Couple questions: Couples practical
How do you deal with touts in the medina?
Say "la, shukran", no thank you, once, calmly and clearly, then keep walking without further conversation. Walk as if you know where you are going, even if you do not. Long answers, positive or negative, tend to encourage rather than deter. A private guide removes most of it: the medina knows them, and the approaches simply stop.
Answered by the Morocco Honeymoons team. Checked October 2026.
The short answer
Say "la, shukran", no thank you, once, calmly and clearly, then keep walking without further conversation. Walk as if you know where you are going, even if you do not. Long answers, positive or negative, tend to encourage rather than deter. A private guide removes most of it: the medina knows them, and the approaches simply stop.
In more detail
Most approaches are social. Someone offers to show you the way, a shopkeeper invites you in, or a stranger tells you the street ahead is closed. None of it is violent, and most people are hospitable and respectful, but persistent attention is tiring, especially for women.
Confidence works. A brief moment of eye contact, a polite no and a purposeful pace are more effective than ignoring someone completely or getting into an argument. You do not need to explain or justify yourself.
The medina's deep back lanes are easy to get lost in, which is when unofficial guides appear. Stick to the main routes, use a map on your phone, or book a licensed guide for your first walk to learn the layout.
Good to know
- Learn "la, shukran" before you arrive.
- Do not follow anyone who offers to lead you to your riad.
- Book a licensed guide for your first medina walk.
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