Your Ultimate Guide: Navigating Flights from the US to Morocco and Travel Tips

Nov 27, 2025 0

Planning a trip to Morocco? I visited Morocco recently and had a blast, but also learned some important things. By the end of this article, I hope you’ll be confident about planning your own trip to this captivating country. For a Morocco travel planning guide it would be helpful to tell you how to get there.

Morocco is in northwest Africa. It’s directly below Spain, across the Strait of Gibraltar.

There are a lot of options when it comes to researching flights to Morocco. Here, I’ll specifically be talking about flying from the United States (US) to Morocco. There are limited options when it comes to direct flights to Morocco from the USA. There are no direct flights to Marrakech from the USA, only Casablanca.

While Royal Air Maroc, the Moroccan national carrier, is opening up more routes from US cities they are limited. Currently, there is a NYC to Morocco flight as well as the option to fly from Boston, Washington-Dulles, and Miami to Casablanca. If you prefer a direct option you’ll need to choose one of these. Royal Air Maroc rarely discounts their flights and during summer months especially the price of flights increases significantly.

If you’re open to making a connection there are a lot of great options. We LOVE using connections when we fly to discover new places. For each of the routes I will share below you can also find additional information on each one of the cities with a layover stop.

My general advice for layovers is to schedule them short enough that you aren’t spending a lot of time in the airport OR schedule them so that you spend enough time to get out of the airport and explore!

The routes are based on the layover city not on the origin or final destination. I will attempt to include as many of the origin cities as possible however you can almost always change this based on how many stops you are ok with. For this example, the options will have one-stop between leaving the US and arriving in Morocco.

Flight Options with Connections

Madrid (via Iberia): I have flown this route more often than I care to admit and arguably the Madrid airport is my second home. (Even my kids know this place by heart and can tell you exactly what food options are in terminal 4S!).
Lisbon (via TAP Air Portugal): This line is somewhat new coming into Marrakech but is a good option with short connections. The Lisbon to Marrakech leg is only a 1 hour flight and the time in airport is usually under 4 hours.
Paris (via Air France): Air France is one of the oldest airlines flying into Morocco, due to its long history in the region.
London (via British Airways): British Air options will fly you through London to either Heathrow or Gatwick depending on the flight origin and routing. Both are decent options though if you plan to take advantage of a long layover, Heathrow is easier to access the city.
Amsterdam (via KLM/Transavia): This flight is a code shared flight from Amsterdam to Marrakech. The second leg is serviced by Transavia which is a low cost airline. However they have an arrangement with KLM so your luggage is checked all of the way through and the rules for luggage etc. are the same as they are for any KLM international flight.
Istanbul (via Turkish Airlines): Yes, this flight does take you out of the way, you completely bypass Morocco en-route to Istanbul however they often have very good fare sales and Turkish Air is a nice airline to fly. We were able to purchase flights for my parents one year at a 2 for 1 discount.
Oslo (via Norwegian): Norwegian is a discount carrier so you shouldn’t expect many frills however you can get to Marrakech quite cheap. I would recommend this routing for a more experienced traveler who is comfortable booking multiple flight segments and travels light.
Frankfurt or Munich (via Lufthansa): Lufthansa is an airline I really like flying whenever the option works out. They have solid service and reliability. Even though the Frankfurt and Munich airports aren’t some of my favorites, they are easy to navigate and offer decent options for layovers.

Unconventional Routing Tips for Savvy Travelers

If you’re a more experienced traveler and are willing to look for some ways to route your flight that are a little less conventional you might try some of these tips. Sometimes you can save a lot of money by breaking up flights or taking more out of the way routes. This is useful if you have time available and if you’re a more confident flyer.

Reykjavik (via broken up tickets): The Reykjavik flight was a broken up ticket (tickets that were purchased separately) that saved us a lot of money. Our first ticket was Marrakech - Amsterdam roundtrip. Our second ticket was Amsterdam to Minneapolis via Reykjavik. Why? One reason was that we wanted to see Iceland and it was a way to do it in a short time. But, the more important reason was it saved us money. How can you make this work for you?
Doha (via Qatar Airlines): The Doha route will take you very much out of the way, which is another theme of money saving flights. BUT, it can be a big cost savings. So if time is less of an issue than money, this is a good route to watch. Qatar Airlines has several destinations in the US and direct flights from Doha to Marrakech and Casablanca.
Dubai (via Emirates): Emirates has a similar option available that goes from the US to Dubai and then to Casablanca.

Finding Affordable Flights: Expert Tips

I am often asked how to find the most affordable flights from the US to Morocco. There’s no hard and fast rule for this and some of it depends on luck and flexibility. The best way to find affordable fares it to be as flexible as possible.

