In brief: when to go to Marrakech

The Koutoubia minaret in front of the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas

  • For the weather: March to May and late September to November. Days are warm without being excessive, and evenings are pleasant.
  • For lower prices: January, outside the holidays, and mid-November to mid-December, outside the film festival.
  • For snow-capped peaks: December to March, when the Atlas turns white on the city's horizon.
  • Avoid if you struggle with heat: July and August, with average highs close to 38 °C.

The weather month by month

The table uses the 1991-2020 normals for the Marrakech-Menara station published by NOAA, the US weather agency: average maximum and minimum temperatures, total rainfall and average number of rainy days.

Month Average high Average low Rainfall Rainy days
January 19.1 °C 5.9 °C 25 mm 3
February 20.7 °C 7.6 °C 26 mm 4
March 23.6 °C 10.3 °C 35 mm 5
April 25.7 °C 12.4 °C 26 mm 3
May 29.4 °C 15.2 °C 11 mm 2
June 33.6 °C 17.9 °C 3 mm 1
July 37.7 °C 20.6 °C 2 mm 0
August 37.4 °C 21.1 °C 5 mm 1
September 32.5 °C 18.6 °C 15 mm 1
October 28.5 °C 15.7 °C 19 mm 2
November 23.1 °C 10.7 °C 30 mm 4
December 20.1 °C 7.3 °C 24 mm 4

Over the year, the city receives about 221 mm of rain, spread over some thirty rainy days, and more than 3,200 hours of sunshine. The averages hide wide swings: heatwaves push temperatures above 40 °C in summer, and winter nights can approach 0 °C.

Spring (March to May): the most popular season

Daytime temperatures rise from 24 °C in March to 29 °C in May. The gardens are in bloom, the Atlas often keeps snow on its peaks until April, and day trips to the Ourika Valley or Imlil are made in good conditions. March is the wettest month of the year, with brief showers. It is also the busiest period, especially over the Easter holidays: book your riad early.

Summer (June to August): heat to be managed

In July and August, average highs approach 38 °C and there is almost no rain. Sightseeing is still possible if you adapt your pace:

  • go out early in the morning, as soon as the monuments open, and head back to your riad during the hottest hours;
  • choose accommodation with a pool or plunge pool and air conditioning;
  • save the souks and Jemaa el-Fna for the evening, when the square comes alive;
  • drink plenty, cover your head and avoid long walks in the middle of the afternoon.

Summer is also the time to head up into the cooler High Atlas: the village of Imlil, the starting point for Toubkal, is about 1 hour 30 by road and sits at nearly 1,800 m above sea level. For days that are too hot, our guide to what to do in Marrakech when it rains or is too hot suggests indoor visits.

Autumn (September to November): a second spring

September is still hot, around 32 °C during the day. October and November bring temperatures of 23 to 29 °C, ideal for walking. The first rains arrive in November, without really getting in the way of sightseeing. Visitor numbers pick up again during the late-October school holidays and at the end of November with the film festival.

Winter (December to February): mild by day, cool at night

The Menara pavilion and pool under a winter sky

Afternoons hover around 19 to 21 °C, often in sunshine, but nights drop to around 6 to 7 °C. Riads are rarely heated throughout and can be chilly: check that your room has heating. The snow-covered Atlas then offers the finest views from the city, and mountain roads can be closed by snow. Christmas and New Year push prices up; January, outside the holidays, is by contrast one of the quietest months.

Ramadan and religious holidays in 2027

The dates of Muslim holidays follow the lunar calendar and move forward by about eleven days each year. In Morocco, they are confirmed the evening before by sighting of the crescent moon, so they may shift by a day.

  • Ramadan 2027: expected to begin around 8 February 2027 and last until about 9 March.
  • Eid al-Fitr: the festival marking the end of Ramadan, expected around 10 March 2027.
  • Eid al-Adha: expected around 16 or 17 May 2027.

Travelling during Ramadan is still possible. Monuments stay open, sometimes with shorter hours, and many small restaurants in the medina close during the day, while those in hotels and in Guéliz keep serving. Avoid eating, drinking or smoking conspicuously in the street during the day. In the evening, after the fast is broken, the city stays lively until late. During the two days of Eid, many shops and some sites close.

The year's major events

Jemaa el-Fna square lit up in the evening

Event Next edition Where
Marrakech International Film Festival (23rd edition) 20 to 28 November 2026 Palais des Congrès and cinemas around the city
Marrakech International Marathon Sunday 31 January 2027 Course through the city and the Palmeraie
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair 18 to 21 March 2027 (open to the public on 20 and 21 March) La Mamounia hotel
National Festival of Popular Arts 55th edition from 2 to 6 July 2026; next edition usually in early summer El Badi Palace and Jemaa el-Fna square

Dates announced as of 1 October 2026.

Further reading

Once you have chosen your dates, plan your programme with our Marrakech in 3 days itinerary, then estimate your spending with our Marrakech travel budget guide.