What to Wear as a Tourist in Morocco ?

What to Wear as a Tourist in Morocco?

What to Wear as a Tourist in Morocco? Your Comprehensive Guide to Traveling in Morocco, Covering Every Situation for Dressing as a Tourist in Morocco!

What to wear while visiting Morocco sounds like a simple question to answer. It’s really one of the most frequent inquiries I receive for private desert trips throughout Morocco, especially from female visitors. However, if you search the internet for “what to wear as a tourist in Morocco,” you’ll discover varying opinions and explanations.

There is no short and clear answer as to what may be deemed “suitable” clothes for travelers in Morocco, in my opinion, because there are subtle cultural differences as well as differences in tourists.

You WILL fit in and not “offend” any locals if you are actively researching how to dress when visiting Morocco, since this is a really good sign!

Several factors will determine what to wear in Morocco as a visitor. The weather may come first, followed by your destination, activity, and location. Finally, we’ll examine gender disparities in order to better comprehend what would be deemed appropriate clothes for visitors in Morocco.

The time of year you visit Morocco will determine what to pack for your trip.

One stereotype about Morocco’s climate is that it is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and moderate, wet winters. Morocco has two main seasons—summer and winter—along with two shorter transitional seasons—fall and spring.

Casablanca, Rabat, and Tangier come to mind as coastal cities where the summertime climate in Morocco is more mild and humid than the scorching, dry interior (think Fes, Marrakech and the Sahara region). In the winter, Morocco’s daytime temperatures may be pleasant everywhere, though they tend to be warmer towards the coasts. However, the country’s overnight temperatures, particularly in Fes, Marrakech, and the Sahara region, can be extremely chilly.

So, layering is the first piece of advice about what to wear while visiting Morocco. Any Moroccan season can use this. You may want to wear a few thin garments in the summer to shield yourself from the sun. In fact, the Moroccans have a proverb that mostly applies to covering up: “What protects you in winter, will likewise protect you in summer.” This isn’t so much out of modesty as it is because the sun is so powerful in Morocco; wearing layers keeps you cool and protects you from too much light and heat. And since there is a bigger variation between daytime and nocturnal temperatures in the winter, layering are particularly effective.

Summertime in Morocco can be very hot! Choose breathable materials like cotton or linen when choosing what to wear in Morocco as a tourist, or fabrics that might not show sweat or that you can wash and air dry quickly, because you most likely WILL perspire if you travel during the warmest summer months!

You’ll be OK with layers in the cold! Layers, indeed. Considering that everyone has a different threshold for heat comfort, you might find the winters in Morocco to be milder than those you are used to. Bring some sweaters, a light-to-medium jacket, and long- and short-sleeved t-shirts. In Morocco, the weather can still be sunny in the winter, which is fantastic. However, the wetness can make the winter temperatures feel colder when it is cool and raining.

It’s also a good idea to wear a hat whether you visit Morocco in the summer or the winter. A hat with a wide brim can keep you cooler and shield you from the sun in the summer. You will also value having a hat in the winter, whether it’s a baseball-style hat or even a knit beanie. It might be chilly and even frigid in the early mornings and late afternoons and nights. It can also feel moist from rain.

No matter the locale, spring and fall in Morocco are often temperate, gorgeous, and comfortable. However, if you’re wondering what to wear in Morocco as a visitor in the early spring or late fall, think of the climate as a moderate winter. Additionally, think of your trip to Morocco as a milder summer if you go in the late spring or early fall.

The clothes you wear in Morocco will also depend on your activities and destination.

Generally speaking, when visiting more rural or smaller cities in Morocco, you will feel more at ease dressed a little more modestly. On the other hand, in major cities you have a wider range of clothing options when deciding what to dress as a visitor in Morocco.

Of course you should feel comfortable wearing a bathing suit if you are visiting the beach or a pool! In Morocco, you’ll see numerous types of swimwear, including board shorts, bikinis, burkinis, one-piece suits, and even a few Speedos! But if you’re visiting a nearby city, it won’t be customary to go around in beachwear.

When packing for your vacation to Morocco, consider the specific activities you’ll be participating in. For example, hiking will require comfortable, supportive shoes. In fact, as the medinas are car-free areas that require a good amount of walking on potentially mountainous or uneven surfaces, I do advise bringing a suitable pair of walking shoes. Finally, my pals at private desert trips have some excellent suggestions for what to dress on a tour of the Sahara Desert. Consider it to be extremely hot in the summer and quite darn cold in the winter, especially at night!

What tourists should wear in Morocco versus what Moroccans wear

Listed below is my general advise on what to wear in Morocco: I advise erring on the side of modesty and taking after the natives. Yes, modesty can be seen differently depending on the context, whether it’s Moroccan culture or your own local culture at home.

When I say “modest,” I mean that it’s preferable to stay away from really tight and highly revealing attire, so leave those dromedary toes to the person carrying you on your camel ride! Also avoid plunging necklines with cleavage and too-short shorts that expose the bottom of butt cheeks.

