The Kingdom of Morocco is located in North Africa, just south of Spain. Its capital is the city of Rabat, but the most populous cities are Casablanca, Fez, Tangier and Marrakesh. The country has a population of over 36 million, most of whom reside in the North West region.
The best way to get to Morocco is by plane, the main airport being Marrakesh. Prices vary according to the season and are often higher in summer.
By bus: cheap and with a wide range of timetables, but the buses are often crowded
By taxi: the price of the journey must be agreed with the driver beforehand - this is the quickest way to get to the villa.
By car: Villanovo can reserve a car for you, with or without a driver, which will be waiting for you in front of your villa.
Morocco has a mild, sunny climate all year round, with summer being the hottest month and winter the coolest. The rainy season is relatively short and runs from November to January.
Do
Be properly dressed
Respect places of worship and the practice of religions
Don’t
Decline an invitation for tea
Use your left hand to pass dishes at a meal
The only requirement for travel to Morocco is a valid passport, no visa is required for European, British and US citizens for stays of less than 3 months. If a stay is longer than 3 months, it is necessary to apply for a residency permit in order to receive a tourist visa.
For more information, you can contact the embassy of your country.
The currency in the Kingdom is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD), which is currently 1 euro equal to just over 10 MAD. You can follow the evolution of the exchange rate here.
Tips are generally calculated as 10% of your order.
Morocco is generally a safe country but beware of theft, especially in busy areas. Always keep an eye on your bags and in Marrakesh be careful when walking in the Medina at night.
Morocco is in the same time zone as Portugal and the UK (GMT UTC +0). If you are travelling from France (GMT UTC +1) you will have a slight time difference, so you will need to set your watch back one hour.
The main languages are Arabic, French and English. Most citizens of Marrakesh can speak between 3 and 4 languages. The majority of the house staff in our villas speak French and have a basic knowledge of English.
We recommend that you have health insurance before you travel to Marrakesh and that you consult your GP to see if you need any vaccinations.
If you need a doctor, our local team can advise you on one.
Le Marrakech du Rire (Comedy Festival)
The International Film Festival
Imilchil Festival
Jazzablanca
Oasis Festival