Morocco With Kids – Ultimate 10-Day Itinerary & Travel Guide

Thinking of heading to Morocco with kids and looking for itinerary ideas and top tips?

I’ve always loved Morocco – before kids I’d been there four times with friends and with work.  Some say Morocco is a little like Marmite, and I am happy to love both!  Once we had our second son we planned to go on a road trip and decided to go from Portugal over to Morocco.  Dylan was just 4 months old when we started our family trip, and 5 months old by the time we landed in Tangier and went to Morocco with kids.

Morocco is a fascinating country and gateway to Africa. It offers a unique blend of history, rich culture, and adventure making it one of the best places for families. If you’re flying from Europe, it’s only a few hours away but you will arrive in a different world.  On our family road trip we spent four weeks travelling Morocco. This meant that we could really take our time getting to know the country and its friendly locals.  What we’ve done is condense our trip down to 10 days which is perfect if you’re planning two weeks away.

Ultimate 10-Day Itinerary in Morocco With Kids

Morocco Itinerary Day 1: Arrival into Tangier & drive to Chefchaouen

Journey time: 2 hours | Locations: Tangier & Chefchaouen

We took our car over on the ferry from Tarifa in Spain to Tangier.  As soon as we arrived we decided to head up into the mountains to Chefchaouen – to the beautiful blue city. We decided to skip Tangier at the beginning of our family trip as we knew that we’d do it on our way home.  You could decide to skip it because you’ll also head to Fes and Marrakech so you’ll have plenty of chance to see other Medina’s.

Chefchaouen with kids

Chefchaouen is a stunning mountain city that has been painted bright blue.  The most popular theory is that after WWII, when the Jewish community grew, blue was painted on the walls, floors and steps as a religious practice.  It is said to represent the colour of the sky and connect the city to heaven and God.  Carl and I both agree that starting there with our sons was great as it gave them time to acclimatise to the local culture change of arriving into Morocco. 

There are some amazing things to do there which makes it a great first stop on your Morocco family holiday. The best way to start is to explore the Medina (old town) and souks (shops) to take in the vibe and the stunning blue colours all around you.  In the central square you can enjoy a refreshing drink and later a bite to eat, all whilst people watching.  Our eldest Cam loved watching the street performers that sporadically came in to entertain us.   After exploring the Medina, you should head along the river to one of the cafes, order an orange juice and enjoy it with your feet in the cooling river water.  Kids will love splashing in the water, and it’s a great way for them to cool off. 

Sunset in Chefchaouen

Before sunset you should head up to the Spanish Mosque. It is high above the city and from there you’ll have an incredible view as the sunsets behind it.  You’ll find that it can get incredibly busy. However, there’s a wonderful atmosphere as people wait for the sun to set.  Lots of people stopped to chat with Cam, and he had a great time running around at the top as we waited.  

After sunset, there are lots of great places in the main square to choose for dinner. It was great as they were happy to make an omelette for Cam as he wasn’t quite ready for Moroccan cuisine.  After dinner there is a small play area outside the city walls which is the perfect place for young children to meet other kids.

This was one of our favourite days on our trip. Well, one of many favourite days as you’ll hear us say a lot!

Day 2: Chefchaouen to Volubilis then on to Fes

Journey time: 3.5 hours | Locations: Chefchaouen, Volubilis & Fes

After relaxing in the morning, you can then head to Fes.  On the drive there we’d highly recommend making a stop at Volubilis.  Quite a few people on this route might decide to stop at Meknes, one of the imperial cities of Morocco.  However, the main sites were shut when we visited so we decided not to go, plus we were going to see Marrakech and Fes which are imperial cities.

The Ancient Roman City of Volubilis

This Roman ruins is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 1st century AD.  It is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a large Roman colonial town.  When we visited the museum was shut, and they were making some improvements to the site in general.  What makes it exceptional are the amazing mosaics, large pieces of which remain intact.  To make it fun for Cameron we’d look at the mosaics and spot the animals, or ask what the people were up to – we let his three-year-old imagination run wild!

Top tip:  There is zero shade at Volubilis.  Bring something for shade, whether that’s a hat or an umbrella and plenty of water.

