# Best time to visit Morocco: weather by month and region, plus Ramadan 2027

> The best time to visit Morocco is March to May and September to November. Weather month by month for Marrakech, the Sahara and the coast, plus Ramadan 2027.

- URL: https://traypass.app/blog/best-time-to-visit-morocco
- By: Gonzalo Fuentes, Traypass
- 2026-11-01
- [es](https://traypass.app/es/blog/mejor-epoca-para-viajar-a-marruecos) · [fr](https://traypass.app/fr/blog/quand-partir-au-maroc) · [de](https://traypass.app/de/blog/beste-reisezeit-marokko) · [it](https://traypass.app/it/blog/quando-andare-in-marocco) · [ja](https://traypass.app/ja/blog/morocco-best-season)

## In short

- The best months overall are **March to May** and **September to November**: Marrakech at 74–85°F (24–29°C) in spring, desert heat that is still bearable.
- **Summer** is very hot inland (Marrakech averages 100°F / 38°C in July, the desert side of the Atlas a few degrees more) but mild on the Atlantic coast.
- **Winter** is sunny and cool in the cities, with desert nights close to freezing and snow on the High Atlas.
- **Ramadan 2027** starts around **February 8** and ends around March 8 or 9, depending on the moon. Sights stay open; daytime eating slows down.

The best time to visit Morocco is spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November), when Marrakech, the imperial cities and the desert are all comfortable at once. Morocco has a coast, a desert and mountains over 13,000 feet, so “good weather” depends on where you are going: summer suits the coast, winter the cities and the snow.

The figures below are the official 1991–2020 averages of Morocco’s national weather service, published by the World Meteorological Organization, and the dates for Ramadan and the festivals are the ones known on October 31, 2026.

- Best months: Mar–May, Sep–NovMarrakech 74–85°F (24–29°C) by day in spring

- Marrakech in July: 100°F38°C on average by day; nights stay near 69°F (21°C)

- Desert nights in January: 36°F2°C on average at Errachidia, nearest station to the dunes

- Ramadan 2027: About Feb 8To about March 9, depending on the moon

## Marrakech through the year

Marrakech is warm from March, hot from June to September, and pleasant again in October and November. Winter is sunny and mild by day, but cold at night.

**Average high (Marrakech)**

1.  66 — J
2.  69 — F
3.  74 — M
4.  78 — A
5.  85 — M
6.  92 — J
7.  100 — J
8.  99 — A
9.  90 — S
10.  83 — O
11.  74 — N
12.  68 — D

Best monthsToo hot or cold for some°F

1991–2020 averages, Moroccan weather service via WMO

These are averages. A heat wave can push May or October well past 95°F (35°C), and a wet week can turn up in November or March: Marrakech gets about 9 inches (220 mm) of rain a year, most of it from November to April.

![The Koutoubia minaret in Marrakech with the snow-capped Atlas mountains behind it](/_astro/marrakech-atlas.CZQQqbXO_Z8zFsg.webp)[Paul Macallan · Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/CFKksjYRSQ8?utm_source=traypass&utm_medium=referral)

## Region by region

Each part of Morocco has its own season: Marrakech and the cities in spring and autumn, the desert from October to April, the mountains for walking in late spring and early autumn, and the Atlantic coast in summer.

### Marrakech and the imperial cities

Marrakech, Fes, Meknes and Rabat share the same rhythm, with Fes cooler and wetter in winter and Rabat, on the coast, milder all year. In July and August Marrakech averages about **99 to 100°F (37 to 38°C)**, and the medina’s lanes hold the heat: plan around a long midday break.

From December to February, days of 66 to 69°F (19 to 21°C) feel lovely in the sun, and the Atlas behind the city is white. Nights fall to around **43°F (6°C)**, though, and many riads are built for summer, not for heating. Ask whether yours has heaters. Fes is about 5 degrees colder: highs near 61°F (16°C) in January, lows near 39°F (4°C).

![Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech at sunset, crowded with stalls and people](/_astro/jemaa-el-fna.Dowjk2IU_bm6Re.webp)[CALIN STAN · Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/7a_PHX91su8?utm_source=traypass&utm_medium=referral)

Fes is hot in summer too, with highs of 95°F (35°C) in July and August. April, May and October are the months to walk its medina.

![The Chouara tannery in Fes seen from a terrace: round stone vats of dye, workers among them, and hides hung to dry along a balcony](/_astro/fes-tanneries.CuPDcYNa_Z7dqIY.webp)[Adam Jang · Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/-SozMwzeVVA?utm_source=traypass&utm_medium=referral)

### The Sahara: Merzouga and Erg Chebbi

The dunes of Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga, are the trip most people come for, and the season matters most here: **October to April** is the window. The chart uses Errachidia, the official weather station nearest to the dunes, so expect the dunes themselves to feel a little hotter.

