Language in Morocco

The main languages spoken in Morocco are Moroccan Arabic and French. If you happen to go to Chefchaouen, the main language there will be Spanish. Luckily, many merchants and hotel owners will speak several languages, including English, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble communicating. However, I recommend installing Google Translate to your phone and downloading the offline language packs for your native language, French, and possibly Arabic so you can translate if you have any problems.

Clothing In Morocco

Most Moroccans wear a djellaba, a loose dress-type garment with a hood that both genders wear. Women wear a dress or skirt underneath, and men will wear pants and a shirt underneath. While almost every Moroccan you meet will be wearing a djellaba, almost no tourists wear them while visiting. However, most people still dress conservatively out of respect to the local culture. Men generally wear pants and shirts with a sleeve (short or long, depending on weather). Women will occasionally wear pants in a city like Casablanca, but it’s better to wear long skirts or dresses, and tops that cover your shoulders (and preferably elbows) and aren’t cut too low to avoid harassment. Tank tops and shorts are frowned upon for both genders.

Women at a market in Chefchaouen, Morocco wearing djellabas

Women at a market in Chefchaouen, Morocco wearing djellabas

Security Concerns + Beware of Touts

While violent crimes and sexual assaults are low in Morocco, there is some risk of pick-pocketing, especially in the cities of Fes and Marrakesh. However, it’s much more likely you’ll be overcharged or scammed in some way. One of the largest scams in Morocco are touts who will try to act as unofficial travel guides and then demand payment. You’ll also encounter plenty of people who want to “help” you, only to expect money afterwards. This can happen in several ways. In some cases they’ll offer to guide you to your hotel or a sight and then ask for money. In other cases they’ll claim that the store or hotel you want to go to is closed (it isn’t, I promise) and then take you somewhere else where they’ll get a cut of whatever you buy. To avoid this you’ll have to be very adamant that you don’t want their help and walk away. Unfortunately, being kind or polite will often only encourage them. If you need directions, it’s best to ask a shop owner who can’t leave their shop.

While violence and terrorist activities in Morocco are rare, you should still be aware of your surroundings. You can check travel advisories from the US State Department, the Government of the UK, the Canadian Government, and the Australian Government for notices on any areas to avoid, situations to be aware of, etc. Additionally, American citizens can register their plans with the STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) to receive alerts from the Embassy or Consulate if need be (in the event of being recommended to evacuate the country during a crisis, for example). Australia has a similar program called Smart Traveller, and Canada has a program called Registration of Canadians Abroad, but the UK does not have any such program  that I’m aware of at this time. Avoid political protests, try to refrain from political discussions, and never criticize the royal family.

Travelling Solo As A Woman In Morocco

Women and men don’t generally interact with one another in Moroccan society unless they’re family members or they’re making a transaction. Like many other conservative nations in North Africa and the Middle East, there’s an unfortunate perception that many locals seem to have about Western women being “loose”. While it’s common for us to be friendly to strangers of the opposite gender in the West, this is pretty taboo in places like Morocco. So things as simple as making eye contact with men or smiling at them can be misconstrued as a sign of sexual interest. Additionally, while Moroccan men would never touch a Moroccan woman, they don’t seem to see any such problem with touching foreign women. I think it’s a disconnect between cultures where they see Western TV shows or movies where men and women will hug each other, or give high-fives, etc., and they assume that this must be okay across the board, without understanding that this kind of contact is okay between people who know one another, but wouldn’t be acceptable for total strangers.

While you can travel alone as a woman (like I did), expect to be hassled regularly. This won’t be such a problem in cities like Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, or Essaouira, but in Fes and Marrakech, you’re more likely to encounter problems. This can range from having people follow you around, making lewd gestures or comments, putting their arms around you, or simply refusing to leave you alone in general. Unfortunately, men can be very aggressive and vulgar towards foreign women, and it can be especially unnerving if you’ve never encountered anything similar before. Some of the only advice I can give is to be aware of your surroundings, avoid walking alone after dark, try to look as confident about where you’re going as possible, and dress conservatively. While I was there I wore only loose skirts down to my ankles, loose tops that went up to my collarbone, and a sweater to cover my arms all the way down the my wrists, but I was still harassed pretty regularly.

I’d read that Moroccans were supposed to be some of the friendliest locals in the world, but I didn’t find that to be the case. While many people in smaller cities and towns were genuinely nice, in the cities of Fes and Marrakesh especially, it seemed that people were more likely to spend a lot of time trying to convince you that they were trustworthy so they could then turn around and scam you or pickpocket you later. I wish I could say my experience was unique, but after reading shockingly similar accounts from both men and women, I’ve realized it was not.