What do Israeli travellers need to know about Morocco?

Travel between Israel and Morocco has opened up remarkably since the 2020 normalisation agreement, and entry is now straightforward: Israeli passport holders can stay up to 90 days visa-free, with a passport valid for six months beyond arrival and blank pages for the stamp. You complete an arrival card and clear immigration on landing. Because the relationship and any travel advisories can evolve, I always tell Israeli travellers to check the current entry rules and the latest guidance from Israel's National Security Council / Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking — the official sources to trust over anything else.

Flights are the big change. Since normalisation, direct services now link Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion) with Marrakech and Casablanca, operated at various times by carriers including Royal Air Maroc, El Al and others — a direct connection that simply didn't exist before 2020. The flight is only around five to six hours, making Morocco a very accessible trip. Where direct flights aren't available on your dates, one-stop routings via European hubs like Istanbul, Paris or Madrid work well. Both Marrakech and Casablanca serve as gateways, with quick onward links to Fes and the rest of the country.

On money, the dirham is a closed currency you cannot buy in Israel, so plan to draw it from ATMs once you arrive — carry a small reserve of euros or US dollars as a backup. Israeli Visa and Mastercard cards are accepted in city hotels, restaurants and larger shops; choose a card with sensible foreign-transaction terms and notify your bank you're travelling. As everywhere in Morocco, the desert, the mountains and the souks deal in cash, so always keep small dirham notes on hand for taxis, tips and market stalls.

Culturally, many Israeli travellers — especially those of Moroccan-Jewish heritage — find a deep, moving connection here. Morocco preserves a rich Jewish history, with old mellahs (Jewish quarters), synagogues and cemeteries in Marrakech, Fes, Casablanca, Essaouira and beyond, and Moroccans are generally warm and welcoming to visitors tracing those roots. A few practical notes: communication leans on Arabic and French, with English in hotels and tourist areas; tipping is customary but modest; bargaining in the souks is expected and friendly; and dress modestly away from the resorts. Accept the mint-tea hospitality, and you'll find Morocco an unexpectedly emotional and rewarding place to travel.