What To Wear In Morocco • ULTIMATE Clothing For Morocco Packing List (2024)

Morocco is a great destination to visit during any month of the year. If you have plans to visit Moroccosoon and have no idea what to pack for Morocco, you’re not alone. Before we went, I had no idea what to wear in Morocco, the appropriate clothing, the weather, or what I could buy there.

We spent six weeks there, and I gathered insight into what travelers needed toadhere to a typical Morocco dress code. Of course, Morocco has no “dress code” like at a Catholic school. However,conservative dress in an Arabic culture willgive you less unwanted attention and respect.

How Conservative is Morocco?

When thinking about what to wear in Morocco, you’re probably wondering 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 to this 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 does not enter locals’ everyday lives.

What to Wear in Morocco

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. If women are after an affordable, cute sandal, check out the Sanuk Yoga Sling. We spend 90% of our time in a pair of sandals traveling around Morocco. We only opt for our shoes in specific city neighborhoods with dirty streets and hikes in the Rif and Atlas Mountains.

Breathable Shoes

It’s best to bring a pair of breathable shoes to walk around Morocco. The heat in Northern Africa and Morocco can be very intense. If you don’t want yourfeet 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.

Lightweight Long Sleeve Shirt

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

Linen is an excellent option as it has a timeless look for your trip. Pair a linen shirt with sandals, shorts, jeans, or shoes. It will always work. It’s an article of versatile clothing that looks good for 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.

Short Sleeve Shirt

A classic tee will never go out of style and should be essential when considering what to wear in Morocco. A Merino wool shirt is a worthy investment and one of the best pieces of travel clothes. 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.

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. We love the quality and ease of ordering from Bombas if you’re after a classic cotton tee.

Travel Pants

We always recommend you travel with pants, which are better for more formal and conservative occasions. Not to mention, it’s nice when there is a chill in the air. PrAna’s Summit Pants are made of recycled nylon stretch fabric for women, offering 50+ UPF protection. Another excellent option for women or men is the Coalatree Trailhead pants.

For male travelers, after a pair of pants that can go anywhere and do anything, 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 my daily pants for life and travel.

Down Jacket

While we may have just mentioned some items for hot weather, Morocco also sees cold weather. We consider a down jacket a staple men’s and women’s travel clothing item. A jacket to keep warm at night is necessary if you plan to take a trip to the Sahara desert. The average nighttime temperature in the Saharan desert is -4 C or 25 F. Yes, it’s that cold! I know it’s the desert, but believe me when I say the temperature will plummet at night. Another popular cold destination is Chefchaouen, the famous blue city in the Rif Mountains.

We recommend you check 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 jacketto Morroco. The Patagonia Down Sweater is a classic down jacket if you’re after an easy recommendation.

Windbreaker

If you plan to go to 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. We have several recommendations for travel jackets in this post. However, a light windbreaker that doesn’t take up much room is best for Morocco. A couple of great recommendations are from Cotopaxi, Arc’teryx, and Lululemon.

Travel Shorts

Morocco receives some seriously hot weather. You’ll want some shorts for your trip. They’re also easy to pack as they take 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. With the hot temperatures,

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 side of conservative with their short choice. Local women do not wear shorts at all.

Sundress

For a more girly look in Morocco, try wearing a cute dress for walking around the Ancient sites and snapping photos. I loved wearing light and flowy dresses in Morocco, 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 resembles Morocco’s climate and culture.

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.

Sunglasses

Ensure to protect your eyes from the sun in Morocco since the sun reflects off the desert landscape and buildings. There are many sunglasses options, and everyone should own at least a pair. It’s best to ensure they have UV protection for the health of your eyes.

We first invested in quality polarized sunglasses with a pair of SMITH Optics Lowdown 2. Not everyone needs to invest $150 in sunglasses; however, we love ours and will never buy cheap ones again. Our first trip to Morocco was with $5 pairs from the side of the road.

A Good Sunhat

If you are considering what to pack for Morocco, I recommend picking a stylish sunhat! You’ll want some hats for walking around in the hot sun all day. Unlike the classic fez above, I’d recommend a hat with a brim. If you’re traveling around much of Africa, we have some great recommendations on safari hats that serve many functions.

Buff Headband

I love my buff. I usually wear it to keep my hair back when it’s sweltering, but it’s also served its purpose as a scarf and wet rag too. Buffs last for years and aren’t only helpful in Morocco. It’s been one of my top travel accessory investments ever!

Scarf, shemagh, Or Bandana

Morocco is conservative, and you may want a headscarf for some religious sites. They are lightweight and easy to travel with, so there is no reason not to have a scarf or shawl. 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 scarfhelpsnegate the attention. It also serves as a superb protection from desert winds and dust.

Travel Towel

We always recommend bringing a travel towel when you’re on the road, and 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 take a hike, having a towel in your day bag never hurts. Consider a towel an essential Morocco packing list item.

The biggest complaint about travel towels is that they often feel nothing like the plush cotton towels at home and in hotels. However, with the PackTowl, you can forget that because they set out to create atowel that mimics its cotton counterparts with the technical features of a travel towel.

Accessories To Pack For Morocco

Hand Sanitizer

Walking around and participating in everyday activities in Morocco can get pretty dirty. It was also areoccurring 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.

Sunscreen

Skin cancer is for real! Don’t forget 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, and 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. They’re mineral-based and usually only cost a few dollars more to help protect our oceans. If you’re not going to swim in the sea, go with a reliable name brand.

Electrolyte Tablets

Dehydration in Morocco is a genuine concern. Electrolyte tablets should get your body back to normal should you fall sick. You may not need a whole bottle, so take a few in a bag or pill holder to save luggage space.

Pillow and Sheets

It is not necessary 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.

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. Or you can check out some of our favorite day packs here.

What Electronics To Pack For Morocco

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; yes, they are even used as our 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.

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. Here, you can read about our favorite cameras for travel cameras.

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.

Travel Adapter

Remember that Morocco uses theEuroplug. Make sure 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.

Kindle Paperwhite

While I love having a good book when I travel, sometimes it’s not practical because of the weight. I’ve recently switched to a Kindle Paperwhite, which is small and compact, plus it has a backlight for reading at night without a harsh glare. The Paperwhite version is excellent as it mimics an actual book, so you can read it in the intense sun.

MOROCCO TRAVEL TIPS

Hopefully, this post helped you decide what to wear in Morocco. For more of our travel articles around Morocco, see below.

• 16 Morocco Travel Tips Tips To Know Before You Go
• 35 Fun and Interesting Facts About Morocco
• Experiencing Chefchaouen: The Picturesque Blue City Morocco
• When is the Best Time to Visit Morocco?