Culture & Etiquette
678 questions · page 7 of 19
What should a woman wear in different situations in Morocco — desert, city, beach, mosque?
The simple rule everywhere is shoulders and knees covered, with loose, breathable fabrics. Cities and medinas: modest, relaxed dress. Beaches and resorts: swimwear is fine on the sand; cover up to walk into town. Desert: loose long layers plus a scarf for sun and dust. Mosques (the few open to non-Muslims): cover arms, legs and hair.
Read the answerCan I buy period products and tampons in Morocco?
Pads are easy to find everywhere — in pharmacies, supermarkets and small shops in every city and town. Tampons are much less common: stocked in big-city pharmacies and large supermarkets in Marrakech, Casablanca or Rabat, but scarce elsewhere, and menstrual cups rarer still. If you rely on tampons or a cup, bring enough from home.
Read the answerWhat is the women's hammam experience like in Morocco?
The traditional women's hammam is a warm, communal steam bath where local women scrub, soak and socialise — separate women-only hours from the men's. It's an intimate cultural ritual: steam, black soap, a vigorous exfoliating scrub with a kessa glove, and lots of friendly chatter. Tourist spa hammams offer a gentler, private version.
Read the answerDo women need to cover their hair in Morocco?
No — foreign women are not expected to cover their hair in everyday life. Plenty of Moroccan women don't either. The one exception is entering a working mosque or religious shrine, where you cover your hair with a scarf. Modest clothing (shoulders and knees covered) matters more than a headscarf. Carry a scarf just in case.
Read the answerIs a hammam worth doing as a tourist?
Yes — a hammam is one of Morocco's most authentic and rewarding experiences, and you leave genuinely transformed. Choose the version that suits you: a raw, cheap public neighbourhood hammam for the real cultural immersion, or a polished spa hammam for comfort and privacy. Skip it only if you are deeply uncomfortable with communal nudity and scrubbing in the public version.
Read the answerWhat is the best place in Morocco for culture and history?
Fes is the best place for culture and history — its 1,200-year-old medina is the world’s largest car-free urban area and the country’s spiritual and artisan heart. Marrakech and the imperial cities of Meknes and Rabat are strong follow-ups, but Fes is the deepest.
Read the answerWhat is the best place in Morocco for food?
Fes is the best place for traditional Moroccan cooking — it is the country’s culinary heart, home to refined Fassi cuisine and the original tagines, pastilla, and slow-cooked classics. Marrakech edges it for variety, street food, and the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa night stalls.
Read the answerWhat do I wear in the cities / medinas?
In Moroccan cities and medinas, dress modestly and comfortably: covered shoulders and knees for everyone, longer for women in conservative areas. Loose, breathable, lightweight fabrics handle the heat and the conservative culture at once. Wear sturdy closed shoes for uneven medina lanes. You will feel more respected, attract less hassle, and blend in better than in shorts and vests.
Read the answerWhat should I wear at the beach in Morocco?
Swimwear is fine on the sand at tourist beaches and resort pools, but Moroccan beaches are more conservative than European ones — bikinis are accepted at places like Agadir and resort areas, while local town beaches see more covered swimming. Always cover up (a kaftan, sarong or shorts and top) the moment you leave the sand, and dress modestly walking to and from the beach.
Read the answerWhat's the etiquette if a local invites me for tea?
Accept a genuine tea invitation graciously — hospitality is central to Moroccan culture and refusing can offend. Drink at least one glass, accept with your right hand, compliment the tea and host, and bring a small gift if invited to a home. Be aware, though, that "tea" inside a shop is often a sales tactic; you can enjoy it without any obligation to buy.
Read the answerWhat are the best restaurants in Casablanca?
Casablanca has Morocco’s most cosmopolitan dining — fresh Atlantic seafood at the Central Market and the port, refined Moroccan at La Sqala in the old ramparts, and a genuine international scene along the Corniche. It is the city to eat well in once you tire of tagines.
Read the answerWhat are the best restaurants in Tangier?
Tangier eats brilliantly off its strait — grilled Mediterranean-Atlantic fish at the port and Petit Socco, refined Moroccan at El Morocco Club in the Kasbah, and the legendary literary haunt Café Hafa for mint tea over the sea. Its old international history makes the food scene unusually varied.
