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Social & Cultural
The unwritten rules
Tea, bargaining, dress codes, photography, time, cash, staring, and the social codes visitors encounter.
11 observations
- 01Is it rude to refuse tea?Tea is a social contract.Offering it means you're being received as a guest. Accepting means you recognise the relationship. It creates a shared pause — business may follow, or it may not.→
- 02What should I wear?Shoulders and knees covered.→
- 03Can I photograph people?Ask first.→
- 04Can you show affection in public?Kissing or heavy physical contact is culturally out of place and legally punishable.→
- 05Is Morocco safe for LGBTQ+ visitors?Same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Article 489 — 6 months to 3 years.→
- 06Should you remove shoes?In homes, riad living areas, and mosques — yes.→
- 07Why does time work differently here?Two systems running at once.→
- 08Why does everyone want cash?Card acceptance is patchy.→
- 09How does bargaining work?Expected in souks, not everywhere.→
- 10Why does everyone ask where I'm from?Conversational opener, not interrogation.→
- 11Why do people stare?Curiosity, not hostility.→