The Spinny Index: Morocco
Spinny's verdict: unscientific, but built on a lot of travel. 5 wheels = maximum.
Marrakech: a square of storytellers and courtyards behind plain walls
The medina of Marrakech was founded by the Almoravids in the 1070s and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. At its heart, Jemaa el-Fna fills with storytellers, musicians and food stalls, and UNESCO lists the square as intangible heritage.
Behind plain walls, riads are traditional houses built around an inner courtyard or garden. Many are now guesthouses.
The minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque rises over the medina and has long been a symbol of the city.
The High Atlas is close by. Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa, rises in the High Atlas south of the city.
Best for: city breaks, food, shopping · Spinny tip: Save your riad's location on an offline map before you head out. Medina alleys are made for getting lost.
Moroccans are obsessed with…
The Sahara: camel rides, dune camps and a sky full of stars
Near Merzouga, the dunes of Erg Chebbi rise out of the desert in waves of orange sand.
Many visitors ride a camel out at sunset and spend the night in a desert camp, far from city lights.
On the southern side of the High Atlas, Aït Benhaddou is a fortified village of earthen buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The desert is a long way from Marrakech, on the far side of the mountains, so give it several days rather than rushing there and back.
Best for: adventure, stargazing, road trips · Spinny tip: Bring a warm layer for the desert camp. Nights can turn cold even after a hot day.
Spinny's food dare
Four words that open doors
| Hello | السلام عليكم | as-sa-LAM a-LAI-kum |
| Thank you | شكرا | SHUK-ran |
| Cheers! | بالصحة! | bəs-SA-ha |
| Goodbye | بسلامة | bə-sla-MA |
Capitals = stressed syllable. ə = a short, neutral vowel.
Fes and Chefchaouen: a medieval maze and a town washed in blue
Fes el-Bali, the old medina of Fes, was founded in the 9th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its lanes form a vast car-free maze.
The Chouara tannery, dating back to the 11th century, is one of the oldest tanneries in the world.
Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri, is recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest existing, continually operating educational institution in the world.
In the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is famous for its blue-painted houses and lanes.
Best for: culture, history, photography · Spinny tip: Hire an official guide for your first walk in the Fes medina. It saves hours of wrong turns.
Morocco in 60 seconds
- 859 Fatima al-Fihri founds Al-Qarawiyyin in Fes.
- 1070s The Almoravids found Marrakech.
- 1912 The Treaty of Fes makes Morocco a French protectorate.
- 1956 Morocco regains its independence.
- Today A kingdom with Rabat as its capital and Casablanca as its largest city.
The Atlantic coast: a mosque over the waves and Essaouira's ramparts
In Casablanca, the Hassan II Mosque, completed in 1993, is partly built over the Atlantic. It's one of the few mosques in Morocco that non-Muslims can enter, on guided tours.
Its minaret is among the tallest in the world, and Moroccan craftsmen decorated the interior with carved cedar, marble and zellige tilework.
Down the coast, Essaouira, once called Mogador, is a fortified seaport from the late 18th century. UNESCO lists its medina as a World Heritage site.
Every year the town hosts the Gnaoua World Music Festival, built around Gnawa music with its guembri lute and iron castanets.
Best for: architecture, coast, music · Spinny tip: Dress modestly for the Hassan II Mosque tour, with shoulders and knees covered.
Morocco: three easy mistakes
Morocco by numbers
Myth vs truth
💶 What it costs
Street food, local cafés and public transport are cheap. Riads, guided tours and desert trips cost more, and haggling is part of shopping in the souks.
🛂 Visa & entry (tourist stays)
- EU/EEA citizens: Most EU citizens need no visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. You need a passport, as a national ID card is not accepted, and it should be valid for at least six months when you arrive.
- US citizens: No visa needed for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months when you arrive and have a blank page for the entry stamp.
- UK citizens: No visa needed for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least three months from the date you arrive.
Other nationalities, longer stays or work: check the official source.
General guidance only, not legal advice. This information is collected automatically and may be incomplete or out of date. SpinYourDestination takes no responsibility for your entry to any country – always check the official source or the embassy before you travel.