Read the answerWhat are the best restaurants in Agadir?
Agadir eats off its fishing fleet — the no-frills grills at the port serve the freshest fish you’ll have in Morocco, picked from ice and grilled on the spot. The marina and promenade add tourist-friendly seafood, international menus, and licensed restaurants where wine flows freely.
Read the answerWhat are the best cafés and nightlife in Casablanca?
Casablanca has Morocco’s most genuine nightlife — the Corniche in Aïn Diab is the after-dark hub of beach clubs, lounges, and bars, while the city’s café culture runs from grand Art Deco coffeehouses to Rick’s Café. It’s the country’s real night-out city, far more local than Marrakech’s tourist scene.
Read the answerWhat is the history of Morocco — a traveller’s overview?
Morocco is one of the world’s oldest continuous nations: Berber (Amazigh) since prehistory, Roman on the fringes, Arab-Islamic from the 7th century, then a 1,200-year line of dynasties from the Idrisids to the present Alaouites. A French-Spanish protectorate (1912–1956) was followed by independence under a monarchy that still rules today.
Read the answerWho were the main Moroccan dynasties?
Six great dynasties shaped Morocco: the Idrisids (founded Fes, 788), the Almoravids (founded Marrakech), the Almohads (built the Koutoubia and Hassan Tower), the Marinids (the great madrasas of Fes), the Saadians (the Saadian Tombs and El Badi), and the Alaouites — who have ruled since the 17th century and still reign today.
Read the answerWhat was the French and Spanish colonial period in Morocco?
From 1912 to 1956 Morocco was a protectorate split between France (the central and southern bulk, capital Rabat) and Spain (the north around Tetouan and the far south). The monarchy formally survived but real power lay with the colonisers. The era built Casablanca’s art deco, new cities beside the medinas, and the railways — and sowed the independence movement.
Read the answerHow did Morocco become independent?
Morocco regained independence in 1956 through a nationalist movement led by the Istiqlal (Independence) party and rallied around Sultan Mohammed V. France’s 1953 exile of the popular sultan backfired, igniting mass protest. He returned in 1955, France granted independence in March 1956, Spain followed, and Mohammed V became king of a restored, sovereign monarchy.
Read the answerWhat is the role of the Moroccan king and monarchy?
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy. King Mohammed VI, of the Alaouite dynasty that has reigned since the 17th century, is both head of state and "Commander of the Faithful" (Amir al-Mu’minin) — a religious title giving him spiritual authority over Sunni Moroccan Islam. He holds real political power alongside an elected parliament and prime minister.
Read the answerWhat religion is Morocco, and how is it practised?
Morocco is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, following the Maliki school of jurisprudence, with strong Sufi and Berber influences. Islam shapes daily rhythm — five calls to prayer, Friday couscous, Ramadan — but practice is generally moderate and relaxed. Small, historically significant Jewish and Christian communities also exist.
Read the answerWhat is Sufism, and where can I see it in Morocco?
Sufism is Islam’s mystical, inward path — seeking direct closeness to God through devotion, music, and remembrance (dhikr). In Morocco it runs deep through brotherhoods (tariqas) centred on zaouias (lodges) and saints’ shrines. You can encounter it at Fes’s Moulay Idriss shrine, the Gnaoua festival in Essaouira, and the sacred-music festival in Fes.
Read the answerWho are the marabouts and saints in Moroccan culture?
A marabout is a Muslim holy man — a Sufi saint or revered religious figure — and the word also names the white-domed tomb-shrines built over them. Moroccans honour these saints as channels of "baraka" (blessing), visiting their shrines for prayer and healing. Annual saint’s-day festivals called moussems draw huge pilgrim crowds.
Read the answerWhat are the main architectural styles in Morocco?
Morocco’s signature style is Moorish/Islamic — horseshoe arches, zellige tilework, carved cedar and stucco, and tranquil courtyards, refined over the Almohad, Marinid, and Saadian dynasties. Add the earthen kasbahs and ksour of the south, Andalusian influences in the north, and French colonial art deco in Casablanca and the new towns.
Read the answerWhat is the story behind the imperial cities?
