Morocco is one of the most affordable travel destinations in the Mediterranean world. A comfortable day’s travel — accommodation, food, transport, entry fees — can cost as little as €30–40 if you know what you’re doing. Here are 16 tips to make your money go further.
Transport
1. Use CTM buses between cities. Safe, comfortable and a fraction of the cost of private taxis. Marrakech to Fès costs around 150 MAD (€14). 2. Share grand taxis. Between smaller towns and villages, shared grand taxis leave when full and cost only slightly more than the bus. 3. Walk the medinas. Everything worth seeing in a Moroccan medina is within walking distance — taxis inside are unnecessary and often impossible anyway.
Accommodation
4. Book medina hostels early. Budget hostels inside medinas cost €10–15 per night and are often in beautiful old buildings. 5. Negotiate riad prices in low season. Outside July–August and the December–January peak, riad prices are negotiable — especially for stays of three or more nights. 6. Avoid hotels outside medinas. The bland modern hotels around Gueliz in Marrakech cost more and offer less character.
Food
7. Eat where workers eat. A full Moroccan lunch in a neighbourhood restaurant costs 30–50 MAD. 8. Avoid tourist-facing restaurants near major sights. The 200 MAD set menu at Jemaa el-Fna restaurants is overpriced. Walk two streets back. 9. Buy breakfast at the bakery. Fresh bread, olive oil and coffee costs under 20 MAD. 10. Drink fresh orange juice. Everywhere. It costs 5 MAD and is among the best in the world.
Sightseeing
11. Many mosques are free to admire from outside. Non-Muslims cannot enter most Moroccan mosques, but the exterior architecture is often spectacular. 12. Wander souks for free. The souks themselves cost nothing — just buy something small from a vendor you like. 13. Visit medersas in the morning. Less crowded, better light, same price. 14. Haggle, but not aggressively. A 20–30% reduction on initial prices is realistic; starting with an insultingly low offer wastes everyone’s time.
General
15. Use ATMs rather than exchange bureaux. Better rates, lower fees. Withdraw larger amounts to reduce per-transaction costs. 16. Travel in shoulder season. April–May and October–November offer the best weather and the lowest prices simultaneously. This is when Morocco is at its most pleasant and most affordable.
