In short: the honest answer to what to wear in morocco is loose, comfortable clothes that cover your shoulders and knees in town, plus warm layers for desert and mountain nights. Morocco is a Muslim country, but it is used to visitors, so no one expects you to dress a certain way. You will just feel more at ease, and get less attention, in clothes that lean modest and cover a bit more skin.
The general rule for towns and cities
In the medinas of Marrakech, Fes and the smaller towns, aim to cover shoulders and knees. That is the whole rule. Light trousers, long skirts, and tops with sleeves keep you comfortable and let you walk through markets, mosques’ outer courtyards and family neighborhoods without standing out.
You will see local women in everything from full traditional dress to jeans, especially in Marrakech and along the coast. Tank tops and short shorts are fine on a beach in Essaouira or by a hotel pool, less so in a working market street. Nobody will stop you; you will just draw looks you probably do not want.
What women tend to pack
Loose cotton or linen does the heavy lifting. A few reliable pieces:
- Long, flowy trousers or maxi skirts that breathe in the heat
- Tops with short or three-quarter sleeves, nothing too tight
- A light scarf, useful for sun, dust and covering up when you feel like it
- One warm layer for evenings, more if you are heading to the desert or the Atlas
- Sandals for town, closed shoes for the dunes and any walking
You do not need to cover your hair. A scarf is handy to have in your bag, but it is your call, not a requirement, except inside a working mosque, which most tourists cannot enter anyway.
What men tend to pack
Men have it simpler. Lightweight trousers or long shorts and t-shirts are fine almost everywhere. Skip the very short shorts in the medinas and you are set. For a desert night you want the same warm layers women do, because the temperature drop after dark surprises people every time.
Dressing for the desert
This is where people pack wrong. The desert is hot by day and genuinely cold at night, even in shoulder season. On the Sahara dunes at Merzouga, or on a stone-desert night in the Agafay, you will want a jacket or a fleece once the sun goes down. Bring both ends of the range.
| For the desert | Daytime | After sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Loose long-sleeve shirt, light color | Fleece or warm jacket |
| Bottom | Light trousers | Same trousers, add a layer if it is winter |
| Head | Hat or scarf against the sun | Scarf for warmth and wind |
| Feet | Closed shoes, sand gets everywhere | Closed shoes and socks |
A long, loose shirt beats a bare-armed tank top in the sun; it keeps you cooler and saves you from a burn. A scarf you can wrap over your face is worth having when the wind picks up sand. On our Agafay desert tours the camps have blankets, but a jacket of your own makes the evening far nicer.
Season by season
The best window to visit is October through April, and what you pack shifts across it.
- October and November: Warm days, cool nights. Light clothes plus a real jacket for the desert.
- December to February: Pleasant days, cold nights, snow on the High Atlas. Pack a proper coat, a hat and gloves for the mountains and the desert.
- March and April: Mild and green. Layers, since it swings from warm afternoons to chilly evenings.
- June to August: Very hot in Marrakech and the south. Loosest, lightest cotton you own, a hat, and plan the desert for early or late in the day.
If your trip includes both a mountain pass and the Sahara, you are packing for two climates in one bag. Our Morocco desert guide notes the seasonal swings for each stop.
Shoes, and a note on the medina
The old-town streets are uneven, sometimes wet, and dodging scooters is part of the deal. Closed, broken-in shoes or sturdy sandals beat flip-flops. Save the nice footwear for a rooftop dinner. For any time on sand, closed shoes keep the grit out and your feet cooler than you would expect.
Frequently asked questions
Do women have to cover their hair in Morocco? No. A headscarf is optional for visitors. Carry a light scarf for sun and comfort and use it when you want to.
Can I wear shorts? On the coast and around a pool, yes. In the medinas, longer shorts or trousers feel more comfortable and get you less attention.
Is Morocco cold at night? In the desert and the mountains, yes, even outside winter. Always pack one warm layer, whatever the season.
What colors are best? Light colors reflect the heat and hide dust. Anything works, but pale linen is your friend in summer.
Planning a desert night and not sure what to bring for it? Message us on WhatsApp; we run private trips and can tell you exactly what to pack for your dates.