What to Wear in Morocco: Packing Guide for Every Season

Packing for Morocco can be confusing. It’s hot, but you’ll want to cover up. You’re heading to the desert, but nights can be freezing. And what’s acceptable in a beach resort may not be in a mountain village.

This practical guide explains what to wear in Morocco, for women and men, in every region and season.

The golden rule: modest, light and layered

Morocco is a Muslim country, and modest dress is appreciated, especially in medinas, rural areas and near religious sites. You don’t need to wear anything traditional, but covering your shoulders and knees is respectful and will make you feel more comfortable. Light, loose, breathable fabrics such as cotton and linen keep you cool and covered at the same time.

What to wear in Morocco as a woman

• Tops: loose T-shirts or blouses that cover the shoulders, avoiding very low necklines.
• Bottoms: long skirts, maxi dresses, loose trousers or culottes below the knee.
• A light scarf: endlessly useful for sun, dust, mosque visits (Hassan II Mosque) or extra coverage.
• In big cities and resorts, dress is more relaxed, but modest outfits still attract less attention in the medinas.

What to wear in Morocco as a man

• Tops: T-shirts and short-sleeved shirts are fine. Avoid sleeveless tops in towns.
• Bottoms: light trousers or chinos are best. Shorts are common in tourist areas and resorts, but long trousers are more respectful in medinas, villages and religious sites.

Region by region

Cities and medinas

Comfortable, modest clothing and good shoes. Lanes can be uneven, steep or slippery.

The Sahara

Days can be hot, but nights are cold, especially from November to February. Pack a warm fleece or down jacket, a hat, and a scarf or buff for sun and sand. Read our Sahara trip guide.

The Atlas Mountains

Hiking boots, layers and a waterproof jacket. Snow is common in winter at higher altitudes.

The coast

Swimwear is fine at the beach and the pool, but cover up when you walk into town. The Atlantic can be breezy, so pack a light sweater for evenings.

Season-by-season packing

• Spring (March–May): light layers, a light jacket and a sweater for evenings.
• Summer (June–August): very light, loose clothing, a sun hat and sunglasses. A warm layer for the mountains.
• Autumn (September–November): similar to spring, with a warmer layer for the desert.
• Winter (December–February): a warm jacket, sweaters and a scarf. Riads can be chilly at night.

See our guide to the best time to visit Morocco for seasonal weather.

Shoes

• Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers for medinas
• Sandals for warm days and the beach
• Hiking boots if you plan to trek in the Atlas
• Easy slip-on shoes, since you’ll often remove them in homes and hammams

A simple Morocco packing checklist

• Light, modest tops and long bottoms
• A scarf or shawl
• A warm layer (fleece or down jacket in winter)
• Sun hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen
• Comfortable walking shoes and sandals
• Swimwear
• A small daypack
• A European two-pin plug adapter (Morocco uses 220V)
• A reusable water bottle

For the cultural side of dressing and behaving respectfully, read our guide to Moroccan etiquette.