Morocco
Useful apps for Morocco: transport, maps, translation
Install four things before you land: Google Maps or Maps.me with offline maps downloaded, the ONCF app for train tickets, a ride-hailing app such as Careem or inDrive for big cities, and WhatsApp for everything else. Add a translation app and a card app with travel notifications. Skip nothing else; medina lanes are poorly mapped, so offline maps matter.
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GuideMorocco
Key facts
- Must-have
- Offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me), ONCF train app, WhatsApp
- Ride-hailingcheck
- Careem or inDrive in some cities; petit taxis elsewhere (check)
- Train tickets
- ONCF app or station counters on the Tangier–Rabat–Casablanca–Marrakech line
- Medina mapping
- Weak; download offline maps before you arrive
- SIM data
- Maroc Telecom, Orange or inwi tourist SIM, about MAD 100–200 for 20–50 GB
- eSIM
- Works on unlocked phones; good in cities, weak in dunes and high valleys
- Payments
- Cards in hotels and chains; cash elsewhere, so keep a card app with travel notifications
- Language
- Translation app with Arabic and French offline packs helps in taxis and shops
Details
Set up your phone before departure, not at the airport. Download offline maps for every city on your route, because medina lanes in Fez and Marrakech are poorly mapped and mobile data can drop inside thick walls. Riads have Wi-Fi, but it often fades upstairs.
For trains, the ONCF app covers the main line from Tangier through Rabat and Casablanca to Marrakech. Buy ahead when you can; station counters work too. For city rides, Careem and inDrive operate in some Moroccan cities, but coverage changes, so treat them as a bonus rather than a guarantee and keep petit taxis as your fallback. Agree the fare or insist on the meter before you get in.
WhatsApp is the default messaging app, so use it for riad contacts, drivers and tour operators. A translation app with Arabic and French offline packs is worth the download; French is widely used in business and signage, and taxi drivers may not speak English. Keep your bank or card app installed with travel notifications switched on, since cards work in hotels and chains but cash covers almost everything else.
Summary table
| App | Use it for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Google Maps or Maps.me | Navigation, medina walking | Download offline maps; medina lanes poorly mapped |
| ONCF | Train tickets and timetables | Main line Tangier–Rabat–Casablanca–Marrakech |
| Careem or inDrive | Ride-hailing in some cities | Coverage varies; petit taxis elsewhere (check) |
| Messaging riads, drivers, guides | Default app in Morocco | |
| Translation app | Arabic and French offline packs | Useful in taxis and small shops |
| Bank or card app | Card controls and travel notifications | Cards in hotels and chains; cash elsewhere |
Tips
- Download offline maps for each city before you leave home; data can be weak inside medinas.
- Buy a tourist SIM at the airport or a shop with your passport; 20–50 GB costs about MAD 100–200.
- eSIMs work on unlocked phones; coverage is good in cities, weak in the dunes and high valleys.
- Screenshot your riad address in Arabic and French for taxi drivers.
- Keep a small cash reserve; cards are not accepted at most stalls and small restaurants.
- Check ride-hailing coverage in each city on arrival rather than assuming it works everywhere.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Which apps do I need in Morocco?
At minimum: Google Maps or Maps.me with offline maps, the ONCF app for trains, WhatsApp for messaging, and a translation app with Arabic and French offline packs. Add Careem or inDrive for city rides where available, and a card app with travel notifications.
Does Uber or a local taxi app work in Morocco?
Uber is not the standard option in Morocco. Careem and inDrive operate in some cities, but coverage varies and changes, so treat them as a bonus. Petit taxis are the reliable fallback; agree the fare or insist on the meter before you get in (check).
Does Google Maps work well in Morocco?
It works on main roads and in cities, but medina lanes in Fez and Marrakech are poorly mapped and GPS can drift between walls. Download offline maps before you arrive and treat them as a guide, not a guarantee.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialONCF – Office National des Chemins de Fer
- officialVisit Morocco – official tourism site
- secondaryWikivoyage – Morocco
- secondaryOpenStreetMap