What To Wear In Morocco • Ultimate Clothing for Morocco Packing List

Morocco is a great destination to visit during any month of the year. If you have plans to visit soon and have no idea what to pack for Morocco, you’re not alone. We spent a couple of months traveling around the country and are here to share insight into packing and clothing strategies for the country.

There are no hard and fast rules. However, conservative dress in Arabic culture will attract less unwanted attention and respect. Most visit the country in the winter when the weather is comfortable and mild, with warm days and cool evenings. Loose and light clothing that covers the skin is the best way to pack and will keep you the most comfortable.

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How Conservative is Morocco?

When thinking about what to wear in Morocco, you probably wonder what is culturally appropriate. Tourists have their dress code at the tourist sites. Places like the Marrakech and Fez see shorts, tight pants, high heels, and short dresses. However, as soon as you step out of these tourist sites and into the streets, you’ll see women in hijabs and abayas, and men in traditional djellaba.

We recommend you dress to match the culture as a guest in their country. We view it as a sign of respect. It means no short shorts, short dresses, tight dresses, or cleavage showing. If you do decide to dress provocatively, you’ll feel more out of place than if you didn’t, especially in Morocco. As a woman, I noticed men tend to stare even in loose pants and a loose, long-sleeved shirt. (Granted, it could be my blonde hair.)

We suggest the middle ground for the dress. Women don’t need to wear a headscarf, but a low-cut shirt or tight leggings may not be the best idea. Dressing cute, comfortably, and modestly is straightforward without disrespecting or offending cultural norms. Keeping your knees and shoulders covered is best as a sign of respect.

The exception is at the beach or hotel pools. Here, it’s perfectly acceptable to wear bathing suits, cover-ups, and shorts. It’s a tourist spot, and it does not enter locals’ everyday lives. We have more tips on travel around Morocco in another article on our website.

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What to Wear

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Sandals

Many people wear sandals in Morocco, which are great for hot destinations. You don’t want to live in your shoes your whole trip, and sandals are perfect for letting your feet breathe. A good pair of sandals is great for being comfortable on long travel days and under the hot sun of Northern Africa.

I love to travel with Tevas, which get me through anything and are great for walking comfort. Check out the Sanuk Yoga Sling if you are after an affordable, cute sandal. We spend 90% of our time in a pair of sandals traveling around. We only opt for our shoes in specific city neighborhoods with dirty streets and hikes in the Rif and Atlas Mountains.

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Breathable Shoes

It’s best to bring a pair of lightweight shoes. The heat in Northern Africa and Morocco can be very intense. If you don’t want your feet always to feel sweaty, we recommend you wear breathable shoes. Most travelers will appreciate the protection of shoes over sandals, as the medina streets can be dirty. We love Allbird Tree Runners and ON Cloud 5 sneakers for hot-weather destinations. Allbirds are sustainable shoes that are highly versatile with outfits. At the same time, the ON Cloud sneakers are super comfortable trainers.

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Lightweight Long Sleeve Shirt

We like to pack a combination of long and short-sleeved shirts. Long sleeves are great for sun protection, and we wore them on desert walks in the Sahara or Atlas Mountains. Synthetic materials are popular for sunshirts, but organic materials like hemp, linen, or rapeseed are other options.

Linen is an excellent option for your trip as it has a timeless look. Pair a linen shirt with sandals, shorts, jeans, or shoes. Linen is versatile clothing that looks good on both sexes and works at the beach, museum, archaeological site, or restaurant. It’s tough to find decent linen shirts online, but I love the quality of Everlane linen shirts. If you prefer a technical shirt, check out these safari shirts for travel in Africa.

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Short Sleeve Shirt

A classic tee will never go out of style and should be essential when considering what to wear in Morocco. We suggest you keep it simple when it comes to tees. No one needs a fancy designer tee as a base layer. Cameron prefers the grey as it’s easy to stain the white ones. Wool shirts stay fresh longer and do an excellent job at temperature management. I’ve tested a lot of wool shirts out, and my favorite for travel so far is from Unbound Merino.

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Travel Pants

While the weather was warm during the day, we spent plenty of time in pants. We always recommend traveling with a pair of pants as they are better for more conservative environments like visiting a mosque or a nice meal out.

Natasha loves the PrAna’s Summit Pants for travel around Africa and the Mediterranean. They are made from recycled nylon stretch fabric and offer 50+ UPF protection. Coalatree Trailhead pants are another excellent option for women or men. We love that they have cuffed ankles that resist dirty streets.

For male travelers, it’s nearly impossible to beat the Western Rise Evolution Pants. The technical fabric allows the pants to breathe, stretch, and resist stains and wrinkles. As a significant bonus, they’re super comfortable and have become Cameron’s daily pants for life and travel—perfect for traveling around the country.

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Down Jacket

While we may have just mentioned some items for hot weather, Morocco also experiences cold weather. If you plan to travel to the Sahara desert, you will need a jacket to keep warm at night. The average nighttime temperature in the Saharan desert is -4 C or 25 F. Yes, it’s that cold! Another popular destination with cold weather is Chefchaouen in the Rif Mountains.

We recommend checking the climate and season before you head off on your trip. If you travel around Morocco extensively, you’ll most likely encounter a few cold evenings. During the high season, we recommend you bring a packable down jacket to Morocco. The Patagonia Down Sweater is a classic down jacket if you’re after an easy recommendation.

