Morocco is one of those places that it seems like everyone has either been to or is planning on visiting. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Morocco a few times and it’s a country that I really love.
Morocco is a country steeped in history where its ancient traditions blend seamlessly with modern life. From the medinas of Marrakech and Fes to the serene blue city of Chefchaouen, every city in Morocco has its own unique charm and character.
If you’re planning a trip to Morocco and unsure of where to start, look no further! I’ve created a 10-day Morocco itinerary that I think is perfect for first time visitors. You’ll be able to experience many of Morocco’s different regions from the city to the countryside to its beaches. This 10 day Moroccan itinerary has everything you need for an amazing trip.
Planning a trip to Morocco: where to go
Morocco is a diverse country and every city is incredibly unique, so trying to decide where to visit for your first time can be difficult. While 10 days isn’t quite enough time to explore every amazing city in Morocco, it’s just enough time to really get a glimpse of what Morocco is all about. You’ll likely want to come back again.
With just 10 days in Morocco, you’ll have to narrow down where you want to go. You can either take a slow travel approach and spend more time in just a few cities, or you can try to hit the top cities opting to do the top things in each place.
For this Morocco travel itinerary, you’ll visit more locations but will have just 1-2 days in each place giving you the chance to see more. If you decide you want to spend more time in a few places, just take out the destinations you don’t want to visit this time around and add a day or two to another.
10 day Morocco Itinerary Overview
DAY 0: Arrival day – likely in Casablanca, Morocco – head to Chefchaouen
DAY 1: Chefchaouen
DAY 2: Travel to Fes
DAY 3: Fes
DAY 4: Travel to Marrakech
DAY 5: Marrakech
DAY 6: Desert outing
DAY 7: Travel to Essaouira
DAY 8: Essaouira
DAY 9: Travel to Marrakech
DAY 10: Travel home
Morocco Travel Information
First things first, let’s talk about some of the important information you’ll need to know when planning your 10 days in Morocco.
Getting to Morocco
Most people who fly into Morocco will land at the Casablanca International Airport. However there are some cities in Europe where you can fly directly to Marrakech. This 10 day Moroccan itinerary will begin in Casablanca and even if you don’t start there you can still use this itinerary.
You’ll just need to change up the order of places you visit or plan on extra travel to get to your first destination.
Getting around Morocco
To get from one town to the next will require some logistical planning but you have a lot of options to choose from.
If you’re like me, renting a car is my favorite way to travel in another country. It gives a lot of flexibility to stop between destinations for smaller sites or photo-ops. I always find Discover Cars very affordable and it’s who I use when I rent cars in other countries.
The roads in Morocco are in pretty good shape and if you have multiple people in your group, this might be the most affordable. So
If you don’t want to rent a car in Morocco, your choices of travel will be train, bus, or hiring a private driver. Now if you’re already stressing at the thought of trying to figure out how to get from place to place, it’s much easier than it looks.
To get to Chefchaouen, you’ll need to either hire a driver (very common and affordable) or take a bus. There isn’t a train station there. Same with Essaouira…there isn’t a train station so a bus or driver are your only options.
All other cities (besides the desert) do have train stations and it will be the fastest way to travel.
Best time to visit Morocco
Morocco is pretty dry and hot for most of the year and will be brutally hot in the summer months (June-August in Morocco) and I would highly advise avoiding a summer visit.
Trust me, it will still be hot enough in the spring and fall in Morocco. March to May or September to November is a great time to visit.
Do you need a Visa?
No visa is required to visit Morocco for up to a 90 day stay for many countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, and Europe.
You will need a passport that still has at least 6 months validity beyond your stay.
You’ll also need to provide proof of the accommodation you’re staying at (generally just your first stop is all that’s needed). You may also need to show proof of a departure ticket out of Morocco.
Sim Cards
Having a working phone in another country is almsot a necessity. You’ll be able to use google maps or look up information while out and about.
