Morocco Travel Guides
Things to Do in Morocco
From losing yourself in a medina to sleeping under Saharan stars, the best things to do in Morocco span cities, coast, mountains and desert. This guide groups them by type so you can match experiences to the places on your route and the pace you want.
Medina walks, souks and gardens in the cities; day trips to the Atlas, Essaouira and the Ourika Valley; desert nights at Merzouga – most experiences work best with an early start.
Cities & culture
Things to Do in Morocco’s Cities
Explore the medinas
The old walled towns of Fes, Marrakech, Tetouan and Essaouira are the heart of any visit: souks organised by trade, hidden squares, fountains and workshops. Go early for calm, and accept that getting slightly lost is part of it.
Monuments & gardens
Medersas with carved cedar and tilework, palaces, city gates and walls, the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, and gardens such as Marrakech’s Majorelle and Menara. Most are best in the first or last hours of the day.
Jemaa el-Fna at dusk
Marrakech’s main square fills each evening with food stalls, musicians and storytellers. Watch it from a rooftop cafe first, then walk through it – and agree prices before you eat or photograph.
Hammam & spa
The traditional steam bath with black soap and a scrub is a Moroccan ritual. Choose between a neighbourhood hammam for the authentic version or a spa hammam for comfort and privacy.
Crafts & workshops
Watch leather being tanned in Fes, zellige tiles cut, carpets woven and brass hammered – or take a short class in pottery, calligraphy or mosaic. Buying direct from a workshop is usually better value than the souk.
Cooking classes & food tours
Shop for ingredients in the market, then learn tagine, couscous or pastries in a riad kitchen. Evening street-food walks are the easiest way to try things you would not order alone. More in Food & Culture.
Desert & mountains
Sahara, Atlas and the Outdoors
A night in the desert
Ride a camel into the dunes at Merzouga or Zagora, watch the sunset from a ridge, eat around a fire and sleep in a camp. The single most requested experience in Morocco – and worth the long drive if you have the days.
Hike the High Atlas
Anything from a half-day walk between Berber villages near Imlil to a multi-day ascent of Jbel Toubkal with a local guide and mule support. Cooler than the cities in summer; snow-bound in winter at altitude.
Kasbahs, gorges & the film road
Cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Ait Benhaddou, the Ouarzazate studios and the Dades and Todra gorges. Usually combined with the desert as a two- or three-day loop from Marrakech.
Waterfalls & valleys
The Ouzoud falls and the Ourika valley are popular day trips from Marrakech; Akchour near Chefchaouen is the northern equivalent. Expect crowds at weekends and in high season.
Coast, surf & wind
Essaouira for wind and kite surfing, Taghazout near Agadir for surf schools, and long Atlantic beaches for doing nothing at all. The Mediterranean coast is calmer and more local.
Roman Volubilis
The best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, with mosaics still in place, in open countryside near Meknes. An easy half-day from Fes or Meknes, often paired with the hill town of Moulay Idriss.
Planning
Fitting Things to Do in Morocco into Your Days
Most city experiences need no advance booking: medinas, monuments and squares are simply there. What does need planning is anything that involves distance – the desert, the mountains, Volubilis, the coast – because travel time eats days, and guided options are usually the practical way to do them. A good split is a couple of unstructured city days for every organised excursion.
Use Destinations to pick your regions and Getting Around to check what is realistic between them.
Book ahead vs decide on the day
- Book ahead: desert trips, Toubkal treks, multi-day tours, cooking classes, popular gardens in high season
- Decide on the day: medina walks, most monuments, hammams, rooftop sunsets, food stalls
- Hire a guide for: your first medina morning, the Fes tanneries, mountain routes
- Go early for: anything photogenic – light is best and crowds are thin
Good to Know
- Agree prices first. For guides, taxis, henna, photos with performers and anything on Jemaa el-Fna, settle the price before, not after.
- Dress for the place. Covered shoulders and knees are appreciated in medinas and essential near religious sites; most mosques are not open to non-Muslim visitors, the Hassan II Mosque being the notable exception by tour.
- Fridays and Ramadan change the rhythm. Some shops and workshops close around Friday midday prayers; during Ramadan daytime opening hours shorten and evenings come alive.
- Heat and altitude. Summer afternoons inland are for shade and siesta; mountain treks need proper footwear, layers and a guide.
- Visa first. Confirm whether you need a Morocco eVisa before booking non-refundable activities. Entry decisions are made by the Moroccan authorities.
- Help with the arrangements. Travel Entry can arrange tours and activities on request; nothing is booked or charged until you confirm.
Things to Do in Morocco: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the one thing not to miss?
For most visitors, a night in the Sahara if the trip is a week or more, and a full unhurried day in the Fes or Marrakech medina if it is shorter.
Do I need a guide in the medina?
Not strictly, but a licensed guide for your first morning – especially in Fes – helps you understand what you are looking at and get your bearings. After that, wandering on your own is part of the pleasure.
Are these activities suitable for children?
Most are. Desert camps, camel rides, waterfalls, beaches and cooking classes work well for families; long drives and serious treks are the ones to weigh up by age.
Can I visit mosques?
Generally not, unless you are Muslim. The main exception is the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, which offers guided visits. Medersas (historic religious schools) are open to everyone and show the same craftsmanship.
Is a desert trip possible from Marrakech in one day?
Not to the real dunes. The Agafay stone desert near Marrakech offers a day or evening experience; Merzouga and Zagora need at least two nights away.
Can Travel Entry arrange these experiences?
Yes – send your dates, base cities and interests through our tours and activities request and we will reply with options. Requests are free.
Found What You Want to Do?
Sort your visa, then let Travel Entry arrange the tours and excursions. Back to all Morocco travel guides.