AT A GLANCE Morocco is the ideal city break destination, enticingly exotic, but yet just a short flight away

from most airports within the United Kingdom. Shop for handmade carpets and silverware in the souks, relax after a days sightseeing with a traditional Hammam massage, or take a camel train into the desert to enjoy mint tea with the Berber. This country just has so much to offer. WHEN TO GO There are cultural festivals that take place throughout the year in Morocco, which means that tourists will usually find some reason to visit this fascinating country. However, in terms of the climate it has to be said that April to early June and then September through to November are the best times to visit some of the larger cities, such as Fes and Marrakech, as the tourist numbers are lower and the climate is tolerable. Weather Winter: In Northern Morocco, winter is usually mild and wet. It isnt uncommon for the northern areas to be covered in a light dusting of snow. Snowfall is particularly plentiful around the Atlas Mountain region. If you venture down into Southern Morocco youll find the winters to be drier and cooler. Spring: Many people believe that Morocco is at its best during spring. The scenery is green and the temperatures are usually around 23-26 in Marrakech and Agadir Summer: The coastal breeze means that the hot summer temperatures are usually kept in check. Many holidaymakers like to take advantage of the cooling Atlas Mountains during this period, particularly the Ifrane Valley with its waterfalls and cycle tours. Outside of the mountains temperatures can reach up to 38 especially in the south. Autumn: This is a relaxing season in Morocco. The nights draw in and the temperatures start to drop. At this point the rains have not yet arrived and you will still be able to swim in the sea.

Atlas Mountains by NotCreative123 / Morocco Sahara by Hasna Lahmini

THINGS TO DO Morocco has plenty to offer with a wealth of attractions stretched out throughout the country. Youll find historical highlights in all the major cities and the hardest part will be trying to fit them all in whilst on your break. Here are our top picks: Attractions: Agadir Museum Municipal du Patrimoine Amazigh: Berber objects from the 18-19th centuries La Medina DAgadir: Italian architect Coco Polizzi has recreated a traditional Medina Valle des Oiseaux: A small zoo featuring animals from all over the world Casablanca Old Medina: A small traditional walled town in the north of Casablanca The Corniche: An ocean side neighbourhood featuring western restaurants The King Hassan II Mosque: The largest mosque in Morocco and third largest in the world Essaouira Diabat: A small village famous for its association with Jimi Hendrix and Berber ruins Essaouira Beach: Perfect for watersports especially kite and wind surfing

Fes Bou Inania Madrasa: A 14th century religious college and example of Islamic architecture Merenid Tombs: Panoramic views across over the medina and wider city Tanneries: Hire a local guide to take you around the fascinating leather dye pits Djemmaa-El-Fna: Moroccos main square is full of musicians, belly dancers and story tellers Souks: Marrakechs souks sell everything from live chickens to replica designer handbags Koutoubia Mosque: This is Marrakechs most discerning feature and is beautifully lit at night

Marrakech

Rabat Hassan Tower and the Royal Mausoleum: The 44 metre tower is one of Moroccos symbols

Kasbah of the Oudaias: In the heart of Old Rabat this kasbah sells ancient treasures Chellah: A 14th century necropolis overrun by bird and wildlife

Nightlife Youll need to escape the medinas to experience nightlife in Morocco. Marrakechs Djemma-El-Fna might look like a fascinating place to spend the evening, and indeed it is, but no alcohol is allowed into the walled city and indeed every medina in Morocco has the same rules! Dont let that put you off though; Moroccos might not be a Mecca for bars and nightclubs, but each main resort offers a smattering of places to spend the evening. Agadir is the main holiday resort in Morocco and it offers a small but fun range of drinking establishments. Casablanca is second only to Marrakech in terms of nightlife and no visit here would be complete without a classy cocktail in Ricks Caf. In laid-back Essaouira, restaurants double up as bars and provide the perfect place to grab a sundowner. Fes is a conservative and quite orthodox city and most of the nightlife revolves around non-alcoholic activities. Grab a mint tea in Baghdadi Square or attend a literary event at Caf Clock. Marrakech is the best city for nightlife; youll find Pacha on the outskirts of the medina and the ultra-cool Marrakech Casino. The nightlife in Rabat can be a little expensive and as such most visitors opt for cultural pursuits such as the theatre instead. LOrange Bleue: An Agadir bar with a happy hour from 5-8.30pm and themed nights Ricks Cafe: A exact replica of the bar that features in the film Casablanca Le Chalet de la Plage: A restaurant in Essaouira with an extensive wine list Caf Clock: Attend literary events and film screens in conservative Fes Pacha: The largest nightclub in North Africa and the most exotic of the Pacha clubs Amnesia: An American themed nightclub with a diner in the back room