Fes

On arrival at Fes we went straight to the Merenid tombs. These are the royal tombs on the outside of the city and have an epic view of the city.  You can really see how large Fes is. From the number of mosque minarets, the tanneries on one side and several of the city gates.  We chose to stay in a small riad just on the edge of the Medina by Bab Boujloud. Thismeant that we were just on the edge of the action so didn’t need taxi’s to get into Fes.

In the afternoon Fes Medina is a great place to wander around and take in the hustle and bustle of people going about their lives.  We stayed relatively near Bab Boujloud in the afternoon so that we didn’t get lost.  Cameron loved the sights, smells and sounds – plus seeing other young children there as well.   We found a perfect place for dinner called Cafe Clock. We liked it because they were super welcoming of kids, we met quite a few there. And they had a great menu.  We visited it a couple of nights and they had different events in the evenings, such as live music and storytelling. 

Day 3: Explore the City of Fes

Journey time: 0 hour | Locations: Fes

Walking Tour of Fes

We always like to, where possible, take a walking tour of any new city that we visit. And Fes was no exception. It’s got 10,000 streets in the Medina alone, so you’ll really get a lot from having a tour guide on hand.  Our tour guide took us from one side of the city at Bab Boujloud through to the Chouara Tannery and back.  

There’s a lot to see in between. Rather than list everything out we thought we’d list some fun facts that we learnt on our tour:

• There are no cars. It’s incredible as you’ll see people pushing trolleys overloaded with goods, maybe a donkey or two, but no cars.  They can’t fit down the narrow streets.
• The Chouara Tannery is almost 1,000 years old.  You’re best to have a high up view to get an appreciation of the size of it.  Don’t forget to sniff the mint as it can be smelly.
• It used to be the only source of ‘Fez’ hats
• It has the oldest university in the world
• There are over 300 mosques in the old Medina, because every neighbourhood has a mosque
• Its Arms Museum is home to 8,000 weapons which is one of the largest stockpiles in the world
• It has one of the oldest water clocks in the world

Take some timeout at a waterpark

Yes, we just mentioned a water park!  That’s because, after we toured the old medina and had some lunch, we wanted to cool off.  We try to remember when we’re travelling with our kids, that as well as the cultural element, they also sometimes need a little kiddie fun time.  And as our riad didn’t have a swimming pool, we drove 20 minutes out of town to the local water park called Rim Aquatic to spend a half day splashing around.

The water park was good for older children as well as it had some great slides.  And for younger children, there was a special area with small slides and water canons.  They also had a small restaurant on site if you wanted something to eat or drink.  It was a great place to cool off and prepare for the next few very busy days.

Top tip: If you’re looking for something else, and want to avoid going to a water park, then you could use this afternoon to head to Meknes.

In the evening, we had our second meal at Cafe Clock, because it was that great and the team were so welcoming!

Day 4: Drive to Merzouga and then Camel Ride into the Sahara Desert

Journey time: 7 hours | Locations: Fes & Merzouga

The journey

On this day, you’ll have an epic day of driving ahead of you, it’s a long trip.  This is because, between Fes and Merzouga, where the Sahara Desert tour leaves from, there is not very much to stop and see.  We stopped at Ifran, the Moroccan version of Switzerland, for some drinks.  And we then briefly stopped again a while later when we were in the forests and barbary monkeys were swinging from the trees.  This part of Morocco is famous for monkeys.  

Other than these couple of things to see, the only other time we stopped was a the gas station for fuel and a cold drink.  We do a lot of road trips and long haul flights, and on days like these, we simply let the tablet/iPad work its magic. Because at the end of the day, it’s a long journey and we all need to get through it happy. 

Camel ride into the sunset – one of best things in Morocco with kids!

Oh wow, was the 7 hour journey worth it!  We booked our Sahara Desert Tour to start that afternoon.  We arrived at our guest house for 4 pm. By 4:30 pm we were on our camel ride out to our desert camp in the Erg Chebbi sand dunes.  

