--- title: "10 Unforgettable Things to Do in Morocco" description: "Marrakech and Fez medinas, the Sahara, Ait Benhaddou, Essaouira: 10 things to do in Morocco, with opening hours, prices checked in October 2026 and season tips." image: "https://rentaphone.ma/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Pocket-wifi-in-Morocco.jpg" dateModified: "2026-11-10" --- Source: https://rentaphone.ma/en/10-unforgettable-things-to-do-in-morocco-2026/ Date: 2026-01-28 Updated: 2026-11-10 Language: en - Blog - 10 things to do in Morocco # 10 Unforgettable Things to Do in Morocco in 2026: The Complete Traveler's Guide Updated 2 October 2026 · 10 min read Morocco suits very different trips: a week of medinas, a road trip to the desert, a mountain pass or a few days on the Atlantic coast. Here are ten experiences worth the journey, with what you need to know before you go: opening hours, prices checked on the date of this update, the best season, and the sites still closed since the 2023 earthquake. Prices and hours change, so check them again locally or on the official website before you travel. The essentials - Marrakech and Fez: two medinas on UNESCO’s World Heritage List (1985 and 1981), best explored on foot and without rushing. - Desert: Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) is the easiest to reach, Erg Chigaga is more remote; winter nights are cold (2 °C average January low in Errachidia, NOAA 1991-2020 normals). - Majorelle Garden: about €15.50, open daily 8 am to 6:30 pm (official website, October 2026). Hassan II Mosque: guided tours only, about €13 for a foreign adult (Routard, October 2026). - Tizi n’Test: a spectacular mountain road, but parts are still under repair since the 2023 earthquake, and the Tinmel mosque is being rebuilt. - Best seasons: spring and autumn; Marrakech summer afternoons are hot (37.7 °C average July high). Pocket WiFi in Marrakech Maroc Telecom 4G router: €4.90 a day (2-day minimum), up to 10 devices, delivered and collected free of charge at your accommodation in Marrakech, 9 am to 6 pm. Book onlineCard payment in euros. In this article - 1. Get lost in Marrakech's medina and Jemaa el-Fna square - 2. Take your time in Fez - 3. Sleep under the stars in the Sahara - 4. Visit the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca - 5. Drive over the Tizi n'Test pass - 6. Wander the blue lanes of Chefchaouen - 7. Explore the ksar of Ait Benhaddou - 8. Hike the Dades and Todgha gorges - 9. See the palaces and gardens of Marrakech - 10. Spend a few days on the Atlantic coast - Planning your trip: seasons, transport and Ramadan - Staying connected on the road - Morocco trip: frequently asked questions ## 1. Get lost in Marrakech's medina and Jemaa el-Fna square Marrakech was founded by the Almoravids in the 11th century and its medina has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985. The heart of the city is Jemaa el-Fna square, whose “cultural space” is on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list (proclaimed in 2001, inscribed in 2008): storytellers, Gnaoua musicians, henna artists, orange-juice sellers and, after dark, dozens of food stalls. Go twice: in the morning, when the square is almost empty, and again in the late afternoon, when the stalls set up. The souks start just north of the square. Getting lost is normal; an offline map or a mobile connection means you don’t have to rely on self-appointed “guides” offering to walk you back for a tip. - Photos: ask before photographing anyone; performers in the square expect a coin. - Animals: chained monkeys and snakes are there mainly for paid photos; you don’t have to stop. - Bargaining: it is part of buying in the souks; stay polite and decide your price before you start. ## 2. Take your time in Fez The medina of Fez, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981, preserves the capital founded by the Idrisid dynasty between 789 and 808. You get around only on foot (or by donkey), in a network of lanes far denser than Marrakech. The University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859, is according to Guinness World Records the oldest existing and continually operating educational institution in the world. The adjoining mosque is closed to non-Muslims, though you can glimpse its courtyard from some doorways. The other classic stop is the tanneries, the best known being Chouara, viewed from the terraces of neighbouring leather shops. You’ll be handed a sprig of mint for the smell; access to the terrace usually comes with the hope of a sale or a tip. Allow at least two full days. On a first visit, an official guide (with an authority-issued badge) saves time and avoids shopping detours. ## 3. Sleep under the stars in the Sahara Two great ergs (dune seas) draw travellers. Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga, is reachable by paved road and has most of the camps. Erg Chigaga, beyond M’Hamid el-Ghizlane, is reached by 4×4 on tracks: fewer people, more isolation. From Marrakech, allow at least three days for a round trip to Merzouga, because the road crosses the High Atlas. The Draa Valley, which you follow from Agdz to Zagora and on to M’Hamid, is the way to Chigaga: palm groves, earthen ksour and kasbahs, some now turned into guesthouses. The cold catches many visitors out. In Errachidia, the nearest weather station to Merzouga, the average January low is 2 °C, against an average July high of 39.5 °C (NOAA 1991-2020 normals). Bring a proper warm layer for camp nights from November to February, and avoid high summer if you struggle with heat. Mobile signal thins out in the dunes: our guide on phone signal in the Moroccan desert explains where it still works. ## 4. Visit the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca Inaugurated in 1993, the Hassan II Mosque is built partly over the ocean. Its 210-metre minaret was the tallest in the world until the Great Mosque of Algiers (Djamaa el-Djazaïr) opened in 2019 with a 265-metre minaret. It is one of the few working mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims, and only on a guided tour of about an hour. According to the Routard guide (checked October 2026), a ticket costs about €13 for a foreign adult, with reduced rates for residents and students. From 16 September to 14 March, tours leave at 9, 10, 11 am, noon and 3 pm from Saturday to Thursday, and at 9, 10 am and 3 pm on Friday; a 4 pm slot is added from 15 March to 15 September. Times change during Ramadan. Dress code: shoulders and knees covered. You remove your shoes at the entrance and are given a bag to carry them. Afterwards, walk along the Corniche or through the Art Deco city centre around Boulevard Mohammed V. ## 5. Drive over the Tizi n'Test pass The R203 links Marrakech to Taroudant and the Souss valley, crossing the High Atlas at the Tizi n’Test pass, just over 2,000 metres up. Built in the 1920s, it is paved but narrow, with many blind bends. The area was hit hard by the earthquake of 8 September 2023. According to the Routard guide (checked October 2026), the road surface remains uneven in the affected areas, where works may be under way. The 12th-century Almohad Great Mosque of Tinmel largely collapsed and is being rebuilt: it cannot be visited as before. - Don’t drive it at night, and set aside a full day. - In winter, snow can close the pass: check the day before. - If you are not used to mountain driving, the other main Atlas crossing, Tizi n’Tichka (towards Ouarzazate), is wider. ## 6. Wander the blue lanes of Chefchaouen Chefchaouen, in the Rif mountains of northern Morocco, is known for its medina with blue-washed walls. Several explanations for the colour circulate, none firmly established. The town is calmer than Marrakech or Fez, a good place to slow down, walk to the Ras el-Maa spring or climb to the Spanish mosque for the sunset view. It pairs well with Fez or Tangier. The lanes are people’s homes: photograph the façades, not residents without asking, and don’t block the stairways for a shot. ## 7. Explore the ksar of Ait Benhaddou In Ouarzazate province, Ait Benhaddou is a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls, a classic example of pre-Saharan architecture. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. The ksar has been used as a set for many productions, Gladiator among them. Come early in the morning or late in the day, when low light warms the earth and the day-trip groups from Marrakech have left. Climb to the fortified granary at the top for the view over the valley. It combines easily with Ouarzazate and its film studios. ## 8. Hike the Dades and Todgha gorges On the southern side of the High Atlas, the Dades valley alternates earthen villages, terraced fields and red cliffs. Above Boumalne Dades, the road climbs in tight hairpins, one of the most photographed viewpoints in the country. The Todgha gorges, near Tinghir, are narrower and can be walked for a few hundred metres between sheer walls. Both suit a day hike, ideally with a local guide who knows the trails between villages. They are also a natural stop on the road to the desert, between Ouarzazate and Merzouga. ## 9. See the palaces and gardens of Marrakech The Bahia Palace was built in the late 19th century for the grand viziers Si Moussa and then his son Ba Ahmed: courtyards, painted wooden ceilings, zellige tilework. The Koutoubia Mosque, whose Almohad minaret dominates the city, is closed to non-Muslims, but its gardens are open. The Majorelle Garden was created from 1922 by the French painter Jacques Majorelle, then bought in 1980 by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé to save it from developers. According to the official website (checked 2 October 2026), it opens daily from 8 am to 6:30 pm (last entry 6 pm); admission is about €15.50, about €8.70 for international students, and free for children under 10. Booking a time slot online is strongly recommended. For the