The everyday greetings, hospitality customs and social norms that shape daily life in Morocco
Morocco’s social customs are rooted in Islamic tradition and Amazigh hospitality, and most of what a first-time visitor needs to know comes down to a handful of everyday habits rather than a long list of rules. Getting them right is mostly about paying attention - using your right hand, accepting hospitality when it is offered, and reading the rhythm of prayer times and Fridays.
This guide covers the customs distinct from the narrower physical-space etiquette of hammams, riads and souks - see the Hammam, Riad & Souk Etiquette guide for those - and from what to wear, covered separately in the dress code guide.
Greet with the right hand - a handshake is standard, and *salam* (hello) and *shukran* (thank you) cover most everyday interactions.
The left hand is traditionally considered unclean and is not used for greetings, eating, or handing things to someone. *La shukran* (no, thank you) is the single most useful phrase in a souk, used politely to decline persistent offers without giving offense.
Eat with the right hand from shared dishes, and accept mint tea when it is offered - refusing reads as declining hospitality, not as a dietary choice.
Communal dishes such as tagine or couscous are often eaten directly by hand from a shared platter, using bread to scoop rather than cutlery. Couscous is traditionally the Friday family meal. Mint tea (*atay*) - green tea, spearmint and sugar poured from height - is offered as a matter of course in homes, riads and shops; it is a social gesture as much as a drink, so a polite acceptance (even a small one) is generally the better choice.
Islam shapes the daily rhythm through five prayer calls, and Friday is the main congregational prayer day, when many businesses close around midday.
Most mosques in Morocco are closed to non-Muslims; the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca and the Tin Mal Mosque (currently closed for post-earthquake repairs) are the notable exceptions that allow non-Muslim visitors. Outside of these, admiring a mosque’s exterior architecture is the norm rather than expecting to enter.
Ask permission before photographing people, expect to tip performers in Jemaa el-Fna, and know that alcohol is legal but not displayed openly outside licensed venues.
Avoid photographing military installations and police. Alcohol is sold in licensed restaurants, hotels, bars and supermarket sections, but is absent from most medina eateries and rural establishments, and public drinking is not acceptable.
It is not strictly rude, but mint tea is offered as a gesture of hospitality, so declining outright can read as rejecting that hospitality. A small acceptance, even a few sips, is usually the more comfortable option for both sides.
No. Morocco has no legal or social requirement for visitors to cover their hair. The general norm is modest dress - shoulders and knees covered in medinas, rural areas and religious sites - covered in full in the dress code guide.
Yes, alcohol is legal and sold in licensed restaurants, hotels, bars and supermarket sections. It is generally absent from medina eateries and rural establishments, and drinking in public outside licensed venues is not acceptable.
Most Moroccan mosques are closed to non-Muslims. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the main exception, open to non-Muslims via guided tours outside prayer times. The Tin Mal Mosque was historically open as well but is currently closed for post-earthquake repairs.