Is Morocco safe for solo woman? It’s one of the most asked questions I come across, both online and offline. To make the topic easier, opinions are often divided on it. So there’s never a very unanimous answer as to whether it’s safe or not. In this blog, I will explain to you what is safe and unsafe about Morocco, ultimately allowing you to draw your own conclusion whether it falls within your definition of safe. After all, it’s one of those countries where your own interpretation of the culture has a lot of effect on your sense of safety. Experiences based on 3 different trips, to almost all the tourist spots and smaller towns, updated in 2025.
Did I feel safe in Morocco?
Short answer: yes. I haven’t felt unsafe for even a second. And this is based on 2 different trips, one in 2014 with a big group of my fellow students. The second one was in 2025, where I was partially solo and partially with another female friend.
On the first trip we mingled with locals quite a lot. For example, we took a train from Marrakech to Rabat. The worst thing that happened there was that I was stuck outside the compartment because the door wouldn’t open after I went to the toilet. Other than that, I was offered food and even drinks several times. In fact, it’s very rude according to Moroccan culture to eat or drink alone. The norm is to offer what you have to the people around you. Even to complete strangers on the train.
People were kind, we played with kids in a school, danced with strangers in the medina and the desert, and shared a meal with our hosts in a homestay in Rabat. And we drank lots and lots of tea. A quick visit to a former hostel, where we had forgotten some items, ended in afternoon tea at the staff rooftop terrace. Because simply picking up something quickly, isn’t an option. Tea has to be offered.
Have I felt uncomfortable in Morocco?
Also yes. This opinion actually mostly changed over the years. In 2014 neither of the 40 of us really loved Marrakech and through the years I’ve heard the same stories from many people. The men were pushy, to an extent that they would grab your arm and try to drag you into their shop to try to sell you absolutely anything.
This changed. Even my friend who had the same experience in 2019, said it was a lot better in 2025 and she felt way more comfortable. People were just making jokes, saying hi, asking what language you speak (try to challenge them, it would surprise you how many languages Moroccans speak) and occasionally try to sell you something. But never too pushy. And no was mostly accepted as a valid answer. I can tell you, that wasn’t the case in 2014. And I actually fell deeply in love with the Marrakech chaos.
Did they stop selling you things? No, not at all. But what I noticed was that they paid more attention. They won’t bother you, if you don’t already pay attention. They usually give you about 2 minutes to look before they come to you. But if you just walk past, most just let you walk. Half of them are too busy watching a football game on their phone anyway to even care. Some will try to make conversation and some notice that something you’re wearing matches what they are selling, and they’ll try to convince you. I was wearing leather sandals and this guy started picking up leather slippers and say “look, same same”. My answer “yes but I already have these” went over his head and he showed me a different colour, but nothing annoying. It’s his shop, it’s his income, of course he will try to sell it to you. That’s also just something you need to deal with.
Feels dangerous or uncomfortable?
But the way you experience this, the way you deal with it and how much it happens to you, will differ per person. I’m a well experienced traveller and had the experience of both my first Morocco trip ánd a trip to Türkiye, with a similar culture. This time around, I knew what to expect. Don’t walk too slowly and don’t pick up things you’re not actually interested in, because obviously they will think you want to buy it and come up to you to try to bargain.
If you don’t know that and you expect some calm window shopping, you’re in for many more people coming up to you than anticipated. Of course, if you’re not used to that, it can be overwhelming and maybe a bit uncomfortable. They can come up into your space a lot more than we are generally used to in Western countries, even starting to dress you if you show interest in a wrap dress, scarf or anything like that. Does that mean you should be scared for your safety? No. Could it be uncomfortable? Yes. And I think that might be the situation in a country like Morocco. So to the question ‘is Morocco safe?’ I would say yes. But with this additional information.
Do watch out for scammers!
Do keep scams in mind. They very easily charge for random stuff. Some things are innocent, like a photo spot in Chefchauen that they will ask you to pay € 1 for to take a picture. They don’t own the spots and technically can’t charge you. But honestly, if you think about it, we’re overunning these small places and what’s € 1 for them to benefit from mass tourism?
But other things are less innocent and put you in a crappy situation that can feel unsafe and scary. A very common scam in Morocco and specifically in Marrakech is that they will offer to walk you somewhere, mostly your accommodation. (As the medina is car free, even a taxi will drop you off at the borders of the medina. Some will walk with you, but some just leave you for the final part. Finding the accommodation can be a challenge.) Feeling lost and overwhelmed, this might feel like a super friendly & helpful gesture that you say yes to. But the scam is that they will actually take you somewhere else, make you even more lost, then ask for money to actually guide you to where you have to go.
And the same goes for taxi’s and tour companies, make sure to set prices beforehand and do your research, because they will always try to overcharge you. They see you as a rich tourist with endless funds, who doesn’t know value. If they can convince you to pay double the price of what something is worth, they will. Can you really blame anybody for trying though? It’s a bargain culture, just tell them the price is insane, give them a counteroffer offer and either agree on that or walk.
