Useful Information

The information below is purely indicative and may be changed. Do not forget to check with your traveling agent, especially regarding the formalities, and feel free to take a look at the many tourist guides about Morocco.

Formalities

for French nationals :

• Make sure your passport is valid 6 months after your entrance in Morocco (for example : arrival March the 1st, your passport should be valid at least until September the 1st).
• Your stay can not exceed 3 months.
• The Customs : during your flight, try to take a front seat to avoid waiting at the Customs for too long.

For citizens of other nationalities : check with the consular authorities.

Weather

All along the year you will enjoy a beautiful weather, with some heat peaks in July and August (from 35° to 45° Celsius). During the winter, bring a jacket and some warmer clothes. For other seasons, light clothes are enough, just take a jacket for the evenings.

Flight Time

Marrakesh is a 3 hours flight from Paris and Nantes, a 2 hours 30 minutes flight from Marseille and Toulouse.

Jetlag

The Moroccans have the UT (Universal Time).

• Summer time: 2 hours less than France.
• Winter time: 1 hour less than France.

Language

The official language is the Arab. However, French is commonly used.

Currency

• The Moroccan dirham (MAD).

1 € =  around 11,26 MAD ; 1 MAD = 0,09 €.
The import or export of the dirham is strictly prohibited.
International credit cards are accepted.

• The payment method in Morocco in big retails and shops are more or less the same as in France, but bring cash for all your other purchases.
• You can withdraw cash with your card, and pay with credit card or traveling checks.
• You can change your money for dirhams at the airport. There are two exchange houses at the left exit. If not, there are plenty of ATMs in the city. Very often, the Euro is also taken for not so “important” purchases. If you prefer to exchange your money at the bank, you can get there from Monday to Thursday from 8:30 to 12:00 and from 14:30 to 16:00. Friday is a particular day for the prayers so the banks open earlier during the morning and later in the afternoon. During the Ramadan period they are open from 9:00 to 14:00.

Health

No specific vaccinations are required to date. Bring an antiseptic, an anti-diarrhea, and sunblock creme. It is recommended to drink only bottled water.

Voltage : 220 volts

Read before leaving

• Marrakesh / Morocco, the Backpacker's guide
• The Blue Guide Morocco Evasion / Marrakesh and South Morocco

Useful Addresses

- National Moroccan Office of Tourism : 161, Saint-honoré road - 75001 PARIS, Phone : 01 42 60 63 50 / 47 24

• Morocco Embassy : 5, Le Tasse  - 75116 PARIS, Phone. : 01 45 20 69 35
• Morocco Consulate : 12, Saïda - 75015  PARIS, Phone. : 01 56 56 72 00
• National Moroccan Office of Tourism – Regional Delegation of Tourism :
• • At the corner of Mohammed-V Avenue and Yougoslavie street. Phone : 05-24-43-61-31 or 79. Bus number 1from Jemaa El Fna plaza. Open Monday to Friday from 8:30 o 16:30 (15:30 during the Ramadan) ; Saturday and Sunday closed.

Useful Sites

Official Sites
www.tourisme-marocain.com
Moroccan Tourism Office
www.amb-maroc.fr
Moroccan Embassy
www.ambafrance-ma.org
French Embassy in Morocco

To Visit

The activities you can do to enjoy an excellent day in Marrakesh. Make your program according to the season and your desires :

-Visit monuments, museums, walks around the Medina streets...
-Shopping at the souks, discover the Moroccan crafts and the traditional art (potters, dyers, blacksmiths, tanners, dinandiers...)
-Carriage rides through the city, Fantasy shows, entertained nights in Jemaa El Fna plaza with the snake charmers and other showmen...
-Hiking 4x4, Quad, Treck...
-Discover the Berbers cities, their lifestyle and crafts, the palm groves and the traditional cultures there...
-Mountain activities with a magnificent environment (Oukaïmeden ski station located 75 km from Marrakesh, between 2 600m and 3 700m).
-Golf, equestrian activities....
-Restaurants, bars, discos...