Is Morocco safe for Solo Female Travellers (2024)
Morocco is the first destination I went to as a solo female traveller. Let me start off by saying I highly recommend it.
Morocco is a diverse country where you can enjoy surf, sea, desert and mountains. There’s lots of open space and wonderful landscapes. You can also enjoy the chaos of the cities, where the medinas (old cities) offer a unique and exciting cultural experience.
As a European, Moroccan cities felt very different to those in my home continent, despite being just a few miles from southern Spain. Here, African and Arabic cultures collide, with a sprinkling of European influence.
The cities are vibrant places, oozing with history, jaw-dropping architecture and a delicious selection of food. Not to be missed are tagines, mint tea and couscous, the latter of which is served on Fridays.
I enjoyed Morocco so much I went back for a second time and I hope to go again soon.
My time in Morocco
The first time I went to Morocco, I booked onto an eight day guided group tour (not an affiliate or sponsor and I highly recommend it as great value for money) with a few days on my own either side in Casablanca and then Marrakech.
We explored the ancient medieval city of Fés, watched the sun set over the desert in Merzouga, visited the UNESCO World Heritage site Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah, plus plenty of other smaller stops along the way.
The second time, I went with a local guide to hike the High Atlas Mountains, which I absolutely loved. Then we spent a few days in the seaside town of Essaouira, and then I was on my own in Marrakech again.
Both times I felt safe and able to walk around on my own when I was with and without the guides.
The first time I visited Morocco, I went on a guided tour.
My personal approach to safety in Morocco
I erred on the side of caution in Morocco, sticking to more touristic places when I was on my own (Casablanca and Morocco).
The first thing I did when I landed was buy a SIM Card, so I had access to maps and other people if needed.
I decided to pre-book my airport taxi to my accommodation via booking.com, because my flight landed late at night. That’s because it’s always a bit of an unsettling feeling arriving in a new country alone when it's dark and you’re tired – and to avoid the inevitability of being totally ripped off by airport taxi drivers.
After taking the train from Marrakech to Casablanca the next day, I booked onto a Guru Walks tour of Casablanca with Yaseen (again not an affiliate, but I highly recommend).
I love walking tours at the start of my visit to a new country because I can ask the guide questions about the local area, safety and anything else I’m unsure of. I was the only person on this tour and not only was Yaseen incredibly knowledgeable but it felt like hanging out with a friend.
Yaseen was a great guide, who I highly recommend looking up if you’re in Casablanca.
My general rule of thumb is to be more willing to go off-the-beaten-path (within reason) during the day, but at night I will only go down lit streets when I’m on my own.
This would generally involve walking between cultural landmarks within the city, through residential and non-touristic areas during the day. That way I was able to try more local food and cafés (which often have way better quality food and prices). Plus gain a bit more insight into local life.
It’s also worth mentioning that I don’t drink alcohol when I travel alone, which is easy in Morocco because as per Islamic culture alcohol is forbidden, meaning exposure to it is limited to touristic places there.
And, most of the time I check the reviews before booking a place to stay.
The Sahara Desert in Morocco is incredibly beautiful.
The general vibe in Morocco
On the whole people seemed friendly, though my lack of Arabic/ French made most exchanges limited. That being said, you can still have very pleasant interactions with people with just facial expressions and gesticulations.
Like with any country, the general vibe will depend on where you are. Remember to always go with your gut instinct and if you feel uncomfortable, leave.
Here’s how I felt in the places I visited, but remember experiences vary person to person:
Casablanca – To be honest, when I first arrived in Casablanca I felt a little uncomfortable, as I noticed men staring at me. However, this was the first place I walked around (my flight landed in Marrakech and I got a train to Casablanca first thing the next morning). After my walking tour I felt far more relaxed and learnt to let it stop bothering me. When I went into some of the really local places I got stared at more, but that is to be expected when you’re away from the main tourist areas.
Famous graffiti in the medina of Casablanca.
Marrakech – I felt pretty good in Marrakech whilst walking around on my own, because people are very used to tourists there. I got stared at sometimes and had stuff shouted at me (never anything offensive), but nothing felt unmanageable. I stayed in a riad near Jemaa el-Fnaa square which comes alive at night with food stalls and entertainers, so that I could make my way there by walking down well-lit streets.
