What to Wear in Morocco: Dress Code for Travellers

Dressing for the villages and sites your excursion passes through

Day trips out of the cities take you into rural Morocco — Berber villages in the Ourika and Atlas valleys, small towns near the waterfalls, kasbahs like Aït Ben Haddou. These places are more conservative than the tourist-facing city centres, and covering shoulders and knees is the social norm that makes a roadside stop or a village tea warmer and smoother. It is not a legal requirement for non-Muslims, but on an excursion that brings you into people's everyday surroundings it is both respectful and practical.

Expectations vary by setting. Around Jemaa el-Fnaa and the main souks, tolerance for shorts and sleeveless tops is higher. But the moment your day trip reaches a quiet village, a religious site or a mountain hamlet, modest dress is noticed and appreciated — so pack for the most conservative place on the route, not the city you left.

Layering for a single day that spans hot city and cold Atlas

The defining clothing challenge of a day trip is the temperature swing within one outing. You can leave a 30°C Marrakech morning and, two hours later, be standing in a windy Atlas valley or on the Tizi n'Tichka pass at half the temperature; a sunny Ourika streamside can turn cold the moment cloud or shade arrives. The fix is layers you can add and shed: a breathable base, a mid-layer, and a packable jacket or scarf in your day pack.

A scarf or pashmina is the single most useful item — it covers shoulders for a village or shrine, wraps you against the chill at altitude, and shields against sun and dust on the road. Carry it on every excursion regardless of how warm the city feels at pickup.

• Breathable base layer — linen or cotton for the hot city start of the day.
• A mid-layer (fleece or light jumper) for cooler valleys, waterfalls and the high passes.
• A packable windproof or rain layer — Atlas weather changes fast on a day hike.
• A scarf or pashmina — covers shoulders and head for villages and sites, doubles as warmth and sun shield.
• Closed walking shoes or trainers — village lanes, rocky waterfall paths and trailheads are not for sandals.

What should women wear on excursions?

Loose, breathable clothing covering shoulders and knees is the practical baseline for the villages, towns and rural areas day trips pass through. Linen trousers or a long skirt with a lightweight top and a scarf works in the city heat and adapts to a cold Atlas afternoon. A scarf carried over the shoulders doubles as a modesty cover at a shrine, a sun shield in the Agafay, and a dust barrier on the pistes.

Non-Muslim visitors do not need to cover their hair except inside certain religious sites where it may be requested. Tight or revealing clothing is best kept for the beach (Essaouira, Agadir) or your riad terrace — on a village walk or a kasbah visit, clothing that simply covers well draws less attention and fits the setting.

What should men wear on excursions?

Men face lighter scrutiny, but the same logic applies on day trips. Lightweight trousers or chinos work everywhere; shorts are fine in the city but better avoided in conservative villages and near religious sites your excursion stops at. A collared shirt or plain t-shirt is fine; sleeveless vests stand out in traditional neighbourhoods.

For a camel ride or the Agafay, loose lightweight trousers beat shorts — sand, sun and saddles all favour coverage. For an Atlas day hike, proper hiking trousers and a warm layer are worth packing whatever the city temperature, because the valley will be colder than the pickup point suggested.

Dressing for sites and mosques on a day trip

Day trips frequently include religious or historic sites where dress matters. Most active mosques are closed to non-Muslims, but where entry is permitted — the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, some historic madrasas — full arm and leg coverage is required for all, women cover their hair in the prayer hall, and shoes come off at the threshold. A scarf in your day pack handles all of this.

Even at sites open to visitors, modest dress reflects that these are living places, not museums. The line between tourist site and active religious space is often blurred on an excursion route; when unsure, cover more rather than less.

Frequently asked