Day Trips From Moroccan Resorts: You can take day trips from most of the main resorts in Morocco to places of interest nearby. To make things easier for you weve selected one of the best day trips from each major Moroccan city. However, check out websites such as Viator and Authentic Morocco for a wider range of ideas: Agadir Tafraout & Tiznit: Leave the seaside resort of Agadir and venture up into the Atlas Mountains for spectacular views. Tafraout is famous for its stone houses carved into the rocks, whilst in Tiznit you can learn all about the silver industry in the original silver capital of Morocco. Travel time: 12 hours

Casablanca El Jadida: The capital, Rabat is only an hour away from Casablanca by train so would make an excellent day trip. Also try El Jadida which has a charming Portuguese Old Town and a beach with myriad restaurants serving up seafood. Travel Time: 1.5 hours

Essaouira Imsouane: A coastal village famous with surfers. Surf shacks are dotted around the beach, which is sheltered by large sandy cliffs. The beach is usually deserted and visitors are advised to bring a picnic along with them as there are only a few small shops selling food and snacks. Travel Time: 2 hours Fes Meknes: Moroccos former capital can be easily visited from Fes. The city contains some of the most stunning architecture in Morocco, including the carved gates which are prime examples of Islamic art. Attractions include the Royal Palace, Sidi Said Mosque and the Tomb of Moulay Ismail. Travel Time: 1 hour Marrakech Telouet and Ait Ben Haddou: Take a day trip out of the city and cross the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, the highest in Morocco. The drive will take you through Berber villages to Moroccos most famous Kasbah, Ait Ben Haddou, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Duration: 12 hours Rabat: Temera: Casablanca is just an hours drive from Rabat, but for something slightly different visit the small seaside resort of Temera. The many sandy beaches make it an excellent spot for both sunbathing and surfing. The town also contains a Grand Mosque and a National Zoological Park. Duration: 15 minutes
King Hassan Mosque by Palindrome6996 / Essaouira beach by Mwanasimba / Fes Tanneries by Shawn Allen / Koutoubia by Jim Callendar / Chellah by Shawn Allen / Tiznit by Martijn.Munneke / El Jadida by Axel Rouvin / Imsouane by avoulot / Meknes by El Mostrito / Ait Ben Haddou by Lin Padgham

SHOPPING Shopping in Morocco is something of experience and a world away from your favourite department store back at home. For a start you need to be prepared to haggle. Although this experience may seem daunting the first couple of times, practice can make perfect. To start with smile and ask for the price. The first price given is usually 60-70% more than the amount that the item will sell for. You should aim to start at 20% of the initial price and then work your way to your desired price, meeting the salesman somewhere in the middle. Dropping in a few words in Arabic can help reduce the amount. Shopping Areas: Marrakech Medina: One of the highlights of a trip to the city. Expect everything from antiques to sunglasses Fes el Bali: Fes is the best place in Morocco to purchase a carpet and this medina contains some of the best workshops

Essaouira Medina: Shops here sell everything from jewellery to Argan oil supplies Rabat Medina: There is no hard sell in this medina. Browse carpets and furniture hassle free Souk-el-Had: An authentic souk in Agadir selling spices and ornate metalwork Souk es Sebbat: This Meknes souk specialises in Moroccan slippers Tahar-El-Alaoui: An area in Casablanca selling handicrafts and metalwork

