The first time a shopkeeper in Marrakech greets you with “Salam” and then simply waits, you learn the first rule of Moroccan etiquette for tourists: the greeting comes before the business, every single time. Most of the other rules work the same way. They are less about prohibitions than about pace, courtesy and a handful of gestures that Moroccans notice straight away.
This guide covers what actually matters once you are on the ground: how to greet people, what to wear, how to behave at a family table and around mosques, how to treat the national flag, how to bargain and tip, and what changes during Ramadan. None of it is complicated. Visitors who get it right are simply received more warmly, from the riad door to the last stall in the souk.
Greet people before asking anything. Use your right hand to eat, give and receive. Cover shoulders and knees in the medina and in rural areas. Ask before photographing anyone. Stay out of mosques unless they are open to visitors. Treat the national flag and the King with respect, and keep eating and drinking discreet in public during Ramadan.
Greetings and first contactTop ↑
Skip the greeting and you skip the relationship. Walking into a small shop, a riad or a taxi and going straight to “How much?” or “Where is the square?” reads as cold in Morocco, even if nobody tells you so.
“Salam alaykum” (peace be upon you) works everywhere, and the reply is “Wa alaykum salam”. A plain “Salam” is enough in shops and cafés, and “Bonjour” is understood in every city. Add “Shukran” (thank you) and “La, shukran” (no, thank you), and you have the three phrases you will use dozens of times a day.
Between men, a handshake is normal, often followed by the right hand placed briefly on the chest. The gesture signals sincerity, and the story of why Moroccans touch their heart after a handshake is worth knowing before your first meeting. Between a man and a woman who do not know each other, let the Moroccan person lead: if no hand is offered, a nod with your hand on your heart is perfectly polite. Cheek kisses are for friends of the same sex, not for strangers.
- In a group, greet the oldest person first.
- Questions about health and family before getting down to business are normal, not small talk to cut short.
- A glass of tea offered in a shop does not oblige you to buy. Drinking it and leaving with a thank you is fine.
What to wearTop ↑
There is no dress code for visitors written into law, but the street has its own. In the new districts of Marrakech, Casablanca or Rabat you will see every style. In the medinas, small towns and mountain villages, people dress more conservatively, and covering shoulders and knees makes daily life easier for men and women alike.
- Loose trousers, long skirts or dresses and tops with sleeves work in every season and every city.
- Men in shorts are rare away from the beach and sports grounds; light trousers attract less attention.
- Swimwear is normal on the beach in Agadir or Essaouira, with a layer over it once you walk back into town.
- Evenings in the Atlas and the desert are cool for much of the year, so a warm layer earns its place in the bag.
Our guide on what to wear in Morocco goes through it season by season, with separate advice for women.
At a Moroccan tableTop ↑
An invitation to a family meal is one of the warmest things that can happen on a trip, and the codes are easy once you know them.
Shoes often come off at the door of the salon, where the rugs and banquettes are, so watch what the family does and follow. Arriving with something small is appreciated: a box of pastries or some fruit is the usual choice. Wait to be shown where to sit, and let the host start the meal.
Around a shared dish, eat with your right hand, from the part of the tagine or couscous in front of you, using bread as a scoop. The best pieces of meat sit in the centre and the host will usually push them towards the guest; let that happen rather than reaching for them. Bread is treated with respect, so it is never thrown away carelessly or left on the floor.
Expect to be offered more than you can eat. Saying the food is delicious (“bnin bezzaf”) and placing a hand on your chest is the polite way to signal that you have had enough. Refusing the first glass of mint tea, on the other hand, can feel like refusing the welcome itself.
In restaurants, none of this applies. Cutlery is normal and nobody expects you to eat with your hands.
Mosques and religious sitesTop ↑
Most mosques in Morocco are reserved for Muslims, including the famous ones you will walk past in Marrakech and Fes. The well-known exception is the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, which non-Muslim visitors can enter on guided tours outside prayer times, dressed with shoulders and knees covered. Elsewhere, admire minarets and doorways from the street and do not step inside, even when a door stands open.
