By Camille Smith
Rabat - With more and more tourists pouring in the country annually, Morocco is turning into a top tourist destination.
What makes it stand out is not only its beautiful sights, riads, and resorts that most tourists search for, but it also offers a cultural experience that makes it especially unique from any other getaway. Whether you have just a few days, weeks, or even months visiting Morocco, don’t miss out on these must-dos and sees.
1. Eat Couscous on Friday
Cousous is the staple of Morocco. While it’s served in many restaurants, enjoying a communal dish of it with a family (if you’re lucky enough to be invited into a Moroccan home) on a Friday afternoon is the must authentic way to have it.
2. See the Sahara Desert
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Photo by Katarina Maruskinova[/caption]
The epitome of all of Morocco’s vast natural beauty. Spend a few days riding camels, cruising over the dunes in jeeps, and sandboarding in Merzouga for an unforgettable time in the desert.
3. Bargain for souvenirs in the medina
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Photo by Jack Stanovsek/MWN[/caption]
What most visitors don’t realize is that when you’re buying souvenirs, the price isn’t always fixed. Sometimes shopkeepers offer double the actual price they’ll sell for originally, so try out your haggling skills to save yourself some dirhams.
4. Bathe in a hammam
While Moroccans have showers, the more popular, traditional way of bathing is in the public hammams, or bathhouses. You can buy the savon noir and a scrub glove in the street for just a few dirham. If you’ve never been, this is truly an experience like no other. For extra, you can even get a massage to top off this relaxing, refreshing experience.
5. Relax and have some Moroccan tea
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Photo by Jack Stanovsek[/caption]
Contrary to popular belief, Britain isn’t the country of tea. You’ll find out quickly that Moroccans love their tea (With lots of sugar and mint!) Morocco comes in second for the most tea consumed per capita after Turkey.
6. Try meloui for breakfast
Made fresh on the street daily for only 2 or 3 dirhams, be sure to try this delicious breakfast treat with honey or cheese.
7. See the blue city
After visiting the lively big cities like Fez and Marrakech, escape to the small, quaint, city of Chefchauoen known for its all-blue buildings. Recently ranked the 6th most beautiful city in the world, don’t miss out on this hidden gem, only a couple of hours away from Tangier.
8. Learn some Darija
It never hurts to learn another language! Darija is Morocco’s dialect of Arabic. Though many Moroccans speak English or French, it’s not only more respectful, but can be to your advantage to attempt speaking their language. It might help you get better prices for taxis or in the medina.
9. Watch a traditional music performance
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Sufism in Morocco. Photo by Omar Chennafi[/caption]
From Berber, Gnawa, to Chaabi groups, these men never fail to really put on a show. Don’t be surprised if they pull you in to dance with them!
10. Tour the mosque home to the world’s largest minaret
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The Grand Mosque of Hassan II in Casablanca Morocco[/caption]
By law, the majority of mosques are closed off to non-Muslims. Luckily, the Hassan II mosque in Casablanca is open to the public and offers tours in multiple languages daily. Be sure to check the hours and get tickets in advance, otherwise you may miss your chance to get in!
While this list only scratches the surface of that many fantastic things Morocco has to offer, checking off as many of these as you can will surely lead you into incredible adventures that will make your time in Morocco unforgettable.
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