Important infos about Morocco.
Moroccan Currency
The currency of Morocco is the Moroccan dirham, whose ISO code is MAD (Moroccan dirham). As with dollars, euros and many other currencies, it is subdivided into 100 cents. The bills that you will have to handle are 20, 50, 100 and 200 MAD. As for coins, there are 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1, 2, 5 and 10 MAD.
The exchange of Moroccan currency is not free. Even the country started floating its national money in 2018 and allowed the Dirham exchange rate to swing by a margin of 2.5%, up or down, against the euro and the US dollar. Thus, the average exchange rate is 1Euro = 10.3 Mad and 1US dollar = 9Mad.
Where to change your Money in Morocco?
There are different ways to exchange money in Morocco either by bank or exchange office: Banks are open from Monday to Friday except for the festive days. In general, it is a simple operation and the exchange rate varies little from one bank to another. Usually the bank with good change rate is BMCE bank. On the other hand, you will find exchange offices in all cities, airports, borders and seaports. There are also hotels that have currency exchange and traveler’s checks.
ATMs and credit cards in Morocco.
If you do prefer to withdraw Money directly from an ATM in Moroccan dirham, you can do so at any cashier in any city and with a Visa or MasterCard. Here are two tips you should keep in mind:
It is better to withdraw money while is the bank is during its opening hours to avoid any possible problems with the credit card.
For each cash withdrawal, a variable tax will be applied to your account. With which, we advise you to be well-informed.
Credit cards are accepted by most hotels of a certain level, as well as in some restaurants and shops, and gas stations. Many credit card scams are currently being carried out all over the world, so we advise you to always accompany the merchant with the card until the payment is made.
Food in Morocco
Morocco is a vibrant country, as can it be seen in its people, its dances and its music, but above all in its food. Moroccan gastronomy is unbeatable each dish fills our palate with a multitude of exotic and familiar flavors, making each of our meals an authentic travel experience.
The best advice is to try everything you can see the skewers, nuts, orange or beet and orange juices, its wide variety of sweets. Here are some famous typical Moroccan dishes that we tell you about below:
Things To Try in Morocco.
Couscous
Couscous (wheat semolina seed) cooked and accompanied by vegetables, lamb, veal or chicken, is one of the most traditional dishes, which is usually prepared at home on Fridays (their day off) usually dedicated to praying in the mosques, go to the Hamman and walk with families.It can be prepared with a multitude of ingredients, raisins, legumes, etc..
Tajine
The tajine is another of the dishes that you will find everywhere. Like couscous, you can eat it at a fairly cheap price in any restaurant, and the quantity is usually considerable, so it can be shared between two.
This delicious dish got its name from the container in which it is prepared, a clay pot with a conical lid, and there are different varieties such as the Lamb Tajine with vegetables, almonds and plums, seasoned with cinnamon or saffron, and the Chicken Tajine, with lemon, olives and a very spicy tomato sauce.
Pastilla or B’stilla
Pastilla It is a very elaborate dish, with layers of puff pastry stuffed with slices of chicken or pigeon meat, interspersed with almond paste, all baked and seasoned with cinnamon and icing sugar.
Bissara
It is a simple fava beans puree with a generous splash of olive oil that you can see served in many places for breakfast or as an accompaniment to other dishes. It is usualy accompanied by the spongy Moroccan bread and tea.
Harira
This soup, highly appreciated for being used to break the fast during the days of Ramadan due to its high caloric intake, the harira is made with lamb or beef, legumes and tomato, seasoned with black pepper, coriander and ginger, and is usually accompanied with dates.
Kefta
Kefta is minced meat seasoned with pine nuts, onion, garlic, parsley, hot paprika, cumin and olive oil, and it is often served in Tajine pot.
Mechoui
Mechoui or meshwi is whole lamb slowly roasted in an earthen oven until the meat flakes easily with the hands, served with couscous, almonds and plums. It is usually included in the menu for occasions, holidays or when they have guests.