Carl had Cameron (our 3 year old) sat in front of him on the camel, and I had Dylan in a baby carrier on my front.  Cam loved the experience of getting up high and going through the desert. And Dylan loved it so much that he spent most of the 2 hours asleep on me.  

Our guide was incredible because he was welcoming and extremely caring.  Plus he clearly respected his camels and that showed because we did see some other tours and the camels were less well cared for.

We stopped about 20 minutes before sunset to watch the sun go down.  There’s nothing quite like it – it was INCREDIBLE! 

Desert Camp in the Sahara Desert

After sunset, we ended up at our luxury desert camp.  When they say luxury it’s important the remember that these are desert camps, and so they’re simple luxury.  Our bedouin-style tents were great, the beds were comfortable, the showers were hot and powerful, and they were warm.  It’s important to remember, that in the evenings the temperature in the desert drops significantly, so you’ll want to take some warm clothes with you.

After a dinner there was music, singing and dancing around a campfire.  And the opportunity to wander off for some star gazing in the clear night sky. 

Note:  We wanted to make it clear, that the Erg Chebbi sand dunes are amazing. However, the area is also very touristy and busy.  During our sunset camel ride there were at least 10 other camel rides happening at once, plus 4×4’s blasting around, and people on quad bikes.  If you’re expecting the solitude of the desert to yourself then the best time is very early in the morning before sunrise.

Day 5: Erg Chebbi Sand Dunes then onto Tinghir

Journey time: 7 hours | Locations: Merzouga & Tinghir

Sunrise and sand boarding

You’ll want to make sure that you are up for sunrise.  It’s the quiet time in the Erg Chebbi sand dunes, and the perfect time to spot animal prints in the sand before everyone else rises. We took up some chairs to the top of a dune right by our camels and watched the sunrise.

After sunrise, no family adventure would be complete with some fun having a go at sand boarding. It’s easy to spend an hour having fun doing this. We ended up joining in with some other guests at the desert camp.  Cam loved coming down when one of us carried him – or when he was sat on the board.  Just be prepared for a lot of sand to go everywhere!

Quad Biking – some optional fun

Cameron has a love of all things fast and noisy – he’s baby petrol head! We arranged for Carl to take him on a quad bike across the sand dunes. Yes, they take children just 3 years old.  The quad biking can be added onto your day tour, and takes about an hour or so. They’ll kit you up in a helmet and goggles and then take you onto the sand dunes. Then you’ll bash around them doing high speed laps.  They both had such a good time!

4×4 tour and lunch at a Berber village

The 4×4 tour takes you through the sand dunes and out to see the Berber villages.  We went to one with a community bread oven and sat with some women as they baked. It was great as we had a chance to eat some fresh bread. You’ll also get a chance to listen to some Gnaou musicians. They have their roots in sub-Saharan countries, including Sudan, Mali, and Niger. You’ll sit with some of the locals and musicians to listen to traditional Gnaou music, which involves lot of chanting and clanking, and dancing.  We finished with lunch at a locals house which was a flat bread style pizza.

Drive to Tinghir

In the afternoon you’ll need to start the drive back to Marrakech and a good place to stop is Tinghir.  It’s in a valley between the High Atlas Mountains in the north and the Little Atlas Mountains in the south.  Its a beautiful oasis town and makes the perfect place to stop and explore the Todra Gorge. You’ll arrive late in the day and probably want to head straight to your accommodation.  We found a great restaurant called Restaurant Cafe Central which served great Moroccan cuisine.  And if your kids have some energy left, then we highly recommend heading to the public gardens opposite the restaurant. They have these light up cars that young kids can drive themselves around the square in.

Top tip: If you’re looking for some evening entertainment, then we found that most of the major cities and towns have these kids areas that come alive late afternoon and run into the evening.  These are place that have electric cars, small carousels and plenty of other kids to play with.

Day 6: Tinghir, Dades Gorge to Ait-Ben-Haddou

Journey time: 3.5 hours | Locations: Tinghir, Dades Gorge & Ait-Ben-Haddou

Head into the Todra Gorge

The Todra Gorge is a series of spectacular limestone river canyons, some up to 400m hight.  The last 600 metres of the Todgha gorge are the most spectacular. They are easily accessible from the main road into the gorge.  If you’re into climbing then there are tours that you can join that will take you up a variety of pitches up the limestone walls.  

