Discover the Best Cities to Digital Nomad in Morocco
After almost two years as digital nomads in Central and South America, we decided to switch it up and digital nomad in Morocco.
It was like landing on another planet.
We fell in love with Morocco and with traveling all over again, remembering that feeling where you have no idea what is going on, what people are saying, or what you are eating – but you love every second of it.
Our rough itinerary included a month in Marrakech, a week in Dakhla, Western Sahara (sort of Morocco), a week traveling through the desert, and a week in Chefchaouen.
We were exhausted leaving the country, but had so many epic experiences to take with us.
If you’re interested in being a digital nomad in Morocco, 1000% do it! Keep reading to find out where I recommend spending your time – and where to avoid.
Is there a Morocco Digital Nomad Visa?
Before you head on your incredible journey to digital nomad in Morocco, you might be wondering if there is a ‘Digital Nomad Visa’.
There is no specific visa for digital nomads visiting Morocco at this time, but I’m not sure you really need one. For most people, the standard tourist visa allows you to stay in Morocco for 90 days visa-free.
Check this list of countries whose nationals are exempt from the entry visa to Morocco (USA included).
“Visa runs” are common among digital nomads who wish to stay longer. From Marrakech and Casablanca, there are many cheap and direct flights to Europe. And if you’re staying in Tangier, you can easily ferry across to Spain.
Morocco believes Western Sahara belongs to them, so unfortunately you can’t visa run to Dakhla to restart the 90 days. Although from Dakhla, there are direct flights to France.
Digital Nomad in Morocco: Where to Go?
Marrakech
Marrakech holds a special place in my heart, and by far the best digital nomad destination in Morocco. We spent a month here living and working remotely, and I easily could have stayed longer.
The seemingly lawless medina is full of interesting alleys and historical sights. The newer neighborhoods, like Gueliz, offer a more modern vibe with trendy eateries, shopping, and wine bars. There are also tons of excursions and day trips that depart from Marrakech, like the famous desert trip to Merzouga sand dunes, making it the perfect home-base.
As a popular city attracting expats and digital nomads alike, the city is equipped with good WiFi and several nice coworking spaces. Airbnb’s are relatively low cost, and food is inexpensive as well; perfect for the more frugal nomad, or if you went a little crazy traveling through Western Europe.
Read my entire post with everything you need to know about being a digital nomad in Marrakech!
Know before you go // 5 Myths Every Digital Nomad Should Know About Marrakech
Things to do in Marrakech
Whether you want to get an adrenaline rush haggling for a Moroccan rug, or chill at a cute café, you definitely wont run out of things to do in Marrakech.
Some things you’ll want to add to your bucket list:
Keep reading // The Ultimate Marrakech Bucket List (by Neighborhood)
Tangier
Tangier surprised me, and I ended up liking it a lot. It’s about the same size as Marrakech, and equally as vibrant, but a way different vibe. Being only two hours from Spain, Tangier has much more European influence than the rest of Morocco. The closer you get to the Mediterranean, the more people follow the ‘rules’, aka you wont get run over by a motorcycle on the sidewalk.
The charming medina is eclectic yet orderly, and lacks the harassment from shop owners you might experience in Marrakech or Fes. As a Mediterranean city, the focus is primarily on the beachfront where you’ll find many hotels, restaurants, and parks.
Don’t worry, despite the European influence, Moroccan food still dominates the culture. Accommodation, like Airbnb, is slightly more expensive than Marrakech, but I would still consider it on the low end. And WiFi is very good throughout the city.
Things to do in Tangier
From beach days to nights out, you definitely wont be bored. Your trip to Tangier wont be complete without experiencing these:
Taghazout
Taghazout is a small fishing village on the west coast of Morocco that attracts travelers looking for beautiful beaches and incredible surf. This famous hippy town is now a digital nomad’s paradise complete with several coworking spaces.
It is located only 30 minutes from the city of Agadir but is way more chill. No need to worry about getting hassled on the streets by shop owners or cat-called by random dudes everywhere you go.
Average Airbnb’s are around $1500, so it’s on the higher end for Morocco. I guess you’re paying for that prime, beach-front real estate.
Things to do in Taghazout
Essaouira
Essaouira is a charming coastal town on Morocco’s west coast, known for its laid-back atmosphere and rich cultural heritage. With its beautiful beaches, historic ramparts, and bustling markets, Essaouira offers a unique blend of natural beauty and traditional Moroccan charm.
The city is a popular destination for digital nomads, who are drawn to its affordable cost of living, comfortable climate, and growing community. Essaouira is a great place to relax, explore, and immerse oneself in the vibrant culture of Morocco.
Essaouira has a good internet with speedy connections available throughout the city. There are many cafes and even a co-working space, making it easy to work from anywhere.
The bulk of Airbnb’s range between $600 and $2500, but you get a pretty nice spot for around $1000. This means that you can stretch your budget further and enjoy a high quality of life while working remotely from Morocco.
