Best time to visit Morocco: month by month with climate table

Morocco dresses differently every month. In April the gardens of Marrakech smell of orange blossom, in May roses colour the valleys south of the Atlas, in August half of Marrakech escapes to the windy Atlantic coast, and in January the peaks of the High Atlas stand snow-white above red mud-brick villages. Pick the right time and you don’t just see “Morocco” – you see exactly the Morocco you dreamed of.

We travelled from 19 September to 6 October 2024 – Marrakech, Essaouira and the surf village of Imsouane. Marrakech was still properly warm, the Atlantic wind was blowing on the coast, and in the water at Imsouane a wetsuit made sense. That contrast between inland and coast is the single most important key to choosing when to go.

Here is the best time to visit Morocco month by month – with real climate data instead of gut feeling, the key festivals, Ramadan, the planning traps and the official, cheaper ways to book.

Best time to visit Morocco: four climate zones, four answers

“When is the weather good in Morocco?” can’t be answered with one month, because the country has four very different faces:

• Imperial cities and the interior (Marrakech, Fes, Meknes): hot, dry summers and mild winters with cool nights. Fes is much wetter than Marrakech.
• Atlantic coast (Essaouira, Agadir, Imsouane): balanced all year. In Essaouira, average daily highs only range from about 18 to 23 °C.
• Atlas Mountains: pleasant for hiking in summer, snow and frost at altitude in winter.
• Desert and the south (Ouarzazate, Draa Valley, Merzouga): extremely hot in summer, sunny winter days but nights around freezing.

Climate table: Morocco month by month

These are long-term averages (1991–2020) from weather stations, compiled from the climate tables on Wikipedia. They show averages – individual days can be much hotter or colder.

What the table tells you: Marrakech averages only around 29 rainy days a year, while Fes gets roughly twice as much rain. And in Ouarzazate, the gateway to the desert, temperatures below minus 5 °C have been recorded – a winter night in a desert camp without a warm sleeping bag isn’t an adventure, it’s an endurance test.

Best time to visit Morocco by type of trip

Morocco in spring (March to May)

For many, the most beautiful time. After the winter rain the country is green, the orange trees blossom in Marrakech, and days get warm without scorching. In May, the Dades Valley near Kelaat M’Gouna celebrates the rose harvest with a festival. In March it can still rain in Fes and the north, and snow often lingers at altitude in the Atlas. Easter and long European weekends are popular – book medina riads early.

Morocco in summer (June to August)

Inland it gets hot: Marrakech averages 38 °C in July, Ouarzazate 39 °C, the desert even more. Sightseeing only early in the morning and in the evening, with a midday siesta in a riad with a pool. The Atlantic coast is the escape – Essaouira averages 22 °C because the wind cools it. In June, Essaouira hosts the Gnaoua Festival: music all over town, but also full guesthouses and higher prices. Dates are published every year at festival-gnaoua.net.

Morocco in autumn (September to November)

Our own travel season, and for us the perfect one. In September Marrakech is still warm (33 °C on average); from October it’s pleasant. The sea is at its warmest after summer, the waves get stronger, and the desert becomes bearable again. In late November and early December the Marrakech International Film Festival takes place – hotels fill up faster then too.

Morocco in winter (December to February)

Lots of sun, few crowds – but don’t underestimate the cold. Marrakech averages around 19–21 °C by day but only 6–8 °C at night, and many riads have no central heating. It snows in the High Atlas, and the Oukaïmeden ski area south of Marrakech operates. Desert nights are frosty – only book a camp that offers warm blankets or heating. For Agadir and the south coast, winter is ideal: around 21–22 °C, sunshine, hardly any rain.

Ramadan in Morocco: travel or not?

Ramadan moves forward about eleven days each year. For 2027, astronomical projections expect it to begin around 8 February 2027; Morocco’s Ministry of Religious Affairs sets the official date only after the moon sighting. Travelling during Ramadan is possible and can be very special – the atmosphere at the evening breaking of the fast is unique. But some restaurants close during the day, opening hours change, and you should avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public out of respect. In tourist areas, hotels and many riads things run largely as normal.

Traps when choosing when to go to Morocco

• “Africa = always hot”: winter nights in the desert, the Atlas and even Marrakech are cold. Warm clothes and heated accommodation are essential in January.
• Desert tour in midsummer: going to Merzouga in July means many hours in the heat in a car. Spring or autumn is better.
• Underestimating the coast: the Atlantic is fresh and windy. Plan a wetsuit for surfing and swimming even in summer and autumn – we learned that in Imsouane.
• Missing festivals: the Gnaoua Festival, the film festival and holidays such as Eid al-Adha push up prices and occupancy. Check dates before booking.
• Booking tours from street sellers: “today only” prices for desert tours in the medina are rarely cheap and hardly ever refundable. Book directly with the operator or on platforms with free cancellation.
• Changing money at the airport counter: the dirham is a closed currency. Withdrawing at a bank ATM with a Wise card is usually cheaper than exchanging cash.
• Speed cameras: if you drive, expect frequent checks – especially just before and after villages. Stick exactly to the limit.

Checklist: best time to visit Morocco and planning

• ☐ Type of trip decided: round trip, city, coast, desert or Atlas
• ☐ Month chosen using the climate table (spring/autumn for round trips)
• ☐ Ramadan and public holiday dates checked
• ☐ Festivals considered (Gnaoua in June, film festival late Nov/early Dec)
• ☐ Entry requirements checked with your foreign ministry
• ☐ In winter: warm clothes, heated accommodation, desert camp with warm blankets
• ☐ In summer: coast instead of the interior, sightseeing early and late
• ☐ Wetsuit for surfing and swimming in the Atlantic
• ☐ Wise card for dirhams at ATMs
• ☐ Tours with free cancellation instead of street sellers

Best time to visit Morocco: FAQ