Depending on the age of your kids and what sort of walking/hiking you like to do, there are lots of cools trails that you can follow.  We went high up into the the gorge. Then we followed it back down into the Tinghir oasis which was about 11km and 3 hours long.

In the Tinghir oasis you’ll go through the palm grove.  This was amazing as you’ll walk through an area full of palm trees, alongside a system of artificial irrigation which provides the water needed to grow food within the oasis.  As well as having a chance to look at the beautiful old kasbah (city fortifications) that run alongside it.

Drive the Dades Gorge

Journey time: 1 hour

After lunch there is a fantastic drive into Dades Gorge. Dades Gorge is a zig zag of a road that takes you up into the mountains.  At the top is a cool restaurant called Café-Restaurant Timzillite where you’ll get some great views of the surrounding area.  Plus they have this cool swing that kids can enjoy whilst you have your drink or food.

Stop in Ouarzazate for the Gladiator film set

Journey time: 2 hours

We included this on our list, as it’s a stop on the way between Tinghir and Ait-Ben-Haddou. It is famous for the film sets that are built there.  If you’ve watched Gladirtor then you’ll recognise some of the scenes as you take the tour around the studio.  We went to Atlas Studio and Cam thought it was hysterical that that there were lots of “fake buildings” to look at. As he’s just three years old he just couldn’t understand it.  We did have a rather funny moment when he ran off and went for a nature pee behind “a building” in the Gladiator set……..kids!

Sleep at Ait-Ben-Haddou

Journey time: 30 minutes

The best way to end the day is to head to Ait-Ben-Haddou near to Ouarzazate for the night.  There isn’t a huge amount to do there, however, by staying the night it means that you are there ready for sunrise.  

Day 7: Ait-Ben-Haddou to Marrakech

Journey time: 3 hours | Locations: Ait-Ben-Haddou & Marrakech

Visit to the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou 

Carl is a massive Gladiator fan –  I think he’s watched the movie over 200 times!  So when we’d heard about Ait Ben-Haddou we had to make a stop there on the way to Marrakech.  The thing that really surprised us was that it was really kid friendly.  

A ksar of is a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls that creates a traditional pre-Saharan habitat.  Ait-Ben-Haddou, is a really well-preserved example of one which is why it is a UNSECO World Heritage Site.  The best time of day to see it, is either at sunrise or sunset.  We were there for sunrise watching from our hotel terrace, and it did not disappoint – it was incredible!  Afterwards, we ate breakfast before going off to explore the ksar for ourselves.

You might want to pick up a local guide when you arrive, we’ve heard that they’re about US$10.  We didn’t have a tour guide as we just wanted to explore on our own. You can cross the bridge and just head into the ksar on our own. The best thing to do is to head up to the old ruined grain store. It’s at the top and has the best view of the surrounding area.

Top tip:  The ksar is free to enter as it’s a public village.  However, within the village, there are some individual buildings that you can pay a small entrance fee to go inside.  They usually cost around 20dh.

Drive to Marrakech

This drive is incredible!  You’ll be on a route called Tizi n’Tichka which is a mountain pass linking the south-east of Marrakesh to Ait-Ben-Haddou. It takes you through the High Atlas mountains.  We absolutely loved this part of the road trip, there was so much for us to see and talk about with Cameron.  Drives like this are the reason that we enjoy road trips as a whole family.

Once you arrive, you’ll find that Marrakech is a whirlwind of flavours, colours, sounds and smells!  It can be chaotic and noisy and possibly quite intense for some kids (and even adults too) who are first-time visitors. So if you’ve not been before, be prepared for the intense change of pace from the calm of the last few days.  

Before you arrive you’ll want to decide between staying in the medina itself, or outside the medina.  We opted for a family run riad outside of the medina with a swimming pool.  We’d arranged for our host, a local family, to give us a cookery lesson. This was a great way for us to learn more about Moroccan cuisine and have fun eating dinner together. 

