Destinations
Ten places we plan trips to, with practical advice for travellers from the UK.
Marrakech is Morocco's most visited city and the easiest start for UK travellers: a UNESCO-listed medina of souks, palaces and gardens, with the Atlas Mountains and the desert within easy reach.
March to May and September to November are the most comfortable. July and August are very hot, often above 35°C; winter days are mild but nights can be cold.
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Fez is Morocco's spiritual and artisan capital. Its old medina, Fes el-Bali, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world, full of madrasas, workshops and tanneries.
Spring and autumn. Summer is hot inland, and winter can be cold and wet.
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Chefchaouen is a small mountain town in the Rif, famous for its blue-washed medina. It is calm, walkable and a lovely base for short hikes.
April to June and September to October. Winters are cool and often rainy.
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The dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga are Morocco's classic Sahara experience: camel treks at sunset, nights in a desert camp and exceptional stargazing.
October to April. Summer is extremely hot; winter nights can be close to freezing.
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The High Atlas rises just south of Marrakech. Around Imlil, walnut groves and terraced fields surround Berber villages beneath Jebel Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak.
April to October for walking. From winter into spring the high peaks are snow-covered and paths can be icy.
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Essaouira is a relaxed Atlantic port with a UNESCO-listed medina, sea ramparts, a busy fishing harbour and a long beach known for its wind.
All year. Summer is mild and windy — a welcome break from inland heat.
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Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and business hub, best known for the Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic and its 20th-century art deco centre.
All year thanks to a mild Atlantic climate.
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Rabat, the capital, is calm and green. Its modern and historic city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with the blue-and-white Kasbah of the Udayas above the Bou Regreg estuary.
All year, with a mild coastal climate.
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Tangier looks across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain. Its kasbah and medina have a long international history, and it is the natural gateway to Chefchaouen.
April to October. Winters are mild but often rainy.
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Agadir is Morocco's main beach resort, with a long, sheltered bay and year-round sunshine. It is popular with UK travellers looking for winter sun.
All year; especially popular from October to April for winter sun.
DiscoverFor a first week, many travellers combine Marrakech with the Atlas Mountains and Essaouira: short transfers, lots of variety and plenty of direct flights to Marrakech from UK airports.
British passport holders can usually visit Morocco for up to 90 days without a visa. Entry rules can change, so check the FCDO's Morocco travel advice before you travel.
Morocco uses the dirham (MAD), a closed currency that you normally obtain on arrival from ATMs or exchange desks. Cards are accepted in many hotels, but cash is essential in souks and small cafés.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) suit most routes. Summer is very hot inland, and winter nights are cold in the desert and mountains, while the Atlantic coast is mild all year.
The dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga are a long drive from Marrakech or Fez, so allow at least two nights for the desert itself. For shorter trips, the stony Agafay Desert is about 40 minutes from Marrakech.