Morocco or Egypt: Which Should You Pick?

With both nations vying for attention, knowing whether Morocco or Egypt is right for your next vacation is tricky.

Bookending North Africa’s Mediterranean shores, Morocco and Egypt seem to have a lot in common. Sharing a language stemming from a thousand years of Arab and Islamic culture alongside Indigenous, Middle Eastern, and European influences, both countries represent a tantalizing opportunity to delve into the region’s rich traditions.

Morocco and Egypt have their fair share of internationally renowned sights, a climate that has most of the world green with envy, sumptuous cuisine, and coastlines capable of satisfying everyone from rug rats to professional kite surfers.

It would be wrong to think that these two destinations were the same, however. They have as many differences as they share similarities, whether that’s the predominant geography (Morocco’s mountains versus Egypt’s desert sands) or when the weekend starts (Friday in Egypt but Saturday in Morocco).

This can leave potential vacationers in a tailspin, wondering whether Morocco or Egypt is right for them. That’s why we’ve put together all the information you need to know whether Morocco or Egypt is the best destination for your next vacation.

Personal Safety in Morocco vs. Egypt

As with any trip abroad, it’s important to check the latest safety advice from a reputable source such as the U.S. State Department.

Currently, the State Department regards Morocco as Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution, the same level as Spain, France, and Italy–meaning there’s little to fear in popular destinations such as the Imperial Cities and Atlantic coast. Morocco is welcoming to all types of travelers, from backpackers and families with children to those seeking unrivaled pampering. Women may prefer to dress conservatively by covering limbs in loose-fitting garments to avoid unwanted male attention.

In Egypt, there has been a long-standing travel advisory warning against visiting the North Sinai Governate due to the threat of terrorism. The area lies a significant distance from the country’s main tourist destinations, generally extending along the Nile Delta. All those mentioned here have a clean bill of health at the time of writing. Beyond that, visitors to Egypt only need the same awareness they would have in any unknown city. That being said, the U.S. State Department currently lists Egypt at a Level 3 – Reconsider Travel.

How Egypt’s Attractions Compare to Morocco

The lure of the Great Pyramid of Giza and its guardian, the Sphinx, are just two of the reasons to visit Egypt. The Nile Valley, in particular, has an abundance of attractions. Near Giza, a Cairo suburb, visitors can step even further back in time at the Stepped and Bent pyramids, both largely free of the crowds of their more famous younger brother. Then, admire the funerary mask and other treasures of Tutankhamun, brought together for the first time since their discovery in 1922 at the The Grand Egyptian Museum. The boy pharaoh’s actual burial place can be visited as part of a tour of Luxor’s Valley of the Kings.

The Temple of Philae in southern Egypt (confusingly called Upper Egypt) is not only an impressive example of a temple constructed during the era of Rameses II. It’s also a fascinating modern engineering endeavor since the entire structure was cut into chunks and moved to higher ground to avoid the rising waters of the newly-built Aswan High Dam in the 1960s.

Philae is best visited from Aswan, which is itself worth a couple of nights, given its fine Nile location. Plenty of feluccas (traditional sailing boats) stand-by ready for trips to Kitchener’s Island, the location of fantastic botanical gardens. Temple buffs will also want to explore Edfu, said to be the most intact ancient Egyptian temple anywhere in the country.

How Morocco’s Attractions Compare to Egypt

How can Morocco compete with such attractions? Very well, in fact. When it comes to grand structures, travelers to Morocco need look no further than Casablanca’s Hassan II Mosque. With a capacity of 105,000 people (more than twice that of New York City’s Yankee Stadium), it’s the second-largest place of formal worship in Africa. Its traditional Moorish style belies the fact it was only completed in 1993.

Over 1,200 years older is Fez, one of Morocco’s four Imperial Cities alongside Marrakesh, Meknes, and Rabat. Together, this quartet of capitals are the ideal place to step back in time. They’re best experienced through walking the winding vehicle-free alleyways which make up their medina (old quarter) hearts. That way, travelers can soak up the sights, sounds, and smells of ancient Morocco, from the call of the muezzin in Meknes to the rich scent of the spice souqs (markets) in Marrakesh, the “red city.”

Not making it onto this exclusive list, but still, another rival to Egypt’s ancient attractions is the blue city of Chefchaouen. Climbing the foothills of the Rif Mountains, its well-preserved fifteenth-century heart is painted various shades of blue. Everyday life takes much of its influence from its Jewish and Ghomara populations.

