What to Wear in Marrakech
Morocco · 6 monthly packing guides
Marrakech is North African desert-edge climate — May through August runs 29-38°C / 84-100°F with extremely low rainfall (1-2 rain days a month). The dressing rule: lightweight cotton or linen in light colors (white, cream, sand, soft sage), modest cuts especially in the medina (the old walled city) and at religious sites. Souk navigation rewards crossbody bags worn diagonally; pickpocketing is documented in Jemaa el-Fnaa and the medina. The Moroccan style register is layered: kaftans, structured trousers, leather babouches. Yves Saint Laurent, who came every December and June to design, saw caftans in pink, blue, green and purple on every street corner.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach 6°C / 43°F in January; average highs reach 38°C / 100°F in July.
Compare Marrakech by month
Monthly averages help compare packing needs; check the forecast before departure. Only months with published guides are listed. See the source notes below for station and measurement differences. Scroll across the table to see all weather details on a small screen.
| Month | Average low | Average high | Rain days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January packing guide | 6°C / 43°F | 19°C / 66°F | 3 | 10h 20m |
| May packing guide | 15°C / 59°F | 29°C / 84°F | 2 | 13h 25m |
| June packing guide | 18°C / 64°F | 34°C / 93°F | 1 | 13h 50m |
| July packing guide | 21°C / 70°F | 38°C / 100°F | 0 | 13h 40m |
| August packing guide | 21°C / 70°F | 37°C / 99°F | 1 | 12h 55m |
| December packing guide | 7°C / 45°F | 20°C / 68°F | 4 | 10h 05m |
Choose your Marrakech packing list
Marrakech in January: 19°C / 66°F days, 6°C / 43°F nights, and the Amazigh New Year on Thursday 14 January.
In this capsule: Cream cable-knit V-neck cardigan; Saffron cotton poplin shirt; Indigo straight-leg jeans.
Marrakech in May is desert-edge spring — 29°C / 84°F afternoons, 15°C / 59°F mornings, only 2 rain days. The pre-summer heat window before peak July-August.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton kaftan or linen midi dress; Wide-leg linen trousers — cream, sand, white; Cotton or linen button-down — white, cream, soft stripe.
Marrakech in June is early summer desert heat — 34°C / 93°F, 1 rain day. Locals retreat indoors 12-5pm; sightseeing is dawn-and-dusk only.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton kaftan or linen midi dress; Wide-leg linen trousers — cream, sand, white; Cotton or linen button-down — white, cream.
Marrakech in July is peak desert heat — 38°C / 100°F peak, 0 rain days. Sightseeing is dawn-only (7-10am); midday is for the riad pool or AC retreat.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton kaftan or pale linen midi dress; Pale linen wide-leg trousers; Cotton or linen button-down — white.
Marrakech in August is peak desert heat continued — 37°C / 99°F, 1 rain day. The strategy unchanged from July: dawn-and-dusk only.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton kaftan or pale linen midi dress; Pale linen wide-leg trousers; Cotton or linen button-down — white.
Marrakech in December: 20°C / 68°F days, 7°C / 45°F nights, and the month Yves Saint Laurent came here to work.
In this capsule: Emerald wool coat, knee length; Black crew-neck sweater; Fuchsia silk shirt, long sleeves.
Climate sources by month
These credits follow the source recorded on each monthly guide. Climate figures inform the packing advice; outfit combinations and illustrations are editorial suggestions.
- January: Direction Générale de la Météorologie · Marrakech-Ménara · 1991–2020 normalsMorocco's national meteorological service (DGM) 1991–2020 normal for Marrakech-Ménara airport, as submitted to the WMO's normals collection. Rain days are days with 1 mm or more.
- May: Direction Générale de la Météorologie · Marrakech-Ménara · 1991–2020 normals
- June: Direction Générale de la Météorologie · Marrakech-Ménara · 1991–2020 normals
- July: Direction Générale de la Météorologie · Marrakech-Ménara · 1991–2020 normals
- August: Direction Générale de la Météorologie · Marrakech-Ménara · 1991–2020 normals
- December: Direction Générale de la Météorologie · Marrakech-Ménara · 1991–2020 normalsMorocco's national meteorological service (DGM) 1991–2020 normal for Marrakech-Ménara airport, as submitted to the WMO's normals collection. Rain days are days with 1 mm or more.
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 6 published guides cover January, May, June, July, August, December. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, January has the lowest average low at 6°C / 43°F, while July has the highest average high at 38°C / 100°F. For a trip spanning two months, read both lists before deciding which layers to bring.
No. They are monthly climate averages for planning, not temperatures promised for a particular day or hour. Check the local forecast close to departure and adjust your layers and rain protection. The source, station and averaging period are listed for each month where recorded; different stations or rain-day definitions can affect comparisons.
No. Treat the capsule as a set of clothing functions: walking shoes, a base outfit, weather protection and any change for dinner or a venue's dress code. Start with equivalents you own. Adjust quantities to your trip length and laundry access; the illustrations are outfit suggestions, not a shopping requirement.