Bahia, buy your ticket at the entrance; prices quoted on unofficial websites contradict each other, so we don’t repeat them. ## 10. Spend a few days on the Atlantic coast Essaouira, whose fortified 18th-century medina has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001, is the easiest coastal escape from Marrakech. It stays mild all year: the average August high is only 22.4 °C (NOAA 1991-2020 normals), because the trade winds blow hard, especially in summer. Great for kitesurfing, less so for lying on a towel: pack a windproof jacket. Further south, Taghazout and Imsouane are the best-known surf villages, and Agadir has a long city beach. Surf season runs mainly from October to March, when North Atlantic winter swells arrive; spring and autumn suit beginners better. Above Agadir, the hill of Agadir Oufella, whose kasbah was destroyed by the 1960 earthquake, gives the best view over the bay. ## Planning your trip: seasons, transport and Ramadan When to go. Spring (March to May) and autumn (late September to November) are the most comfortable for combining cities, mountains and desert. In Marrakech, NOAA 1991-2020 normals give an average high of 37.7 °C in July and 19.1 °C in January, with winter nights around 6 °C. Winter is great for cities, but cold in the mountains and at night in the desert. Ramadan. The next Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February 2027 (confirmed by the sighting of the crescent moon). Sites stay open, some with shorter hours, and many restaurants outside tourist areas close during the day. Getting around. International flights land mainly in Marrakech, Casablanca, Agadir, Fez, Tangier and Rabat. Trains link Casablanca, Rabat, Fez and Marrakech; for the south and the mountains, travel by coach, rental car or with a driver. Clothing. In medinas and villages, clothes covering shoulders and knees make interactions easier and are required at the Hassan II Mosque. Our detailed advice: how to dress in Morocco. ## Staying connected on the road Maps, riad bookings, translation, video calls: a Moroccan road trip uses data quickly. If you travel alone with a compatible phone, an eSIM or a local SIM (passport required to buy one) is often the simplest option. For a couple, family or group, a pocket WiFi router saves setting up every phone. Rent A Phone rents a 4G router on the Maroc Telecom network, with unlimited data, up to 10 connected devices and about 8 hours of battery, for €4.90 per day (2-day minimum). It is delivered and collected free of charge in Marrakech (hotel, riad, Airbnb or wherever you’re staying) and works wherever Maroc Telecom 4G reaches, including on excursions. In remote dunes or high valleys, no mobile option can guarantee a signal. Book a router. ## Morocco trip: frequently asked questions Read next - What budget for 7 days in Marrakech? - Is Morocco safe for tourists? - What to expect during Ramadan in Morocco Unlimited 4G on the Maroc Telecom network, delivered free in Marrakech, no subscription. ## FAQ **What are the best things to do in Morocco on a first trip?** For a first week, Marrakech’s medina plus a round trip to the desert via Ait Benhaddou and the Dades valley is the most common route. With ten days or more, add Fez and Chefchaouen in the north, or Essaouira on the coast. **How many days do you need for the Sahara from Marrakech?** Allow at least three days for a round trip to Erg Chebbi (Merzouga), because the road crosses the High Atlas. Two-day tours usually go to closer dunes, such as those around Zagora. **How much is the entrance fee for the Majorelle Garden?** According to the official website checked on 2 October 2026, admission is about €15.50, about €8.70 for international students and free for children under 10. The garden opens daily from 8 am to 6:30 pm, and booking a time slot online is recommended. **Can non-Muslims visit mosques in Morocco?** Most working mosques are for Muslims only. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the exception: you can visit on a guided tour, with shoulders and knees covered, for about €13 per foreign adult according to the Routard guide (October 2026). **What is the best time to visit Morocco?** Spring and autumn suit almost every itinerary. Summer is very hot inland (37.7 °C average July high in Marrakech, NOAA 1991-2020 normals), and winter nights are cold in the mountains and the desert. **Is there internet in the Moroccan desert?** In villages such as Merzouga, 4G usually works; in the middle of the dunes and on remote tracks, signal becomes rare. A Rent A Phone pocket WiFi router, rented in Marrakech, works wherever Maroc Telecom 4G reaches, but cannot create coverage where there is none. ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebPage", "name": "10 Unforgettable Things to Do in Morocco", "url": "https://rentaphone.ma/en/10-unforgettable-things-to-do-in-morocco-2026/", "datePublished": "2026-01-28", "dateModified": "2026-11-10", "inLanguage": "en" } ```