Fès – I absolutely loved Fès, but it can be hectic, you get hassled a lot and many solo women report uncomfortable experiences. I visited with a guide which I would highly recommend, not only to avoid being hassled, but because you can learn far more about the history of this one-of-a-kind city (it would be a shame to miss it!)
Merzouga (Sahara desert) – I was here as part of a group tour again but was definitely being hit on by the hotel staff. I don’t know how peaceful or relaxing the desert would have been on my own with it being so remote.
Don’t miss out on the medieval city of Fès – one of my favourite places in Morocco.
Aït Ben Haddou – I was only here for one night, and during the day it was busy and felt safe. There wasn’t much around after dark so I stayed in the hotel, which also felt fine.
Essaouira – Here felt different to everywhere else I visited in Morocco. It was far more touristic with a much more relaxed vibe, which would be great for more anxious travellers. However, whilst I enjoyed it, it was probably my least favourite place as I felt I wasn’t getting to experience authentic Moroccan culture as much.
High Atlas Mountains – my favourite experience in Morocco was hiking in the High Atlas Mountains. I was accompanied by a guide the whole time, as per the law. However, I hardly saw any tourists and it was a privilege to experience the remote landscapes and gain insight into Berber life.
I made a YouTube video on a 48 hour hike I did in the High Atlas Mountains.
Begging and hassling in Morocco
Morocco can be a bit of a culture shock and sensory overload when you first arrive. Especially in Marrakech and Fès, people can be very persistent in trying to get you to buy things or visit their shops.
That being said, it wasn’t as bad as I expected. And I think that it helps going there prepared for it. When people were being overly persistent with selling me stuff or trying to get me to go to their shops, I said no thank you (‘La shukran’ in Arabic) and they left me alone.
Be confident in your right to say ‘no’ and walk away. I think showing polite confidence rather than fear definitely helps in these situations.
There are a lot of people begging on the streets in Morocco, many of them with physical disabilities. Whilst some suggest that paying people begging for money makes the issue worse, I preferred the option of carrying around some small coins and giving them away to people asking for money.
Not only does this stop the hassling, but hopefully it makes their day a little easier.
The souks in Fès are particularly intense, but you will get to visit interesting
places like its ancient tannery.
Public transport as a solo woman in Morocco
I got plenty of taxis, the bus and the train as a solo female traveller in Morocco and all the journeys went smoothly. I would be happy to use public transport in Morocco again in the future.
Taxis in Morocco
There are two different types of taxi in Morocco: petit taxis and grand taxis. A petit taxi is like a normal taxi which you can book through the apps, whereas a grand taxi is a car share to a fixed destination (usually further away).
After my initial pre-booked taxi through booking.com, I used the apps Careem or InDrive to find taxis at fair prices. These journeys were also smooth. I did get a couple of marriage proposals from taxi drivers, but I didn’t let it bother me.
When I travelled to the Atlas Mountains, I took a grand taxi with my guide, but this would also be fine to do as a solo female traveller. Ask your accommodation to tell you where to find the grand taxis. Once you’ve found the right taxi, you’ll have to wait a while until it fills, as drivers won’t leave before then.
Payment is expected before you depart and if not all of the passengers are going to the final destination, you may need to pay a little more, and the driver will tell you.
I took a grand taxi from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains for 35 dirham.
Trains in Morocco
My first use of public transport was a train from Marrakech to Morocco, which was great. The train was on-time and there were helpful staff at the ticket desks.
The only thing to be aware of is that if someone offers to help you with your luggage, they will expect to be paid. Most of the time kind gestures in Morocco will be given with something expected in return.
Buses in Morocco
I haven’t tried the public buses in Morocco yet, but I would be willing to give them a try. I did, however, take a Supratour bus from Marrakech to Essaouira which is the same as any other coach and felt perfectly safe.
Essaouira is a fishing town with a beach and relaxed atmosphere
Dress code in Morocco
Many women in Morocco wear their hair covered with hijabs, though definitely not all. Some opt for full burqas, whilst others don’t cover their hair at all.
The cities in particular seem to have a greater diversity in dress codes: a common theme around the world. Unless you’re at the beach or in seaside towns, women tend to have their bodies fully covered with loose clothing.
There’s no need to cover your head or worry too much about how you dress in the cities and tourist areas, but if you’re not wearing modest clothing some people will be offended and you’ll get stared at.
