A Golfer's First Week in Morocco: The Culture Crash Course

You play golf. You know your handicap, your preferred tee time, and exactly how many Pro V1s you lose per round. What you do not know is how to navigate a country where the currency is not freely convertible, the call to prayer echoes across the fairway at sunrise, and the guy at the gas station may not reset the pump before filling your rental car.

This guide is the culture crash course for golfers visiting Morocco for the first time. It covers the practical, the cultural, and the things that will make the difference between a trip you tolerate and a trip you tell your foursome about for years.

Money: The Dirham Situation

Pay in Moroccan dirhams. Do not count on paying in euros or dollars: shops, restaurants and taxis generally expect dirhams. Importing and exporting dirham banknotes is prohibited in principle, with an allowance for travellers to carry up to 2,000 MAD, so get most of your dirhams after you arrive; see ATMs and exchanging money.

All figures on this page are in Moroccan dirhams. For the equivalent in your own currency at the rate this site uses, see our cost calculator.

ATMs are a convenient way to get dirhams and are easy to find in cities, including at airports. How much to withdraw at a time depends on your own bank’s fees, so check them before you travel. Your bank at home may charge a foreign transaction fee of 1 to 3 percent. Cards with no foreign transaction fee (like Revolut, Wise, or Charles Schwab for US travelers) save money over a week-long trip.

Carry cash for caddies (150 to 250 MAD fee plus 50 to 100 MAD tip), taxis (30 to 150 MAD per ride depending on distance), tips at restaurants (rounding up or roughly 5 to 10 percent for good service is common; 10 percent is generous rather than mandatory), porters (20 MAD per bag), and parking attendants (5 to 10 MAD). Credit cards work at pro shops, hotels, nice restaurants, and supermarkets. Acceptance varies in souks, small cafés and fuel stations; ask before buying and carry cash for caddies and other personal services.

Food and Drink

Moroccan food is excellent and you should eat it, not default to the hotel buffet for a week. Tagine (slow-cooked stew served in a conical clay pot), couscous (traditionally served on Fridays), pastilla (flaky pastry with pigeon or chicken), and harira (tomato-based soup) are the staples. Meals at local restaurants cost 60 to 120 MAD for a full lunch or dinner. Restaurant meals at upscale venues run 200 to 500 MAD.

Alcohol is available but not ubiquitous. Licensed hotels, restaurants, and bars serve beer, wine, and spirits. Moroccan wine has improved dramatically and the reds from the Meknes region (Chateau Roslane, Volubilia, Domaine de la Zouina) are good. Flag Speciale and Casablanca are the local beers. A beer in a bar costs 30 to 60 MAD. A bottle of wine in a restaurant runs 150 to 350 MAD.

For drinking, choose sealed bottled water or water you know has been properly treated. Sidi Ali and Ain Saiss are the common brands at 5 to 10 MAD per 1.5-liter bottle. On the course, carry your own water. The small complimentary bottles at the tee are not enough for 18 holes in the Moroccan sun.

Getting Around

Taxis in Moroccan cities come in two types: petit taxis (small, colored cars for in-city trips) and grand taxis (larger, for intercity routes). Petit taxis should use a meter. In practice, many drivers prefer to quote a flat fare, which is often higher than the metered rate. Insist on the meter or agree on a price before getting in. Ride-hailing apps such as inDrive and Careem operate in some major cities and settle the fare before the trip, but coverage and licensing vary; see getting around Morocco.

If you rent a car, understand that Moroccan driving is assertive. Watch for sudden lane changes, unpredictable movements at roundabouts and mopeds in blind spots. The highways (autoroutes) are excellent and well-policed. The city streets are chaotic. Drive defensively, use the horn only when needed to warn of danger, and fill up your tank before entering the Atlas Mountains or heading south into the desert.

The Call to Prayer and Religious Sensitivity

Five times a day, the call to prayer (adhan) sounds from mosques across every city and town. The first call (fajr) comes before sunrise, which means you may hear it from your riad at 5am or earlier depending on the season. It is not a disturbance; it is the rhythm of the country. Pack earplugs if you are a light sleeper, and understand that this is a fundamental part of Moroccan life, not background noise.

Morocco is a Muslim country that is generally tolerant and welcoming to non-Muslim visitors. You cannot enter most mosques (the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the exception). During Ramadan, eat and drink indoors rather than on the street out of respect for those fasting. Dress modestly in the medina and when visiting historical or religious sites.

Health and Safety

Morocco is a safe country for tourists. The primary risks are petty theft in crowded tourist areas (pickpockets in the Marrakech medina), tourist scams (fake guides, inflated prices), and road safety (aggressive driving, poorly lit rural roads at night). Violent incidents can occur; avoid isolated areas after dark and keep valuables out of sight.

Pharmacies are everywhere and sell many common medications over the counter. Sunscreen, painkillers and antihistamines are widely available; ask a pharmacist or clinician for advice rather than assuming a prescription medicine can be bought without one. For serious medical issues, private clinics in Marrakech, Casablanca, and Rabat offer care. Keep your travel insurance details accessible.

The sun is stronger than you expect, even in winter. Wear SPF 50 on the course, reapply at the turn, and wear a hat. Dehydration sneaks up on you when the air is dry and you are focused on your round. Drink water on every other hole, not just when you feel thirsty.