**Average high (Errachidia, near Merzouga)**

1.  61 — J
2.  65 — F
3.  72 — M
4.  79 — A
5.  87 — M
6.  96 — J
7.  103 — J
8.  101 — A
9.  91 — S
10.  80 — O
11.  69 — N
12.  62 — D

The desert seasonToo hot by day°F

1991–2020 averages, Moroccan weather service via WMO

From June to August, days pass 95°F (35°C) and reach 103°F (40°C) in July, so camel rides happen at dawn and dusk only. In December and January the afternoon is pleasant, but nights at camp average about 36 to 38°F (2 to 3°C) and can go lower: take a warm layer even if Marrakech felt like spring. March and April can bring wind and sandstorms.

![A caravan of camels and riders in silhouette crossing a dune in the Sahara, in a pale golden haze](/_astro/merzouga.D-2nkrn-_Zz5UGk.webp)[Dan Calderwood · Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/PBokKdfU7ic?utm_source=traypass&utm_medium=referral)

### The High Atlas and Toubkal

The best months for walking in the High Atlas are **May, June, September and October**. The range sits an hour or two from Marrakech, and Toubkal (13,671 feet, 4,167 m) is North Africa’s highest peak. In summer the valleys around Imlil are noticeably cooler than Marrakech.

Snow usually covers the high ground from about December to March, and the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Ouarzazate can close for a few hours after a storm. A winter ascent of Toubkal needs crampons, an ice axe and a guide.

![A man leading a mule loaded with bags along a stony trail in the High Atlas, with a green valley below and snow on the far peaks](/_astro/atlas.D8Ziwuob_ZT6HtD.webp)[Patrick Ogilvie · Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/lP3COOnx-Oc?utm_source=traypass&utm_medium=referral)

### The Atlantic coast: Essaouira and Agadir

The coast has the gentlest weather in the country, and it is the one place to be in July and August. Essaouira stays near 72°F (22°C) at the height of summer because a steady trade wind blows from about April to September: great for kitesurfing and a relief from inland heat, less so for lying on the beach.

Agadir is warmer and calmer, with highs of 70°F (21°C) in January, 81°F (27°C) in August and almost no rain from May to September. That is why Europeans go there in winter.

![Blue wooden fishing boats moored in Essaouira's harbor below the stone sea bastion, with gulls in the air](/_astro/essaouira.DoSC8iu-_Z2gmV3J.webp)[Rosa Ferreira · Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/M0p3ti5vgb4?utm_source=traypass&utm_medium=referral)

### Chefchaouen and the north

The north is the greenest and wettest part of Morocco. Tangier gets about 4.5 inches (115 mm) of rain a month in November and December, against almost none in July, and Chefchaouen, higher in the hills of the Rif, is often wetter and cooler. **Spring** is the best time, with the hills green. Summer is warm but not extreme: Tangier averages 85°F (29°C) in July, though Fes, farther south, is hot.

![The blue and white houses of Chefchaouen climbing a hillside, with terracotta roofs in the foreground](/_astro/chefchaouen.wx19IpC2_Z49Gwu.webp)[Pretty Pink · Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/NncAbldgViA?utm_source=traypass&utm_medium=referral)

## Ramadan 2027: dates and what changes

Ramadan 2027 starts around **February 8** and ends around March 8 or 9, and Morocco confirms each date only after the new moon has been sighted. It moves about 11 days earlier each year, so in 2027 it falls in winter, the quiet season.

Date in 2027

What

Note

About Feb 8 (or 9)

Ramadan begins

Announced after the moon sighting

About Mar 9 (or 10)

Eid al-Fitr

Ends Ramadan: a family holiday

About May 16 (or 17)

Eid al-Adha

The main holiday of the year

Morocco’s religious affairs ministry makes the announcements, so do not count on the day to the hour: leave a margin of one day on either side.

Traveling during Ramadan is fine, and many people enjoy it. What changes:

-   Many local cafés and restaurants close during the day. Hotel and tourist restaurants stay open.
-   Opening hours shorten, and some shops close in the afternoon.
-   At sunset, people break the fast (iftar), streets empty for half an hour, then fill up late into the night.
-   Avoid eating, drinking or smoking in the street by day; it is a matter of courtesy, not a rule for visitors.

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are family holidays: transport is busy, and many businesses close for a day or two. Eid al-Adha falls in mid-May 2027, in the middle of the best season, so book early if your trip crosses it.

![Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech at sunset, crowded with stalls and people](/_astro/jemaa-el-fna.Dowjk2IU_bm6Re.webp)[CALIN STAN · Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/7a_PHX91su8?utm_source=traypass&utm_medium=referral)

## Festivals worth timing a trip around

Most of Morocco’s big festivals are in late spring and early summer, and the organizers often set the exact days only a few months ahead. Check the festival’s own site before you book.

Festival

Where

When

Rose Festival

Kelaat M’Gouna

May, set by the harvest

Fes Festival of World Sacred Music

Fes

Early June (2026: June 4–7)

Gnaoua and World Music Festival

Essaouira

June 24–26, 2027 (reported)

Marrakech Film Festival

Marrakech

Late November (2026: Nov 20–28)

The Marrakech Film Festival is the one you can still catch this year: its 2026 edition runs November 20 to 28.

## The weather for your own dates

Averages tell you which month to pick. Once the dates are set, what you need is the forecast for the days you are actually there.

