Culture & Lifestyle

Moroccan hospitality is legendary — and sincere. If someone offers you tea or food, it is genuine and a sign of respect. Refusal is accepted, but acceptance is appreciated. The three glasses of mint tea are a ritual: the first glass is "gentle as life," the second "strong as love," the third "bitter as death".

Behavioral Tips

• Greeting: "Salam alaikum" (Peace be upon you) — the universal greeting. The response: "Wa alaikum as-salam". A handshake is common among men; with women, wait to see if they extend their hand.
• Clothing: Marrakech is more tolerant than rural Morocco, but covered shoulders and knees are respectful — especially in the Medina and at mosques. Men: long pants and a T-shirt. Women: no headscarf needed, but covered shoulders and knees.
• Ramadan: During Ramadan (about 30 days, shifts throughout the year), Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Tourists do not have to fast, but avoiding eating, drinking, and smoking in public is a sign of respect. Many restaurants in the Medina are closed during the day; hotels and tourist restaurants remain open.
• Photography: Always ask for permission before photographing people — especially women. Some expect a small tip (5–10 MAD). Military facilities and police officers: never photograph.
• Left Hand: In Islamic culture, the left hand is considered unclean. Eat, give, and take with the right hand.

The Moroccan cuisine is among the best in the world — a fusion of Berber, Arab, Andalusian, and French influences. Spices are the foundation: cumin, coriander, cinnamon, saffron, turmeric, and the famous spice mix Ras el Hanout (literally: "head of the shop" — the best blend of the merchant, up to 30 spices).

The Main Dishes

• Tajine: Slow-cooked stews in clay dishes — the icon of Moroccan cuisine. Classics: chicken with preserved lemons and olives, lamb with prunes and almonds, Kefta (meatballs) with tomatoes and egg. Available in every restaurant, food stall, and Riad. 30–80 MAD.
• Couscous: Steamed semolina with vegetables and meat — traditionally the Friday dish (after Friday prayers, the family eats couscous together). Available daily in restaurants. 40–80 MAD.
• Pastilla (B'stilla): A pastry made from thin filo dough with pigeon or chicken meat, almonds, eggs, and cinnamon — sweet and savory at the same time. A masterpiece of Moroccan cuisine. 50–100 MAD.
• Harira: The national soup: tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, coriander, celery — thick, aromatic, warming. Traditionally served to break the fast during Ramadan, but available year-round. 10–20 MAD.
• Msemen & Beghrir: Moroccan flatbreads — Msemen (folded, buttery) and Beghrir (crêpes with a thousand holes, soaked in butter and honey). The breakfast of your dreams.
• Mechoui: A whole lamb, cooked for hours in a clay oven — the meat falls off the bone. The feast at weddings and special occasions. In specialized restaurants from 100 MAD per person.

Beverages

• Mint tea (Atay Nana): Green tea with fresh mint and LOTS of sugar — the national drink. Poured from a great height (for the foam) and served in small glasses. Refusal is (almost) impossible and unnecessary. 5–15 MAD.
• Freshly squeezed orange juice: Marrakech is an orange juice paradise — at every square, in every market. 4 MAD on the Djemaa, 10–15 MAD in a café.
• Coffee: "Noss-noss" (half-half) is the Moroccan milk coffee. Espresso: "café noir".
• Alcohol: Morocco is a Muslim country, but alcohol is available in tourist restaurants, hotels, and bars. No public consumption. Moroccan wine (Meknes region) is surprisingly good — Domaine de Sahari, Château Roslane.

Morocco is a paradise for handicrafts — and Marrakech's souks are the showcase. Many of the crafts have been practiced unchanged for centuries:

The Main Crafts

• Zellige: The geometric mosaic tiles made from hand-cut ceramic pieces — the foundation of Moroccan architecture. Available in Fès (the center of Zellige art) and Marrakech. A table: from 200€.
• Carpets: Berber carpets from the Atlas — hand-knotted, naturally dyed, each one unique. The merchants serve mint tea and tell stories — it's a theater that belongs to the purchase. Prices: 50–5,000€ depending on size and quality.
• Leather: Marrakech (and Fès) are famous for hand-tanned leather — bags, shoes (Babouches), poufs, belts. The tanneries are an intense experience: dye vats, smell, tradition.
• Lanterns: The perforated metal lamps that cast magical light patterns on walls and ceilings — the most iconic souvenir of Marrakech. Handmade in Souk Haddadine. From 100 MAD for small ones, up to 5,000 MAD for large ones.
• Argan oil: The "liquid gold of Morocco" — from the nuts of the argan tree (native only to Morocco). Cosmetic oil (for skin and hair) and culinary oil (nutty, for dipping). Cheaper and guaranteed authentic in roadside cooperatives.