Morocco’s four imperial cities — Fes, Marrakech, Meknes, and Rabat — each served as a royal capital under different dynasties. Fes (Idrisid), Marrakech (Almoravid), Meknes (Alaouite, under Moulay Ismail), and Rabat (Almohad, and the modern capital). Together they trace the moving heart of the Moroccan state across 1,200 years.
Read the answerWhat is Morocco’s Jewish history?
Morocco has one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world — over 2,000 years, swelled by Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. Jews lived in walled quarters called mellahs, contributed enormously to commerce and craft, and once numbered around 250,000. Most emigrated after 1948, but synagogues, cemeteries, and a protected heritage remain.
Read the answerWhat is the significance of the Hand of Fatima (khamsa)?
The khamsa — the Hand of Fatima — is a hand-shaped amulet believed to protect against the "evil eye" and bring good fortune. Named for the Prophet’s daughter Fatima and meaning "five" in Arabic, it appears on doorways, jewellery, and souvenirs across Morocco and is shared by both Muslim and Jewish traditions.
Read the answerHow old are the medinas, and what makes them UNESCO sites?
Morocco’s medinas are its historic walled old cities, the oldest being Fes el-Bali, founded in the 9th century. Several — Fes, Marrakech, Meknes, Tétouan, Essaouira, plus Aït Benhaddou and Volubilis — are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, recognised for their intact medieval urban fabric, craftsmanship, and living traditions. Fes is the world’s largest car-free urban area.
Read the answerWhat is a Moroccan wedding like (if you witness one)?
Loud, long, and gloriously over-the-top. A traditional wedding runs deep into the night with thunderous music, the bride carried in on a throne (the amaria), constant costume changes, mountains of food, and ululating women. If you are invited or stumble across one, it is unforgettable.
Read the answerWhat is it like the first time in a hammam?
Steamy, scrubbed-raw, and weirdly wonderful. You sit in heat, get soaped with black soap, then a worker exfoliates you with a coarse glove until grey rolls of dead skin literally come off. It feels intense and a little exposing at first, but you leave glowing, softer than you have ever been.
Read the answerWhat is the call to prayer like to experience?
Haunting and beautiful. Five times a day, a muezzin’s voice rises from the minarets — sometimes a single clear chant, often dozens overlapping across a city in a wave of sound. The pre-dawn one will wake you. By the end of the trip it becomes the heartbeat of your days.
Read the answerAre there homestays in Morocco?
Yes — staying with a Berber family in an Atlas village or an oasis home is one of the most rewarding things you can do in Morocco. Homestays are usually arranged through trekking guides, village cooperatives or community-tourism networks rather than booking platforms. Expect simple comfort, shared meals, and genuine warmth.
Read the answerCan you do a pottery or ceramics workshop in Morocco?
Yes. Safi is Morocco’s pottery capital and the most authentic place to throw a pot and learn hand-painting; Fes is the home of the famous blue-and-white ceramics and zellige. Marrakech has convenient half-day studio classes, but the real craft lives in the workshop quarters of Safi and Fes.
Read the answerCan you do a carpet or weaving workshop in Morocco?
Yes. The most authentic weaving experiences are at women’s cooperatives in the High and Middle Atlas, where Amazigh (Berber) weavers teach the loom directly. Marrakech and Fes also offer studio sessions. Expect to learn knotting and pattern basics in a half-day, not to finish a rug.
Read the answerCan you learn Moroccan and Arabic calligraphy in Morocco?
Yes. Fes is the heart of Arabic and Maghrebi calligraphy, with master calligraphers offering workshops in its medina and arts institutes. You’ll learn the qalam (reed pen), basic letterforms, and the distinctive Maghrebi script in a relaxed half-day session. Marrakech has classes too.
Read the answerCan you do a henna workshop or get henna done in Morocco?
Yes. Henna is everywhere in Marrakech — you can get a design in minutes or take a workshop to learn to apply it yourself. Crucially, insist on natural brown henna and refuse “black henna,” which contains a dye (PPD) that can cause severe skin reactions. Agree the price first.
Read the answerCan you take a Moroccan music or drumming class in Morocco?
Yes. Drumming and percussion workshops are widely available, especially Gnawa music — the hypnotic Afro-Moroccan tradition centred in Marrakech and Essaouira. You can learn the djembe, the metal qraqeb castanets, and the bass guembri in a fun group session, no experience needed.
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