Top tip:  If you want to learn more about Moroccan cuisine and your kids like cooking, then you should definitely book in for a cooking class.  most riad owners will happy to host you for a cooking class if you ask them. 

Day 8: Marrakech – An essential to any Morocco itinerary with kids

Marrakech Walking Tour

We love to arrive into a new city and take a walking tour.  There are so many fun things to do in Marrakech with kids. It’s a great way to familiarise ourselves with the area before we go off and explore on our own.  We tend to tag-team looking after the kids so that we get to enjoy some of the tour each. Whilst the other one plays with the kids a bit to keep them entertained.  Our tour started off at Koutoubia Mosque and included the Jewish Quarter, souks, the palaces and gates of the old Medina.  It ended at Djemaa el Fna.

After the tour there are lots of great restaurants, cafe and food stalls on the edge of Djemaa el Fna for lunch. Some even have a great panoramic view of the square itself.

Visit either the Saadian Tombs or Bahia Palace

We did the Saadian Tombs after our lunch when we visited. However, another good option would be to go to the Bahia Palace instead.  They’ve both got some great shade for young kids enjoy and space to explore and run around.,

The Saadian Tombs are majestic tombs are above ground, and you can spend a relaxing hour wandering and exploring them.  The tombs were built in the 1600s by Sultan al-Mansour ed Dhabi. The centrepiece is a 12-pillar mausoleum that was walled up following the death of the Sultan.  It was rediscovered in 1917. They’re in the shad and kids will love looking at the design of them and running around outside.  These are one of the most visited tourist attractions in Marrakech.

The Bahia Palace is a large Marrakech palace and is royal majesty at its best. With a combination of floor-to-ceiling tile work, sprawling lush gardens, and majestic rooms inviting both locals and visitors to enjoy a taste of Moroccan royal living.  Young kids will enjoy exploring and playing games in the wide courtyards.  They can also discover the colourful gardens, and magnificent rooms, where there is plenty of room to jump around and explore. There are often art exhibits hosted here, and we saw one that really completely captured our sons’ attention.

Playground

Nearby to the Saadian Tombs and the Bahia Palace is a large playgound in the Menara Gardens that was super busy with locals kids around 4/5pm. There are vendors selling popcorn, ice creams, drinks and some toys.  Cameron made friends with some young children who were a similar age and they spent half an hour playing football together.

Djemaa el Fna with kids

The main square of Marrakesh is called Djemaa El Fna. Its name means ‘Assembly of the Dead’, it’s one of the most famous city squares in North Africa.  Many centuries ago it was where the heads of traitors were displayed, and is now street theatre at its best.  It’s where visitors and locals gather to share stories and be entertained.  The biggest draw for us as a whole family was the excitement of watching the people in the crowds, joining in on the street games, trying to local street food and meeting other young kids.  It kicks off late afternoon/early evening around sunset every day when the food stalls are built and the storytellers and performers arrive.  It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Marrakech with little kids.  We loved it!

The downside to Djemaa El Fna is that you’ll sadly see monkeys dressed in trousers (which are sadly kept on chains) and snake charmers who remove the fangs from their snakes.  For this reason we kept away from them.  We’d also suggest keeping your distance from the ladies offering henna tattoos as they can sometimes take your arm and start tattooing without you agreeing to it.  And then ask for payment when you didn’t want it in the first place.

Eating in Djemaa El Fna

There are lots of different types of food stalls in the Djemaa El Fna and you can try anything from brochettes (kebabs) to snails to tangia.  Eating street food is an experience worth having, because you’re in the middle of the action and it’s a great atmosphere.  We tried various dishes from the menu so we could sample some Moroccan cuisine – by this point Cam was loving tangia abd brochettes.  It was great fun chatting to the servers and watching the food getting cooked.

You an also head up for a panoramic view of the Djemaa El Fna by going to one of the restaurants that line the edge of the  square for a drink on their terrace.  It’ll give you a great perspective to enjoy the square from. 

