In brief: the shoulders-and-knees rule
- In town, by day: loose, light clothing that covers the shoulders and knees, for women and men alike. Linen and cotton are your best friends.
- On your feet: comfortable closed shoes with a sole that grips. The medina is explored on foot, over uneven paving stones that are sometimes wet or muddy.
- Against the sun: a hat or cap, sunglasses and a light scarf, which is also handy for covering your shoulders or head.
- In the evening and in winter: a sweater or jacket. The gap between day and night temperatures often exceeds 12 °C.
- Swimwear: only at the pool of your riad, your hotel or a beach club. People do not walk around town in swimwear.
The UK government's travel advice likewise recommends loose-fitting clothing that covers the arms, legs and chest, particularly for women.
In the medina and the souks
The medina is a lived-in, commercial district where most residents dress modestly: djellaba, trousers, shirts with sleeves. You are not expected to copy them, but very short shorts, a low-cut tank top or a backless top draw comments and approaches, especially for a woman travelling alone. Our guide to scams to avoid in Marrakech explains how to handle unwanted attention.
What works well:
- For women: wide trousers, a skirt or dress below the knee, a tunic or shirt with short or long sleeves, and a scarf in your bag. Visitors are not expected to cover their hair, except in some places of worship.
- For men: light trousers or knee-length shorts, a T-shirt or shirt. Sports shorts and going shirtless are frowned upon away from the pool.
- For everyone: closed shoes rather than flip-flops. The alleys of the souks are shared with scooters and carts, the ground is uneven and the tanneries are muddy: closed shoes are essential to visit them.
A bag worn at the front with a zip closure is more practical and safer than an open bag in the crowds of Jemaa el-Fna.
Places of worship and religious sites
In Morocco, active mosques are closed to non-Muslims. In Marrakech, the Koutoubia is therefore seen from the outside, from its esplanade and gardens; clothing covering the shoulders and knees is still expected there, especially on Fridays around midday, at the time of the main weekly prayer.
Several religious sites can be visited:
- the Ben Youssef Madrasa, a former Koranic school that is now a monument open to the public;
- the Lazama synagogue and the Jewish cemetery in the Mellah, where clothing covering the shoulders and knees is requested;
- the Church of the Holy Martyrs, in the Gueliz district, where services are still held: dress respectfully and keep a low profile.
Gueliz, Hivernage and the palace hotels
In the modern districts of Gueliz and Hivernage, the atmosphere is closer to that of a large European city: dresses, knee-length skirts and T-shirts draw no attention. Bars, rooftops and smart restaurants do, however, expect you to dress up in the evening.
The La Mamounia palace hotel applies a precise dress code in its restaurants and bars, including for visitors who are not staying there:
- elegant attire is required in all restaurants and bars;
- no shorts or bermudas after 6 pm, even smart ones (allowed for children under 12);
- no flip-flops or plastic sandals, for women and men alike; leather sandals are accepted;
- backpacks and large bags are left at the cloakroom.
Non-residents can only enter the gardens of La Mamounia with a booking at one of the hotel's restaurants or bars. Rules checked in October 2026.
At the hammam
Local public hammams are segregated: separate hours or rooms for men and for women. Men keep on shorts or briefs. For women, customs vary from one hammam to another: many keep on underwear or bikini bottoms, and that is the simplest option for a visitor; if in doubt, ask at the entrance.
What to bring to a public hammam: a towel, flip-flops (the floor is hot and slippery), a change of underwear, soap and an exfoliating glove if you do not buy one on site. In riad or spa hammams, disposable underwear is often provided; a swimsuit is fine too.
The desert, Agafay and the Atlas mountains
Outside the city, you dress mainly for the climate:
- Agafay Desert: 45 minutes to an hour's drive away, the stone desert is usually visited in the late afternoon and evening. Evenings there are noticeably cooler than in town: a warm jacket is useful even in spring. For a camel ride or a quad bike outing, wear long trousers and closed shoes.
- Merzouga and Zagora: in the big dunes, bring a cheche (desert scarf) or a scarf against the sun and sand, sunglasses and shoes that are easy to empty. In December and January, nights at the camp drop to 3 or 4 °C on average and can freeze: bring a beanie, a fleece and warm clothes to sleep in. Our guide to the desert from Marrakech compares the three options.
- Atlas: the village of Imlil lies at 1,740 m, and Jebel Toubkal rises to 4,167 m. Even in summer, bring a warm layer and a windproof jacket; in winter, snow covers the summits and the ascent requires mountaineering equipment. For the trails around Imlil as for the waterfalls of the Ourika Valley, walking shoes that grip are a must.
What to wear by season
The temperatures in the table are the climate normals for the Marrakech-Menara station (average highs and lows), detailed month by month in our guide to the best time to visit Marrakech.
| Season | Daytime | Night | What to wear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter (December to February) | 19 to 21 °C | 6 to 8 °C | Layers: T-shirt, sweater, warm jacket in the evening; warm nightwear, riads are not well heated |
| Spring (March to May) | 24 to 29 °C | 10 to 15 °C | Light covering clothes, a cardigan in the evening, a light raincoat in March |
| Summer (June to August) | 34 to 38 °C | 18 to 21 °C | Loose linen and cotton, a hat, sunglasses, a light scarf; swimwear for the pool |
| Autumn (September to November) | 23 to 33 °C | 11 to 19 °C | Light clothes in September, a sweater and jacket from November |
NOAA 1991-2020 normals, rounded.
In summer, covering your arms and legs with loose, light-coloured fabrics protects you from the heat better than a tank top: that is also the logic of the djellaba. In winter, the afternoon sun is deceptive: once it sets, the temperature drops quickly.
During Ramadan
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027 and end around 9 March, with Eid al-Fitr expected around 10 March; the exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon. During this month, the city pays more attention to discretion:
- choose clothes that are a little more covering than usual, especially in the medina;
- avoid eating, drinking or smoking openly in the street during the day;
- public displays of affection, already frowned upon the rest of the year, are even more to be avoided.
Buying locally: djellabas, babouches, scarves
Nothing obliges you to adopt local dress, but a light djellaba, a scarf or a cheche bought in the souks is practical and makes a good souvenir. Babouches, on the other hand, are indoor slippers: their thin soles are poorly suited to the medina's paving stones. For prices and good addresses, see our guide on what to bring back from Marrakech.
The packing list
| Category | What to pack |
|---|---|
| Tops | Short-sleeved T-shirts, 1 or 2 long-sleeved shirts or tunics, 1 sweater |
| Bottoms | Light trousers, a skirt or dress below the knee, knee-length shorts |
| For the evening | Jacket or cardigan; warm jacket and beanie in winter or for the desert |
| Shoes | Trainers or closed walking shoes, leather sandals, flip-flops for the pool and the hammam |
| Accessories | Hat, sunglasses, large scarf, closed bag worn at the front |
| Other | Swimwear, sunscreen, light raincoat in winter and spring |
Further reading
Before you zip up your suitcase, check the weather for your dates in our guide to the best time to visit Marrakech, then choose your neighbourhood with our guide on where to stay in Marrakech. Travelling as a family? Our guide to Marrakech with kids has advice specific to younger travellers.
