---
title: "How to Dress in Morocco: Practical Advice for Tourists"
description: "What to wear in Morocco by city and season: medinas, windy Essaouira, the desert, Hassan II Mosque, beaches. Advice for women and men, sourced temperatures."
image: "https://rentaphone.ma/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Pocket-wifi-in-Morocco.jpg"
dateModified: "2026-10-23"
---

Source: https://rentaphone.ma/en/how-to-dress-in-morocco-as-a-tourist-practical-advice/
Date: 2026-01-22
Updated: 2026-10-23
Language: en

- Blog

- How to dress in Morocco

# How to Dress in Morocco as a Tourist: Practical Advice

Updated 2 October 2026 · 8 min read

There is no official dress code for tourists in Morocco, but there are customs, and they change with the setting: a café terrace in Gueliz is not an Atlas village, and Essaouira in August does not have Marrakech’s climate. This guide gives one simple rule, then how to adapt it by place, season and activity, with temperatures taken from official climate normals.

The essentials

- Simple rule in public: shoulders and knees covered, loose rather than tight clothing, for women and men alike.

- Female visitors are not required to wear a headscarf; a large scarf in your bag covers most situations.

- Essaouira is cool and windy: 22.4 °C average August high (NOAA 1991-2020 normals), against 37.4 °C in Marrakech the same month.

- Desert and mountains: cold winter nights (1.8 °C average January low in Ouarzazate); pack a fleece and a windbreaker.

- Swimwear belongs on the beach and by the pool, not in town; cover up when you leave the sand.

Pocket WiFi in Marrakech

Maroc Telecom 4G router: €4.90 a day (2-day minimum), up to 10 devices, delivered and collected free of charge at your accommodation in Marrakech, 9 am to 6 pm.

Book onlineCard payment in euros.

In this article

- The principle: cover shoulders and knees, then adapt to the place

- For women: what works everywhere

- For men: fewer constraints, but some customs

- City by city: Marrakech, Fez, Chefchaouen, Essaouira

- By season

- Desert, mountains and hiking

- Mosque, hammam, beach and pool

- During Ramadan

- Packing checklist

- Staying connected on your trip

- Dressing in Morocco: frequently asked questions

## The principle: cover shoulders and knees, then adapt to the place

In Moroccan public spaces, clothing seen as appropriate covers the shoulders and knees and is neither tight nor see-through. No one will stop you for wearing a tank top, but some outfits fall under hchouma, the Darija word for what “isn’t done” and causes embarrassment. Dressing accordingly is mostly about your own comfort: fewer stares, easier conversations with locals, and no discussion at places that require it.

Expectations vary a lot. In the modern districts of Casablanca, Rabat or Marrakech (Gueliz, Hivernage), you’ll see Moroccan women and men in jeans, dresses or T-shirts. In medinas, small towns and especially villages, people dress more conservatively. When in doubt, look at what people around you wear and match it.

## For women: what works everywhere

- Bottoms: long or midi dresses and skirts, wide linen or cotton trousers, jeans.

- Tops: shirts, tunics and T-shirts that cover the shoulders; short sleeves are fine in cities, long sleeves protect better from the sun.

- A large scarf: it covers bare shoulders, shields you from sun and wind, and works as a head covering if you want to enter a religious site.

- Best avoided in medinas and villages: short shorts, spaghetti-strap tops, low necklines and see-through fabrics.

Covering up does not stop every street comment, unfortunately, but it reduces them. A confident attitude and ignoring approaches remain the best response.

## For men: fewer constraints, but some customs

Expectations are looser for men, but not absent. Light trousers (linen, cotton, chinos) are what most Moroccan men wear. Knee-length shorts are fine in tourist cities, but short shorts and tank tops read as beachwear away from the coast. Going shirtless: only on the beach or by the pool.

A light long-sleeved shirt is cooler in full sun than you might think, and it works for sightseeing as well as dinner.

## City by city: Marrakech, Fez, Chefchaouen, Essaouira

Marrakech. The city most used to visitors, but also the hottest: 37.7 °C average high in July and 19.1 °C in January, with winter nights around 6 °C (NOAA 1991-2020 normals). In summer, loose linen and cotton; in winter, a jacket for the evening. In the medina and souks keep shoulders and knees covered; in Gueliz restaurants and rooftops, dress is more relaxed.

Fez and Chefchaouen. The medinas are more traditional than Marrakech’s, and steep cobbled lanes call for good closed shoes. Chefchaouen, in the Rif mountains, is noticeably cooler in the evening than the plains.

What to wear in Essaouira. This is what surprises travellers coming from Marrakech most. Essaouira stays mild all year: 18.4 °C average high in January and only 22.4 °C in August (NOAA 1991-2020 normals), because the town is swept by the trade winds, which the Visit Morocco tourism board itself highlights. In practice:

- a light windbreaker or sweatshirt, even in midsummer, especially late in the day on the harbour and ramparts;

- long trousers rather than a light dress that blows around;

- a scarf or shesh against sand blown across the beach;

- sunglasses and a hat that stays on: wind doesn’t lower UV;

- in the medina, the usual customs: shoulders and knees covered, swimwear for the beach only.