Zaalouk
The eggplant zaalouk is one of the typical and delicious salads of Morocco, especially from the city of Fez, and is also known as eggplant caviar. The dish consists of eggplant boiled and cooked with a tomato and garlic sauce, seasoned with cumin, sweet red paprika and lemon juice. After is left to cool down they add black olives, chopped coriander, and olive oil salt and it’s ready to serve!
Moroccan dulces
Moroccan sweets are incredibly rich; such as the famous kaab el ghzal is usually offered and accompanied by green tea as a symbol of hospitality, so don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the pastries during your stay.
Climate of Morocco and times to travel
The climate of Morocco is a matter to take into account before organizing the trip, as it has a wide variety of climate zones and extreme temperatures. For this reason, we dedicate these words to the topic, which will serve as a guide to choose the period of your trip and the city or region to visit.
Below we will show you the climate zones of Morocco, which can be divided into four zones: the Atlantic coast, the northern Mediterranean, the Atlas Mountains and the south.
The Atlantic Coast,
On the Atlantic coast, which extends to the border with Mauritania (about 2,310 kilometers), it enjoys mild and temperate winters, while summers are hot. It is pleasantly windy throughout the year and the water is relatively cold. Also one should beware of strong ocean currents. Along the Atlantic coast of Morocco, between the months of May and August, a thick fog can invade everything in the morning, dispersing around 1 or 2 pm. It is a meteorological phenomenon called “white sky”. (Essaouira and Agadir as Examples)
Mediterranean Zone
The northern part of the country has a Mediterranean climate. It can be very hot in the coastal cities in early spring, while the weather in the Rif is much cooler. Tetouan and Chefchaouen witness a harsh winter and it is common to find thick fog on the mountain roads until spring.
The Atlas Mountains.
The highest peak, Jebel Toubkal, is the highest point in North Africa and stands at 4,167 meters above sea level. In some surrounding villages, it is common for snowfall to exceed 1 meter. In fact, in the higher regions, winter can be truly frigid. In summer, the mountains are hot during the day, but cold at night.
The South and The Sahara.
Further south, the climate is arid. Here, the fluctuations in temperature between day and night are even more notable. While the thermometer scores 44°C or more during summer days, winter nights can see significant negative temperatures.
This variety of climatic zones also translates into a great wealth of landscapes. Between the mountains and the Atlantic coast appear plateaus of fertile well-irrigated plains. In the far south, on the edge of the Anti-Atlas, gorges with rivers flowing at their bases rise up, gradually drying up as they plunge into the endless sand and rocky landscapes of the vast Sahara.
Heat wave or what is called localy The Chergui Phenomena is a dry and hot wind that blows from the east and sometimes comes from the desert, pushing the mercury up a few degrees.
When to travel to Morocco?
If you are considering when to visit Morocco, everything will depend on the region you want to visit. In general, spring is the best time to visit the country, when the trees are in bloom and the landscapes show all their beauty.
On the other hand, autumn can be a good season to visit the imperial cities, whose medinas recover all their vitality after the summer. In addition, although the days are shorter, the climate in Morocco is also milder during this period. The rainy season extends between November and April, but it only rains occasionally.
Be Aware, if you are planning a trip in summer through the regions located to the south of the High Atlas that temperatures can reach or exceed 45° C
Telecommunications in Morocco
Phone coverage is generally good in cities and towns whereas is limited in remote and mountainous areas. if you want to use your phone on the go it is better to buy a local SIM card.
At the airport, there are always good prepaid deals for travellers at the convenient stores. Usually a 10 USD deal gets you a fair amount of calls and mobile data.
Buying a SIM in Morocco.
All mobile phones can receive calls while international roaming is enabled with your carrier. We advise you to check with your telephone service provider before making the trip to avoid excessive bills.
It is possible to buy a local SIM card in Morocco from the three possible networks ( Maroc Telcom, Orange and Inwi), all of them have strong coverage in cities and notably less effective in remote areas.
Here are the places where to get a Local SIM card newsstand, kiosk or convenience store. Often there are interesting deals for travelers offered by these providers.