Day 9: Essaouira 

Journey time: 2.5 hours | Locations: Marrakech & Essaouira 

There is no better last stop on your trip to Morocco with kids than to head to the stunning port town of Essaouira.  It’s located on the Atlantic Ocean and is another UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its old medina and fishing dock.  It’s a fantastic place to explore with kids of all ages.  We took a walking tour so that we could learn more about the rich history of the town, and they took us past the fishing boats that were unloading their hauls ready to sell to the local restaurants.  There are some incredible local restaurants by the edge of the dock where you can have fresh fish that’s been caught that morning. 

Just outside the town is the main beach.  It can get extremely windy in Essaouira, so much so that it’s not practical to lie on the beach.  In fact, it’s famous for being a great kitesurfing location!  In the late afternoon and early evening you’ll find families promenading, food stalls selling snacks such as corn on the cob, pop corn as well as locals on the beach working out and doing some amazing acrobatics.  We saw the same locals later in the evening performing in the main square.

Top tip: If you’re looking for a relaxation beach, then we’d recommend Sidi Kaouki.  You can also have surf lessons there – Cameron had a go, but at three years old found it a bit too much hard work. 

In the evening the main square has some performers and local young children come out to enjoy themselves playing small games of football.  There’s also a delicious crêperie if you’ve got a sweet tooth like we do! 

Day 10: Essaouira back to Marrakesh

Journey time: 2.5 hours | Locations: Marrakech & Essaouira 

As this is the last day of your road trip through Morocco with kids and you might be flying back home, you’ll probably want to be flexible on your last day as to how much or how little you do.  Depending on your return flight home you might choose to spend the morning relaxing in Essaouira before heading back to Marrakech.  Or, you might want to head straight back to Marrakech if you’re short of time and see some other sites there instead.  

Top tip:  If you don’t fancy travelling to Essaouira then you could spend an extra day in Marrakech.  Or, if you’d like something a little bit different you could head to the Agafay Desert and go hot air ballooning or quad biking.

Best Tips to Plan your Morocco Family Trip With Kids

Why should you be visiting Morocco with kids?

Morocco is perfect for parents who have travelled to far off destinations and don’t necessarily fancy a beach holiday now that they’ve got kids. At the same time, it has lots to capture a young kids imagination.  From a luxury desert camp in the Sahara where you’ll indulge in Berber storytelling and music in the dunes. To spending the days getting lost in the maze-like souk of Marrakesh.  There is so much adventure fun to be had for kids!

In the last 10 years, Morocco has become a very popular destination, not just for Europeans but also international travellers. As a result, Morocco has developed decent tourism infrastructure, with excellent highways, beautiful traditional riads to stay at, and good restaurants everywhere. You can also very easily travel within the country by train or bus, and there are also lots of tour operators.

Is Morocco safe for families with kids?

Although it’s impossible to promise that a destination is completely safe , in our opinion Morocco is a very safe country to visit with kids of all ages. Moroccans are peace-minded and family friendly people. And the country has been a politically stable kingdom for many decades.

We’ve never felt unsafe in any way during our 4-week trip with our kids. We found that the more inland you go, towards the Berber people, the more genuinely welcome you’ll feel. However, like any other country you’ll visit, Morocco does have some issues you should be aware of:

• It can suffer from small crimes such as pickpockets or scams.
• In some cities, you might be harassed by touts and salesmen, especially if you’re a woman.
• With younger children, you should look out for motorbikes that come through the small streets (especially in Marrakech) with astonishing speed.
• The souks and Medina’s can get very busy.  It is good idea to have a plan in case your kid gets lost or separated in the bustling and crowded streets.

As always, it’s best to take some common sense precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. Here are some things we suggest to keep in mind when you visit Morocco with kids:

• Always keep an eye on your kids, especially in crowded areas or busy streets.
• Keep your valuables, passports, and any other important documents in a secure place.
• Be aware of your surroundings and try to avoid walking alone at night.
• Use licensed taxis or arrange private transportation with your hotel or tour operator.
• You should be cautious of strangers who approach you with unsolicited offers or requests.

How do Moroccans treat children?

Moroccan society is extremely family-focussed and Moroccans are incredibly friendly and kind to kids of all ages. Family is a high priority for Moroccans and children are typically spoiled rotten by relatives. We found that our young children helped to break the ice and helped us to chat to locals, who we found were very friendly, helpful and protective towards our children.

