Is Morocco Safe for Tourists? What the Official Advice Says

What do governments say about travel to Morocco?

Neither the United States nor the United Kingdom advises against travel to the parts of Morocco that visitors normally go to, and both ask travellers to take care. We checked both sources on 6 October 2026. Advice changes, sometimes overnight, so read the current version for your own country before you book and again before you fly.

How should you read the terrorism warning?

Take it as a real but low-frequency risk that you cannot plan around in detail. Both governments say an attack is possible and that tourist sites could be targets. Neither tells people to stay away. The same level of US advisory currently applies to many countries that receive large numbers of visitors.

What you can do is limited and simple: stay aware in crowded places, keep away from demonstrations, follow instructions from local authorities, and register with your government's traveller service if it has one. We cannot tell you the risk is zero, and nobody honestly can.

What are the risks visitors actually meet?

The problems travellers report are mostly theft, pressure and traffic. None is unique to Morocco, and most can be avoided with ordinary care.

Which scams are most common?

Most scams in Morocco are about commission or overcharging, not about danger. They are tiring more than harmful. These are the ones worth recognising.

• "That way is closed." A stranger says the street, square or sight ahead is shut and offers to show another way, which ends at a shop or tannery where a tip is demanded. Keep going and check for yourself.
• The unrequested guide. Someone walks beside you giving directions, then asks for payment. Say no at the start, not at the end.
• The tannery or carpet shop detour. A helper leads you to a "cooperative" or a "Berber market that is only open today". You are free to leave without buying.
• Henna and animal photos. In Jemaa el-Fna, henna may be started on your hand before you agree, and a monkey or snake may be placed on your shoulder. Both are followed by a demand for money. Keep your hands to yourself and step away.
• The meal with no prices. Extra dishes arrive and the bill is higher than expected. Ask for a menu with prices and send back anything you did not order.
• Taxi fares. City taxis have meters, but drivers at stations and airports often prefer a fixed price. Agree it before you get in.

A polite, firm "no, thank you" ("la, shukran") repeated once is usually enough. Losing your temper rarely helps.

Is Morocco safe for women travellers?

Many women travel in Morocco, alone and in groups, but unwanted attention is common and you should expect some. The UK advice says "Women may receive unwanted attention in Morocco, especially when travelling alone." In practice this is mostly comments, staring and persistent attempts at conversation in medinas and on busy streets. Physical harassment is less common but does occur.

• Ignore, do not engage. Not replying and not making eye contact ends most approaches. A reply of any kind is often taken as an opening.
• Dress with the setting in mind. Covering shoulders and knees reduces attention in medinas and small towns. It does not stop it. See what to wear in Morocco.
• Plan your evenings. Medina lanes empty and darken after the shops close. Take a taxi to the nearest gate or ask your riad to send someone to walk you in.
• Choose accommodation with staff on site. A riad with a 24-hour door is easier than a self-catering flat.
• Make a scene if you need to. If someone will not leave you alone, speak loudly and walk into a shop, café or hotel. Bystanders often step in.

Is Morocco safe for solo travellers?

Solo travel in Morocco is common and workable, with the same cautions as above applied a little more strictly. A person alone draws more approaches from touts, has nobody to watch a bag, and has less margin if something goes wrong on a remote road.

Share your route with someone at home, keep a charged phone with a local SIM or roaming, and avoid arriving in a new city after dark. A private tour is one way to remove the transport and navigation risks, though a solo traveller pays towards the top of our price range because the vehicle is not shared. See private vs group tours for the trade-off.

How safe are the roads and the desert?

Road travel is the most serious everyday risk in Morocco. The UK advice states that "Road accidents are a frequent occurrence in Morocco". Overtaking on bends, unlit vehicles and animals on the road are all common. The same advice says poor lighting makes driving at night dangerous, and that mountain roads can be especially hazardous in bad weather. The Tizi n'Tichka pass is a winding road of that kind.

• If you self-drive, do not drive after dark, keep to speed limits, which are enforced by police checks, and allow far more time than a map suggests.
• If you take a tour, ask how many hours are driven each day and whether any driving is at night. The daily distances for our routes are on each tour page, so you can judge the long days before you enquire.
• Wear a seatbelt in every seat, including in taxis where one is fitted.

The Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga are far from any border trouble and are visited by large numbers of travellers each year. The risks there are heat, sun and dehydration, and injuries from quad bikes. Go into the dunes with a camp or guide, not alone, carry water, and check that your insurance covers quad biking before you try it. The UK page also advises anyone hiking in the Atlas Mountains to research trails and the experience needed. Our desert tours page explains how the camp and camel trek are organised.

Which emergency numbers should you save?

What practical steps make a trip safer?

1. Read your government's current advice for Morocco and register your trip if that service exists.
2. Buy travel insurance that covers medical evacuation and any activities you plan, such as quad bikes or trekking.
3. Carry a copy of your passport and leave the original locked at your accommodation unless you need it.
4. Split cash and cards between two places. Use ATMs attached to banks, in daylight.
5. Download offline maps so you can walk with purpose in a medina without asking for directions.
6. Agree prices before taxis, guides, henna and photos.
7. Arrange guides and drivers through your accommodation or operator, not in the street.
8. Avoid demonstrations and large political gatherings.
9. Do not travel on mountain roads after dark.