Ratgeber
Morocco with family: planning the trip
Morocco suits families with a short flight, varied food and well-organised city programmes. Plan Marrakesh with breaks, choose mild travel seasons and check entry rules with the FDFA (EDA) and the FOPH (BAG). Halal Travel is a Swiss travel agency with video consultation.
Von Halal Travel, Stand
Schritt für Schritt
- Choose the travel season by climate and holidays
- Split your stay between Marrakesh and the surroundings
- Choose accommodation with a pool and a family room
- Plan excursions short and with breaks
- Check entry rules with the FDFA and the FOPH
Checkliste
- Travel season with mild climate chosen
- Family room or riad with space reserved
- Property's halal information requested
- Excursions planned to suit children
- Sun protection and headwear with you
- Comfortable shoes for old-town lanes
- Entry rules checked with the FDFA and the FOPH
- Small change packed for markets
Morocco is close and offers old towns, gardens, desert and coast. For families, Marrakesh and its surroundings are a popular start. This guide shows how to plan the trip with children in a relaxed way, when it is worthwhile and what to consider for food and prayer. Travel duration and climate are guidelines.
Travel season and climate
Spring and autumn are regarded as the mildest times, and summer in Marrakesh is very hot. In winter the days are often pleasant and the evenings cool. Choose the travel season according to your family's possibilities.
Also consider Ramadan and Eid, because opening hours and atmosphere change. More in the guide Travelling around Ramadan and Eid.
In the old town of Marrakesh, prices are often negotiated. That can be exciting for children and tiring for parents. Set a budget in advance and decide where you want to haggle. A friendly tone helps and usually leads to fair results.
Marrakesh with children
The old town is lively, loud and narrow. Plan short visits, breaks in gardens and enough drink stops. A pushchair is often impractical in the lanes, and a baby carrier may suit better.
Markets are exciting for children but tiring. Hold children by the hand and discuss in advance how to behave in the crowds. A driver makes getting between sights easier.
Gardens, museums and cafés offer calm between the markets. Plan such breaks actively, for example in the early afternoon when the heat is strongest. Children recover there and can gather energy for the next item on the programme.
Food and halal everyday life
In Morocco halal food is usual in everyday life. Tagine, couscous and soups are among the typical dishes. Still, pay attention to the property's details if you value a particular cuisine.
Hotels and riads often offer breakfast and half board. Ask whether alcohol is served on the premises if this is important to you. You should obtain confirmations in writing.
Ask the hotel or riad about breakfast times and children's offers. Many properties have a pool, roof terrace or courtyard where children can move freely. With pools, pay attention to safety and supervision.
Prayer and accommodation
Mosques and prayer rooms are a matter of course in everyday life. On request hotels provide a prayer mat and mark the direction. Ask for this when booking.
Riads offer atmosphere but often have narrow stairs and little room space. For families with small children, a hotel with a pool and a lift can be more practical. We are happy to discuss this in the video call.
Drink enough and be careful with tap water. If needed, ask your hotel about drinking water. For health notices on the destination, contact the FOPH or your family doctor.
Excursions and surroundings
Excursions to the Atlas Mountains, the coast or the desert are popular. Plan long drives with breaks and clarify whether child seats are available. With small children, day trips are often enough.
Check entry rules and health notices with the FDFA and the FOPH. We put together a programme that suits the children's age and pace.
If you have more time, combine city and coast, for example with a stay in a coastal town. Check journey times and do not plan too many changes of place. A driver with a child seat makes journeys more pleasant if you clarify this in advance.
Clothing and customs
In the old town, modest clothing is usual. Light, long fabrics are practical and protect against the sun. For visits to mosques or religious sites, ask on site about the rules that apply.
Observe local customs when photographing people and ask permission first. With children it is worth having a short talk about this in advance, so that everyone shares respect for the people on site.
Ask about airport transfers before booking. A transfer organised in advance saves negotiating and waiting after arrival. With children and luggage in particular this is a noticeable advantage, and the assurance can be recorded in the offer.
