Hassle or not

Seriously, it depends on who you are, how well you speak French or Arabic, and how "fresh" you look. Moroccans are amazing at sizing people up.

I don't know about India, but everyone says Morocco is worse than Tunisia, particularly on women.

Assuming you're male, most hassles come from shop owners in the medina and souqs, trying to get you in their shop. Normal. In places like Tangier and Fes, there are also hotel touts, and Fes and Marrakech have "faux guides" trying to get you to pay them to show you around (I find those easy to get around, though some find them to be the worst). It's mostly in touristy cities (Fes, Marrakech, Tangier are the worst) although shop owners in nearly any city will hassle you a bit (but not badly).

Personally, I don't find the hassle all that bad. When I first came to Morocco a few years ago, I got hassled a little bit, but now I manage to slip by mostly unnoticed. The only exception for me is Fes, where people don't seem to care that I live here or speak Arabic - they still just assume I've got a pocket full of cash.

As a female, on the other hand, I do get harassed by men on the streets (if you happen to be female, be prepared for a bit of that NO MATTER HOW YOU DRESS).

In years of travel to Morocco I never have found any real hassle, but I am a guy. Some people define hassle as persistent shop keepers...but they are just trying to make a living--a smile and a simple no should solve the problem. The real and fake guides can be a problem but just give them a firm NO!
If you are a blonde female with big boobs and revealing clothing, sure, you will get hassled...as you will anywhere in the world.
And alifbaa, if the guys are still hitting on you that shows you've still got it, girl! (I am sure your husband doesn't appreciate the attention you get, however.)

I got hassled nonstop in Morroco everywhere I went, Tangier, Rabat, Fez, and Casablanca. It was from shop owners and touts, but mostly from men offering my friends camels for me. This had nothing to do with being able to speak the language or not, as people would shout at us from across the street, "One hundred camels for her!" or me not dressing conservatively, because I did. I think what it had to do with is having long blonde hair, which just makes you stand out. I took to tying it back and wearing a hat...and it helped!

No, as a female I got no more hassle (less in fact) than in India ... apart from 'extra' whistling!

Kira

I find the hassle less intense than India and the people friendlier. Touristy places seem to attract hassle, while the parts of town a little more removed are low key.

Being blonde will make you stand out. I had a little girl drop her ice cream cone in fright and start yelling bloody murder once on the street in Casa - apparently her daddy had told her Aicha Kandija is a blue-eyed blond.

Let's get this in persepctive: many Moroccans are outgoing, confident and engage with others very readily and the street is very much public space. Given those two factors, people will approach tourists as potential customers. But it also works in your favour. If someone approaches you, it's not necessarily to hassle you. As alifbaa says, Moroccans are perceptive and will want to know, for instance, what you are looking or if you are lost, so that they can be of help. And all Moroccans like to make a good impression and the large majority would no more think of bothering someone in public than flying. Hassle is only a problem when it keeps happening ie around Bab Boujeloud in Fes (in my opinion by far the worst area in Morocco).

Something others haven't mentionned here - the older ones (and there are very few) are the ones to deal with very firmly because they will get menacing. Not that you are in any danger but they would like you to think so. The guy that hangs around near the medersa in Sale springs to mind. This year I was ready for him and gave him short shrift. Result? Backed off.

And then people offer services that they think you might need. Taxi? Shoeshine? Chocolate for the journey? In my experience, for instance, young men sometimes seem genuinely bemused that I turn them down because they are pretty sure they have you worked out. It's only hustle if it's persistant or continuous ie one person after another.

Yeah, i'm blonde, with pale blue eyes, but am travelling alone. As an experienced backpacker and student i think i give off a "i'm not rich and i know where i wanna be so there is no point wasting your time" vibe, and to be fair my hasstles so far have been minimal. I get a lot of whistles or comments from the side of the street but just give the guys a 'camel look' as the moroccan women do and there should be no problem. Stick to well lit areas at night, and get a travel buddy if u like. The attention is NOWHERE near India in my experience, don't be paranoid about ppl talking to you or saying hello in the street as it is just friendly here. I've never been followed as in Egypt or India, and don't get groped like India or Indonesia. Enjoy :o)

In comparing it to other places, I can only say that in my experience Morocco is much worse than Turkey.

I think as a one-off the constant "hassle" (its more of being seen as a source of revenue) isn't too bad, but it does wear you down after a while, and for me at least, having people offer to do seemingly nice things and then expect a "tip" of 200 dirhams (ie 20 euro), which happened several times in Marra, is a bit over the top and makes you think twice about even engaging with locals that approach you (rather than the other way round)

However, thats all a bit negative. Its a wonderful country and most of the people are warm and friendly - just like in most places really.