Best Time to Visit Morocco: Month by Month for Marrakech, the Atlas and the Coast

The short answer

For most travellers, the best months are March to May and September to November. Days are warm, nights are comfortable, and everything is open. If you can only choose one, April and October are hard to beat.

Summer is very hot in Marrakech and in the interior. It can still work, with early starts and a pool, but it is not the best season for walking in the medina or for the desert in daytime. Winter is cooler and quieter. Days are often sunny and nice, but nights are cold, and the mountains have snow.

• Best overall: April, May, October.
• Best for the mountains and waterfalls: April to June.
• Best for the desert: October to April.
• Best for the coast: May to October.
• Best for lower prices and fewer crowds: January, February, early July and late August.
• Hardest months for heat: July and August.

Month by month in Marrakech

January

Cool, often sunny days, with temperatures typically between 15 and 20 degrees, and cold nights near 5 degrees. A good time for low prices and empty sights. Bring warm clothes for the evening. The Atlas peaks have snow, and the view from the city can be superb on clear days.

February

Similar to January, slightly warmer. Almond trees begin to bloom in some valleys. A good month for city visits and for the mountains if you do not mind the cold.

March

Spring begins. Days are pleasant, the countryside is green, and the sky is clear. Rain is possible, but usually short. Good for everything, but nights remain cool.

April

One of the best months. Warm but not hot days, flowers and green fields, mountain rivers full from melting snow. Easter and school holidays can bring crowds, so book ahead.

May

Warm, sunny and still comfortable, though afternoons can reach the high twenties or thirties. Excellent for the mountains and waterfalls. The roses of the Dades valley bloom around this time, and the festival season in the south begins.

June

Hot in Marrakech and getting hotter. Mornings and evenings are lovely. This is a good time for the coast and the mountains, which are cooler.

July and August

The hottest months, with temperatures often above 38 degrees, and sometimes more than 40. Plan your day around the heat: sights in the early morning, rest at midday, evening walks. Desert activities are best at sunset or sunrise only. Many visitors prefer the coast and mountains at this time. Prices are often lower in Marrakech, and the city is quieter.

September

Still hot at the start, but the heat eases through the month. A lovely time on the coast. Good prices, and fewer crowds than spring.

October

Warm days and cooler nights, clear light, and the return of comfortable walking weather. One of the best months for the desert, with balloon flights and sunset dinners at their finest.

November

Pleasant days, cooler evenings, and a quieter city before the winter holiday season. The mountains start to get cold. A good time for city breaks.

December

Mild days and cold nights. Christmas and New Year are busy times for hotels and for desert trips, so book early. If you want snow in the Atlas, December and January are the main months.

The desert: when to go

The Agafay desert is at its best from October to April. In those months, the desert is comfortable by day, and the evenings are cool and clear. In winter, evenings can be cold, with a strong wind, so a warm layer is essential. The contrast of a stony landscape with snow-capped mountains behind it is spectacular in winter and early spring.

In July and August, the Agafay desert is very hot in the middle of the day. Sunset dinners and early morning balloon flights are still possible and enjoyable, because the temperature drops, but we do not recommend daytime activities such as quad and buggy in the hottest hours.

For the sand dunes of Merzouga, the same applies in a stronger form: spring and autumn are ideal, and summer is extremely hot.

The mountains and waterfalls: when to go

The High Atlas is at its most beautiful in spring, when the rivers are full and the valleys are green. The Ouzoud Waterfalls are at their strongest from March to June. In late summer, the flow is lower, but the surrounding shade is welcome in the heat.

The Ourika Valley is popular all year, and especially in summer, when Marrakech residents go there to escape the heat. On weekends it can be very busy. Go on a weekday if you can.

In winter, the peaks have snow and the temperature is cold. Roads over high passes can be affected after heavy snowfall, so always check before you go.

The coast: when to go

Essaouira and the Atlantic coast are the opposite of Marrakech. In summer, when the interior is baking, the coast is windy and fresh. The wind, known as the alizé, is strong, especially in the afternoon, and makes the town a world-famous place for kitesurfing and windsurfing. For beach days it can be too windy, but for walking in the town, eating fish and watching the sunset it is delightful.

Spring and autumn are mild and pleasant. Winter can be rainy and grey, and the ocean is rough, although the town has a charm of its own.

Festivals, Ramadan and public holidays

The timing of Ramadan changes each year, because the Islamic calendar follows the moon, moving about eleven days earlier in the Gregorian calendar every year. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Visitors are welcome, but daytime opening hours change, some restaurants are closed at lunchtime, and the evenings, after sunset, are full of life and shared meals. It is a different but rich way to see the country. Check the dates for the year of your trip.

Eid al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha are national holidays. Many shops close for a few days, public transport is full, and prices for transport can be higher. Plan around them if you can.

Several festivals take place throughout the year, including music events in Essaouira and Marrakech and cultural festivals in the south. Check dates, as they change.

Crowds, prices and booking

The high seasons are spring, from March to May, the autumn weeks around October, and the Christmas and New Year period. In those periods, hotels fill up, and the most popular activities, such as balloon flights and sunset dinners, need to be booked in advance.

The low seasons are the winter months, except the Christmas and New Year weeks, and the hot summer months. You will find lower prices and fewer people at the sights. Weather is the trade-off.

Temperatures at a glance

These are typical ranges, not forecasts. Years differ, and the weather in the Atlas and on the coast can differ a lot from the city.

