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Safety trips for travelling to Morocco

Both men and women can sometimes have doubts about the safety of Morocco. However, Morocco is safe if you follow the laws and customs detailed below.

Is it safe to travel to Morocco?

Travelling to Morocco is safe for most tourists. However, violent crime and street crime does occasionally occur, such as the use of knives in muggings and there have been a few isolated incidents of terrorism against tourists.

Pick-pocketing and theft are extremely common in Morocco. When in a major city or popular coastline, you should take precautions such as being aware of your surroundings and possessions and avoiding travel at night. You should not carry a lot of money around with you, be cautious of drive-by thefts when next to main roads and be knowledgeable of popular scams and fraud.

Is it safe for female tourists in Morocco?

Female tourists may be the target of unwanted attention or harassment, especially if they are alone, therefore you should avoid travelling by yourself especially at night. If you have to travel at night, you should keep to well-lit areas and busy places. Women may find it better to go with a tour group rather than a small group of friends or solo, as this will lessen the chance of unwanted attention.

Are there any areas to avoid?

You'll be safe in most areas of Morocco. However, you should be careful of theft in the alleyways of Marrakesh and Casablanca's old towns or medinas as these narrow paths attract opportunistic pickpockets. Issaguen and the Rif Mountains should also only be explored with an experienced guide as you may run into issues here. You should always take out a Morocco travel insurance policy before you visit as this will help to cover you in the event of an emergency.

Laws to be aware of in Morocco

It is illegal to have a sexual relationship outside of marriage, and so when travelling with a partner, you will usually have separate hotel rooms and avoid public displays of affection unless you are married. However, even then, kissing in public is to be avoided. Additionally, homosexuality is a criminal offence in Morocco and could lead to prosecution.

Drinking outside of a licensed restaurant or bar is illegal and possessing drugs could also lead to a long sentence. The full list of laws and customs can be found on the UK government's travel advice webpage.

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