I don’t imply that you have to dress exactly like a Moroccan when I say “take a hint from the natives” either. It simply means that you might feel better at ease if your dress selections make you blend in or at least don’t entirely stick out.

There are many different clothing options available if you look at what Moroccans wear, but you might not exactly understand the subtle cultural differences.

This partially depends on the Moroccan city. Fes is still a more traditional city in general, thus some things that could be accepted in Casablanca or Marrakech might be frowned upon there.

For instance, throughout the summer you will observe a lot of Moroccan boys and young(er) guys wandering around in shorts. The majority of the time, these are longer shorts, like cargo length, yet occasionally you’ll see Moroccan boys and men sporting capri length trousers. However, you generally won’t see many older Moroccan guys who are dressed in shorts. Even young women in their early twenties will frequently be seen wearing shorts, but you won’t see many Moroccan ladies in their later years do so.

Observations regarding Moroccan attire in general:

The majority of Moroccans wear more fitted clothing, which is more akin to a more European style than a baggier American style, aside from the traditional attire like jellaba and gandoura robes.

Curvy Although this isn’t necessarily true for younger generations, Moroccan women may try to hide their curves by donning looser clothing, longer skirts, or longer tunic-style tops.

When Moroccans go to work, shop, or hang out with friends, they make sure they appear more than decent. Although they are frequently worn for work, jeans are typically coupled with a classy shirt or blouse.

Yes, yoga pants are appropriate for running errands on a Saturday morning in the US. But in Morocco, you’ll largely find boys and men donning tracksuits, even though women are starting to wear them more frequently.

You might feel at ease dressing up like Moroccans do when heading out to supper. It can be relaxing to change into fresh clothes after a long day of traveling or seeing the medina.

Is there a certain way to dress in Morocco?

There aren’t many formal dress regulations for visitors to Morocco.

The Hassan II mosque in Casablanca’s guided tours is the principal exemption to Morocco’s clothing rule. All visitors will be requested to remove their shoes, for which you will be given a bag to hold them while you are visiting, thus travellers to Morocco should be aware of what to wear when exploring this spectacular mosque. Inside the Hassan II mosque, women visitors are not expected to or required to wear a head scarf. Both men and women who visit the mosque are urged to dress more modestly; shoulders and knees must be covered.

The second significant exception to Morocco’s general dress code for visitors is found in the country’s fine dining establishments and nightclubs, particularly those in Casablanca, Fes, and Marrakech.

Please check with the places directly for any dress code requirements if you do choose to eat at a fine dining establishment in Morocco or even go out clubbing in Marrakech. You may need to phone them to see if they have their dress code displayed on their website. For instance, tourists frequently stop at Rick’s Café in Casablanca to enjoy a lovely supper or simply unwind with drinks at their piano bar. However, there is a rather severe dress code at Rick’s Café, so you wouldn’t want to miss out on going just because you forgot to double-check.

Does Morocco have a problem with cultural appropriation?

Moroccans won’t ever accuse you of appropriating their culture! They are more likely to be impressed and delighted by your interest in local clothing, and they might even get you to try some on for a photo op! Women could even feel more at ease donning an ethnic garment like a caftan or takchita if they are ever invited to a wedding in Morocco.

Wearing a very casual “pajama” loungewear gown purchased from a local market as a dress in Morocco is a simple faux pas that female travellers may want to avoid. The distinction between what Moroccan ladies will consider at-home lounge wear or a pajama for housework and what international visitors may consider a delightful casual loose dress is a little difficult to explain in this blog post, but your guide or private driver can help you identify them. Moroccans are courteous people who won’t talk to you about this potential gaffe, but they will undoubtedly pay attention.

What to Wear While Traveling in Morocco: A Special Section for Women

In general, it is not expected of foreign women tourists to Morocco to cover their arms, legs, or hair. It is preferable to stay away from really short and revealingly tight apparel. Although wearing a short sundress that just reaches your midriff may make you feel underdressed, capris, knee-length, and maxi skirts and dresses are all very fine.

In Morocco, are women tourists required to cover their heads?

No, and again, no! In Morocco, foreign women tourists are NOT required to cover their heads! There is no necessity to wear a headscarf when visiting the few religious sites in Morocco that are accessible to non-Muslim tourists, and there is no expectation that foreign women will do so.

OK Okay, so perhaps you read that wearing a headscarf is not necessary or required in Morocco, but you are still unsure about whether you “should”? No, it will not make a difference if you are a foreign lady traveling to Morocco. It won’t offend the locals, but it also won’t make you popular (see it as neutral, as a non-issue), and it won’t help you fit in. If anything, if you wear a headscarf in Morocco, Moroccans may pay greater attention to you since they may presume you are a Muslim or interested in Islam, which could lead to dialogue.

Recall how I advised you to follow the locals’ lead? It’s true that some Moroccan women may wear headscarves while you’re there, but that doesn’t mean they all do, and it’s not always for religious reasons. Perhaps she’s having a bad hair day or needs to wash her hair. Or perhaps she just left the hammam and is only covering her damp hair to stay warm. In Morocco, wearing a headscarf is still a personal choice for each woman.