Marrakech, Morocco

• Marrakech splits sharply between the old walled medina and the modern new town. The medina is maze-like with narrow alleys packed with vendors - it's genuinely confusing to navigate even with GPS since phone signal drops in the tight streets. Once you figure out the route from your accommodation to Jemaa el-Fnaa square, that becomes your reference point.
• Expect constant hassling from vendors and guys offering to guide you places, plus plenty of catcalling. It's annoying rather than dangerous, but exhausting. The neighborhood contrasts are extreme. In the traditional medina you need modest dress and to watch out for scams constantly. Gueliz, the modern area, feels like a European city - cafes serving wine, women in Western clothes, much more relaxed.
• Get a SIM card at the airport (20GB costs about 200 dirhams) for GPS and ride apps - you'll need them. Main safety issues are pickpocketing and pushy vendors, not violent crime.
• The medina gets busy during the day but empties fast after 9-10pm, and those charming alleys turn dark and isolated. Tourist Police are around major sites and some speak English.

Arabic and French are the main languages. In tourist areas of the medina and Gueliz, you'll find English speakers at hotels, restaurants, and the Tourist Police office in Jemaa el-Fnaa (0524-38-46-01). The 24-hour tourist helpline (0524-88-86-80) has multilingual operators. Outside tourist zones, French is more useful than English.

• Dress modestly, especially in the medina. Cover shoulders, chest, and knees - loose linen pants, maxi dresses, lightweight long-sleeves. Gueliz has more relaxed dress, but covering up still gets you less attention. You don't need to cover your hair except inside mosques.
• Catcalling is common in tourist areas. Ignore it completely and keep walking. Decline any men offering unsolicited help - it's usually a scam ending with demands for payment.
• Morocco is Muslim. No public displays of affection. Use your right hand for eating, greeting, and handling merchandise - left hand is considered unclean. Ask permission before photographing people, especially women and children. During Ramadan, don't eat or drink in public during daylight hours.

• Walk the medina during the day, but the alleys are genuinely disorienting. Download Maps.me for offline GPS - phone signal is poor inside the medina walls.
• Petit taxis (small taxis, up to 3 people) are cheap and everywhere. Insist they use the meter. If they say it's broken, mention 'police' and they usually comply. Airport to medina runs 70 dirhams during the day, 100 at night. Ask your riad for fair prices before you get in.
• ALSA buses cost 4 dirhams per trip. The L19 airport bus is 30 dirhams one-way (50 roundtrip) and runs every 30 minutes until midnight at least. Uber left Morocco. InDrive, Heetch, and Yassir work for ride-hailing.
• If you're planning day trips outside the city, consider renting a car.
• For peace of mind on arrival, book your airport pickup in advance.

Explore Marrakech with local guides and curated experiences.