Morocco’s Atlas Mountains boast North Africa and the Arab world’s highest peak, Mount Toubkal, which can be climbed in just two days.

The Culinary Scene in Morocco vs. Egypt

While the staples of Egyptian cuisine, falafel, and hummus among them, are probably better known, it’s Morocco’s food scene that provides the ultimate smack in the mouth. Arguably richer in flavor and cultural significance, it takes influences from the Arab world but also the Amazigh (Berber) and peoples across the Mediterranean, from southern Spain to Turkey. Ask anyone to list a Moroccan dish, and it’s likely it will be tagine (a stew of vegetables, pulses, meat, or fish loaded with spices), which is first to the tip of their tongue.

However, the Atlantic coast is particularly well known for fish grilled over hot coals, having been covered in chermoula (a marinade of cumin, coriander, and garlic). Further inland, visitors should keep a look out for rfissa, a dish of roasted chicken served with lentils, fenugreek seeds, and scores of msemmem flatbreads.

In both countries, highly-sugared mint tea is the drink of choice, and available from pretty much every street corner. Stronger tipples, especially locally-brewed beers, aren’t hard to find outside of the holy month of Ramadan despite the majority of Morocco’s and Egypt’s populations being Muslim.

Both countries even produce their own wines, although Morocco has a better reputation for its Carignan, Cinsault, Alicante, and Grenache red grape varieties.

Moroccan Beaches vs. Egyptian Beaches

No discussion of Morocco or Egypt can ignore the countries’ coastlines. At 1,550 and 1,800 miles respectively, they are similar in length. After all, what’s 250 miles between friends? Beaches litter–although this seems the wrong word to use–significant proportions of their lengths.

There are some impressive stretches of pristine sand on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, but for the biggest range of hotels and watersports, head to Egypt’s Red Sea coast. The biggest range of accommodation sit in Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Dahab, Taba, and Sharm El Sheikh, where Blue Flag beaches are easy to find. The strong competition means it’s not hard to grab a great value snorkeling or scuba diving trip to the corals and shipwrecks offshore, should you ever get tired of beaches receiving almost-guaranteed sun.

Morocco’s beaches may lack the international cache of Egypt’s, but that’s not to say those seeking sand beneath their feet have to opt for the land of the pharaohs. Even the outskirts of Marrakesh have an excellent range of higher-end beach resorts. Essaouira is ideal for all forms of surfing thanks to regular winds, and family-friendly Agadir has everything from shopping to international fast-food chains. A few miles south, the Amazigh village of Taghazout is leading the charge for sustainable tourism.

Moroccan Weather vs. Egyptian Weather

Morocco is known in Arabic as Maghreb al-Aqsa or “the far west”–it’s the Atlantic Ocean’s winds which are the predominant climatic consideration. Summers can be very hot, with 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) being common in the desert.

In most of the country, temperatures tend to be cooler than those in Egypt, thanks to the coastal breezes. They average 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit) from June to August, the hottest time of year, making Morocco a better choice for young families.

Egypt’s Nile Valley sees average temperatures of 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit) between June and August. Aswan regularly tops 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit) in the same months. In comparison to Morocco, temperatures are therefore more amenable for sightseeing before and after summer.

Cost and Accommodations in Morocco vs. Egypt

A vacation in Morocco or Egypt will cost approximately the same, with Egypt being slightly cheaper. A traveler with their sights on mid-range stays and restaurants should budget on spending a total of around $100 per day in Morocco, or $80 in Egypt.

Morocco and Egypt offer a range of stays, from budget to luxury. International chains tend to be the mainstay of U.S. and European tourists. Characterful local accommodation is also generally plentiful.

The riads and dars of Morocco, originally palatial homes for the wealthiest built around a central garden, have been copied worldwide. Located in cities including Marrakesh, many have been converted into stylish boutique hotels. In the Atlas Mountains, gîte d’etape are an affordable way to delve into Amazigh culture, often being dedicated rooms in a family home.

Egypt’s Amazigh minority prefer camps in the desert sands. Blending ancient and modern, their tents are today contemporary air-conditioned affairs focused around a campfire, creating sublime stays.

Morocco or Egypt. Egypt or Morocco. With both of these North African destinations offering a mass of history, good food, intriguing cultures, beaches galore, and a climate ideal for seeking out all these treasures, it might be easier to offer them both the crown.