Out of respect for the local customs, I had my knees, shoulders, and the whole of my torso covered at all times (unless at the beach). I also tended to opt for loose fitting clothes a lot of the time.
Dress codes are also more strict at some important historical and religious sites, so it’s worth carrying a scarf to cover knees/ shoulders/ head in case needed.
People in the mountains tend to be more conservative. However, I wore hiking shorts which was fine and you still don’t need to cover your hair.
Many women cover their heads and hair in Morocco, but it is not necessary for tourists.
The division of labour in Morocco
Most of your exchanges with Moroccans will be with men. All the restaurant staff, taxi drivers, shop owners, hotel owners/ managers and guides I saw were men.
Moroccan culture has a clear division of labour between men and women: with the former working outside of the house to provide for the family financially and the latter maintaining house and home.
As the country modernises and more women are being able to access education, this is slowly beginning to change. However, Morocco has far from universal education, particularly when it comes to women.
The main interactions I had with women were in the bathrooms, the hammams and in the associations where they work (visit an association if you can to support local women). Or, exchanging a smile in a cafe if they saw me pulling silly faces at their kids (the children also like to stare).
Aït Ben Haddou has featured in some popular TV, including Game of Thrones and the film Gladiator.
What are the men like in Morocco?
I know that for most women, this question will be at the forefront of your mind before visiting Morocco.
Moroccan men have a bad reputation, however like all places it depends on the individual person. (For example, Morocco has a worse reputation than Nepal for women, but I was assaulted in Nepal and not Morocco – a story for another time.)
I didn’t experience any harassment other than catcalling – mostly having ‘zwina’ shouted at me, like most foreign women experience.
Sometimes men would ask for my phone number or Instagram, which I would politely decline. I received a marriage proposal from a taxi driver who was very honest about looking for a visa.
I was prepared for these types of interactions – and you should be too if you’re going to visit. I decided to find it amusing rather than offensive (if you can’t change it, you can still control your reaction to it).
I also met some very kind men, including my guides and also a hostel owner who invited me to eat couscous with him and his friends.
Morocco is full of historical sites, including the ancient Roman settlement of Volubilis
What about if you do like the men (or women) in Morocco?
There’s a lot of information about how to avoid the men in Morocco, but what if you meet someone you like? Perhaps you’re into casual hook-ups or you think you’ve met the new love of your life.
Dating in Morocco is far from straightforward, especially if you are visibly foreign. In fact, it is against the law to have sex outside of marriage in Morocco – and is punishable by up to twelve months in prison.
For foreign couples, exceptions are made, to avoid a negative impact on the tourism industry. But you can forget about inviting a Moroccan back to your hotel room. The hotel will check your passports and turn you away (and possibly report your friend to the police) if you’re not married.
You’re better off admiring the architecture in Morocco than the men.
So, is Morocco safe for solo female travellers?
In short, the answer is yes. Many women visit Morocco solo each year and enjoy the experience.
For first time solo travellers it may be overwhelming, because women are definitely not treated the same as men here. However, it shouldn’t stop you from doing anything you want to do.
Hiring a guide for part of your trip is a practical solution to visiting more challenging areas like the desert, Atlas Mountains or Fés, without feeling uncomfortable (as long as you get a proper, licensed guide).
Following basic safety precautions like not walking around on your own at night or getting drunk is also important.
Prepare yourself to have a thick skin in Morocco and remember to exit situations that make you feel uncomfortable. You most likely will experience some discomfort.
The sad reality is that women experience uncomfortable situations when solo travelling or living in most places around the world. I even experience this in the UK sometimes and I will not let it stop me from returning to Morocco.
Morocco really does have it all – beaches, deserts, historical cities, beautiful architecture,
amazing food and mountain views.
And finally, some useful phrases to help you get by in Morocco
The official languages of Morocco are Classical Arabic and Amazigh (Berber). However, Moroccan Arabic (known as Darija) is by far the widest spoken language. In the touristic areas many people also speak French.
Learn these Darija phrases and some other basics before you go, to make your solo trip to Morocco easier.
Salam Alekum – Hello
Labas? – How are you?
Fine, thanks – Bekhir, shukran
Afak – Please
Shukran – Thank you
La shukran – No thank you
Na’am – Yes
Essemeh – Excuse me
Katkelem ennglizia – Do you speak English?
Mafhemtsh – I don’t understand
If you think I’ve missed something in this blog, please feel free to ask questions in the comments.
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