The best things to do in Morocco with kids

Morocco is a family-centric, peaceful country with genuine warmth and love for children of all ages. It's home to cultures where large families are standard – a family of five to six children, and multigenerational homes are considered the norm. It's not unusual for people you've just met to offer kisses, hugs, and cadeaus (gifts) for your kids. Traveling with kids to Morocco can open doors to unique experiences, connecting you deeper to its people and your own family.

What do family travelers in Morocco need to know?

The Moroccan culture reveres pregnant women. Breastfeeding in public is acceptable, but take a shawl for privacy. In case of any medical requirements, pharmacies are available in most neighborhoods, and while state-run hospitals are basic, the private clinics are affordable and professionally run.

While it is a country modernizing at speed, some places lack infrastructure – expect uneven roads, basic public facilities, and hit-and-miss health and safety protocols. That said, public amenities in the new parts of cities and major airports are clean, modern, and user-friendly. Most neighborhoods and autoroute service stations have public gardens, green spaces or children's play areas for your little ones to run off energy.

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Traditional Moroccan cuisine is home-cooked, prepared from local seasonal ingredients and rarely spicy unless you see red harissa or chili peppers on a dish. Moroccans usually share meals from one plate or a tagine. While locals eat with their right hand, cutlery is always available. You will rarely find a kids' menu, but most restaurants have popular foods such as pasta, pizza, and burgers as standard. Restaurants are child-friendly and it's common for children of all ages to join for meals, including late-night dinners with their parents.

If you're traveling to Marrakesh, bear in mind some riads in the medina are more geared toward aesthetic and tranquility than a kids club. It is advisable to research hotels in the Hivernage, Palmeraie and suburbs, where you will find spacious gardens and large swimming pools. These hotels are also much easier for parking and taxi drop-offs than those in the narrow streets of the medina.

Where is best in Morocco for kids?

From the treasure-lined souk alleys of ancient medinas in Marrakech, Fes, Essaouira and Rabat, to the crumbling historic kasbahs of the movie set fame in Ouarzazate, there is plenty to bring your children's imagination to life. Delight in the sands of Sahara desert dunes and never-ending beaches of the Atlantic coastline. Adventurous families will enjoy mountain hikes, water sports galore, and wildlife experiences in the country's national parks. Luxury resort hotels and former palaces provide extensive kids club programs so parents get a dose of downtime.

Best things to do in Morocco with babies and toddlers

The climate in Morocco makes for plentiful dry, sunny days. Choosing accommodations with shaded gardens and a swimming pool makes it easy for your toddlers to practice their first strokes.

Being in Morocco with a baby is a heartwarming, human connection experience. Expect your babies and young children to receive a warm welcome, and a lot of love and attention.

Best things to do in Morocco with kids aged 4–11 years

Explore car-free medinas and cultural hot spots

Take them on a treasure hunt in the souk and watch your children's eyes light up at the wonders of Morocco's major cities. Marrakesh and Rabat are home to world-class museums, galleries and theaters celebrating African culture, history and art. For an open-air classroom, the Roman ruins at Volubilis will bring history books to life.

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Splash in a water park

With so much sunshine, it's possible to max out a full day of play in one of the countries' water parks. Oasiria, close to Marrakesh is a peaceful oasis with multiple slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, a climbing wall, and lush tropical gardens.

Embrace your wild side on an African safari

Wildlife and conservation is becoming more prominent in Morocco. Rabat Zoo has many African species and offers educational workshops for children 5–12 years old. Nearby Ifrane National Park is a nature-enthusiasts heaven with alpine forests, fresh mountain air and Barbary apes. A visit to the Souss-Massa National Park near Agadir gives a safari fix as you search for oryx and other antelope species in their natural habitat.

Surf, swim and play in Rabat

Rabat is the country's "clean and green" capital, with a well-maintained sandy beach right near the city center. It's a great place for swimming and on-site surf schools offer lessons to kids. The city is off the main tourist path, so even the significant sights of the Chellah, Kasbah des Oudaias and medina are quiet. Expect a modern tram system, tree-lined avenues, green central parks, shopping malls and exciting cuisine too. With ferry trips on the River Bougreg, Rabat Zoo, pottery workshops, playgrounds, there is lots on offer for both adults and children.