• Marrakech in January: days around 17 to 19 degrees, nights near 5.
• Marrakech in April: days around 25 to 27, nights around 12.
• Marrakech in July: days often 37 to 40, nights around 22 to 24.
• Marrakech in October: days around 27 to 29, nights around 14 to 16.
• Essaouira in July: days around 24 to 26, with a steady wind.
• Atlas villages in July: days 25 to 30, cool nights. In January often below freezing at night.

If you are sensitive to heat, treat anything above 35 degrees as a day to plan around, and anything above 40 as a day to take it very slowly.

How the seasons change what you can do

In the city

Everything is open all year. In summer, schedules shift, with morning visits and a long afternoon pause. In winter, you can walk all day in comfort, but evenings are chilly. The best light for photographs in the medina is soft winter and spring morning light.

In the desert

Balloon flights run most of the year, but are cancelled in strong wind or poor visibility. Quad and buggy rides are more pleasant in cooler months. Sunset dinners are lovely all year with the right clothes.

In the mountains

Walking is best from April to June and September to October. Winter brings snow, a different beauty, and some risk on high roads. Summer is for shade, rivers and altitude.

On the coast

Summer is the season for the sea, with cool air and wind. Spring and autumn have mild, bright days. Winter can have big waves and rain, and some businesses reduce their hours.

School holidays, public holidays and crowds

European school holidays at Easter, in summer and at Christmas fill hotels and activities. Moroccan holidays, including Eid, the Throne Day on 30 July and the Green March day in November, bring domestic travellers to popular places such as Ourika and Ouzoud.

If you travel during a busy period, book early, plan early starts, and keep your schedule simple. If you travel in a quiet period, you may need to check that your favourite restaurant or guesthouse is open, as some close for maintenance in the low season.

Sample trips by season

Spring: five days

Two days in the medina and gardens, one day in the mountains with a village lunch, one day for a balloon flight and a sunset dinner, and one day for Essaouira. Spring light and green hills make everything look good.

Summer: four days

Mornings in the medina, afternoons by the pool, evenings at Jemaa el-Fna. One day in the Ourika valley or Ouzoud for cooler air, and one day on the coast. Avoid midday activities.

Autumn: five days

Balanced days of walking and rest, one day in the Agafay desert, one day on the Road of Kasbahs, and a hammam to finish.

Winter: four days

A relaxed city stay, a day trip to see snow-capped mountains, a sunset in the desert with warm clothes, and an afternoon at a hammam. Good prices, quiet streets.

What the best time means for you

The best time depends on what you value most. Here is a simple way to choose.

If you hate heat

Choose December to March. Days are mild, and the city is quiet. Bring warm clothes for the evenings and the desert.

If you hate cold

Choose April to June, or September to October. Avoid July and August, unless you can stay near a pool.

If you hate crowds

Choose January, February, or the summer months for the city. In the mountains and waterfalls, choose weekdays outside school holidays.

If you want good photographs

Choose October to April for clear air, and early morning or late afternoon for the warm light. For flowers and green fields, March and April are best.

If you want to see everything in one trip

Choose April, May, October or early November. The weather is good for the city, the desert, the mountains and the coast.

Booking ahead: how early is early?

• Accommodation in the high season: two to three months ahead for the best riads.
• Balloon flights and sunset dinners: two to four weeks ahead in the high season.
• Day trips such as Ouzoud, Essaouira and the Atlas: a few days ahead, or a week in busy periods.
• Flights: as early as your plans allow, especially for Easter, summer and Christmas.

In low season, many things can be arranged a day or two before. If your plans are flexible, a short email to us a few days before arrival is usually enough.

A word about climate change and unusual weather

Weather in Morocco has become less predictable in recent years. Some winters are dry and mild, with little snow. Others are wet and cold. Heat waves have become more frequent in summer, and autumn storms can be stronger than before. This means that the general guidance above is a guide, not a promise.

Check a forecast before you travel, and again a couple of days before each excursion. Good operators will tell you honestly if a trip is not advisable, and will offer another day or another activity.

Best months for each of our tours

• Agafay sunset dinner: October to April for comfort, all year with warm clothes.
• Hot air balloon: October to April, with the clearest air and the best light. Weather decides on the day.
• Quad and buggy: October to May. In summer, early morning or evening only.
• Camel ride in the Palmeraie: all year, early morning or sunset in summer.
• Ourika Valley: all year, best April to June and September to October.
• Atlas 4x4 and village lunch: March to November.
• Ouzoud Waterfalls: March to June for the biggest water, all year for the scenery.
• Essaouira: all year, with the best weather from May to October.
• Road of Kasbahs: March to May and September to November. Check snow on the pass in winter.
• Marrakech city tours, gardens and hammam: all year, with early starts in summer.

If you tell us your dates, we will tell you honestly which tours are at their best and which would be better on another day.

Which month for which trip?

• City break with sights and food: March to May, October, November.
• Desert sunset and balloon flight: October to April.
• Hiking and waterfalls: April to June, and September to October.
• Beach and sea air: June to September on the coast.
• Skiing at Oukaimeden: January to March, depending on snow.
• Budget trip: January, February, early July, late August.
• Family holiday with children: April, May, October. Avoid the hottest weeks.
• Photography: October to April, when the air is clear and the light is soft.

Whatever the month, start your days early, drink plenty of water, and keep one layer in your bag. For packing advice, see our packing list guide.

Frequently asked questions