Plenty of religious heritage remains open to visitors. The Ben Youssef Medersa in Marrakech, a former Quranic school, is one example. Synagogues and the old Jewish quarters, the mellahs, can also be visited, and the country’s Jewish heritage is recognised in the Constitution as one of the components of Moroccan identity.
Five times a day the call to prayer sounds from the minarets. You do not need to stop what you are doing, but lowering the music in a café or pausing a conversation near a mosque door is noticed. On Fridays the midday prayer is the most important of the week, and some shopkeepers in the medina close for it.
Photographing peopleTop ↑
Of all the etiquette slips visitors make, photographing people without asking is the one that causes real friction. Many Moroccans, older people and women in particular, prefer not to be photographed, and some feel strongly about it.
Ask first, with a smile and a gesture towards the camera. A no is final and should be accepted without negotiation. Performers in Jemaa el-Fna and some workers in the tanneries expect a small payment for a photo, so agree on it before you shoot, not after. Never photograph police officers, military sites or government buildings. The gates of a royal palace are a classic picture; the guards standing in front of them are not.
Markets, landscapes and architecture are a different matter, and the guide to taking photos in Morocco covers where and how to shoot without upsetting anyone.
The flag, the King and national symbolsTop ↑
Red, with a green five-pointed star at its centre, the national flag is part of the Moroccan landscape. It flies over town halls and schools, hangs above shop doors in the medina and fills the avenues around the national holidays: Throne Day on 30 July, the anniversary of the Green March on 6 November and Independence Day on 18 November. After a big football win, it seems to cover entire cities.
Visitors are welcome to join in. Wearing the national team shirt or a scarf in red and green usually earns a smile and a conversation, especially on match days. What matters is how the flag itself is treated. Do not let it touch the ground, do not write on it, sit on it or use it as a towel, and do not turn it into a prop for joke photos. Moroccan law protects the flag and the symbols of the Kingdom, and Moroccans take that protection to heart.
The same respect extends to the King. His portrait hangs in shops, cafés and offices across the country, and the monarchy is held in deep regard. Speak of the King and the Royal Family with respect, and stand when the national anthem is played at a ceremony or a match.
If you are curious about what you are looking at, why the star is green and when it was added to the red field, this guide to the Morocco flag explains its meaning and history clearly.
Bargaining in the souksTop ↑
Bargaining is expected in the souks, and it has its own manners. The first price is an opening, not an insult, and your answer should not be an insult either. Offer well below it, keep smiling, take your time, and settle somewhere both of you can accept. A carpet that took weeks to weave deserves a counter-offer that recognises the work.
Two rules matter more than the numbers. Once you name a price and the seller accepts it, you buy: walking away at that point is seen as bad faith. And if a shop displays fixed prices, do not haggle. When you are not interested, a calm “La, shukran” while you keep walking is all it takes.
For the tactics themselves, see how to bargain like a local without giving offence.
Tipping without overthinking itTop ↑
Tipping is not compulsory in Morocco, but it is woven into daily life, and a small amount given the right way counts for more than a large one handed over awkwardly. In a sit-down restaurant where service is not included, around 10 percent is customary. In a café, people usually leave the small change. Porters, housekeeping staff, car-park attendants and hammam attendants all appreciate a few dirhams.
Keep a supply of coins and small notes, and tip in dirhams rather than euros or dollars, which are awkward to exchange in small amounts. Hand it over discreetly, with your right hand. Our full guide to tipping in Morocco gives indicative amounts for guides, drivers and other services.
Behaviour in publicTop ↑
Moroccans keep affection discreet in public, and visitors are expected to do the same. Holding hands draws little attention in the cities; kissing in the street does.
Alcohol is sold in licensed hotels, bars, restaurants and some supermarkets. Drinking in the street, on a public beach or near a mosque is not acceptable, and being visibly drunk in public is frowned upon everywhere.
- Give and receive money, food and objects with your right hand.
- Point with an open hand rather than a single finger.
- Keep your voice down in residential lanes, especially late in the evening.