For those travelling with babies like we did, you should expect people to frequently come up to you and admire them, affectionately stroke them and, possibly even kiss their feet.  We always felt comfortable with the way that our kids were treated.  It was lovely to see how much attention and love the locals gave to both Cam and Dylan.

It was definitely a different experience traveling Morocco with my family versus as a single traveller with friends.  The boys instantly bridged the gap between our family and Moroccans. We felt like we interacted with a lot more Moroccans on this trip, and got to experience their warm welcome and friendliness.

What is the food like when you visit Morocco with kids?

Moroccan cuisine is a fantastic blend of flavours and spices that will delight the taste buds of adults and children. Its location on the coast of North Africa has influenced its food, which features a mix of Mediterranean, Arabic, and Berber tastes.

There are so many different dishes to choose from which means that Moroccan cuisine has something for everyone, even for the pickiest eaters.  Whilst our son Cameron (3 years old) would try the tagine and strong flavours, there were days when he’d just want an omelette.  Every restaurant we ate at was happy to make sure he had something to eat that he liked. We also took plenty of snack with us in case there wasn’t something that he wanted to eat available.

By the end of our trip, Cam had started to love tagine, a slow-cooked stew made with meat, vegetables, and potatoes.  Which is typically served with couscous or bread. When he wasn’t in the mood for tagine then we’d order brochettes which you can find almost everywhere which are chicken or beef skewers, served with chips!

There are also fresh juice stalls everywhere, in Marrakech we’d have a couple a day to stay hydrated.  For those with a sweet tooth, the local pastries are a must-try, such as chebakia, a honey-soaked pastry made with sesame seeds, and kaab el ghazal, a crescent-shaped pastry filled with almond paste.

What to pack for a family trip when travelling to Morocco with kids?

When traveling to Morocco with kids, besides the typical things you need, there are some special tips to consider.  

• Pack light and bring comfortable clothing as the weather can be changeable.  Especially in the desert where it can be very hot in the day and cold at night. Layers are the key, as always, to keeping kids warm!
• It’s also a great idea to take a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent, because you’ll spend lots of time outdoors.
• Other essentials to take include a first-aid kit and water bottles.  Don’t fill your water bottles with tap water. If you’d prefer no to buy bottled water, then a great solution is to buy a water filter bottle.
• Remember to take some basic medications with you, such as pain relievers, antihistamines, and hydration medication.  We always make sure to pack plenty of Calpol as we know that Cam likes it and is fussy about other flavours of liquid paracetamol.
• If you are travelling with babies or young children to Morocco, we’d highly recommend that you to bring a carrier instead of a pram. In the old medinas, the streets can get busy and be very narrow. And if you want to hike in the mountains or have a desert adventure, then a pram won’t be of any use.
• You don’t need to bring nappies or milk for babies, as you can find those easily in supermarkets in all towns in Morocco.  However, you might not be able to find the specific brand that you use at home, so you might want to bring plenty with you.
• Bring a wetsuit (although surfing and water sports clubs usually provide them) because the Atlantic Ocean can be rather cold and a lot of swimming pools aren’t heated.

What’s the best way to get around with kids in Morocco

Car

There are several ways to travel around Morocco, however, in our opinion, the best way is by driving. This allows you to travel at your own pace and stop whenever you want, which is perfect for kids, especially younger ones who might need more toilet breaks!

If you are travelling with younger children and babies the law says you need to have a car seat for your child.  You might see locals driving around without them, however, we’d suggest you use one. 

Top tip: Keep an eye out for the speed limit because the police set up lots of speed check points.  We were caught out a few times…….

Car rental

There are plenty of local and international car rental brands in Morocco to pick from.  Renting a car seat on arrival can be expensive, so we suggest you might want to bring your own travel seat.

Bringing your own car

You can come to Morocco with your own car or camper van when you take the ferry from Spain, which is what we did when we took our car over.  Camping is a fantastic way to travel with kids in Morocco and we met several families who were going in camper vans.  We took the ferry from Algeciras to Tangier – it was really easy and very efficient.  