Shopping Centres: Morocco Mall: Africas largest shopping centre in Casablanca offers guests the chance to scuba dive in their tanks Rabat Mega Mall: Shops range from designer boutiques to traditional kaftan shops
Image: Shopping by TGraham

FOOD & DRINK Moroccan food is known for its flavoursome spices and Mediterranean feel, and many of the spices that make up Moroccos cuisine are home grown. Lemons and oranges are from Fes and mint and olives traditionally come from Meknes. Meat is used in many of the dishes, particularly beef and mutton. However with this being a Muslim country you wont find pork on the menu. Perhaps the most traditional of all Moroccan dishes is a tagine served in a traditional lidded dish on a bed of couscous.

Popular Morocco Hotspots: Agadir: Restaurants here mainly cater to tourists from Europe particularly around Blvd de 20 Aout Casablanca: The Corniche is home to Western fast food chains but there are many seafood restaurants elsewhere Essaouira: There are many seafood restaurants in Essaouira which will cook that days catch Fes: Join one of the many food tours in Fes to discover the gastronomic delights of the medina Marrakech: The food stalls at Djemma El Fna are a highlight of eating out in Marrakech Rabat: Exclusive restaurants intermingle with traditional cuisine. Try the seven vegetable couscous.
Image: Tagine by McMorgan08

CULTURE & ETIQUETTE Morocco is an Islamic country and you might find certain shops closed on Friday when their holy day takes place. During the month of Ramadan, which changes each year, Muslims must fast from sunrise to sunset. To avoid causing offence, holidaymakers should avoid eating, drinking, smoking and chewing gum in public during this period. When haggling, you should expect to be served a lot of mint tea during negotiations. It is polite not to talk business or discuss money until you have finished your mint tea. Moroccans like to think of themselves as hospitable and turning down an invitation to drink mint tea could be seen as rude. Never eat communal food with your left hand as this is used for personal hygiene. The right hand should be used to greet and eat.

Useful Phrases Hello/ Peace be with you Salam Alikome Please Afak How much does it cost? - Shahal taman? Thank you Shukran

Dos and Donts DO accept the samples of biscuits and sweets handed out in the medina, you are not bound to buy and the Moroccans are showing hospitality DONT enter the mosques in Morocco unless youre Muslim, these are strictly Muslim only DO try a traditional Moroccan Hammam massage DONT take photographs of the locals. Moroccans value their privacy DO try the fresh orange juice from the street sellers in Djemma El Fna DONT take photos of monkeys and snake charmers unless youre prepared to pay DO buy swim passes at the major hotels which will give you use of their facilities

Tipping Most tourists will find that a 10% service charge is usually added onto their restaurant bills. If it isnt there is no rule of thumb for tipping and most Moroccans usually just leave a few dirhams. In taxis just round up to the nearest 5 dirhams and 10 dirhams per bag is usually enough to tip the person who carries your bag up to your room.

Images: Mint tea by Austin Evan / Dirham by DaveyII

TRANSPORT Its relatively easy to get around in Morocco owing to the countries extensive public transport network. Hiring a car can be expensive and is not entirely necessary. Getting Around Buses: Compagnie de Transports runs an extensive and cheap network through the country Trains: There are two networks, one running from Tangier to Marrakech and another from Marrakech to Oudja. Grand Taxis: Running between neighbourhood towns these take 6 passengers leaving when full Petit Taxis: Small taxis run between the city limits and are metered Airports: There are 12 main airports in Morocco: Agadir, Al Hoceima, Casablanca, Errachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Marrakech, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat and Tangier

Fare Information Buses: Fares between Marrakech and Casablanca are between 80-86 dirhams Trains: Fares between Marrakech and Casablanca are around 82 dirhams. Children under 4 travel free. A 15 minute petit taxi ride is around 15 dirhams

HEALTH & SAFETY British Embassy in Morocco Foreign and Commonwealth Office Emergency numbers: Police: 19 Fire and Ambulance: 17 TOP FIVE MOROCCO BLOGS 1. My Marrakesh 2. Life in Marrakesh 3. The View From Fez 4. The Good Life in Morocco 5. Dinners and Dreams