A little more
Morocco.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Morocco: what to know before you go

Morocco, at the north-western corner of Africa, packs ancient walled medinas, the High Atlas mountains, Saharan dunes and long Atlantic beaches into one country a short flight from Europe. Souks, mint tea, riads and Amazigh villages make it vivid and very different from its European neighbours. It suits city explorers, hikers, food lovers and first-time visitors to Africa alike.

Where to go

• Marrakech. The red city's Jemaa el-Fnaa square fills with food stalls, musicians and storytellers at dusk, and the souks of the medina spread out behind it.
• Fès el-Bali. One of the largest car-free urban areas in the world, Fès's medieval medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of thousands of alleys.
• Chefchaouen. A mountain town in the Rif whose medina is painted in shades of blue.
• Merzouga and Erg Chebbi. On the edge of the Sahara, the tall orange dunes of Erg Chebbi are the classic place for a camel trek at sunset and a night in a desert camp under the stars.

Best time to visit

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best times for most of the country, with warm days for cities and hiking. Summer is very hot in Marrakech, Fès and the desert, while the Atlantic coast stays milder.

Staying online in Morocco

Mobile coverage is good in cities, along motorways and in most towns, with 4G widely available. Riads and hotels usually offer Wi-Fi, though thick walls in old medina buildings can weaken it. Coverage becomes patchy in the High Atlas valleys, the gorges and on remote desert routes, and desert camps may have little or no signal. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land, so maps work when you need them in the medina maze.