Top tip:  Remember to bring your original vehicle ownership documents.  We forgot ours and had to get a friend to email over copies which slowed our entry into Morocco as they expect original documents.  

Private transport or tour

Another way to travel around Morocco with kids is to arrange for private transport, which is a dedicated driver to take you on your itinerary.  This can be expensive, however, its more convenient than public transport.  If you don’t feel up to organising everything yourself, you could always choose to book an organised tour around Morocco.

Public transport

Buses and trains in Morocco are well organised (especially between the bigger cities) and very cheap, however, it will take you longer and you’re less flexible.  It all depends on what your family feels up to.  For us, we love to take public transport within cities as our son loves buses, trains and trams – however, on longer journeys we prefer to drive ourselves.

Be Mindful of Cultural Differences

Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country, so it’s important to be respectful of their local culture.  Some general tips are:

• Dress modestly, especially when you’re visiting religious sites. Rules are less strict for younger children, however, if you have older girls you should try to avoid showing too much skin as well.
• Avoid public displays of affection between adults. It’s perfectly OK to hug your kids, but not for you as adults to show affection between yourselves.
• Be thoughtful of your language and behaviour. If you act with friendship and kindness and don’t lose your temper, they will be very friendly too.
• Prepare your kids in advance so that they are aware of the differences with Moroccan culture

Choosing the right accommodation in Morocco with kids

Staying in Marrakech Medina

During our trip to Morocco we stayed in several Medina’s, what we loved about this was the character, charm and rich history all in one place. Accommodation wise you can chose between staying B&B style in a riad, or booking a house to yourself through Airbnb

Staying in the Medina means you’re in the middle of all the action, however, you need to be aware that IT IS EXTREMELY NOISY! And we mean very, very, very loud. Whilst you might find that your kids sleep through it, you, as their parents, might be woken by motorbikes tearing past, kids playing in the street late at night, and the call to prayer.  The call to prayer will always happen at sunrise – note: that will feel like the middle of the night!  Staying in Medina in Marrakech is an experience, however, it’s not for everyone.

Staying outside Marrakech Medina

If you’re looking for a good night’s sleep. Or, perhaps a large pool for the kids, and some creature comforts. Then your best bet is to stay in one of the larger hotels that you’ll discover outside most Medina’s. These large hotels will likely provide a free shuttle into the Medina, and some even have waterslides for the kids. However, you will miss out on experiencing Medina life on your doorstep and these hotels are often a lot more expensive than the Medina accommodation.

Can you breastfeed in Morocco?

We knew that we were going to travel with Dylan (our baby) to Morocco before he was born, so I wanted to research about breastfeeding there and found very little information on the internet.  When we arrived I was extremely unsure as to what was socially and culturally acceptable as I didn’t want to cause any upset.  I had absolutely no issues with breastfeeding Dylan the entire time that I was there.  I generally used a muslin to give myself some extra cover (in the UK I would just feed without one), and felt great doing it.  

On the few occasions that I didn’t have a muslin, I still had no issues with breastfeeding in public.  One one occasion we were in the centre of Ouarzazate whilst Cam played on some electric cars.  I couldn’t find my muslin, so I just sat on a wall and fed Dylan as discretely as possible.  What I’d not realised is that there were other local women had sat down next to me to  watch their kids playing.  One of the women tapped me on my shoulder to tell me how great it was to see me breastfeeding my baby.  

And we soon all started chatting about our kids playing, and once Dylan was finished feeding he was soon getting attention from the women who all wanted to say hi to him.  The same happened on the beach in Essaouira with some women on the beach.  This all goes to show that it’s very acceptable to breastfeed in public in Morocco if you want to.

FAQ’s When Travelling to Morocco With Kids

Final Thoughts On Visiting Morocco With Kids

We loved our family trip to Morocco with our kids. There are so many fun things that you can do together. Whether visiting a historical site, learning to surf or riding camels in the Sahara desert. Our 10 day itinerary includes some of the best things to do in Morocco.

We also hope that our top tips help you to have a fantastic time away in Morocco!