Casablanca and Rabat. Large modern cities, standard city clothes. For the Hassan II Mosque, see below.

## By season

Summer (June to September). Inland heat is dry and strong: 38.8 °C average July high in Ouarzazate and 39.5 °C in Errachidia (NOAA 1991-2020 normals). Go for linen, cotton and light colours, loose cuts and light long sleeves, plus a wide-brimmed hat. On the Atlantic coast, by contrast, bring a layer for the evening.

Winter (December to February). Pleasant in the sun, cold at night: 1.8 °C average January low in Ouarzazate and 2 °C in Errachidia. Riads are often poorly heated. Layer up: T-shirt, sweater, warm jacket, and a beanie for the desert or the Atlas, where it can snow.

Spring and autumn. The easiest seasons: light clothes by day, a sweater or jacket in the evening. A waterproof jacket helps in the north and in the mountains, which get more rain.

## Desert, mountains and hiking

In the desert, protection matters more than style: long, light clothing against the sun, a shesh or large scarf for your head and face when the wind lifts the sand, closed shoes rather than sandals. At night in camp, a fleece and a warm jacket, plus a beanie in winter. Camps provide blankets, but ask before you book.

In the mountains and Berber villages, wear covering clothes and hiking shoes; the weather changes quickly at altitude. Village residents are more attached to customs than city dwellers: covered shoulders and long trousers are the right choice, for men too.

## Mosque, hammam, beach and pool

Hassan II Mosque. Most working mosques are for Muslims only; the one in Casablanca can be visited on a guided tour. According to the Routard guide (checked October 2026), clothing must cover shoulders and knees. You remove your shoes at the entrance and are given a bag to carry them, so easy slip-on shoes help. That source does not require a headscarf, but having one with you costs nothing.

Hammam. Public hammams have separate hours or areas for women and men. People usually keep their underwear bottoms or a swimsuit on; bring a dry change of clothes.

Beach and pool. Swimwear, bikinis included, is common at hotel pools and on tourist beaches such as Agadir or Taghazout. On beaches used mainly by Moroccan families, many women swim more covered. Either way, put clothes back on to go to a café or walk through town.

## During Ramadan

The next Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February 2027 (confirmed by the sighting of the crescent moon). During that month, daytime is quieter and more reserved: it is a good time to dress a little more conservatively than usual, especially outside tourist areas, and to avoid eating or drinking conspicuously in the street during the day.

## Packing checklist

- 2 or 3 light long trousers or skirts in linen or cotton

- Tops that cover the shoulders, including at least one long-sleeved shirt

- A large scarf or shesh

- A windbreaker (essential in Essaouira) and a sweater or fleece

- A warm jacket and beanie for the desert or the Atlas in winter

- Closed walking shoes, plus sandals for the riad

- Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen

- Swimwear and a light layer to cover up when leaving the beach

## Staying connected on your trip

Between medina maps, the Essaouira wind forecast and messages to your riad, your phone gets a lot of use. Alone with a compatible phone, an eSIM or local SIM (passport required to buy one) is often enough. For two or more, Rent A Phone rents a 4G pocket WiFi router on the Maroc Telecom network: unlimited data, up to 10 devices, about 8 hours of battery, €4.90 per day (2-day minimum). It is delivered and collected free of charge in Marrakech (hotel, riad, Airbnb or wherever you’re staying) and works wherever Maroc Telecom 4G reaches, including Essaouira and day trips. In remote dunes, coverage becomes scarce: see phone signal in the Moroccan desert. Book a router.

## Dressing in Morocco: frequently asked questions

Read next

- 10 unforgettable things to do in Morocco

- Is Morocco safe for tourists?

- What to expect during Ramadan in Morocco

Unlimited 4G on the Maroc Telecom network, delivered free in Marrakech, no subscription.

## FAQ

**What should I wear in Essaouira?**
The same as elsewhere in Morocco for the medina (shoulders and knees covered), plus a warm layer: the average August high is only 22.4 °C (NOAA 1991-2020 normals) and the trade winds blow hard. A windbreaker, long trousers and a scarf against blowing sand are the most useful items.

**Can tourists wear shorts in Morocco?**
Knee-length shorts are fine in tourist cities and on the coast, especially for men. Short shorts stand out in medinas and villages, where light trousers or a long skirt fit better and also protect you from the sun.

**Do female tourists have to cover their hair in Morocco?**
No. No rule requires visitors to wear a headscarf, and many Moroccan women don’t wear one. A scarf in your bag is still handy against sun or wind, and for entering a religious site if you wish.

**What is the dress code for the Hassan II Mosque?**
Clothing that covers shoulders and knees, according to the Routard guide (October 2026). You remove your shoes at the entrance and get a bag to carry them. Visits are by guided tour only.

**What should I wear for a night in the Sahara?**
By day, long light clothes and a shesh against sun and sand; at night, a fleece and a warm jacket. In January the average low is 2 °C in Errachidia, near Merzouga (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

**Can I wear a bikini in Morocco?**
Yes at hotel pools and on tourist beaches such as Agadir or Taghazout. On more family-oriented beaches, more covering swimwear is common, and in all cases you get dressed again before leaving the beach.


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