Before you go: see a travel clinic
Book an appointment with your doctor or a travel clinic four to eight weeks before departure. They will check your vaccinations against your age, your health and the kind of trip you are planning. This page summarises public guidance; it does not replace a personal consultation.
No vaccination is required to enter Morocco, and there is no yellow fever certificate requirement. Public health services such as the UK's TravelHealthPro and the US CDC currently advise:
| Vaccine | Who it is usually recommended for |
|---|---|
| Routine vaccines (MMR, diphtheria-tetanus-polio) | All travellers — make sure they are up to date |
| Hepatitis A | Most travellers who are not already immune |
| Typhoid | Most travellers, especially for long stays or visits to friends and family |
| Hepatitis B | Some travellers, depending on activities and length of stay |
| Rabies | Long stays, remote treks, work with animals, or travel far from medical care |
In late September 2026, Morocco's Ministry of Health reported two small family clusters of diphtheria in the Souss-Massa region (around Agadir), mainly among unvaccinated children. It is another reason to check that your diphtheria-tetanus booster is recent.
Malaria is not a risk: the World Health Organization certified Morocco malaria-free in 2010, so there is no need for antimalarial tablets.
Water and food
- Tap water is treated in the large cities, but most visitors drink bottled or filtered water to avoid stomach upsets. Bottled water is sold everywhere; a refillable bottle with a filter cuts plastic waste.
- Ice in hotels and good restaurants is usually made with treated water. Street ice is best avoided.
- Street food is a highlight of a trip. Choose busy stalls where food is cooked in front of you and served hot.
- Raw salads and peeled fruit carry more risk in the first days. Fruit you peel yourself is safe.
- Hand hygiene matters more than anything else: carry hand gel and use it before eating.
If you get traveller's diarrhoea, drink plenty of water with oral rehydration salts (sold in every pharmacy). See a doctor if you have a high fever, blood in your stool, or symptoms lasting more than two or three days. Seek help sooner for children and older travellers.
Sun, heat and altitude
From June to September, the interior regularly passes 40 °C / 104 °F, and the Sahara can be hotter. Plan visits for early morning and late afternoon, drink before you feel thirsty, and wear a hat and sunscreen even in winter: the sun is strong at Morocco's latitude.
In the High Atlas, Mount Toubkal reaches 4,167 m. Above about 2,500 m, altitude sickness can affect anyone, whatever their fitness. Climb gradually, spend a night in Imlil (1,740 m) before the ascent, and go down if you develop a bad headache, nausea or breathlessness. Our Atlas Mountains guide explains how treks are organised.
Animals and rabies
Rabies is present in Morocco, mostly in dogs and cats. Avoid touching stray animals, however friendly they seem, and keep children away from them.
If you are bitten, scratched or licked on broken skin, wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes and see a doctor the same day. Treatment after exposure is effective if it starts quickly, even if you were vaccinated before your trip.
Don't hold the monkeys or snakes presented by street performers in Jemaa el-Fna. It is also an animal welfare issue.
Pharmacies, doctors and hospitals
Pharmacies are marked with a green cross and are well stocked. Pharmacists are well trained, usually speak French, and can advise on minor problems. At night and on Sundays, a pharmacie de garde (duty pharmacy) is open in each district. The rota is posted on every pharmacy door.
For more serious problems, the large cities (Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Fez, Tangier, Agadir) have private clinics (cliniques) with good standards. They usually ask for payment or an insurance guarantee before treatment. Public hospitals provide emergency care but can be crowded. In the desert and the mountains, the nearest clinic may be hours away — another reason to have insurance that covers evacuation.
Emergency numbers
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Ambulance and civil protection | 15 |
| Police (in cities) | 19 |
| Gendarmerie (outside cities, on roads) | 177 |
Save your insurer's 24-hour assistance number in your phone and keep a paper copy with your passport.
Medicines to bring
- Enough of your regular medication for the whole trip, in its original packaging, with a copy of the prescription that gives the generic name.
- Some medicines that contain codeine, strong painkillers or psychotropic drugs are controlled in Morocco. If you take any, ask the Moroccan embassy or consulate in your country what documents you need before you travel.
- A small kit: paracetamol, oral rehydration salts, an anti-diarrhoeal, plasters and blister pads, antiseptic, sunscreen, insect repellent and any allergy treatment you use.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance with medical cover is the most important document after your passport. Check that your policy:
- covers medical treatment and hospitalisation abroad, with a high ceiling;
- includes repatriation or medical evacuation, essential for the desert and the Atlas;
- covers the activities you plan: trekking above a certain altitude, quad biking, surfing or skiing are often excluded unless you add them;
- includes a 24-hour assistance line that can guarantee payment to a private clinic;
- covers cancellation if you have booked non-refundable riads, tours or flights.
Bank cards sometimes include travel insurance, but the cover is often limited and may only apply if the trip was paid for with that card. Read the conditions before you rely on it.
European travellers should note that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) is not valid in Morocco.
Pre-departure health checklist
- Travel clinic appointment 4–8 weeks before departure.
- Travel insurance bought, with the policy number and assistance line saved.
- Regular medicines packed in your hand luggage, with prescriptions.
- A small first-aid kit and oral rehydration salts.
- Sunscreen, hat and a refillable water bottle.
Related guides: safety and etiquette, what to pack, when to visit and visa and entry rules.
Sources
- TravelHealthPro (UK Health Security Agency / NaTHNaC), Morocco country page, consulted October 2026.
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Travelers' Health: Morocco.
- Your own government's travel advice for Morocco.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need vaccinations to travel to Morocco?
No vaccination is required for entry. Health services recommend that routine vaccines are up to date and that most travellers consider hepatitis A and typhoid. Some travellers may also need hepatitis B or rabies vaccination. A travel clinic will advise you based on your trip.
Can I drink the tap water in Morocco?
Tap water is treated in large cities, but most visitors prefer bottled or filtered water to avoid stomach upsets, especially in the first days and in rural areas.
Is travel insurance mandatory for Morocco?
It is not checked at the border for most visa-exempt visitors, but it is strongly recommended. Private clinics often ask for payment or an insurer's guarantee before treatment, and evacuation from the desert or mountains can be very expensive.
Is there malaria in Morocco?
No. Ordinary tourist itineraries in Morocco carry no malaria risk, so antimalarial tablets are not needed.
This guide was last reviewed in October 2026. Entry rules, opening hours, transport timetables and prices change; check official sources shortly before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.