Have you been thinking of taking a trip to Morocco and trying to set up a budget for your trip? Look no further. This article will act as a cost guide through for fellow travelers to debunk the question “is it expensive to travel to Morocco?”
Morocco on a Budget
Morocco has become one of the trendiest and most affordable places to travel to, lately. Thanks to its exquisite greenery and vast beaches across both the Atlantic ocean and Mediterranean sea, the country surely does attract many travelers to visit its tourist sites. So, is it expensive to travel to Morocco? Read until the end to find out.
In Morocco, accommodation is typically inexpensive, and meals and beverages are moderately priced. Transportation varies on the distance you’re going to be covering, but still, it’s not as expensive as one might think. Many of Morocco’s top attractions are relatively reasonable or even free, and while some sightseeing activities may be pricey, there is much to do at lower price ranges as well.
Is it expensive to travel to Morocco: Casablanca edition
Accommodation in Casablanca can cost you between 500-1800 MAD per night. This will grant you a private room with your own bathroom at a three or four-star hotel or apartment rental.
Although hostels are less expensive, a private room with a shared bathroom will still cost roughly 300 MAD per night. In a dorm room, a bed costs roughly 100 MAD per night. For even cheaper choices, make sure to look for hostels in the old medina of Casablanca city.
Food is also another inexpensive asset of Casablanca. All around the city, you will be able to cheap restaurants (in local Moroccan Darija, they are called: “snacks“) where you can eat for 40 MAD or less.
Choices range from pizzas, and sandwiches to pasta dishes. You can also eat local delicacies, such as Harira and Msemen, or pastries accompanied by mint tea for 10-25 MAD. A cup of cappuccino costs 20 MAD or less, coffee lovers.
Make sure to head to local food stands for an authentic experience in Casablanca. Bowls of hot snails and delicious chickpeas cost 5 MAD or less.
While in Casablanca, do not forget to visit Casa Port. In there, you will come across restaurants dedicated to seafood. Fried or grilled, the seafood plate costs around 70 MAD and is enough to make two people very full.
To get around the city, you can walk to explore the safe streets of Casablanca (AKA the cheapest option). Or, you can ride the tramway which is made up of two lines, T1 from Sidi Moumen to Lissasfa and T2 from Sidi Bernoussi to An Diab, which connect at two sites and form a 47-kilometer network with 71 stops for very affordable prices. For commutes inside the city, opt for the red “petit taxi”.
A lot of the activities you can do in Casablanca are for free. For instance, you can go sightseeing all day long. You can see the Hassan II Mosque, the Old Medina, or The Corniche of Ain Sbaa. All of those things require no money at all. However, the entrance charge to a museum or an art gallery is normally between 35-60 MAD per person.
Is it expensive to travel to Morocco: Marrakech edition
You don’t need to break an arm and a leg for a couple of nights in Marrakech. Instead, accommodation in Marrakech will help you save your money while also enjoying the warmth of Marrakech. Places to stay in Marrakech are inexpensive, good value, and typically simple to locate. You should be able to choose from a variety of accommodations.
You can spend your nights in the unclassified hotels of Marrakech which are found in the walled Medina. They are the cheapest lodging alternatives costing around 300 MAD per night, and they offer the added benefit of being in the center of things, where you’ll want to spend the most of your time and where all the attractions and marketplaces are located.
If you are lucky enough, you can land a couple of nights in a Riad. Prices may very between 400-1800 MAD. Though being Marrakech’s trendiest accommodation, Riads are a lot more pricier than hotels with same level of comfort.
If you’ve been told that food in Marrakech is expensive, you’ve been lied to. Fortunately for travelers on a budget, Marrakech will make you savour all the best Moroccan dishes without breaking your bank accounts.
A tip would be to eat in the small shops of the streets, specifically in Jamaa Elfna. At all times of the day, you can order roasted chicken, Harira, freshly squeezed fruit juices, and many more delicious meals for 50 MAD or less!
