10 things to avoid in Morocco

Morocco is forgiving of tourist mistakes, but a few specific behaviors will cost you money, dignity, or occasionally trouble with the law. Here’s what to actually avoid.

1. Buying or carrying hash

You will be offered. Repeatedly. In the Rif Mountains, on the Marrakech overnight bus, by strangers in Chefchaouen.

Don’t buy it. Cannabis possession is illegal. Tourists caught get fined, sometimes jailed briefly, occasionally deported. The “I didn’t know” defense doesn’t fly. Sellers occasionally tip off police for kickbacks, you buy hash, get walked 200m down the street, and police “happen” to stop you. The fine starts at 5000 MAD and goes up.

What to do instead: politely refuse. “La, shukran.” Keep walking.

2. Drinking tap water for the whole trip

Not lethal but a 3-day stomach upset is likely. Bottled (Sidi Ali, Aïn Saïss) is cheap and ubiquitous. See our tap water guide.

What to do instead: bottled water for drinking and (if sensitive) brushing teeth. Hot tea and coffee are fine.

3. Negotiating to the bottom

Driving the carpet seller down from 3000 MAD to 800 MAD when you’d settle at 1200 MAD makes you a hero in your head. To the seller, the extra 400 MAD might be a meal for his family. Don’t haggle for the lowest possible price, haggle for the fair price.

What to do instead: start at 30–40% of opening offer, land at 50–60%. See our bargaining guide.

4. Public drinking or smoking weed

Both are illegal in public spaces. Drinking on the beach, smoking a joint in Chefchaouen’s main square, sipping wine at a Jemaa el-Fnaa rooftop where it’s not licensed, police will notice.

What to do instead: drink at licensed restaurants, hotel bars, and your riad. Smoke in private only (or don’t, see #1).

5. Wearing very revealing clothing in cities

Shorts above mid-thigh, crop tops, low necklines, tight sports gear, none illegal, all attention-magnets. You won’t be arrested. You will be stared at. Solo women report more uncomfortable interactions when dressed Western-summer.

What to do instead: cover shoulders and knees in cities. Beach/pool wear is for the beach and pool. See our dress guide.

6. Photographing people without asking

Especially women, especially in non-tourist areas. Many Moroccans, particularly older or rural, find it offensive. In Jemaa el-Fnaa, the performers expect a fee, see #7.

What to do instead: ask first. “Photo, OK?” with a smile. Many will say yes. Some will say no. Some will ask for money, negotiate before clicking or skip.

7. Photographing performers without paying

Snake charmers, water sellers, monkey trainers, Gnawa musicians in Jemaa el-Fnaa. They’re performers; their living is performance + photos. Photograph without paying and you’ll have a confrontation.

What to do instead: negotiate before clicking. “10 dirham for one photo, OK?” Pay, smile, walk on. Or don’t photograph.

8. Driving at night through mountain roads

Tizi n’Tichka, Tizi n’Test, Atlas roads. Unlit, narrow, twisty. Slow trucks. Goats. Drivers without headlights. The statistics on Moroccan night highway fatalities are bad.

What to do instead: finish all mountain driving by sunset. Stay overnight if you’re late.

9. Taking the “broken metre” taxi

When a driver says the metre is broken, it’s not. They want to charge 3x. The fight is exhausting after a long flight.

What to do instead: insist on the metre, or get out. Take the next taxi, there are dozens. At airports, use the official taxi stand with posted fares.

10. Bringing a drone without a permit

Drones require a permit from the Direction of Aeronautical Affairs (essentially impossible for tourists to get). Bringing one in without one means confiscation at customs, sometimes a fine. Don’t.

What to do instead: leave the drone home, or have great phone-camera skills.

Also worth avoiding

Wearing military / camouflage clothing

Illegal in Morocco to wear camouflage as a civilian. Wear-and-forget items like a green camo backpack are usually overlooked but can be confiscated.

Trying to enter mosques (except Hassan II)

Non-Muslims cannot enter mosques in Morocco, with one exception, the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. You can admire mosque courtyards from public spaces, never inside.

Bringing pork products in

Customs confiscates. Bacon, ham, sausages, pork-based protein bars, all stay at the airport.

Wearing very obvious jewelry / luxury watches in medinas

Not safety-dangerous, but you become a target for upselling. Leave the Rolex at home.

Drinking in front of fasting people during Ramadan

Public eating, drinking, smoking during Ramadan daylight hours is technically illegal even for non-Muslims, though rarely enforced for tourists. Out of respect: don’t drink water visibly on the street, don’t eat at outdoor cafés, save it for indoors.

”Helping” someone in a medina with bag carrying

You’re not actually being helped. They’ll demand money.

Trusting “official guides” from the street

Real guides have plastic ID badges with numbers. They work through your riad or licensed agencies. Street-touts with laminated badges are mostly fake.

Wearing your backpack on your back in crowded medinas

Pickpocketing target. Wear it in front, or use a crossbody bag.

Eating from stalls with no crowd

A reliable street stall has 6+ people standing around it. An empty stall has empty food sitting too long.

Accepting tea from strangers in shops without intent to buy

You can. But it’s a 60–90 minute commitment. Don’t enter a carpet shop unless you might leave with a carpet.

Telling strangers your hotel name

Especially around medina gates. Telling a “helpful local” your hotel name is the first step in the “your hotel is closed” scam.

Going alone with an unsolicited “guide” into a non-tourist area

This isn’t kidnapping territory, it’s con territory. They’ll lead you to a leather shop where someone bigger waits to pressure-sell. Don’t accept unsolicited guides.

Cultural things to know

Don’t…

• Eat with your left hand, left is for bathroom hygiene, right for eating. Use right.
• Refuse mint tea rudely. Even if you don’t want it, accept the offer, sip once.
• Point at people, especially with the index finger. Open palm.
• Discuss the King casually. Politics is a no-go topic, especially the monarchy.
• Touch your heart and bow. That’s specifically Muslim. As a non-Muslim, a smile and nod is plenty.
• Wear flip-flops outside the riad / beach / hammam. It reads as homeless / disrespectful.

Do…

• Greet with “Salam” when entering shops and small restaurants.
• Accept the mint tea, it’s hospitality.
• Tip small amounts often, see our tipping guide.
• Take shoes off when entering someone’s home, riad library, or prayer corner.
• Eat with your right hand when sharing a communal dish.
• Smile a lot. Morocco rewards friendliness.

TL;DR

Do	Don’t
Bottled water	Tap water (for tourists)
Negotiate fairly	Push to the bottom
Cover shoulders + knees in cities	Wear shorts in medinas
Greet shopkeepers with “Salam”	Walk in silently
Ask before photographing people	Photograph people freely
Pay before photographing performers	Snap and run
Insist on the taxi metre	Accept “broken metre” prices
Refuse hash politely	Buy hash from strangers
Drink at licensed venues	Drink in public
Leave the drone home	Bring drones without permits