Is Morocco safe?

Morocco receives more than ten million visitors in a normal year, and almost none of them are harmed. The honest answer to whether it is safe is that the risk profile is that of a middle-income country with a large tourism industry: petty crime in the busy places, some scams, careless driving, and a small number of very serious incidents.

What actually happens to visitors

The medinas are the setting for most of it: pickpockets in the crowds around Jemaa el-Fna and the souks, “guides” who attach themselves to you and then want paying, shops that quote one price and sell another, and taxi drivers who prefer an agreed fare to a meter. None of it is unique to Morocco, and all of it is manageable: keep bags zipped in front, agree fares before you move, and treat unsolicited help as a transaction.

The serious risks

• Terrorism: the threat is real and low. Governments note it in their advice; planned attacks on tourist targets have happened over the years. Nothing about this is special to Morocco among travel destinations, and the advice is the ordinary one.
• Roads: aggressive driving and mountain roads without barriers are the bigger practical risk. Hire a driver for the Atlas and the desert rather than driving unfamiliar passes at night.
• The closed border: the Algerian frontier is closed and patrolled; the UK advises against approaching it, and against travel within 30 kilometres of the Western Sahara boundary in the militarised zone. Standard tourist routes are nowhere near either.

Laws that catch visitors out

Drugs carry long prison sentences, including for possession of small amounts. Alcohol is legal and sold in licensed places, but public drunkenness is not. Photographing government buildings, police and military sites gets phones confiscated. Public behaviour that would be casual at home is not casual here, especially during Ramadan.

The earthquake

The 8 September 2023 earthquake struck the High Atlas south of Marrakech. Marrakech’s old city held, tourism continued, and rebuilding in the mountain villages is ongoing. If your route crosses the affected valleys, go with local guides, and expect some roads and guesthouses to still be under repair.

Practical habits

1. Photograph your passport and policy into a private album, and keep the originals in different places.
2. Save your embassy’s address and number offline.
3. Keep a few hundred dirhams in small notes: most awkward moments are solved with cash and a smile.
4. Check your own government’s advice before booking, not after. The details differ between countries, and your embassy is the one that can help you.

Your phone is the practical kit for all of this: embassy numbers, offline maps, translation, and the ride that avoids the dark walk. Check your phone before you fly.