If you have specific dates that you need to travel than you’ll want to start looking as far in advance as possible. Ideally this means around the 9 months to travel time and below. This will depend on the time of year you are traveling.

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I usually find the best fares to Morocco are offered in November and early December as well as January, February and some of March. If you are planning a summer visit, fares will be expensive. In my experience the best prices you’ll get for summer fares will be available around January/February.

A few other tips; if you find a good price fare don’t expect it to last. You’ll be able to get the best prices if you can book as soon as you see it available. Personally when I see flights at or below $600 (flying to/from Chicago) I book. From the east coast of the US that’s probably also a good bet. From the west coast it may be a bit higher. This doesn’t mean you can never get flights less than that but those are more rare.

If you’re searching for flight deals and don’t really have set dates use sites like Scott’s Cheap Tickets and Secret Flying. They regularly share (big) deals. While Morocco deals are less frequent than other destinations, they do come up every so often and can have a huge savings if they work out.

If you do have flexibility consider flights with longer layover times and take advantage of the stop over destination. Finally, set alerts on multiple sites and check several locations but be sure to clear your computer cookies if you’re looking over several days. This will help you see price differences and get the best price offered.

How to Book Cheap Flights to Morocco

Navigating the Airport: Essential Tips

Plan on Arriving Early The TSA recommends to arrive at the airport two hours before a flight's scheduled departure. Allow even more time if traveling with young children, infants, or persons with disabilities. Three hours before departure is the recommended arrival time before international flights.

Dropping Off or Picking Up Active loading and unloading only is permitted in front of the terminal. No parking or waiting is allowed. Unattended cars in this area will be towed. Use the airport's free Park and Wait lot to wait for arriving passengers then pick them up in front of the terminal. The lot is located south of the parking structure. Access it by entering on your left as you enter the airport. This lot includes large electronic flight information signs displaying flight arrival information. Once the flight has arrived and time allowed for luggage pickup, the sign displays a message, "ready for pickup." The airport encourages drivers to wait for pick-up until passengers are at the curb, confirming with their arriving passenger via cell phone.

Check-In A government issued photo identification (federal, state or local) for passengers over 18 years old is required. Travelers will be asked to show this ID along with their boarding pass. Starting May 7, 2025, travelers will need a REAL ID-compliant form of identification to board a flight. Please visit the Security page for more information on REAL-ID. Be prepared to answer questions about your bags. When asked who packed your bags and if you might have left them unattended at anytime, think carefully and answer the questions honestly. Criminals may use unsuspecting passengers to carry bombs or other dangerous items onto aircraft. A boarding pass may be printed in advance, obtained at the ticket counter, from an airline kiosk or from a skycap.

Screening Checkpoint Only ticketed passengers are allowed beyond the screening checkpoint. Check with your airline if you need to accompany a child, an elderly person or anyone with special needs. Each traveler is limited to one carry-on bag and one personal item (i.e., purse, briefcase, backpack, computer, etc.). All bags are subject to hand search. You may be hand searched and are required to remove your shoes and outer coat at the screening checkpoints. All electronic items, such as laptops and cell phones, may be subjected to additional screening. Be prepared to remove your laptop from its travel case so that it can be x-rayed separately (x-rays will not cause any damage to your electronic equipment). Luggage storage lockers are not available.

TSA has created a helpline to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions. TSA recommends that passengers call 72 hours ahead of travel for information about what to expect during screening. One bag is permitted per passenger. All other liquids, gels and aerosols need to be in checked bags. Purchase drinks and food you wish to carry on board the aircraft after you have completed the security screening process. These are allowed on the aircraft.

Your checked bags may be selected for hand search or scanning through a CTX (computerized tomography x-ray) machine. Pack all film in a carry-on bag. The CTX machines scanning checked bags will damage the film. Pack as light as possible. Keep control of your bags at all times. Free plastic bags are available at the checkpoints for liquids.

Checked Bag Screening All checked bags are subject to security screening. Check with your airline regarding baggage restrictions and shipping information.

Arrival in Morocco: Airports and Ferries

The major airport in Morocco is Casablanca Airport (CMN). This is likely where your flight will land. There is also the Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK). There are a few differences, though. For example, United Airlines services Casablanca Airport but not Marrakech Menara Airport. Depending on your travel itinerary, you may want to fly into one airport but fly out of the other. Based on our itinerary, that is what most of the travelers did.

