Morocco Tourist Attractions

Morocco Tourist Attractions

Moroccan attractions can be divided into seven regions:

The four Imperial cities, the four historical capital cities of Morocco: Fez, Marrakesh, Meknes and Rabat

• Casablanca - Morocco's largest city, home of the Hassan II Mosque, which has the world's second tallest minaret at 656 feet
• Tangier and the surrounding area
• Ouarzazate - a noted film-making location, the fortified village (ksar) of Ait Benhaddou west of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Agadir and its beach resorts
• Tarfaya and its beach resorts
• Fez - Morocco's second largest city and it is the science and spiritual capital of Morocco. It contains an old area which is considered the biggest area in the world where vehicles can't get in. It is also the home of "Al Qarawyien" the world's oldest university.
• Merzouga - Merzouga is a small village in southeastern Morocco, about 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Rissani, about 55 km (34 mi) from Erfoud and about 50 km (31 mi) from ...
• Agafay - The Agafay desert is a desert located about thirty kilometers from the red city of Marrakech, on the first heights of the High Atlas massif in Morocco. This is a reg several hundred hectares in area. It is covered with stones and rocks in a hilly environment of white and ochre-coloured dunes.

While Morocco was a French Protectorate (from 1912 to 1956) tourism was focused on urban areas such as the Mediterranean cities of Tangier and Casablanca. Tangier attracted many writers, such as Edith Wharton, Jack Kerouac, Paul Bowles, and William S. Burroughs. There was a period of beach resort development at places such as Agadir on the Atlantic coast in the 1970s and 1980s.

Tourism is increasingly focused on Morocco's culture, such as its ancient cities. The modern tourist industry capitalizes on Morocco's ancient Roman and Islamic sites, and on its landscape and cultural history. 60% of Morocco's tourists visit for its culture and heritage.

Agadir is a major coastal resort and has a third of all Moroccan bed nights. It is a base for tours to the Atlas Mountains. Other resorts in north Morocco are also very popular. Casablanca is the major cruise port in Morocco, and has the best developed market for tourists in Morocco.

As of 2006, activity and adventure tourism in the Atlas and Rif Mountains are the fastest growth area in Moroccan tourism. These locations have excellent walking and trekking opportunities from late March to mid-November. The government is investing in trekking circuits. They are also developing desert tourism in competition with Tunisia.

Safety in Morocco

Caution is advised due to terrorism. Recent examples are April 2011 terrorist attacks in Marrakesh, the Murders of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and Maren Ueland in Imlil December 2018. Morocco is a relatively safe country.

Special Note: Our editor once lost his passport in Tunis, it was found by an old man who lives and controls the street, after giving a £10 reward, the old man was happy with his reward, editor was happy passport was returned. It turns out all streets in cities in Morocco have an old man that lives/controls the street, and anything lost is given in to this person. Am guessing £20 reward now needs to be given.