Morocco is a country of vibrant colors, rich history, and diverse culture. Whether you’re a foodie, an adventurer, a culture enthusiast, or a history buff, there are plenty of things to do in Morocco that will satisfy your interests.
I was lucky enough to spend eight months living in Rabat and traveling around the country on an intensive Arabic study scholarship program I did as a gap year after high school. In my time there, I learned that there is so much to see and experience in this North African country, from exploring the winding streets of the medinas to enjoying delicious Moroccan breads and tagines.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the best things to do in Morocco for those interested in immersing themselves in the country’s unique blend of cultures. From touring an argan cooperative to learning about Amazigh rug-making techniques and trying your hand at metalworking in Fez, these activities will give you a glimpse into the country’s vibrant culture and traditions.
So, let’s dive in and discover the top things to do in Morocco for those interested in cultural activities & excursions.
Things to do in Morocco: 8 Unique Cultural Experiences and Activities
1. Learn Arabic Calligraphy Workshop
Arabic calligraphy is a form of visual art that involves the use of the Arabic script to create beautiful, stylized writing. The art of Arabic calligraphy has a rich history that dates back to the pre-Islamic period, and it has been used to create a wide range of artistic and functional works, including illustrated manuscripts of the Quran, architectural ornamentation, and decorative objects.
In any medina in Morocco you’ll likely see several shops that have a station in front where someone sits with a pot of ink and small blank wooden keychains and offers to write out a stylized version of your name in Arabic Calligraphy.
While these make for great personalized souvenirs to take home from Morocco and give to friends and family, taking an Arabic calligraphy workshop could be a fun and interactive thing to do in Morocco to create your own souvenir.
2. Visit a Moroccan Artisan Village
Oulja Pottery Village, just outside of Rabat (actually in neighboring city Salé), is a Moroccan artisan village with meandering walkways lined by a variety of shops displaying their colorful works of art. It is a popular place to visit to shop for traditional handicrafts such as tagines and other pottery.
I actually took pottery classes here during my year living in Rabat, and while I’m not sure they generally offer classes to visitors, the artisans are very welcoming, friendly, and the prices tend to be lower when purchasing directly from the artisans here as opposed to shopping in the medinas.
How to get there: Because it is across the river from Rabat and therefore the Rabat petit-taxis that you can take within the city do not venture outside of city bounds, you will need to either take the tram & then a sale petit taxi, a grand taxi from the Rabat medina taxi lot, or arrange for private transportation.
3. Take a Moroccan Cooking Class
Moroccan cuisine is rich, fragrant, and mouthwatering. Many of the traditional dishes like couscous, pastilla, and rfissa are time-intensive to make, but you can really taste the difference in a homemade version of any of them. If you have the chance, it really is worth spending a few hours in a Moroccan cooking class learning to cook some of the most popular dishes.
When I lived in Morocco I was blessed to live with a host mom who was a truly amazing chef and baker – I spent many afternoons sitting by the kitchen window, slicing potatoes, snapping the ends off of green beans, and making attempt after attempt at rghaif (a flatbread that is also known in some regions as msemmen) that would pass her quality check.
Some of the popular dishes you might get to make in a cooking class include salata (a simple tomato-cucumber-onion salad), couscous with vegetables, a tagine, any of a number of delicious breads including rghaif, harcha, and baghrir.
I would strongly recommend booking Najlae’s Moroccan Cooking Class if you will be in Marrakech. My mom and I did a virtual experience version of this class with her in 2020, and it was fantastic! Cooking classes are one of the easier Moroccan cultural experiences to find offered however, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a good one no matter which city you’ll be visiting.
4. See Moroccan Rugs at an Amazigh Rug and Carpet Guild
Moroccan rugs are a beautiful and unique art form that you should make sure you see (if not buy) while you are in Morocco. Most Moroccan rugs are hand-woven by Amazigh women and traditionally incorporate symbolism and storytelling into their intricate designs. It can take a month or more to complete a floor-sized rug, and there are specific patterns and designs that are traditional to each city.
Make a carpet guild a stop on your itinerary (many day trip excursions will include a stop at a rug cooperative) or take a Wool Weaving Workshop in Chefchaouen, one of my favorite destinations in Morocco.
If you don’t have time to fit this into your itinerary of things to do in Morocco, or if you don’t want to deal with the details of shipping a rug home from your trip, I found this cool sustainable rug company Salam Hello where you can order rugs online that are sourced directly from artisans.
5. Things to do in Fez: Check Out Metalworking Shops
The art of metalworking in Morocco is rooted in Islamic architecture and design, which is characterized by geometric patterns and intricate detailing. Today, Moroccan metalworking remains an important aspect of the country’s culture and a source of pride for many artisans and craftsmen.