Safety rules for tourists in Morocco
But did you know there are actually safety rules for tourists in Morocco? To avoid those scams, where people are ‘guiding’ you in the medina, to then ask you for money, it’s not allowed to guide tourists without a license. This goes pretty far, actually and maybe a bit too far if you ask me.
Storytime: we met up with somebody who worked at the hotel my friend stayed at in 2019. He helped us with taxi’s so we invited him along for coffee at the famous Batcha coffee place. We spent the morning together and then went for a walk through the medina. He then turned to me, saying “if they ask, please tell them I am your friend, as I’m not allowed to guide tourists.” He told me about a time where hotel guests wanted to go to a cafe close to the hotel, but they struggled navigating the medina. Friendly as most Moroccans are, he offered to just walk them over to the place, as it was literally just a 2 minute walk. He got stopped by the police and asked if he had a license to guide tourists. He almost got in trouble, for simply walking some tourists to a cafe.
So this is the level of security that’s in place for tourists in Morocco. And the same goes for cars. If you take a taxi or book a tour with a driver, you are asked to fill in a piece of paper and sign in, to agree to the fact that this person is your driver. The cars used for yours, have a little note on the license plate stating that it’s tourist transport and police controls will randomly stop them to check the papers. When I joined my hostel roommate in the taxi she ordered to go to the airport, the receptionist at the hostel called the taxi driver to inform him that a second person was joining, because he has to get the papers ready for 2 people instead of 1.
So again, is Morocco safe? Yes. They literally put laws and rules in place for your safety.
Will you always be safe in Morocco as a solo woman?
Let’s not be naive, solo woman are always at risk, wherever you go. Unfortunately, I have heard bad stories from Morocco, even from drivers stopping in the middle of nowhere to go skinny dipping. That’s a weird and creapy thing to do and could have ended badly. Inappropriate taxi drivers exist as well and we even did get a ‘are you looking for a husband?’ when literally just walking past. People will flirt, drinks could get spiked, hands can go where they shouldn’t. But I don’t believe it’s worse in Morocco than it is in other countries. I’ve felt less safe in certain Germany cities than I have in Morocco. Of course, I wouldn’t randomly go for a midnight stroll in the desert and I probably wouldn’t go camping in the Atlas mountains. But that has little to do with Morocco, and more with common sense and open spaces at night.
Official safety warnings Morocco
There’s an official medium safety risk for Morocco, but actually mainly because of the surrounding countries. It’s not recommended to go to the border areas, which even have a red travel advices. Furthermore, it’s strongly advised against driving a car randomly through the desert. Stay on the roads as there may still be old landmines under the sand. Does that also form a risk for your overnight stay in the desert? I doubt it. These tours are done daily and residents have set up camps there. They know the route and therefore drive a route that sometimes doesn’t seem logical. Perhaps because they know where they can and cannot pass. Trust them, and so don’t cross the desert on your own.
The presence of landmines or rebel groups at the border definitely falls into the unsafe category for me (duh). But that’s a matter of googling and keeping those safety measures in mind.
Furthermore, there’s a risk of terrorism, with one example of how this went wrong once in 2018. I always find such warnings a bit exaggerated when it comes down to one incident. Would you consider Amsterdam or Sicily unsafe because there’s mafia roaming the underworld there as well? The terrorists in these countries are similar to the mafia. You rarely get caught up in that and that one situation in 2018 I think is just a mission gone wrong, as can happen anywhere. So basically, the only real warning is to watch out for pickpockets, but that applies everywhere.
So, can you conclude from this information that Morocco is unsafe? I don’t think so. As long as you don’t go to the border areas or cruise around the desert on your own.
Research a culture before you travel
Long story short, before you travel, check official websites regarding real threats. Is Morocco safe? I think so. Because as a woman, I don’t feel like I’m at risk for getting drugged or dragged into an alley. That being said, it’s wise to research a culture before you travel and prepare accordingly. If you take into account that they will be tugging at you to sell you things, then you know that walking quickly helps to make sure they leave you alone.
I went to Turkey with this knowledge and almost ran through the bazaars. I knew what I was interested in and didn’t feel like all that tugging. They addressed me, but no one walked along or was annoying. To be fair, I found the atmosphere in Turkey less intense anyway, but the fact that I was prepared for it made it a much better experience. I could laugh at the “I have a feeling you’re going to make my day!” and “I’ve been waiting for you all day, come take a look at my shop” comments. And finally also a “walk a little slower, this way I can’t ask anything”, mission accomplished.
Convinced about a trip to Morocco? Read my tips for the best locations in Morocco!
Will you join me on a trip to Morocco?
Still not really convinced on the question “is Morocco safe for solo woman travellers”? I get it. So on my next Morocco trip in autumn, I will set up a perfect route for a sustainable grouptrip to Morocco! The trip will be in 2026. I know that’s still far away (depending on when you read this though). But if you want to go on a grouptrip to Morocco, mostly travelling by train & meeting the locals: follow along on Instagram or sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date on the plans!
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