A First-Timer's Guide to Moroccan Etiquette and Customs

Morocco is an easygoing country for travelers, and none of its customs are complicated — it mostly comes down to dressing modestly, being patient, and following a few basic courtesies, especially outside the more touristed parts of Marrakech and Casablanca. Most etiquette questions first-time visitors have are really about avoiding accidental disrespect rather than following a long list of rules, and locals are generally forgiving of small mistakes made in good faith by an obvious tourist. The sections below cover the specific situations that come up most often: what to wear, how greetings and bargaining work, and what changes during Ramadan.

Loose, lightweight clothing that covers shoulders and knees is the safest default — comfortable in the heat and respectful in most settings, particularly in smaller towns, mosques, and rural villages. Swimwear is fine at hotel pools and beach resorts but not appropriate walking through a medina, and men can generally wear shorts more freely than women, though longer shorts still read as more respectful in conservative areas. Non-Muslims generally can't enter working mosques, with the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca as a well-known exception that offers guided tours, so dress code there matters more than at most other stops on an itinerary.

A simple "salam" (peace) or "bonjour" (French is widely spoken) goes further than jumping straight into a question — it's normal for conversations, even transactional ones in a souk, to open with small talk before getting to business. Handshakes are common between men, and it's polite to wait for a woman to offer her hand first rather than initiating physical greetings yourself. Bargaining is expected in souks and with unmetered taxis, but not in fixed-price shops, restaurants, or with your driver-guide, where posted or agreed prices are treated as final — a good starting offer in a souk is often around half the initial asking price, with both sides expecting to meet somewhere in the middle.

During Ramadan, many restaurants outside tourist hotels close during daylight hours, and it's considerate to avoid eating, drinking, or smoking visibly in public even if you're not fasting yourself. Hotels and riads generally still serve non-fasting guests, and evenings during Ramadan are actually livelier than usual, with families and friends gathering for iftar once the sun sets, so it's not a month to avoid entirely if your dates happen to overlap. Outside of Ramadan, hospitality runs in the other direction entirely — being invited for tea by a Berber family, as many of our desert tours make room for, is a genuine gesture worth accepting rather than a transaction to be wary of.