days: The Highlights of Morocco tour includes Casablanca, the blue city of Chefchaouen and the Sahara, and links the stops with a private driver and guide. A private Morocco tour lets you add or remove stops, so you can choose the experiences that matter most to you.
If long drives worry you, read our guide to Slow Morocco. If crowds worry you, see how to avoid crowds in Morocco. For the full picture of how a guided trip works, start with our Morocco private tours planning guide.
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