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Windbreaker

If you plan to visit some coastal cities, a light windbreaker or fleece jacket will help, especially in the winter. We always travel with a lightweight jacket, as even planes can be cold. However, a light windbreaker that doesn’t take up much room is best.

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Travel Shorts

Morocco receives some seriously hot weather. You can learn more about the weather in our article about the best time to visit. You’ll want some shorts for your trip. They’re also easy to pack, taking up less space in your luggage, and can be easily washed. We love to have a pair of shorts for days out exploring ancient ruins, hikes, or early morning runs. We have two recommendations for travel shorts.

Men can check out the Western Rise Evolution Shorts; they’re super comfortable, lightweight, and have fantastic features like zippered security pockets. Tash loves her Lululemon Cinchable Waist Shorts. Wear whatever suits your style, but we recommend women air on the conservative side with their short choice. Locals, for the most part, do not wear shorts at all.

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Sundress

Wear a cute dress for a more feminine look. I loved wearing light and flowy dresses, but they needed not to be too revealing. Dresses past the knee with no cleavage or shoulders showing are ideal. One of my favorites for this trip is the Scotch & Soda Safari Dress. It’s perfect for Morocco and all-around Africa travel! What I love about these pieces is that they are specifically made for travel and are anti-wrinkle. The photo is from a recent trip to Egypt, but it’s a similar climate and culture.

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Swimsuit

Just because you’re in a Muslim country doesn’t mean you can’t wear a bathing suit at your riad or the beach. I would recommend bringing one for the summer months. Especially if your hotel has a pool, you will go to coastal towns like Essaouira or surf in Taghazout.

For women, Tasha’s favorite bathing suits lately have been made by Andie Swim. Cameron loves Quicksilver’s Amphibian shorts. The material looks like heavy cotton, but they’re lightweight and durable. Best of all, they look great on the beach or in town.

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Sunglasses

Morocco has a lot of sunshine, and you’ll need sunglasses to protect your eyes. We’ve had our Smith Chromapop sunglasses for a while and can’t recommend them enough. The Chromopop lens technology is like seeing the world with fresh eyes. They enhance contrast, reduce glare, and reflect light for superb vision while driving, walking around town, or out on the water.

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A Good Sunhat

If you are considering what to pack for Morocco, I recommend picking a stylish sunhat! You’ll want hats for walking around in the hot sun all day, and I recommend a hat with a brim. We have some great recommendations if you’re traveling around much of Africa.

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Scarf, shemagh, Or Bandana

Morocco is conservative, and you may want a headscarf for some religious sites. Scarves and shawls are lightweight and easy to travel with, so there is no reason not to have one. They are always good to have when you need to cover your head before walking into a Mosque. I also like wearing scarves around my head while just walking around. As a blonde, I tend to get unwanted attention, and a scarf helps negate the attention. It also serves as a superb protection from desert winds and dust.

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Travel Towel

We always recommend bringing a travel towel when you’re on the road; Morocco is no exception. You’ll often need your towel if you plan on staying in hostels or more budget accommodation. Also, if you head to the beach or want to hike, having a towel in your day bag never hurts. Consider a towel an essential Morocco packing list item.

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Accessories To Pack For Morocco

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Hand Sanitizer

Walking around and participating in everyday activities in Morocco can get pretty dirty. It was also a recurring theme to find hand soap nowhere. Traditional dining in Morocco is with your hands and bread, although you’ll find cutlery at most establishments that cater to tourists. You can’t go wrong with bringing some hand sanitizer and eco-friendly baby wipes in your bag.

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Sunscreen

Skin cancer is for real! Remember your SPF when traveling around Africa, as you’re close to the Equator. We recommend ordering some online before leaving the house, as you will need it underneath the African sun. It can be tough to find in grocery stores in Morocco (and when you do find it, the pricing will be insane). We highly recommend getting an eco-friendly sun cream that does not contain harmful chemicals.

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Pillow and Sheets

It is unnecessary when packing for Morocco, but it comes in handy when you get to a room and find the conditions less desirable. A sleeping bag liner or a sleeping bag also does a great job! If you plan to backpack around Morocco and stay in hostels, it’s a good idea to pack this.

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Daypack

Our daypack was handy every day in Morocco. You’ll need something to stash your photography gear, hand sanitizers, papers, phones, and anything else for a full day out when traveling. Our favorite daypack as photographers is the Peak Design Everyday Backpack.

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Electronics

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Smartphone

We live in a digital age, and I hate to say this, but our phones are our lifelines in Africa. They are our maps, news sources, and online social lives; they are even used as telephones to get around. It is a fact that if you are in Marrakech or Fez, then you will get lost in the medina.

Forget to ask any local for directions without paying them some tip. So, don’t forget your phone to help you get around. When we get to a new country, we always get a local SIM card and top it up with data and airtime to call the local numbers in case of emergencies. Data is cheap in Morocco, and it was nice to stay connected.

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Camera

A high-quality camera is an essential packing item for Morocco if you want some great shots during your vacation. We travel with many cameras, but the one we recommend to everyone who wants to take their photography seriously is the Fujifilm X-T4.

Please note that drones are not allowed in Morocco. We’ve heard many stories of travelers having them confiscated at points of entry, so we wouldn’t recommend taking any chances or messing with the Moroccan authorities.

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Travel Adapter

Remember that Morocco uses the Europlug. Ensure you find a suitable electrical adapter like the one I have to keep you charged. Otherwise, you may be paying for a cheap one once you land. I would recommend getting a good one online before arriving. Finding a decent travel adapter for a reasonable price can be tough when you’re likely already running low on juice.

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