Things to do in Essaouira
With its bustling medina, vibrant art scene, and traditional festivals, there is always something new to discover and explore. Here are some things you can do when visiting Essaouira:
Dakhla
Ok, I’m not here to have a political debate about whether or not Dakhla, Western Sahara is part of Morocco. But, if you are planning to digital nomad in Morocco, why not add Dakhla to the list? It doesn’t get any easier than a quick flight direct from Casablanca.
Where is Dakhla? Dakhla is located on a peninsula along Western Sahara‘s Atlantic Coast. Once a Spanish colony, Western Sahara is now a disputed territory according to the UN.
I’m not going to lie, there’s really not much to do; Dakhla is a bit of a ghost town if you are just walking around. But it is a truly epic kitesurfing destination, which is why I’ve added it to the list. With a kite in one hand and a laptop in the other, what more could you ask for?
Near the kitesurfing area, there are many kite resorts and camps to stay. In Dakhla proper, Airbnb’s are decently priced and the WiFi is pretty good depending on your specific accommodation of course. The people of Dakhla are especially inviting and genuine, and you wont experience any street harassment that is more common is Morocco.
Curious about Dakhla? // Your Definitive Guide to Western Sahara
Things to do in Dakhla
Dakhla attracts kitesurfers from around the world with it’s strong, consistent winds and otherworldly landscapes. There’s also a few things you can do besides kiting:
Where NOT to Digital Nomad in Morocco
Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen, aka the Blue City, is probably the cutest town is Morocco. Everything is painted blue – from the windows to the walls. Although you will still get some attention walking through the souks, its not nearly as stressful or chaotic as Marrakech or Fes.
Since it’s such a small city, staying here too long might prove a bit boring and you’ll run out of things to do in a couple days. I definitely recommend visiting Chefchaouen at some point, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a digital nomad destination.
However if you’ve spent any time traveling around Morocco, this is a nice place to catch your breath. At least that’s what we did.
After a semi-traumatic stint in Fes and an exhausting desert trek, the slow-paced life in Chefchaouen was just what we needed to catch up on work and rest. We stayed in Chefchaouen for about a week, and after first few days we felt like we had seen and done everything.
If you’re a nomad on a budget however, you may want to hide out here for a while and save some cash. Although it attracts a decent amount of travelers, accommodation prices are extremely low. I believe we paid less than $200 a week for an Airbnb during peak tourist season.
Roughly pronounced: chef-shah-when
Things to do in Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen is small but charming, and you’ll quickly fall in love. Some things you wont want to miss:
Casablanca
Casablanca (yes, like the movie) is Morocco’s largest city and political capital. Its actually a beautiful city from its Art Deco architecture to one of the world’s largest mosques, yet its mostly overlooked by travelers. If you have time to spend a day or two here, it is definitely worth it. Don’t miss a unique opportunity to take a tour of Mosque Hassan II, as non-Muslims are not allowed inside most mosques (just be sure to dress conservatively).
However, I wouldn’t necessarily want to digital nomad here, especially when I could be in stylish Marrakech or historic Tangier instead. Anything cool in Casablanca, like it’s culinary scene or medina, has a cooler version somewhere else. Personally, I would rather eat a whole piece of cake than have just a bite.
Casablanca can be easily accessed by train from both Marrakech and Tangier, so coming here for a day or two would be quite easy, unlike most everywhere else in Morocco.
Things to do in Casablanca
If you visit Casablanca, don’t miss these:
- Tour Mosque Hassan II
- Admire the historic Art Deco buildings
- Shop for fresh fruits at Marche Central
Fes
Fes might be the only place I’ve ever felt sketched out since becoming a digital nomad over two years ago. We were there for a very short time, and I still couldn’t get out fast enough. We had heard multiple stories from travelers who had been taken advantage of or lured down one of the maze-like alleys only to be robbed.
Just walking around one evening made me feel uncomfortable, and we thought we were being followed at one point. I even met a Moroccan college student from Fes at our next destination who described the atmosphere there as ‘toxic’.
After leaving Marrakech, we booked a desert tour from Marrakech to the Merzouga sand dunes, ending in Fes, as a means of transportation to North-East side of Morocco. It kind of kills two birds with one stone.
If you’re unfamiliar with Morocco, its actually huge, so getting between some of these touristic cities isn’t easy. By ending our desert tour in Fes, we were able to visit Chefchaouen and Tangier to round out our trip.
I hate knocking on cities I haven’t given a fair chance, but sometimes you just have to trust your gut and gtfo. So no, I personally would not want to digital nomad in Fes or even stay here more than a night.
Make Morocco Your Next Digital Nomad Destination
Now you know the best places in Morocco to digital nomad, and which ones to avoid. With this knowledge I hope you add Morocco to your list of nomad destinations!
Are you planning to go nomad in Morocco? Let me know if you have any questions below!
