Things to bring when traveling to Morocco
Find out what to pack before leaving for Morocco. Knowing what to pack for travel to Morocco would be useful and save time.
Don’t spend hours googling what to pack for travel to Morocco, what I should wear, as a woman or a man, and trying to figure out what temperatures and activities I should prepare for. You don’t have hours to waste searching for your packing list in Morocco.
We want to simplify your search and give you not only a packing list in Morocco, but also answer: what should you wear in Morocco, especially as a woman? What should you bring if you go in winter? In summer?
What to wear in Morocco?
For men, there is not much to consider in terms of what to wear in Morocco. In summary, my advice would be:
- Jeans and a t-shirt are fine.
- Long shorts (sorry SoCal hipsters) and t-shirts are acceptable in warmer regions, but shorts are sometimes considered underwear. Bring them, but follow local guidelines.
- Don’t dress like a hobo / Aladdin / etc. This could either get you unwanted attention (like “hey, hey, hash?”) or just make you laugh.
For women, you will need to make sure you wear culturally appropriate clothing while traveling in Morocco. However, even though Morocco is predominantly Muslim, it is more relaxed than some of its neighbors to the east, and most of the major tourist sites have become accustomed to foreigners and their style. Nevertheless, be respectful of the culture and:
- Cover your shoulders and leave the strapless tops at home.
- At least cover your knees. In rural areas, full length is even better.
- You don’t need to cover your head, but bring a scarf to visit mosques.
- I know that short shorts and short tops are in fashion, but leave them at home.
Loose-fitting pants and tunics are fantastic for traveling in Morocco, especially if you’re there during a warmer month (more on that later).
If you plan to visit in April, you can wear a t-shirt, light sweater, loose jeans, a scarf and flip-flops most of the time. If I didn’t wear the scarf, it was at least in my bag just in case.
My final word on this is that, technically, you could totally walk around in shorts and a tank top in Marrakech’s Djema el Fnaa square or any other tourist area – but that will get you the attention you don’t want, and it’s not that respectful.
Morocco is already pretty relaxed (compared to other Muslim nations) when it comes to female tourists wearing skin, so don’t overdo it.
Things to Bring Traveling to Morocco by Season
December through February are the coldest months of the year in Morocco – and it is cold. You’ll see snow on top of the mountains, and the Sahara can get very cold at night (if you plan to go on an overnight camel ride, which you should definitely do!).
Spring and fall are good times to go, when things have warmed up a bit, but haven’t quite reached the brutal heights of summer. Because Morocco is an arid climate, temperatures tend to drop after sunset throughout the year, much like the climate in California.
If you travel to Morocco in winter…
Bring a jacket, closed shoes and wool socks and hat. If you are heading to the coast, make sure that jacket is a windbreaker. If you plan to camp or stay in very rustic accommodations, consider bringing your own sleeping bag (ideally a small bag).
If you have more questions about traveling in Morocco, check out our frequently asked questions page.
