Where is Morocco? In the northwestern corner of Africa, at the exact point where the continent comes within about 14 kilometres of Europe. Morocco is the country you see across the water from the southern tip of Spain, with the Mediterranean along its north coast, the Atlantic down its whole western side and the Sahara filling the south, all the way to Lagouira on the Mauritanian border.
Morocco is located in North Africa, in the region called the Maghreb. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Algeria to the east, Mauritania to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, with a short land border with Spain in the north. Mainland Spain is about 14 km away across the Strait of Gibraltar.
- Continent
- Africa, the Maghreb
- Capital
- Rabat
- Neighbours
- Algeria, Mauritania, Spain
- Closest to Europe
- About 14 km, Strait of Gibraltar
- Highest point
- Jbel Toubkal, 4,167 m
- Time zone
- GMT+1, GMT during Ramadan
Where Is Morocco on the Map? Contents ↑
Find the point where Africa almost touches Spain, then follow the coast south. That long strip running down the Atlantic edge of the continent is Morocco. Morocco is located at the western end of North Africa, and it is the only African country with a coastline on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
The kingdom stretches from almost 36 degrees north on the Strait of Gibraltar to about 21 degrees north at Lagouira, and from roughly 1 degree west on the Algerian border to about 17 degrees west on the Atlantic. That is a long country. Its total area is 710,850 square kilometres, and the north to south distance explains why a trip here can move from cedar forest to sand dunes to fishing harbours in the same week.
© moroccantraveltrips.com · SVG map drawn by Moroccan Travel Trips
This map was drawn in SVG by moroccantraveltrips.com, following the official map of the Kingdom of Morocco. It is simplified for reading and not meant for navigation.
The capital is Rabat, on the Atlantic coast. Casablanca, a little further south, is the largest city and the main international airport. Marrakech sits inland at the foot of the High Atlas, which is why so many itineraries start there: you are a few hours from the mountains, the coast and the road to the desert. Our list of cities in Morocco places every major town region by region.
You will see the national flag on almost every public building and along the main roads: red, with a green five-pointed star at its centre. The guide to the meaning and history of the Morocco flag explains what the star stands for and when it was added.
Morocco’s Borders and Neighbouring Countries Contents ↑
Four sides, four very different edges. The Mediterranean Sea forms the northern border, from Tangier east to Saïdia. Algeria runs along the whole eastern side. Mauritania lies to the south, beyond Lagouira. The Atlantic Ocean closes the west, from Cape Spartel all the way down the desert coast.
Morocco also has a short land border with Spain in the north. For most travellers, though, the real link with Spain is the sea crossing over the Strait of Gibraltar.
One practical detail matters more than any map: the land border with Algeria has been closed since 1994. You cannot drive or take a bus between the two countries, so a North Africa trip that includes both means flying.
How Far Is Morocco From Spain and Europe? Contents ↑
About 14 kilometres at the narrowest point of the Strait of Gibraltar. On a clear day you can see the Spanish coast from the hills around Tangier, and the Moroccan mountains from the beaches near Tarifa. You will sometimes read that the gap is 8 kilometres: that figure confuses miles with kilometres, and the real width is closer to nine miles. The ancient Greeks called the two headlands on either side of this passage the Pillars of Hercules, the edge of the known world.
That short crossing is why Morocco is so easy to reach from Europe. Ferries link Tarifa and Algeciras in Spain to Tangier and Tanger Med, with fast boats taking roughly an hour to an hour and a half, and many travellers bring their own car across. By air, most western European capitals are three to four hours from Marrakech or Casablanca, and Madrid or Lisbon are closer. If you are planning the Spain to Morocco route in detail, our guide to a Morocco trip from Spain covers ports, crossings and what to book ahead.
- ESSpain, by ferry1 h to 1 h 30Tarifa to Tangier, Algeciras to Tanger Medabout 14 km of sea
- PTLisbonabout 1 h 30Marrakech to Lisbonabout 800 km
- ESMadridabout 1 h 50Marrakech to Madrid Barajasabout 1,070 km
- FRParisabout 3 h 15Marrakech to Paris CDGabout 2,130 km
- ITRomeabout 3 hMarrakech to Rome Fiumicinoabout 2,130 km
- UKLondonabout 3 h 40Marrakech to London Heathrowabout 2,290 km
- DEFrankfurtabout 3 h 45Marrakech to Frankfurtabout 2,470 km
- NLAmsterdamabout 3 h 50Marrakech to Amsterdam Schipholabout 2,530 km
Across the Atlantic: Casablanca to New York JFK is about 5,800 km, roughly 7 hours eastbound and 8 hours westbound on a direct flight.
For North American travellers the picture is different: Morocco is a transatlantic flight away, usually through Casablanca, and the time difference with the east coast is five or six hours depending on the season.
Is Morocco in Africa, Europe or the Middle East? Contents ↑
Africa, without ambiguity. The confusion comes from two directions. Morocco is so close to Spain that it feels like an extension of the Mediterranean world, and it is an Arabic-speaking country and a member of the Arab League, which leads people to group it with the Middle East.
