Travel Guide / Internet & SIM

Travel guide

Internet, SIM cards and eSIMs in Morocco

Mobile data is inexpensive and coverage is good in Moroccan cities and along main roads. A local SIM or a travel eSIM gives you maps, ride information and translation wherever you go. Here is how to choose and set it up.

Reviewed October 2026Networks: Maroc Telecom · Orange · inwi4G widespread, 5G rolling out

By Abdlakrim Bsili · Last updated October 2026

Hassan II Mosque beside the Atlantic
Hassan II Mosque beside the Atlantic Quran Quran · Pexels

Your three options

Option Best for Things to know
Local prepaid SIM Trips of a week or more, heavy data users Cheapest data; buy on arrival with your passport; needs an unlocked phone
Travel eSIM Short trips, convenience Install before you fly, works on landing; usually more expensive per GB than a local SIM
Home roaming Very short trips, calls to your home number Often costly outside EU-style roaming zones; check your plan carefully

Local SIM cards

Morocco has three mobile operators:

  • Maroc Telecom (IAM) — the largest network, generally regarded as having the best coverage in rural and mountain areas.
  • Orange Maroc — strong in cities, with good tourist-oriented packages.
  • inwi — competitive prices, good urban coverage.

Where to buy. Operator kiosks in the arrivals halls of major airports (Marrakech, Casablanca, Fez, Tangier, Agadir), official operator shops in town, and many small phone shops. At official shops and kiosks, staff will usually activate the SIM and the data package for you.

What you need. Your passport — SIM registration is mandatory — and an unlocked phone.

Top-ups (recharges). Data packages are bought by "recharging" your credit with scratch cards or electronic top-ups sold in corner shops (hanouts), kiosks and cafés displaying the operator's logo, or via the operator's app. Operators frequently run bonus offers that multiply the data you receive for each recharge; ask the seller which code to dial to convert credit into an internet package.

Travel eSIMs

A travel eSIM is a digital SIM you buy online from an international provider and install by scanning a QR code before departure. Advantages: you land connected, keep your home SIM active for bank SMS codes, and avoid queues. Disadvantages: higher cost per gigabyte and usually data-only (no local phone number).

Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, install the eSIM over Wi-Fi before travelling, and switch on data roaming for the eSIM line on arrival.

Coverage: where you will and will not have signal

  • Cities and main roads: 4G is widespread; 5G is being rolled out in major cities in the run-up to the 2030 World Cup.
  • Inside medinas: thick walls and narrow lanes can weaken signal, and GPS accuracy drops.
  • High Atlas valleys and trekking routes: patchy, especially in deep valleys; expect to be offline for parts of a trek.
  • Desert: surprisingly decent coverage around Merzouga and many camps, but not guaranteed in the dunes.

Wi-Fi

Most riads, hotels, cafés and restaurants in cities offer free Wi-Fi, though speeds in old riads can be slow on upper floors or in rooms far from the router. Desert camps may offer Wi-Fi only in a common area, if at all. Avoid entering banking details over open public networks.

Useful apps

  • Offline maps (download the region before leaving Wi-Fi) — essential in medinas and the mountains.
  • Translation app with offline Arabic and French packs.
  • ONCF (trains), CTM and Supratours (buses) for timetables and tickets.
  • WhatsApp — the main way Moroccans, riads, drivers and guides communicate.
  • Currency converter that works offline.

Practical tips

  • Keep your home SIM in a safe place if you swap it out — the tiny card is easy to lose.
  • Note the operator's customer service number and your SIM's phone number.
  • If your bank sends security codes by SMS, consider an eSIM (or a dual-SIM phone) so you can keep your home number active.
  • Electricity in Morocco is 220 V with European two-pin plugs (types C and E); bring an adapter if needed and a power bank for long days out.

Related: getting around, money and payments and safety.

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.