Sleep out under the stars in the Sahara desert

One of Morocco's best experiences is perfect for enjoying together as a family: introduce your little ones to the remoteness and unpolluted star-filled skies of the Sahara desert. Delight in the joy from campfires, sleeping in bedouin tents, and an ocean of dunes for running up and rolling down. Pack warm clothes for the evening, plastic bags to protect phones and cameras from sand, and books and card games for quiet evenings in the camp.

Planning tip: If traveling overland, it can be a lengthy drive, so take it slow and enjoy the ride, or look into internal flights. If the Sahara is too far, check out the Agafay desert near Marrakech, or the Timalin dunes "Le Petit Desert" near Tamri.

Hit the beaches in Oualidia or Taghazout

Morocco is home to a vast coastline. Some of the country's best beaches include Oualidia with its safe and gentle-sloping lagoon and Taghazout with a 5km-long stretch of sandy beaches and luxury beach resorts. Sandcastles, rockpools, surfing, pedal boats with built-in slides, and camel and pony rides provide plenty of fun for the whole family.

Best things to do in Morocco with tweens and teens

Embrace the country's football fever

Watch a live soccer game in one of the stadiums, or join in with one on the beach. The locals will love to share their nation's favorite sport with you. Check if there are any international matches through the FRMF (Royal Moroccan Football Federation) website. A quick rummage in the souk will find you an appropriate football shirt to wear to the game!

Chase that adrenaline with karting and surfing

Whether it's karting fun in Marrakesh, sandboarding or quad-biking in the desert, surfing, or the wind watersports on offer in Essaouira and Dakhla there’s plenty to feed any teenager's thirst for adrenaline and high-speed action.

See where the movies are made in Ouarzazate

Did you know Morocco has its version of Hollywood? Ouarzazate is home to the Atlas Film Studios, where you can wander around and learn about the some of the famous films made in the area, such as Gladiator (2000) and Jewel of the Nile (1985).

Have a digital detox in the Atlas Mountains

The Atlas Mountains offer day or longer hikes through rural villages in this trekker's paradise. A day or two here provides a glimpse into the Amazigh culture and hospitality, a reminder of how grounding life can be without digital distractions.

Planning tips

Places to stay: Choose accommodations that cater to your needs, for example, checking in advance to ensure a cot will be provided. Bear in mind not all accommodations have air-conditioning. Traveling in Morocco comes with a lot of stimulation – build in some quiet time to retreat and recharge. If you're staying close to a mosque, consider that the call to prayer will sound throughout the day, including an early morning wake-up call.

Visiting cities: New parts of cities are stroller-friendly, but the medina and crowded souks are not. Elevators are rare; a lightweight umbrella stroller may be more suitable than a heavy buggy for carrying upstairs.

Tickets and attractions: Most attractions do not charge for under 3 years old. Some entry tickets are free for children under 12 and discounted 50% for 12–16 years. Book a tour guide who speaks your language and will keep your kids attention, bringing the country's unique culture and history to life.

Transport: Taxis don't have car seats as standard, and some don't have seatbelts or air-conditioning. To make sure these are available throughout your trip, book a rental car or private driver-guide and consider using domestic flights and trains for longer journeys.

Morocco has a great public transport network, including CTM and Supratours coach network, but children pay the same fare as adults. The high-speed Al Boraq train offers reduced-price travel for children and ONCF, the national rail company, also has some affordable train journeys.

Safety: Standard travel vaccinations are recommended but not mandatory. Street dogs and cats are all over Morocco. Most animals are part of the community and, if so, will be tagged. Encourage your children not to frighten them, pull their tails or run – the dogs will chase them thinking it's a game. Bring refillable water bottles. Some places offer filter systems for tap water – only drink tap water if it is filtered.