Geographically, the Middle East starts more than three thousand kilometres to the east, beyond Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. Politically, Morocco is a member of the African Union, which it rejoined in 2017. Culturally, it is its own thing: Amazigh (Berber) roots, Arab and Islamic history, Andalusian influence carried across the strait, and a long Jewish heritage that still marks the old quarters of Fez, Marrakech and Essaouira. The longer answer, with the history behind it, is in our article on whether Morocco is in Africa.
The Mountain Ranges That Shape the Country Contents ↑
Look at a relief map and Morocco is crossed by mountains running roughly northeast to southwest. They decide where it rains, where snow falls, where the desert begins and how long it takes to drive anywhere.
The Rif
The northern range follows the Mediterranean coast. It is the greenest part of the country, wetter than most visitors expect, and home to Chefchaouen with its blue lanes.
The Middle Atlas
South of Fez, the Middle Atlas brings cedar forests, lakes and volcanic plateaus. Ifrane, with its sloping roofs and winter snow, is the town everyone mentions, and the cedar forests around Azrou are where you are most likely to see Barbary macaques in the wild.
The High Atlas
The backbone of the country and the range most travellers actually cross. Jbel Toubkal, at 4,167 metres, is the highest peak in North Africa and can be climbed from the village of Imlil, about ninety minutes from Marrakech. The road to the desert crosses this range at the Tizi n’Tichka pass, which reaches 2,260 metres and can close for a few hours after heavy snow in winter.
The Anti-Atlas
Lower, drier and older, the Anti-Atlas runs south of the High Atlas towards the desert. It is a landscape of bare ridges, gorges and fortified villages, and it marks the transition to the Sahara. Our page on Morocco’s physical features goes further into the relief, rivers and plateaus.
The Sahara, From Merzouga to Lagouira Contents ↑
The Atlas mountains catch the rain coming in from the Atlantic. Everything on the other side gets very little of it, and that rain shadow is why the land turns to stone and sand so quickly once you cross the passes.
Most visitors meet the Sahara in the southeast, at the dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga, or at Erg Chigaga beyond Mhamid, reached through the palm groves of the Draa Valley and Zagora. But the desert does not stop there. It runs down the entire southern half of the country, through Laâyoune and Dakhla, where the dunes meet the Atlantic and the Dakhla lagoon draws kitesurfers all year, down to Lagouira at the southern tip.
The desert also has a reputation it only partly deserves. Summer days are brutally hot, but winter nights in the dunes can drop close to freezing, and people who pack only for heat spend a cold night in camp. If you are still deciding whether the trip is for you, our honest take on whether the Sahara is worth it sets out who enjoys it and who does not.
Two Coastlines, Two Different Seas Contents ↑
The Mediterranean coast is the shorter one, running east from Tangier past Tetouan and Al Hoceima to Saïdia near the Algerian border. The water is calmer, the coves are smaller, and summer here is what most Moroccan families mean by a beach holiday.
The Atlantic coast is the long one, and it changes character as it goes south. Rabat and Casablanca are working cities on the ocean. Essaouira is windy, cool in summer and built around its fishing port. Agadir is the resort town with the wide sandy beach. Beyond it the coast becomes desert, with long empty stretches all the way to Dakhla. A cold current runs along this shore, so the water stays fresh even in August, and the coast is often several degrees cooler than inland cities on the same day.
What Morocco’s Location Does to the Weather Contents ↑
Ocean on one side, mountains in the middle and desert on the other: the result is that Morocco has no single climate, and no single best month either. The table compares the four zones most trips pass through.
Climate zones compared, in general terms. Conditions vary by year and by altitude.
| Zone | Typical places | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic coast | Casablanca, Essaouira, Agadir | Mild, often breezy | Mild, some rain |
| Inland cities | Marrakech, Fez, Meknes | Very hot | Sunny days, cold nights |
| Atlas mountains | Imlil, Ifrane, Azilal | Pleasant, cool nights | Cold, snow on high ground |
| Sahara | Merzouga, Zagora, Mhamid | Extreme heat | Warm days, near freezing nights |
Spring and autumn suit almost every region at once, which is why they are the busiest seasons. Winter works well if you mix the desert and the coast. Summer is the season to favour the Atlantic coast and the mountains and keep desert time short. Our guide to the best time to visit Morocco goes month by month.
Distances Inside the Country Contents ↑
Morocco looks compact next to Africa as a whole, and that impression causes more planning mistakes than anything else. Mountain roads are slow, and the routes visitors care about rarely run in a straight line.
Approximate road distances and driving times. Allow extra time for stops, weather and mountain traffic.
| Route | Distance | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Marrakech to Essaouira | About 190 km | About 3 hours |
| Marrakech to Ouarzazate | About 200 km | 4 hours, over the Atlas |
| Marrakech to Merzouga | About 560 km | 9 to 10 hours of driving |
| Fez to Merzouga | About 470 km | 7 to 8 hours |
| Fez to Chefchaouen | About 200 km | 3.5 to 4 hours |
| Casablanca to Tangier | About 340 km | About 2 hours by high-speed train |
The high-speed line between Tangier, Rabat and Casablanca is the exception: it turns a long drive into a short train ride. Everywhere else, the honest rule is to count in days rather than kilometres. Our guide on how many days you need in Morocco turns these distances into realistic itineraries.
