# Is Morocco safe for women? URL: https://soukytours.com/practical/safety-for-women Updated: 2026-09-30 Is Morocco safe for women? Generally, yes. What you will run into on the street, what rarely happens and how to avoid most of the hassle. ## In short - Morocco is generally safe for women; violence against tourists is rare. - What you will run into: comments on the street, pushy vendors and self-appointed guides. - The medina of Marrakesh is busy and confusing, but not dangerous. After sunset, stay on the busy streets. - With a female driver like Soukayna, most of the hassle disappears. - Emergency numbers: police 19, ambulance 15, gendarmerie 177. Yes, Morocco is generally safe for women. Millions of tourists visit every year, the police are visibly present in tourist areas and violence against visitors is rare. What you will deal with is comments on the street, pushy vendors and self-appointed guides. That is annoying, but it is not the same as danger. ## What you will run into As a woman you get more attention in Morocco than you are probably used to at home. It usually looks like this: - Comments on the street: "Bonjour gazelle", "Where are you from?", a whistle. Annoying, but it stays verbal. - Vendors trying to talk you into their shop. In the souks of [Marrakesh](/en/destinations/marrakesh) that is part of the deal. Smiling and walking on works. - Self-appointed guides. Young men who tell you the street is "closed" or the tannery is open "only today", or who offer to show you the way. They want a tip or a commission. Say no and keep walking. - Touching. It is rare, but in the crowds around Jemaa el-Fna it sometimes happens. React out loud. Bystanders in Morocco usually take your side. Violent robbery, aggression and situations where you are in real danger are rare. There are pickpockets, as in any busy city, so carry your phone and wallet in front of you and not in your back pocket. ## How to make it easier on yourself These habits cut the attention down a lot: 1. Dress a little more covered than at home. Shoulders and knees covered is enough, and you don't need a headscarf. The guide on [what to wear](/en/practical/what-to-wear) goes through it per situation. 2. Walk with purpose. Someone hesitating over a map attracts help she doesn't want. If you don't know the way, step into a shop or café and ask there. 3. Wear sunglasses in the busy souks. Eye contact is quickly read as interest. 4. Keep your answers short. "La, shukran" (no, thank you) is enough. You don't have to explain where you are from or where you are going. 5. Say you are married if you want to be left alone. It is a cliché, but it works. ## In the evening After sunset the busy streets around Jemaa el-Fna and the main arteries of the souks stay full and safe until late. The small alleys beyond them become empty and dark, and you don't want to get lost there alone. What helps: - Choose a riad you can reach from a main street, or ask the riad to pick you up at a recognizable spot. - If you eat outside the medina, take a petit taxi back. Agree on the price or insist on the meter. - Alcohol is available in restaurants and bars outside the medina. Drink in moderation, because a tipsy woman on her own stands out. ## Taxis and transport Petit taxis in the city have to use the meter. If the driver won't, get out and take the next one. There are always more taxis. For longer distances, grand taxis and buses are fine, but arranging them costs time and energy. A private driver solves that. The guide on [getting around](/en/practical/getting-around) compares all the options. ## Riads and hotels If you can, choose a riad run by a woman or one with a good reputation among solo travelers. Read recent reviews and pay attention to what they say about the location. A riad "in the heart of the medina" sounds great, but it sometimes means a ten-minute walk through unlit alleys. Ask when you book whether they can pick you up. ## On your own or with Soukayna Traveling around Morocco on your own is perfectly doable, but it takes energy. You haggle over every ride, turn down offers all day and have to work out the route yourself. When Soukayna drives, all of that goes away. She arranges the ride, speaks the language and knows where you can stop in peace. That is the idea behind a [tailor-made trip](/en/trips/tailor-made-trip). The same goes for day trips. Going to [Essaouira](/en/trips/essaouira-day-trip) or to the [Berber villages in the Atlas](/en/trips/atlas-mountains-and-berber-villages) is a lot calmer with a driver who knows the road than in a shared grand taxi. ## Emergency numbers and help - Police: 19 - Ambulance: 15 - Gendarmerie (outside the cities): 177 - Tourist police in Marrakesh: at Jemaa el-Fna, look for the sign "Brigade Touristique" - Your embassy: most embassies are in Rabat. Save the number in your phone before you leave, and register your trip with your foreign ministry if it offers that service. Short answers to other questions are in the [frequently asked questions](/en/faq). ## Frequently asked questions **Can I travel around Morocco alone as a woman?** Yes, plenty of women travel around Morocco alone. You get more attention than at home, but it almost always stays verbal and stops once you keep walking. **Is Marrakesh safe at night?** In the busy parts of the medina and around Jemaa el-Fna, yes. Avoid empty alleys after sunset and take a petit taxi back to your riad when it gets late. **How do I deal with pushy men or vendors?** Say a short, friendly 'la, shukran' (no, thank you) and keep walking. Don't get into a discussion. If someone keeps following you, you no longer have to be polite. **What if something really goes wrong?** Call 19 for the police or 15 for an ambulance. Marrakesh has tourist police at Jemaa el-Fna. Most embassies are in Rabat. **Is it safer to travel with Soukayna?** Mostly it saves you hassle. You don't haggle over taxis, nobody 'helps' you find the way without being asked, and there is always someone nearby who speaks the language. --- Source: https://soukytours.com/practical/safety-for-women Souky Tours, contact through the chat on https://soukytours.com/contact