I love using Airalo for my sim cards when I travel. It’s a digital sim so there’s no need to remove any sim cards or install anything. You just go into your settings on your phone and turn off your home country and turn on the digital sim for Morocco.
Super easy and affordable!
What to wear in Morocco
Morocco gets really hot and you’re going to want to dress for that. However, Morocco is a Muslim country so you will need to balance dressing for the weather with being respectful of Morocco’s culture.
Avoid wearing short shorts and tank tops, especially when visiting religious and historical sites or when traveling in smaller, rural areas. It’s okay to wear shorts, but be sure to have appropriate clothing with you to cover up when you do visit a religious site.
To be safe, I recommend wearing light, breathable clothing such as linen. It’s also a good idea for women to carry a scarf and skirt with them so you can wear it over your shorts or cover your shoulders if needed.
Where to stay in Morocco: Riad or Dar
When you’re making your accommodation reservations, you’re going to come across the words “riad” and “dar”. Both of these terms refer to traditional Moroccan homes inside the medina, or walled city. You’ll find them mostly in larger cities such as Marrakech and Fes.
The word riad translates to “garden”. Riads will have a courtyard with a small pool or fountain as well as a garden and trees such as palm trees and citrus fruit trees.
Dar means “house” in Arabic and they will also have a courtyard and sometimes a fountain but they won’t have a garden. A dar is typically a little larger than a riad and will have more rooms.
Both are typically smaller than regular hotels with the rooms each opening to the courtyard area. Both will also typically have a rooftop terrace. I recommend staying at one of these traditional accommodations during your stay at least once during your visit.
During our trips to Morocco, we’ve stayed at both a regular hotel and in riads. I much prefer staying in a riad. It just gives you more of that authentic experience.
Currency & Language
Morocco has two official languages: Arabic and Berber. However, English and French are widely spoken throughout the country.
Moroccan Currency
Morocco’s currency is the Moroccan Dirham, or MAD.
1 dirham is equivalent to about .10 cents.
10 dirham is equivalent to about $1.10.
100 dirham is equivalent to about $10.75.
1000 dirham is equivalent to about $108.
Is Morocco Safe?
One of the top questions for nearly every destination is whether or not the country is safe. Morocco is a safe travel destination, however, like every place you travel to, you’ll need to exercise caution.
Use common sense when traveling.
- Avoid walking alone at night
- Keep your valuables secure from pickpockets
- Ignore or firmly say “La, Shukran” (no, thank you) to unsolicited help
- Don’t drink the tap water. Stick to bottled water
- Stick with your group if you’re out at night
Day 0: Travel Day
Most people who fly into Morocco will land at the Casablanca International Airport. However there are some cities in Europe where you can fly directly to Marrakech. This 10 day Moroccan itinerary will begin in Casablanca and even if you don’t start there you can still use this itinerary. You’ll just need to change up the order of places you visit.
Although you’ll arrive at the Casablanca International Airport, you won’t be spending time here. Honestly, I found Casablanca to be kind of bland and not much to see. If you want to explore it though, add it on to the last day when you come back to Casablanca to head home.
After you land and get through customs you’re going to head to the form of transportation you’ve chosen to travel to Chefchaouen.
If you’ve arrived late in the evening in Casablanca, you may need to get a hotel and head out the next morning to Chefchaouen
If you want to know more about getting around the country, I’ve written all about how to get around Morocco.
Day 1: Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen is pretty small and you can easily explore the town in one day.
- Explore the blue washed medina – you will get lost and that’s okay!
- Catch the sunset from the mosque at the top of the hill – a 20 minute “hike”
- Check out the main square Plaza Uta el-Hammam and the old fortress located there
Where to stay in Chefchaouen
I recommend staying in a riad in the medina. It’s all about the experience! If you want a luxury hotel option then consider Casa Hassan. It’s beautiful and you won’t have to hike up too many stairs.
