Best time to visit Morocco: month by month and region by region

The best time to visit Morocco is from March to May and from late September to November. Days are warm without being hot, nights are cool, and you can combine Marrakech, the High Atlas and the Sahara in one trip without meeting either the summer heat or the winter snow. The rest of the year works too if you pick the right region: here are the official climate figures, region by region and month by month, from a team that drives to the desert every week.

The short answer

• Marrakech, the Atlas and the desert in one trip: March to May, and late September to November.
• The Sahara on its own: October to April.
• Trekking in the High Atlas: June to October.
• Fes and the north: April to June, September and October, between the wet winter and the summer heat.
• The Atlantic coast: all year; July to September for swimming.
• Think twice about: July and August inland, when afternoons reach 37 to 40 °C, and the week between Christmas and New Year unless you book months ahead.

Morocco's climate, region by region

Morocco runs from the Mediterranean to the Sahara, and the High Atlas, with peaks above 4,000 metres, cuts it in two. The figures below are the official 1991–2020 averages of Morocco's meteorological service, published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO): "max" is the average afternoon high, "min" the average low at night.

The Atlantic coast

Essaouira barely changes through the year: highs of 18 °C in January and 23 °C in September, nights between 11 and 18 °C, and about 300 mm of rain a year, almost none from June to August. The trade wind blows hard, especially in summer, which keeps the town cool and brings the windsurfers. Further south, Agadir and Taghazout are warmer, from 21 °C in January to 27 °C in August. Pack a jumper for the evenings in any season.

Marrakech and the plains

Average highs in Marrakech climb from 19 °C in January to 38 °C in July, and winter nights drop to about 6 °C. Most of the rain falls between November and March, on five or six days a month at most.

Fes and the north

The north is the wettest part of the country. Tangier gets about 115 mm of rain in each of November and December, spread over 10 or 11 days; Fes gets about 60 mm a month from December to March. Summers in Fes are hot, around 35 °C in July and August, while Tangier, on the sea, stays near 30 °C.

The High Atlas

The high peaks are usually under snow from about December to March, often into April. The Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), on the road from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and the desert, is sometimes closed by snow: in the snowy winter of 2025–26 it was shut several times, usually for a few hours until the ploughs had cleared it. In summer, villages such as Imlil, at about 1,740 metres, are the cool escape from Marrakech.

The pre-Sahara and the desert

South of the Atlas the air is dry: Ouarzazate and Errachidia get less than 25 mm of rain in any month. Winter days are pleasant, 16 to 17 °C in January, but nights fall to about 2 °C; in July, afternoons reach 39 to 40 °C. Errachidia is the nearest official weather station to Merzouga. The dunes of Erg Chebbi lie about 300 metres lower, so Merzouga is usually a little warmer, by day and by night.

Month by month at a glance

Month	Marrakech max / min	Desert (Errachidia) max / min	Rain in Fes	Our verdict
January	19 / 6 °C	16 / 2 °C	60 mm	Sunny days, cold nights, snow on the Atlas; quiet after New Year
February	21 / 8 °C	18 / 5 °C	54 mm	Winter sun in the south, almond blossom; Ramadan expected from about 8 February 2027
March	24 / 10 °C	22 / 9 °C	59 mm	Spring arrives, snow still on the peaks; Ramadan expected to end about 9 March
April	26 / 12 °C	26 / 13 °C	55 mm	One of the best months everywhere; busy over Easter
May	29 / 15 °C	30 / 17 °C	38 mm	Long warm days, roses in bloom; Eid al-Adha expected about 17 May 2027
June	34 / 18 °C	35 / 22 °C	11 mm	Hot inland, trekking season opens in the Atlas, Gnaoua festival in Essaouira
July	38 / 21 °C	40 / 26 °C	1 mm	The hottest month: coast and mountains, early starts in the south
August	37 / 21 °C	38 / 25 °C	5 mm	Still very hot, busy coast; total solar eclipse in the north on 2 August 2027
September	33 / 19 °C	33 / 20 °C	23 mm	The heat eases through the month; good for trekking
October	29 / 16 °C	27 / 14 °C	54 mm	Excellent almost everywhere; date harvest in the oases
November	23 / 11 °C	21 / 8 °C	66 mm	Mild days, quiet roads, the wettest month in Fes
December	20 / 7 °C	17 / 4 °C	62 mm	Short sunny days, cold desert nights; Christmas week books up early

Each month has its own guide, with the events, the crowds and what to pack:

• Winter: Morocco in December, in January and in February.
• Spring: Morocco in March, in April and in May.
• Summer: June, July and August share one guide, Morocco in summer.
• Autumn: Morocco in September, in October and in November.