- Accept small kindnesses with thanks; refusing several times in a row can come across as unfriendly.
Visiting during RamadanTop ↑
Ramadan changes the rhythm of the whole country. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, without food, water or cigarettes, and the day slows down noticeably, above all in the afternoon.
As a visitor you are not expected to fast. Hotels and many restaurants in tourist areas keep serving during the day, while some cafés and small eateries close until sunset, especially outside the big cities. Eat, drink and smoke discreetly rather than in the street, and keep your water bottle in your bag.
At sunset the mood turns. Streets empty for ftour, the meal that breaks the fast, and come back to life an hour or so later. If you are invited to share it, accept: few invitations are more generous. Opening hours for shops, monuments and offices shift during the month, so check before you plan a tight day.
Getting around with confidenceTop ↑
Good manners and good judgement overlap more than people expect. Most travellers who wonder whether Morocco is safe for tourists find a calm, busy and friendly country, with the usual big-city nuisances: pickpockets in crowds, persistent touts and the occasional inflated price.
- Decline unofficial “guides” who approach you in the medina. Licensed guides carry an official badge from the Ministry of Tourism.
- Agree on the fare before a taxi sets off, or ask for the meter in a petit taxi.
- Keep a copy of your passport on your phone and the original somewhere safe.
- A firm, friendly “La, shukran” works far better than ignoring someone or arguing.
Learning the codes with a local guideTop ↑
Everything above is easy to read about. The medina is where it all happens at once: greetings, prices, photos, prayer times, a shopkeeper’s invitation to tea. Walking it with someone local turns those codes into something you see rather than something you worry about. A gentle way to start on your first day is a short medina walk with Darija basics, where the greetings and polite phrases are practised on the spot.
Questions travellers askTop ↑
Is it rude to turn down mint tea in Morocco?
In a home, yes, it can feel cold, so accept at least one glass. In a shop it is different: a polite “La, shukran” is fine if you are short of time, and accepting the tea never obliges you to buy. If you do not take sugar, ask for it without before it is poured.
Can tourists wear shorts in Marrakech?
Nobody will stop you, and in hotels, gardens and the new town it passes unnoticed. In the medina and in villages, shorts mark you out and draw more attention from vendors, for men as much as for women. Light trousers are cooler than people expect and avoid the question entirely.
Do foreign women need to cover their hair?
No. Headscarves are not expected of visitors in daily life, in cities or in the countryside. A light scarf is still useful against the sun and dust, and for visits where modest dress is requested. Covered shoulders and knees matter more than covered hair.
Can I wear a Morocco football shirt or carry the flag as a tourist?
Yes, and it is usually welcomed with a smile, especially on match days. Shirts, scarves and flags are sold everywhere. The only rule is respect: keep the flag clean, off the ground and out of joke photos, as Moroccans themselves do.
Can tourists drink alcohol in Morocco?
Yes, in licensed hotels, bars and restaurants, and it can be bought in some supermarkets in larger cities. Drinking in the street or on a public beach is not acceptable. Outside the cities, many guesthouses do not serve alcohol at all, so ask before you book if it matters to you.
How do I say no to street vendors without being rude?
A smile, a short “La, shukran” and continuing to walk is the polite norm. Stopping to explain or debate usually prolongs the conversation. Avoid ignoring people completely, which feels rude locally, and never lose your temper: firmness with good humour works every time.
The short versionTop ↑
Greet before you ask. Use your right hand. Cover up a little more than you would at home, ask before every portrait, and treat the flag and the King with the same respect Moroccans do. Most of Moroccan etiquette comes down to giving people a little more time than you are used to. Do that, and the country opens up in ways no itinerary can plan.
October 2026: a new section on the national flag and symbols; tipping advice simplified, with indicative amounts moved to our dedicated tipping guide; the mosque, table manners and Ramadan sections rewritten for accuracy.
moroccantraveltrips.com is run from Marrakech by PROMYTHIC TOURS SARL AU, working with licensed guide Mouhssine ELIOUJ. The advice here reflects the questions our guests ask before and during their trips.