We stayed at Dar Solaiman and loved our location. It’s a mid-range budget stay and nothing fancy but we had a lot of room and it was affordable. If you have a lot of luggage you may need help with your bags but trust me, you’ll have people offer. This is not a free service.
And if you are on a tight budget and saving your dollars for more trips (YES!) then consider staying at Vallparadis Pension Familiar. You’ll have great views of the mountains and city and it’s very inexpensive.
Where to eat in Chefchaouen
I have a few recommendations of places to eat. These places are right in the main square of Place Outa El Hamam. You can’t miss the square…it’s where the castle/fortress is.
Bilmos has an AMAZING crepe breakfast. Even my husband who is not a big breakfast eater thought it was delicious. Bilmos is right in the square across from the castle.
Next is The Magic Lamp House of Aladin. This is also in the main square and this was so good that we had lunch and then went back for dinner. They have the most amazing rooftop with views of the entire city.
And finally, also in Place Outa El Hamam is Chez Hicham. Great food and also views of the city. Their spaghetti bolognese was really delicious and tasted pretty authentic. I base this off of living in Italy for a year and have had a LOT Of spaghetti bolognese meals.
FYI: Just in case you’re wondering if Morocco is a dry country, it’s not. Read all about Drinking in Morocco and how to properly take part in it in a Muslim country.
Day 2: Travel to Fes
Today you’ll travel to Fes and you can either take the bus or hire a driver. You can ask your hotel/riad to arrange this for you. They always know someone who does this. The bus will cost about $11 a person and take 4.5 hours to reach Fes.
Hiring a driver will cost around $60 for the car which is a good deal depending on how many people are in your group. However, hiring a driver will have you in Fes in just 3 hours.
Once you arrive and have checked in to your hotel you can explore the medina a bit but understand that you will get lost. There are over 10,000 alleyways in the Fez medina and it’s confusing.
Day 4: Explore Fes
I recommend hiring a guide for your second day in Fes. It’s totally worth it! Your guide will take you through the Fez medina to visit all the major highlights as well as taking you to significant places of interest outside of the medina. This is the BEST way to see everything in just 1 day.
I’ve taken this Fez Guided Tour and it was one of the best I’ve ever been on. The guides know this city and the medina and will take you to all of the following places.
- Fez Medina
- Chouara Tannerie
- The Jewish Quarter
- Royal Palace Gate
- Bab Boujloud Gate
- Moulay Idriss Mausoleum
- Neggarine Fountain and more
Trust me when I say that getting a tour is the very best way to explore Fes and to see all of the major sights in Fes in just one day.
Where to stay in Fes
I recommend staying at a Riad in the Fes Medina. There’s not a lot of stairs in the Fes medina like there is in Chefchaouen but staying in the medina is a once in a lifetime experience and since you’re here you have to do it!
There are a ton of choices so I would look through them and find something that matches your budget. The one thing I recommend is finding a place that is near an entrance to the medina so you won’t get lost.
Day 5: Travel to Marrakech
If you haven’t rented a car then you’ll travel to Marrakech by train. Traveling by train is the quickest way to get to Marrakech. You’ll need to buy your tickets in advance at least a few weeks to a month to ensure you actually get tickets.
The train will take 6.5 hours and costs $40 a person. You’ll choose the train, pick your seat, and just relax. If you take the early train that leaves around 7:30am you’ll be in Marrakech by early afternoon. You can check into your hotel and then start exploring Marrakech.
Here’s some places you might want to check out on your during your time in Marrakech
- Jardin Majorelle and the Museum of Berber Arts
- Bahia Palace
- Badi Palace
- Saadian Tombs
- Menara Gardens
- Mederssa Ben Youssef
- Djemaa el-Fna Square at night
Day 6: Explore Marrakech
You have the whole day to explore more of Marrakech. While there are plenty of places to see in Marrakech you might want to consider taking a day trip to some sights just outside Marrakech.