You can also get to Morocco by taking a ferry from Spain. Depending on the route, the trip can be as short as 1 hour and 30 minutes or up to 36 hours. There are several ports of departure and arrival. The fastest ferry routes leaving from Spain are the Algeciras and Tarifa ports arriving in Tangier. They take 60-90 minutes. Barcelona Spain to Tangier Morocco takes about 28 to 36 hours.

You can also take your car by ferry to Morocco.

Getting Around Morocco

Morocco’s rail network is quite good - comfortable and (mostly) on time. There are several public and private bus companies that connect cities all around the country. Buses tend to be slow and are sometimes overcrowded.

Petit taxis are smaller vehicles that can carry three passengers. Grand taxis are larger vehicles that usually carry up to six passengers. There is no Uber in Morocco but as an alternative there is an app called “Careem” that is available in some of the major cities. In Marrakech there are taxi apps- “Heetch” and “Roby”.

If traveling to major cities that are far from each other, you can opt for a domestic flight.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Morocco is in the spring and fall: March to May (though you will probably want to plan around Ramadan) and September to November. It’s neither too hot nor too cold, and you’re outside of the peak tourist season (summer). We went at the beginning of June.

Morocco’s official religion is Islam. Ramadan typically lasts 30 days from March or April until April or May. As a result, most local restaurants and cafes are closed during the daytime. Some even close for the whole month. If you don’t mind this, it can be worth it to experience Morocco during Ramadan.

Camel rides at sunset in The Sahara. We were lucky. Temps were in the 80s with 70s at night.

Northern cities like Casablanca and Tangier have a Mediterranean climate. Even during the hot, muggy summer, the sea breeze cools the place down. Cities like Fes and Marrakech in Central and Southern Morocco quickly become uncomfortably hot in the summer. Marrakech’s average summer temps are in the 90s and it can hit triple digits!

The most rain in Morocco falls from November to March, especially in the coastal regions.

Essential Information

English isn’t widely spoken in Morocco.
The currency in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD).
Lots of Moroccan establishments only accept cash, so you’ll want to get to an ATM as soon as you can. ATMs in Morocco tend to have decent exchange rates, but you can also consider exchanging some money at the airport.
Most restaurants and main shops (not smaller shops in the souks) will take credit cards but usually not American Express.

Cultural Considerations

I recommend dressing more on the modest side: tops that cover your chest and shoulders, lightweight pants or shorts that cover your knees. You can also wear long dresses and skirts (below the knee). As a rule of thumb, your shoulders, chest, and knees should be covered. Cover your shoulders and chest when visiting the mosques. Head coverings were not required in Morocco but bring a scarf just in case. Dress in Marrakech was more casual. For both men and women, shoes must be removed when entering the mosques. in Casablanca at Hassan II Mosque.

Accommodation: Riads

While traveling through Moroccan cities, a Riad is a popular place to stay. In modern day, a Riad is a hotel or guesthouse with shared common areas and gardens that have private rooms. These are often restored palaces and mansions. The architecture is magnificent. Many are within the Medinas which make them convenient for dining and shopping. You should do your due diligence to check reviews.

Must-See Destinations in Morocco

Wondering where to go in Morocco? From vibrant Medinas and lively souks to beautiful mosques and manicured gardens, each city has its own distinctive allure.

Casablanca

Casablanca isn’t the official capital of Morocco but this bustling city sure feels like it. Mohamed V Square is a bustling hub where locals gather and soak in the joyful atmosphere. The Museum of Moroccan Judaism is a unique museum showcasing the 2,000-year history of the Jewish community in Morocco.

Fes

Fes is the opposite of Casablanca: impressively ancient and historic.

The Royal Palace: Although you will not be able to get inside, you will be able to admire and take pictures of the stunning seven front gates. This palace was built in the 1960’s.
Jewish Cemetery: You will notice uniquely shaped white tombs on a hill. This is an expansive Jewish cemetery that was established in 1883. The tombs were freshly painted in 2019.
Madrasa Bou Inania is a Muslim learning institute founded in the 14th century.
Borj Nord is a fort dating back to the late 16th century that now houses the Museum of Arms.
The Medina in Fes is one of the most expansive Medinas (historic districts that have residences, shops, and markets) in the country. If you were wondering where to go in Morocco to get an authentic experience, this is it. But, I have been in markets all over the world and I found it overwhelming EVEN with a guide. So, be careful, keep your belongings close to you.
At the huge Chouara Tanneries, animal skins and hides are dyed. You can’t enter the tanning pit itself but there are terraces where you can see what goes on. Watching the process is interesting but may also be disturbing for some. There is a strong smell. You can ask to sniff on mint leaves to help prevent nausea. The shopping here is amazing. There are soooooo many leather goods! You can haggle. It is part of the culture.