Transportation fees in Marrakech won’t cost you that much, as well. In fact, you can take the bus straight from the airport to downtown Marrakech for 30 MAD. Once in the city, you can take taxi cabs to go from one place to another for very affordable prices.
Walking around is also great as you will get to come across much more things you can do in the city. Plus, you’ll be getting your workout done for the day!
Marrakech is a treat for those looking for activities to do on a budget. It will make you question yourself for ever asking ‘is it expensive to travel to Morocco?’ Find out below all the things you can do in the charming city of Marrakech.
- Visit Jamaa Elfna for cultural performances
- Overlook Jamaa Elfna from a rooftop cafe
- Wander in Marakkech’s jampacked market souks in the labyrinthine streets of the Medina
- Take artsy pictures in the many gardens of the city: The Majorelle gardens, Arset Moulay Abdesalam Cyber garden, Koutoubia garden, Menara garden…
- Enjoy the authentic Marrakech architecture in: Musee de Marrakech, Almoravid Koubba, Ben Youssef Medrassa…
- Tour the famous Marrakech sightseeing sites and discover their history: Badi Palace, Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs…
Is it expensive to travel to Morocco: Fes edition
Fes is Morocco’s medieval capital and home to one of the country’s most spectacular and ornate medinas. Travelers from all over the world are drawn to its unique and traditional environment. And well, it is the cheapest of all the countries cited above.
Fes has an array of options for accommodation to fit all its visitors’ needs. Many of them are low-priced, too. A room in a hotel in the depth of the old Medina streets can cost as little as 250 MAD. If you want to stay in a Riad in Fes, you’ll be sharing guest rooms with other travelers for 350 MAD. Riads are the option tourists lean toward the most as they provide you with restaurants, rooftop views, and an overall authentic Fes/Morocco experience.
There are also some cheap hotels in downtown Fes. You’ll be paying around 220 MAD per night for breakfast, a big patio, free WiFi, free parking, and other amenities which are available at the hotels. The rooms are spotless and well-presented, with cable TV, a balcony, and a private bathroom.
Meal prices in Fes vary from one food place to another. The average daily cost of meals in Fez is 50 MAD. Based on past tourists’ spending tendencies, an average lunch and diner in Fez should cost about 45 MAD per person, including tips.
Breakfast is typically less expensive than other meals. Sfenj (Moroccan doughnut) and a cup of mint tea cost 5 MAD and will keep you energized for the whole day. Food prices at Fes sit-down restaurants are frequently higher than street food pricing.
Public transportation in Fes is fairly inexpensive. A bus ride costs 4 MAD, and a taxi ride costs 25 MAD at most, depending on the distance covered around the city. Once in the old medina, where I’m assuming you’ll want to spend most of your time, you will only be walking around its streets. Not because they are narrow, but a car ride would never do those streets justice. Walking is the obvious and better choice for a greater Fassi experience.
Activities in Fes are several and also cheap. Give yourself enough time to get lost in the old medina of Fes. Simply wandering with no particular destination in mind will amaze you with what you see and discover. If you’re seeking for specific attractions, there are plenty to choose from.
Stop by Bouaanania Madersa. It was built in the 14th century and is a fine example of Islamic architecture. The Chouara Tannery, where diverse leather items are coloured in vast vats, is one of Fez’s most significant and intriguing attractions.
Visitors may see the multi-colored pits where employees roam about and tan the leather from above. Don’t miss the Merenid Tombs, which offer a stunning perspective of Fez’s medina and expansive metropolis. Other attractions include the Qaraouyine library and mosque, as well as the al-Tijani mosque.
In sum, here are two of the most essential cost-cutting tips to visit Morocco:
- Traveling during the off-season
- Avoiding school holidays
Follow the list above, and the answer to the question “Is it Expensive to Travel to Morocco?” is NO. For more information, do not hesitate to contact us.
Further reading: Top 12 Morocco Tours in 2023