Morocco Travel Overview
At a glance
Capital: Rabat
Official language: Arabic
Currency: Dirham
Continent: North Africa
Travel to Morocco’s royal cities
Narrow streets, blue doors and untrodden mountain paths, North African culture and Mediterranean flair. Morocco offers many possibilities and is only a stone’s throw away from Europe.
Landscape and transportation
The country’s climate is Mediterranean, but influenced by the nearby Sahara. Morocco borders Algeria, Western Sahara, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. It is separated from Europe by the Strait of Gibraltar. The distance to Spain is just 35 km there and can be covered by ferry. If the distance with your own car is too far for you, you can travel to Morocco in a rental car without any problems. You can find opportunities for this all over the country. Domestic flights or the express train, which is well developed between the larger cities, offer another mobility option. You should avoid bosoms as they are often overcrowded.
Useful information
According to Countryaah, Morocco means “Kingdom of the West” in Arabic. It is the westernmost of the three Maghreb countries (Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco). The country is shaped by its history as a kingdom. Part of Morocco is the Berber country. This, living in the High Atlas People have their own culture, ie: language, customs, tradition and their own cuisine.The High Atlas not only shapes Morocco in terms of landscape, a legend in the mythology of ancient Greece is dedicated to it.
Security
Morocco is considered a safe country to travel to, but you should exercise caution when traveling in the desert of Western Sahara. Although there is only minimal fighting there, the area is unsafe for civilians due to mines. You usually do not need vaccinations or profilaxes, but a booster from tetanus and hepatitis A is beneficial.
Do n’t buy drugs ! In Morocco kif (marijuana) is traditionally grown and tourists use many to get quick money and to report it to the police afterwards.
Respect
Morocco is a temperate, but a Muslim country. Buy alcohol with caution if you find a dealer and do not drink it in public. Avoid wearing clothes that are too short; this advice is particularly advisable for women. Women shouldn’t go to nightclubs alone. As a woman, respect is shown to you when you demand it. Should you still get intrusive chats, simply go to a group of other women or to a tea house.
Lastly, the honor of the king should be mentioned. Although there are frequent discussions about his status, it is advisable to them not to mock the king. Loss of majesty is a criminal offense in Morocco.
Culinary
It is said that the music of Morocco is a mixture of African, Arabic and European influences. That could just as easily be said of the kitchen. Find out!
The city of Nador has a good reputation for Moroccan cuisine. There, but also in other places, you will find national delicacies such as tajine, a meat stew that is slowly cooked in a clay pot, or couscous, which is included with many dishes. And above all and really everywhere you can find mint tea, which Moroccans like to call “Whiskey of Morocco” due to the ban on alcohol in Islam. This drink is a mixture of green tea and fresh mint, which is affordable for a good 10 euro cents per glass.
Cities
Morocco’s cities are old and each has its own flair. Plan your round trip well. Many travel providers give tours, it is up to them how they decide. Here is a brief overview: Agadir is known for its beaches, but some of them are overcrowded. You can also swim in the coastal town of Essaouira.
Casablanca has an international airport. Plan a half day visit and don’t forget to admire the mosque.
Chefchaouen is a quaint place with blue painted doors that give the city a quaint atmosphere.
Fes is one of the oldest cities in Morocco and also has one of the largest medieval city centers. It was once the capital of Morocco and the seat of the king. Today’s capital is in Rabat.
Rabatis the seat of the king and the government as well as most of the embassies. The city has an old sea fortification, but has little to offer in terms of tourism, as it is mainly used for administration, as I said.
Tangar is particularly interesting for those who come by ferry from Spain to Morocco.
Are you considering exploring the atlas more closely? Then it’s best to start your excursion in Asni and make a stop in Ifrane.
Important facts
Capital: Rabat
Official language: Arabic
Currency
Currency (sub-unit)
Dirham (100 centimes)
ISO 4217 code
MAD / 504
Geography
Continent: Africa
Region: North
Geo coordinates: N 31 ° 47 ‘30.1 ” W -7 ° -5’ -33.4″
Highest mountain: Jebel Toubkal (4,165 m)
Total area: 446,550 km²
Mainland: 446,300 km²
National border: 2,017 km
Coastline: 1,835 km
Politics
Dependency: France until 1956
Dependent states: Western Sahara since 1976
UN member since: 1956
Other political affiliation: Arab League
Form of government: Constitutional monarchy
Economy
Export goods: Phosphates, fruits, ores
BSP: $ 50.423 billion
GDP: $ 52,378,000,000
GDP purchasing power parity: $ 140.6 billion
Economic growth: 2.1%
GDP share of agriculture: 20.6%
GDP share of industry: 36%
GDP share of services: 43.4%
Inflation rate: 1.4%
Unemployment: 10.1%
State budget revenue: $ 4294967295
State budget expenditure: $ 4294967295
National debt: 73.1%
Export: $ 9,754,000,000
Import: $ 21,330,000,000
Foreign debt: $ 14.290 million
Gold and currency reserves: $ 18,280,000,000
Electricity consumption: 19,320 million KWh
Gas reserves: 1,218 million m³
Gas production: 5 million m³
Gas consumption: 720 million m³
Oil reserves: 100 million m³
Oil production: 300 million m³
Oil consumption: 172,000 million m³
Cultivation area: 20.87%
Bovine: 2,761,000 pieces
Sheep: 16,660,000 pieces
Fishing: 1,176,000 t
Demographic data
Residents: 33.241.300
Residents in cities: 18,670,000
Average age: 23.9 years
0-14 years: 31.6%
15-64 years: 63.4%
> 65 years: 5%
Population growth: 1.55%
Birth rate: 21.98 / 1,000 residents
Death rate: 5.58 / 1,000 residents
Migration: -0.87 / 1,000 residents
Ratio men / women: 0.99
Fertility: 2.68 children / woman
Infant mortality: 40.24 ‰
Life expectancy men: 68.62 years
Life expectancy women: 73.37 years
Country codes and abbreviations
ISO 3166 Alpha 2: MA
ISO 3166 Alpha 3: MAR
ISO 3166 numeric: 504
Top Level Domain: ma
IOC country code: MAR
UN / LOCODE: MA
Source: Abbreviationfinder
Communication
Telephone connections: 1,266,000
Cell Phones: 9,490,000
Radios: 2,310,000
TV: 7,510,000
Computer: 1,290,000
Internet users: 1,620,000
Transportation
Railway lines: 1,907 km
Paved roads: 35,023 km
of which expressways: 481 km
Cars: 1,572,000
Merchant fleet (ships over 1,000 GRT): 41
Pipelines: 980
Health
Number of doctors: 15,260
Daily food intake: 3,070 kcal / resident
HIV- infected people: 19,000
Education
Illiteracy: 48%
History
Foundation: 1080
Last sovereign since: 1956
Religion
Main religious group: Muslims
Crime
Prison inmates: 54,700
Military
Armed forces (troop strength): 192,000
Main battle tank: 540
Battleships: 1
Warplanes: 25th
Helicopter: 115
Defense Spending: $ 2,577,400,000