Country book · Middle East & Africa

Morocco

Atlas peaks, ocean light, painted cities

Morocco runs from Sahara dunes to snow-capped Atlas peaks to Atlantic surf towns within a single day's drive. Its medinas — Fes and Marrakech above all — remain some of the most intact walled cities anywhere in the world.

Myths

What's true, what isn't

Actually true

The medinas are genuinely maze-like
Fes el-Bali has over 9,000 narrow lanes and is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world.
Mint tea is a real ceremony
Pouring tea from height to create foam is a point of pride, offered to guests as standard hospitality.
Amazigh (Berber) culture predates the Arab conquest
Indigenous Amazigh language and traditions remain strong, especially in the Atlas Mountains.
You can ski and surf in the same week
The Atlas Mountains have ski resorts a few hours from Atlantic surf towns like Taghazout.

Commonly believed, wrong

"It's all Sahara desert"
Morocco has snow-capped mountains, cedar forests and a long Atlantic coastline.
"Morocco and the rest of the Arab world look the same"
Amazigh language, dress and architecture give Morocco a distinct North African identity.
"Casablanca is Morocco's most historic city"
Casablanca is largely a modern commercial city; Fes and Marrakech hold the deeper historic core.
"Tagine is just a stew"
The word refers to the conical clay pot itself, which slow-steams food in a distinct way no ordinary pot replicates.

Highlights

The best of Morocco

Fes el-Bali medina

A UNESCO-listed walled old city with tanneries, madrasas and thousands of winding alleys.

Sahara dunes at Merzouga

Camel treks and overnight desert camps beneath some of Morocco's tallest dunes.

The blue streets of Chefchaouen

A mountain town painted almost entirely in shades of blue.

Atlas Mountain villages

Berber kasbahs and valleys around Toubkal and the Ourika Valley, reachable from Marrakech in an hour.

Culture

Cultural riches

Amazigh (Berber) heritage

Indigenous language, textiles and jewellery traditions remain strong across the Atlas and Rif regions.

Riad architecture

Traditional courtyard houses hide behind plain medina walls, opening onto tiled interior gardens.

Souk and artisan craft culture

Leatherwork, zellige tilework and metal lanterns are still handmade in dedicated souk quarters.

Gnawa music tradition

Rooted in West African spiritual music brought by trans-Saharan trade, still performed at festivals today.

Food

What to eat

Tagine

Meat, vegetables and dried fruit slow-cooked in a conical clay pot, sweet and savoury combined.

Couscous

Steamed semolina traditionally served on Fridays with vegetables and meat in a rich broth.

Pastilla

A sweet-savoury pigeon or chicken pie wrapped in warqa pastry, dusted with cinnamon and sugar.

Harira

A tomato-lentil soup traditionally eaten to break the fast during Ramadan.

Mint tea

Green tea steeped with fresh mint and sugar, poured from height into small glasses.

Music

World-famous voices

Nass El Ghiwane

The Rolling Stones of Africa.

Saad Lamjarred

Arabic pop with billions of views.

Hindi Zahra

Blues and Amazigh soul.

Oum

Contemporary Moroccan jazz-soul.

ElGrandeToto

Moroccan rap's biggest name.

History

Important people in history

Mohammed V

1957–1961

First king of independent Morocco after the end of French and Spanish protectorates.

Hassan II

1961–1999

Long-reigning king who organized the Green March and shaped modern Moroccan politics.

Mohammed VI

1999–present

Current king, associated with economic modernization and infrastructure expansion.

Cities