Is Morocco Safe For Female Tourists In 2023? Locals Answer.

This is a controversial, often-debated question among locals and travelers. We will discuss the realities, both good and bad, of Morocco and its safety for women. Many people feel that Morocco is safe, especially compared to other countries in the region or even in the world. Others would disagree, and have felt highly unsafe while traveling the country, particularly as a woman. So we will attempt to answer this question: is Morocco safe for female tourists?

1. Is Morocco safe for female tourists? Depends on how you define “safe”

If you ask a lot of people (particularly men), they would say Morocco is “very safe”. And, for men, this tends to be true. Gun crime is very low as guns are mostly banned in the country. Morocco ranks #70 on the Global Peace Index as far as general safety, which certainly isn’t terrible.

However, Morocco ranks #8 on the least safe countries for women. Morocco ranked #1 worst country for violence against women in the home, and it ranks very poorly for street harassment.

Street harassment is likely the issue that visitors will encounter the most when it comes to safety in Morocco for women. Morocco still has a lot of very archaic, backward ideas about how women are treated in public spaces, leaving many women hesitant to even leave the house at times, and definitely not alone.

Morocco considers itself a fairly progressive Muslim country, but again, that varies wildly depending on who you ask. Hijab is not mandatory at all, even among the locals, but it is common. It is still very much an Islamic country and dressing to respect Islam is very important, even for tourists.

Additionally, even for those who think that street harassment shouldn’t happen or is a bad thing, they can often still be quick to blame the woman or put the responsibility on her for it happening. When I’ve had run-ins with street harassment and I’ve mentioned it to people after the fact, the first question I always get is, “well, what were you wearing?” or “what were you doing?” The lion’s share of the responsibility for avoiding harassment continues to be on the women, not the people doing it.

So if frequent cat-calling, following, and other forms of street harassment don’t make you feel unsafe, then Morocco is fine. Even things like aggressive salespeople can be dealt with. While rape and kidnappings do happen, they are (obviously) far less common than general street harassment and discomfort. Morocco is making strides to empower women, but the progress is slow and still far behind much of the world.

2. Is Morocco safe for female tourists? Depends on who you’re with

Solo female travelers are going to have a much harder time navigating Moroccan society than those with men or with local male guides that come highly recommended by other women. You can debate this, but it’s been my experience and the experience of numerous women. I personally don’t feel safe without my husband or male family members most of the time. When I’m with my husband, I feel fine. Without him, I deal with problems, almost constantly.

This is not everyone’s experience, but it has been mine. I strongly suggest women travel with men or at least other women while in Morocco. There’s definitely a sense of “power in numbers” and you will often see local women walking with other women more often than you will see them walking alone. There are also great, highly recommended tour guides who can provide translation and a great time in Morocco. See our list of tour guides here!

3. Is Morocco safe for female tourists? Depends on where you are

Some cities are generally safer for women, but this is also often up for debate. I asked several communities of locals, ex-pats, and travelers and these were generally the safest/least safe cities (according to them):

Safest Moroccan cities:

Rabat
Chefchaun
Ifrane
Essaouria
Tangier
Marrakech
Agadir
Zagora
Dakhla
Ouarzazate
Al Hoceima

Least safe Moroccan cities:

Salé
Fes
Casablanca
Sidi Yahya
Kénitra
Souq Larbaa
Moulay Bouslham

Tips for staying safe as a woman in Morocco

Dress conservatively – No, you shouldn’t have to dress a certain way to be respected, but when in Rome… Covering shoulders and knees tends to be the best bet to not draw unwanted attention. Wear loose, non-form fitting fabrics.
Be polite, but firm – If you receive unwanted attention, a simple but firm “no” or “la” (Darija for “no”) will be effective.
Wear noise-canceling headphones – If I need to go out alone, I always wear my noise canceling headphones. I don’t like confrontation, so I pretend I don’t hear and (usually) the person doesn’t follow me.
Wear a wedding ring
Know where you’re going, and don’t let people give you directions – Some people help with directions, try and charge you after the fact, and get mad if you don’t pay. Keep your map app on your phone, and download offline map data if you’re not sure whether or not your internet will work so you won’t have to rely on strangers.
Don’t be overly friendly – Some people are just naturally very talkative and friendly, but this kind of behavior will likely be seen as flirtatious. Keep it short and professional if that’s not your intention.
Avoid smaller side streets or areas that are “off” or giving bad vibes – Stick to populated areas where you can see families, women and children.
Avoid walking at night by yourself, particularly on empty streets
Don’t go camping or hiking alone