Things to Do in Morocco

Morocco is the easiest big cultural leap from Europe — three hours from most capitals, and utterly different when you land. Imperial cities with medieval medinas, the Atlas mountains, Atlantic surf beaches and the Sahara all sit within a day’s travel of each other, linked by one of Africa’s best rail networks.

Our volunteer programs are based in Rabat, the coastal capital: calmer than Marrakesh, properly Moroccan rather than tourist-facing, and well placed for reaching everywhere else at weekends.

The best things to do in Morocco

1. Rabat, your base

A UNESCO-listed capital that most tourists skip. The Kasbah of the Udayas is a blue-and-white walled quarter above the river mouth, the Hassan Tower stands beside the unfinished mosque it was built for, and the Chellah is a Roman ruin colonised by storks. The beach and the Atlantic corniche are a walk from the centre.

2. Chefchaouen

The blue city in the Rif mountains, and the photograph everyone comes home with. Whole lanes are washed in cobalt and indigo, and the hillside Spanish Mosque at sunset looks back over the lot. Around four hours from Rabat, best done as an overnight rather than a day trip.

3. Marrakesh

Jemaa el-Fnaa is chaos in the best sense — food stalls, musicians and crowds after dark — and the souks behind it are the country’s most intense shopping. Balance it with the Jardin Majorelle, the Bahia Palace and a rooftop mint tea. Three to four hours by train from Rabat.

4. Fes

The oldest imperial city, and its medina is the largest car-free urban area in the world: 9,000 lanes, donkeys carrying goods, and the Chouara tanneries still working the way they have for a thousand years. Al-Qarawiyyin here is the oldest continuously operating university on earth. Hire a guide for the first few hours or you will be lost.

5. The Sahara at Merzouga

The classic Moroccan trip: a long drive over the Atlas, then camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes and a night in a desert camp under a sky with no light pollution anywhere near it. Usually a three-day round trip from Marrakesh or Fes, run as an organised tour.

6. The Atlantic coast

Essaouira is a windswept fortified port with fresh seafood, ramparts and a big kitesurfing scene; Asilah, closer to Rabat, is a whitewashed town with painted murals and a quiet beach. Both are the antidote to a hard week in the medinas.

When to visit Morocco

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are ideal — warm days, cool evenings and manageable desert temperatures. Summer inland can exceed 40°C in Marrakesh and Fes, though the Atlantic coast where Rabat sits stays much milder. Winter is mild on the coast but genuinely cold in the Atlas and the desert at night.

Getting around

Trains are the way to travel: the ONCF network links Rabat with Casablanca, Marrakesh, Fes and Tangier cheaply and reliably, including the high-speed line north. Grands taxis (shared) cover the gaps to smaller towns. In the medinas, petit taxis are metered and cheap — agree the meter is on before you set off.

Seeing Morocco as a volunteer

Rabat sits on the rail spine, so most of this list is a weekend away. Our Morocco placements are based in Rabat, include accommodation, meals, airport pickup and 24/7 in-country support, and leave evenings and weekends free — which is exactly when most of this list gets ticked off. See volunteer programs in Morocco for live prices and dates, or read our complete guide to volunteering in Morocco for costs, visas and safety.

Morocco travel FAQs

Is Morocco safe for volunteers?

Yes, with normal city awareness. Morocco is one of the most-visited countries in Africa and well set up for travellers. Expect persistent sales attention in the big souks — a polite, firm “no thank you” and walking on works. Women travellers often prefer to explore medinas in pairs.

Do I need to speak French or Arabic?

No. Darija (Moroccan Arabic) and French dominate day to day, and English is common in tourist areas. A handful of French phrases genuinely improves things, and our in-country team bridges the gap on your placement.

What should I wear in Morocco?

Morocco is relatively relaxed, but modest dress — shoulders and knees covered — is respectful and attracts less attention, especially outside tourist areas and in the medinas. Beach towns like Essaouira are easier going.

Can I visit the Sahara on a weekend?

Not comfortably — the desert is a three-day round trip from Marrakesh or Fes. Most volunteers save it for the end of their placement or a long weekend, and book through an organised operator.

Photo: Fbrandao.1963 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)