The best time for what you want to do

• The Sahara (Merzouga, Zagora): October to April, with warm days and cold nights. In summer, afternoons pass 40 °C and camel rides move to dawn and dusk. Our season-by-season guide to the Sahara has the detail.
• Climbing Toubkal: June to October without snow; from December to March it becomes a winter ascent with crampons and an ice axe. See our guide to climbing Mount Toubkal. Spanish passport holders: Spain still advises against travel to Al Haouz province, which includes Imlil and Toubkal, since the 2023 earthquake, so check that advice and your insurance.
• Jebel Saghro: October to April; from June to September it is too hot to trek.
• The Valley of Roses: late April to mid-May, when the damask roses bloom around Kelaat M'Gouna.
• M'Goun: June to October; snow usually covers the summit from December to April.
• Surfing (Taghazout, Imsouane): the biggest waves come from October to April; summer is calmer and better for beginners.
• Skiing at Oukaïmeden: only in a snowy winter, ideally mid-January to February. The resort relies on natural snow and is being rebuilt with new lifts (the contract was awarded in June 2026, with completion planned for about the end of 2027), so check what is running before you pack skis.
• Cities and sightseeing: March to May and October to November, when you can walk the medinas all day.
• Swimming: July to September on the Atlantic, where the water reaches about 20 to 21 °C at best.

Weather in Marrakech by month

Almost every trip starts in Marrakech, so here is its year in figures, from the WMO's 1991–2020 normals:

Month	Average high	Average low	Rainy days
January	19 °C (66 °F)	6 °C (43 °F)	5
February	21 °C (69 °F)	8 °C (46 °F)	6
March	24 °C (74 °F)	10 °C (51 °F)	6
April	26 °C (78 °F)	12 °C (54 °F)	5
May	29 °C (85 °F)	15 °C (59 °F)	3
June	34 °C (92 °F)	18 °C (64 °F)	2
July	38 °C (100 °F)	21 °C (69 °F)	2
August	37 °C (99 °F)	21 °C (70 °F)	2
September	33 °C (91 °F)	19 °C (65 °F)	3
October	29 °C (83 °F)	16 °C (60 °F)	4
November	23 °C (74 °F)	11 °C (51 °F)	5
December	20 °C (68 °F)	7 °C (45 °F)	6

Summer afternoons average 37 to 38 °C, and hot spells push them higher. Winter nights fall to about 6 or 7 °C, and riads, built around open courtyards, are not always heated: ask before you book, and bring a warm layer for the evenings. The wettest months run from November to March, but even then it rains on only five or six days a month. For Marrakech alone, the best months are March to May and October to November; December to February is pleasant by day if you don't mind cold evenings.

Crowds, prices and holidays

The busiest weeks are Christmas to New Year and Easter (28 March in 2027), when European school holidays fill riads and desert camps. The second half of October comes next, with the French Toussaint and British half-term holidays. The quietest times are January after the first week, June, and the hottest weeks of summer in the south.

July and August have a rush of their own: Moroccans living abroad come home for the summer. Opération Marhaba, the state's welcome programme for them, starts around 10 June, and more than 700,000 had arrived by the end of June 2026, so the ferries from Spain, the roads and the coastal towns are busy all summer.

Prices follow demand. Riads and desert camps are dearest and fill first at Christmas, New Year and Easter, so book those dates months ahead, especially if you want a particular riad or a luxury camp.

Ramadan and the religious holidays

Ramadan 2027 is expected from about 8 February to 9 March, with Eid al-Fitr around 10 March; Eid al-Adha is expected around 17 May 2027. The exact dates depend on the sighting of the new moon, announced the evening before.

During Ramadan, Moroccans fast from dawn to sunset. Days are calmer, many local cafés close until evening, and monuments close earlier, while the evenings after the ftour, the meal that breaks the fast, are lively. Hotels and many restaurants in the tourist areas keep serving, but eating, drinking or smoking in the street by day can cause offence. Our guide to travelling in Morocco during Ramadan explains what changes. Eid al-Adha is a family festival: many shops and restaurants close for a day or two, and transport is full as people travel home.

One less thing to worry about: Morocco has been on GMT all year since 20 September 2026, so the clocks no longer change for Ramadan.

Our verdict

If you asked us over a glass of mint tea, this is what we would say:

• A first trip with the desert: April or October. Our 3-day Merzouga desert tour from Marrakech is at its best then.
• Winter sun: February and March, in the south and on the coast, keeping Ramadan in mind in 2027.
• Trekking: June or September in the High Atlas, October to April in the Saghro.
• Only free in July or August? It still works: start early, rest at midday, and give more of your days to the coast and the mountains.

FAQ

What is the rainiest month in Morocco?

It depends on the region. In the north, November and December: Tangier gets about 115 mm in each. In Marrakech, March is the wettest month, with about 35 mm. South of the Atlas it hardly rains at any time of year.

Is Morocco cold in winter?

Days are mild, 16 to 20 °C in Marrakech, Fes and the desert in December and January, but nights are cold: about 2 °C in the desert and 4 to 7 °C in Fes and Marrakech. Snow covers the High Atlas, so pack a warm jacket.

When is Morocco too hot?

In July and August inland: Marrakech averages 38 °C in the afternoon, Errachidia 40 °C, and hot spells go higher. The coast stays mild (about 22 °C in Essaouira, 27 °C in Agadir), and the mountains are cooler.

Send us your dates on WhatsApp: we will tell you honestly what the weather, the roads and the crowds will be like, and shape the route around them.