In Traypass, the Today screen charts the week ahead for the days of your trip, with each day’s high and low and a rain icon on the wet one. Higher up on the same screen are the day’s sunrise, sunset and hours of light, and if the forecast changes the app says so there: “More rain than expected: 1 wet day now.”

Below the weather, the same screen lists what is still to do and a Good to know card for Morocco: the dirham rate, which side of the road cars drive on, and the local police number. You can build the days themselves with the [itinerary planner](/itinerary-planner) and pack for the forecast with the [packing list](/packing-list).

![The Today screen in Traypass scrolled to The week, a chart of daily highs from 88° to 97° and lows from 66° to 72°, Saturday to Thursday, with a rain icon on Tuesday; below it, Still to do and a Good to know card for Morocco](/_astro/ma-today-weather-front.B410tAUD_Z101FDd.webp)

## Morocco month by month

Average daily highs, with the month’s verdict. Nights are colder: Marrakech lows are 43°F (6°C) in January and 69°F (21°C) in July, and in the desert they fall to 36°F (2°C) in January.

Month

Marrakech

Desert (Errachidia)

Coast (Agadir)

Verdict

January

66°F (19°C)

61°F (16°C)

70°F (21°C)

Cities and coast; cold nights

February

69°F (21°C)

65°F (18°C)

72°F (22°C)

Good; Ramadan in 2027

March

74°F (24°C)

72°F (22°C)

74°F (23°C)

Very good

April

78°F (26°C)

79°F (26°C)

74°F (23°C)

One of the best

May

85°F (29°C)

87°F (30°C)

76°F (24°C)

Very good; roses

June

92°F (34°C)

96°F (35°C)

78°F (26°C)

Coast and mountains

July

100°F (38°C)

103°F (40°C)

80°F (27°C)

Coast only

August

99°F (37°C)

101°F (38°C)

81°F (27°C)

Coast only

September

90°F (32°C)

91°F (33°C)

79°F (26°C)

Good from mid-month

October

83°F (28°C)

80°F (27°C)

79°F (26°C)

One of the best

November

74°F (23°C)

69°F (21°C)

75°F (24°C)

Very good; rain in the north

December

68°F (20°C)

62°F (17°C)

72°F (22°C)

Cities; snow in the Atlas

If you want everything on one trip (Marrakech, a night in the dunes and a few days on the coast), aim for April or October. If you only have the summer, spend it in Essaouira and the mountains, and leave the desert for another year.

## Before you go

On a US passport you need no visa for a stay of up to 90 days, and Morocco asks for a passport valid for at least six months on arrival. [What documents to carry](/blog/documents-needed-for-international-travel) lists the rest.

Morocco uses plug types C and E at 230 V: bring an adapter, and check that your charger accepts 230 V (phone and laptop chargers do; US hair dryers usually don’t). For a spring trip, [how to pack for a week in a carry-on](/blog/how-to-pack-for-a-week-in-a-carry-on) works well, with a warm layer for desert nights.

Morocco has stayed on Greenwich Mean Time all year since September 20, 2026, with no change for Ramadan: New York is 5 hours behind in winter and 4 in summer, and Madrid, Paris, Berlin and Rome are 1 hour ahead in winter and 2 in summer.

## Questions people ask

### What is the best month to visit Morocco?

April and October are the safest bets. Marrakech averages about 78°F (26°C) in April and 83°F (28°C) in October, the desert is warm rather than scorching, and the mountain roads are usually clear of snow. March, May, September and November are close behind.

### Is Morocco too hot in summer?

Inland, often yes. Marrakech averages 99 to 100°F (37 to 38°C) in July and August, and Errachidia, the official weather station nearest the dunes, averages 103°F (40°C) in July. The Atlantic coast is the exception: Agadir stays around 80°F (27°C) and Essaouira in the low 70s°F (about 22°C).

### Is it cold in Morocco in winter?

The days are mild and usually sunny in Marrakech (about 66 to 69°F, or 19 to 21°C), but nights drop to around 43°F (6°C), and riads can be chilly. In the desert, January nights average about 36°F (2°C). The High Atlas gets snow, and Toubkal becomes a winter climb with crampons.

### Can you visit Morocco during Ramadan?

Yes. Hotels, sights and transport keep running, and tourist restaurants in the cities stay open. Many local cafés close by day, opening hours shorten, and the evenings get lively after sunset. Eating and drinking in public during the day is best avoided out of courtesy. In 2027 Ramadan starts around February 8.

### When is the best time to see the Sahara in Morocco?

October to April, above all October, November, March and April. Days are warm enough for a camel ride and nights at camp are cool, not cold. In December and January bring a real jacket; from June to August the heat is hard going.

### Does Morocco change its clocks?

Not anymore. Since September 20, 2026, Morocco stays on Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0) all year, and the decree that made it switch for Ramadan was repealed. New York is 5 hours behind in winter and 4 in summer.

---

Plan this trip in Traypass. Free to plan a trip, pack it and share it. iPhone, iOS 26. https://apps.apple.com/app/id6806640640