Three routes that cross the geography above
Each one follows the same line on the map: Atlas passes, kasbah valleys and the dunes of Erg Chebbi, in a private vehicle with a driver who knows the mountain roads. The grand tour adds the Atlantic coast and Chefchaouen in the Rif.
Marrakech to Merzouga3 days · High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, Erg Chebbi dunes
Grand tour, Casablanca to Marrakech6 days · Atlantic coast, Chefchaouen, Fez, Sahara
Marrakech to Chefchaouen6 days · Sahara, Fez medina, Volubilis, the Rif
Mistakes People Make Reading the Map Contents ↑
Most of these come from looking at the country at the scale of a world map and planning at that scale.
- Treating Merzouga as a day trip from Marrakech. It is a long day of driving each way. Without at least one night in the desert you spend almost all your time in the car, so we advise against it.
- Expecting sand dunes near Marrakech. The Agafay desert, an hour from the city, is a stony desert of hills and plateaus. It is good for a sunset and a dinner, but the classic dunes are on the far side of the Atlas.
- Packing only for heat. The mountains get snow, the desert gets cold at night, and the Atlantic coast can be cool and windy even in summer.
- Assuming you can cross into Algeria. The land border is closed, so overland trips across North Africa do not work.
- Planning three regions in four days. Coast, mountains and desert in a short trip means more road than places. Choose two.
Questions Travellers Ask About Morocco’s Location Contents ↑
What continent is Morocco in?
Africa. Morocco sits in the northwestern corner of the continent, in the Maghreb region of North Africa, and is a member of the African Union. Its closeness to Spain and its membership of the Arab League sometimes lead people to place it in Europe or the Middle East, but geographically it is African.
Is Morocco in the northern hemisphere?
Yes, entirely. The country runs from about 21 to almost 36 degrees north of the equator, so all of it lies in the northern hemisphere. It also lies wholly west of the Greenwich meridian, between roughly 1 and 17 degrees west, which puts it in the western hemisphere too. That latitude is why summers are hot inland and winters bring snow to the High Atlas.
What countries border Morocco?
Algeria to the east and Mauritania to the south, with a short land border with Spain in the north. The border with Algeria has been closed since 1994, so most travellers arrive by air or by ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar rather than overland.
Can you see Spain from Morocco?
Yes, on a clear day. From the hills and coast around Tangier the Spanish shore is visible across the Strait of Gibraltar, about 14 km away at its narrowest. Haze and sea mist hide it on many days, especially in summer, so do not plan a viewpoint visit around it.
Can you travel from Europe to Morocco by car?
Yes. Car ferries cross from Algeciras and Tarifa in Spain to Tanger Med and Tangier, taking roughly an hour to an hour and a half, and many Europeans drive down every year. Check your insurance cover for Morocco before you leave, and expect long queues at the ports during the summer holidays.
Is Morocco in the same time zone as the UK?
Morocco keeps GMT+1 all year, except during Ramadan when clocks go back to GMT. That makes it the same time as the UK during British summer time and one hour ahead in winter. During Ramadan the difference changes again, so check the dates if your trip overlaps.
Is Morocco part of the Sahara?
Partly. The south and southeast of the country are Saharan, from the dunes of Merzouga down to Lagouira. The north is the opposite: green hills, cedar forests and Mediterranean beaches. Most first trips see both, but reaching the dunes from Marrakech takes at least two nights to be worth it.
Which part of Morocco should I visit first?
Marrakech is the easiest base for a first trip: it has direct flights from much of Europe and sits within reach of the Atlas, the coast and the road south. If you arrive by ferry from Spain, start in the north with Tangier, Chefchaouen and Fez instead.
Is Morocco a big country?
Bigger than most people expect. It covers 710,850 square kilometres and runs a long way north to south, so moving between regions takes time. A week is enough for two regions done properly, not for the whole country.
From the Map to a Route Contents ↑
Knowing where Morocco is answers the first question. The second is which part of it suits the time you have. The geography makes that choice for you more than any list of sights: a short trip works best around one base and one landscape, a longer one can cross the Atlas and reach the desert, and the north is a trip of its own.
If you want help turning the map into days, tell us how long you have and what you want to see, and we will draw the route with you through our tailor-made trip planner.
October 2026: we rebuilt this guide, corrected the width of the Strait of Gibraltar to about 14 km and Morocco’s time zone to GMT+1, redrew the interactive map so the whole Kingdom appears from Tangier to Lagouira, corrected the flight distances to Europe, added real driving times between the main regions, and added a section on the most common planning mistakes.
Moroccan Travel Trips, operated by PROMYTHIC TOURS SARL AU, offers licensed tourist guide services in Morocco. The routes and driving times in this guide come from journeys our guides lead.