Day Trip 1: Full day trip to Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou. These are UNESCO sites and where the Atlas Film Studios is and moves are filmed. It’s the largest film studio in the world.
Day Trip 2: Visit the Ouzoud Waterfalls where you can hike on the trails, take a boat ride, and learn about argan oil and the Berber culture.
Where to stay in Marrakech
There are a hundreds of beautiful riads you can choose from to stay at while in Marrakech. Trust me every place you see you’ll want to stay!
We stayed at both Riad Le Pelerin and Riad Yamina. Both places were in the medina on opposite ends and both are beautiful. Riad Le Pelerin is newer and has a very boho vibe. Riad Yamina is older but has been renovated and is a more traditional style riad.
We were able to get a tour of Riad Yamina and the rooms are to die for! So pretty! You can’t go wrong with either of those. I could look at photos of these riads all day.
Day 7: Travel to Essaouira
Today you’ll travel to the coastal town of Essaouira. There isn’t a train station so you’ll have to either take the bus or hire a driver. Again, ask your Marrakech hotel to help arrange for a driver (you know the drill).
The drive to Essaouira is just 3 hours from Marrakesh. We hired a driver and paid $15 per person (5 of us). If you leave first thing in the morning you’ll be in Essaouria in time for lunch and to explore the town.
Essaouira is a small beach town and you can pretty much see everything in just one day. Some of the places to see in Essaouira that you may want to visit includes the following:
- The historic port of Essaouira and fish market
- Visit Skala de la Ville – the 16th century fortification with cannons
- The medina which is enclosed by city walls – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Where to stay in Essaouira
The medina is located within the old fortress walls and there aren’t any stairs to contend with. There are a lot of choices in Essaouira but the one we stayed at and really liked was Chems Bleu. Our room was very large and we had great views of the ocean.
Where to eat in Essaouira
There are a lot of good places to eat in Essaouira and with the ocean RIGHT THERE, the seafood is fresh. But you HAVE to go to KSOU Cafe & Restaurant! This place is a total experience with great food and a fantastic show.
There’s music, there’s fire, there’s dancers…I cannot give this restaurant an accurate description that will do it justice so please just go and see for yourself! Make sure you go in the evening.
Day 8: Essaouira & Travel to Marrakech
Essaouira really surprised us so I would recommend spending another day here. You can either spend another night in Essaouira or use the morning to explore more of Essaouira and head back to Marrakech in the afternoon.
Day 9: Explore Marrakech
There are a lot of things to do in Marrakech so explore some more places and find the perfect souvenir to bring home from Morocco if you haven’t bought enough yet. 🙂 I always seem to have to buy a small piece of luggage when I travel to fit all of my treasures!
You can either spend the entire day and evening visiting more places in Marrakech or choose to take an evening tour to the desert. I highly recommend the Agafay Desert with a Sunset Dinner & Camel Ride. It’s just 30 minutes from Marrakesh and the perfect way to end the trip!
Day 10: Travel back home
Today is your last day in Morocco. If you’re flying out of the Casablanca International Airport then you should head there this morning. IF you have time then stop off at the Hassan II Mosque. The mosque is located right off the sea and it’s really impressive.
You can either just walk around the outside or take a tour of the inside. The Hassan II Mosque is one of two Moroccan mosques where non-Muslims are allowed to go inside on a guided tour.
Once you’re done then head to the airport for an evening flight out of Morocco.
Need help planning your trip?
There is a LOT to see and do in Morocco and the possibilites of places to visit are endless. Spending 10 days in Morocco only scratches the surface!
If you have more than 10 days in Morocco then I would still stick to this itinerary but add some extra time in Chefchaouen or Essaouira. Those are two of my favorite places in Morocco and are great places to add some down time to just enjoy the towns.
If you need help planning an itinerary or figuring out how to get around, I can help with that!