Merzouga

Merzouga is a small, tranquil town in the Sahara Desert. It acts as a gateway to Erg Chebbi, an expansive stretch of sand dunes.

Go glamping in the Merzouga Desert and witness a starlit sky free from light pollution. Unfortunately it was cloudy when we went but we did get to see a few stars and sunset. You can also do sand boarding. We had live music-drumming around a fire while drinking wine which meant we had to dance! It was awesome.
Go on a hike to the highest dune in Erg Chebbi. You can get there in about an hour, but it’s not an easy trip.
See flamingos at Dayet Srji, a salt lake west of Merzouga.

Dades Valley

Nestled in the rugged Atlas Mountains is the scenic Dades Valley. The Auberge Chez Pierre Hotel is a lovely hotel in town. The interior is stately and with the modern comforts you need. Explore all the Dades Valley has to offer, from towering cliffs to fertile gardens.

Marrakech

Marrakech is somewhat of a tourist city but doesn’t feel overly touristy at all.

The Koutoubia Mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakech. It is also known as “Mosque of the Booksellers”. It was originally built in 1147 but entirely rebuilt from 1158-1195.
Bahia Palace is an architectural gem dating back to the 19th century. It’s an opulent palace with tranquil courtyards, lush gardens, and studded fountains. I was mesmerized.
Jardin Majorelle is a lush botanical garden with groves of bamboo, dwarf palm trees, agave, and more. There’s also a museum onsite: the Berber Museum. The grounds are the former residence of Yves Saint Laurent. The “Majorelle Blue” is an official TM color and it is magnificent! Speaking of, the YSL Museum is nearby. There are exhibits of Yves Saint Laurent’s work, featuring tons of garments, accessories, sketches, photos and a gift shop.
Jnane Tamsna: This is a Black, woman-owned hotel in Marrakech about 15 minutes from the Medina. A group of us had cocktails and appetizers on the roof at sunset followed by dinner on the hotel grounds.

Sample Itinerary

Itinerary: As you can see, we covered a lot of ground in Morocco. I curated this trip with Experience Morocco and they had positive reviews from travelers who had done this itinerary. We started in Casablanca for 1 night, spent 2 nights in Fes, 1 night Glamping in the Sahara/Merzouga, 1 night in Dades/Atlas Mountains, 3 nights in Marrakech. A total of 8 nights which included a lot of driving! It was a great way to see how diverse Morocco is but if you do not have a lot of time then I suggest spending most of it in one or two of the cities. Marrakech was my favorite.

A Culinary Journey Through Morocco

This section could be a blog post on its own! While in Morocco we ate very well! In addition, since this was a Culinary Travels food tour, while planning a trip to Morocco, I included a walking food tour in Fes, food stall visits in Marrakech and a cooking class in Marrakech. Moroccan cuisine is aromatic and full of spices-a lot of turmeric, saffron and cumin. Some dishes tasted like curry to me. But we often had to add salt to dishes based on our American palates. They also eat a lot of BREAD!

Couscous is Morocco’s national dish. Even if you’ve had it before, don’t pass up the opportunity to try it right from the source.
Harira is a soup typically made from tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, and lamb.
Tagine can refer to any dish cooked in a clay pot, usually slow-cooked chunks of lamb or beef or chicken with herbs and spices. We had this almost every day. Mostly chicken Tagine or vegetable with Couscous.
Pastilla, also called bastilla, is a savory meat pie with a poultry or seafood filling. It’s a surprisingly complex dish, with a sweetness to it, thanks to having sugar, cinnamon, and almonds in it.
Zalouk is a popular spread served as a side dish. It’s made of eggplants, garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, and spices, and served with a crusty bread.
Gazelle horns are Moroccan cookies made with an almond and orange blossom filling and wrapped in a thin pastry.
Chebakia is a dessert made of a honey-dipped fried sesame cookie in the shape of a flower.
Msemen are somewhat analogous to pancakes or crepes - a flatbread eaten for breakfast and as a street food. It can be sweet (served with honey and butter, for example) or savory (stuffed with meat and herbs).
Honey is a staple in Morocco.
Baghrir is another Moroccan pancake equivalent, commonly eaten for breakfast.
Mint tea is the most popular beverage in Morocco. Its popularity has ceremonial origins but it’s now super common in everyday life. It is served hot in a glass cup-just like in Turkey. This is so interesting to me. It is made with fresh mint with real blocks of sugar from light sweetness to extra sweet.

Shopping in Morocco

If I had known the shopping in Morocco would be so amazing, I would have figured out how to bring an extra suitcase! Between me and others in the group we bought wine, leather goods, home goods, pottery, furniture, mirrors, jewelry, clothes..!!!