Fez has in my opinion, the best medina in Morocco for exploring, and this is in part because of the different streets/sub-neighborhoods for different crafts such as leather tanning, tilework, and metal etching. Stop into a shop and you’ll be able to see their expert craftsmanship, and possibly a demonstration.
It is really neat to see how the hammered and etched metal is crafted. When I was on a tour of the medina with my program, I got to try stamping my own design on a small round plate. It was much harder than it looked to tap the stamp in just the right place with the hammer! Mine didn’t turn out quite like I wanted, but it’s still a great souvenir. However, the photo I shared above is of the example plate the master craftsman made.
Bonus – Fez also has my favorite style of henna designs (they’re very regional, and the fessi style is more geometric!), so consider getting henna while you’re there.
6. Tour an Argan Cooperative in Essaouira or Agadir
Argan oil is a precious oil that is derived from the kernels of the Argan tree, which is endemic to Morocco. The history of Argan oil dates back to at least the 13th century, when the indigenous Amazigh people began using it for its culinary and medicinal properties. Today, Argan oil is used in a variety of cosmetic and hair products, and has become quite popular.
The production of Argan oil in Morocco is largely carried out in cooperatives, which have been established to support the sustainable harvesting and larger-scale production of Argan oil while also providing economic opportunities for local women. These cooperatives play an important role in supporting the local economy, livelihoods for Amazigh women, and preserving traditional techniques for producing Argan oil.
In my opinion the best way to fit visiting an argan cooperative into your itinerary is as part of a day trip from Marrakech, or while staying in Agadir. This argan oil cooperative tour departing from Essaouira is most similar to the tour I did when I traveled around Morocco.
Extra fun fact: In addition to its cosmetic uses, Argan oil is also used in traditional Moroccan cuisine as a cooking oil and in a delicious nut-butter (containing almonds, honey, and argan oil) called amlou.
7. Visit the Hammam: A True Moroccan Cultural Experience
(no photo of this one for obvious reasons)
Hammams are public bathhouses that are popular in Morocco whether for regular use or more like a spa for an occasional treat. Hammams have separated male and female areas (and usually even different entrances), and inside a public hammam you’ll usually find 3 rooms that get progressively warmer (as you get closer to the water boiler). You find a place to sit with your hammam bathing supplies, which can be purchased in the medina or in the hammam’s reception, bathe, and spend a while enjoying the warmth, the steam, and maybe some gossip.
If this is your first time visiting the hammam, you should absolutely request at the reception to have a scrub (using a kis glove) by a tayaba (person who helps you bathe). You will get scrubbed to what feels like within an inch of your life, but the olive-based black soap, rhassoul clay, and steam help make uncovering all that fresh skin feel incredible.
I was too intimidated by the idea to go during my first trip to Morocco, but during the year I lived there it became one of my self-care rituals I most looked forward to. Although you will be mostly nude (still wearing bottoms), it is an experience where nudity is totally normalized- everyone is there to wash. It’s one of those things where it’s just worth it to suspend your disbelief and ideas about awkwardness and just go for it haha.
*note: Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, I know the hammam industry has taken a big hit and I am not personally sure of how open the local hammams are. You will likely find more success with booking a private hammam experience ahead of time, like at Heritage Spa Marrakech. Here you can book a traditional and authentic hammam scrub that will leave you feeling rejuvenated.
8. Visit Hassan II Mosque In Casablanca
Hassan II mosque in Casablanca is one of the largest mosques in the world (the 7th largest, to be exact). It’s also the only mosque in Morocco that non-Muslims are allowed to enter. So if you’re interested in visiting a mosque while you’re in Morocco and you aren’t Muslim, put this stop on your itinerary right now!
You’ll need to pay an admission fee and then you’ll get to walk through the mosque on a guided tour. The guided tour leads you through three areas: the prayer hall, the minaret hall, and the ablution hall.
My experience visiting the Hassan II Mosque
When we first stepped inside my eyes had to adjust to the dark interior from being out in the sunshine. When we went in I slipped off my shoes, and with a padded footstep my feet sunk into the cushiony carpet. Instantly a feeling of sheer serenity washed over me, and as I looked around at the vaulted ceiling, towering arches, and crystal chandeliers I was filled with a sense of awe. The mosque is achingly beautiful, as if it is too beautiful to truly be real. There is an atmosphere of absolute stillness and serenity; the mosque is built full of power and it silences everything within its walls. I felt washed in peace, as if it flowed over my head and shoulders and engulfed me, surrounding me in that sense that there are no words to describe.
It was so beautiful, and so humbling, and such a unique place. If you ever get the chance to visit a mosque and go inside, do it. It was something that I really think helped me to understand the religious aspect of the culture better, and I’m always willing to find a moment that will bring me to stillness in awe of something so beautiful.
Leave a Reply