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After I booked my spot on the Nova Yoga retreat in Marrakech, I started putting together my Morocco packing list for spring. I spent a lot of time thinking about what I’d wear for the retreat and then afterwards on the 8-day G Adventures tour around the country. I wanted to be respectful of local culture but I also didn’t want to die from heat exhaustion. So “what to pack for Morocco?” became a daily thought. I spent lots of time scouring shops for cute, lightweight dresses that covered shoulders and knees and weren’t too low-cut. A tougher challenge than I would’ve thought.
In the end I think I found a pretty good combo of cute, but culturally sensitive clothes for Morocco in Spring.
Follow my 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 packing method to avoid overpacking. Whether you’re travelling for one week or four you can build the perfect Moroccan capsule wardrobe. The general key is five tops, four bottoms, three dresses, three shoes, two bags, two jackets/toppers. Feel free to play around with these ratios.
It’s often one of my goals to dress like locals and not stand out as a tourist, but let’s face it, you’re going to stand out in Morocco. So it’s with this in mind that I put together my capsule wardrobe for Morocco in spring so that you don’t stand out for the wrong reason. Whether you’re visiting Marrakech, Fes, or Casablanca you’ll be comfortable and stylish.
My Key Pieces
When putting together a capsule wardrobe for a trip to Morocco my key wardrobe pieces included:
- Wide leg pants in a lightweight fabric
- Midi skirts
- Breezy dresses (a midi-shirtdress is a great option for staying modest and looking put together)
- One athletic/athleisure outfit for activities like hikes or long car/bus trips
- One lightweight cardigan for evenings and cool mornings
Neutrals
While you can certainly wear lots of colour and pattern, I find the easiest way to create a classic, rich looking mix ‘n match capsule wardrobe is to pack a range of neutrals. If you have a top that only matches one bottom, leave it home. Shoes that only go with one dress? Leave them home. I’ll make an exception for dresses since they’re a one-piece outfit and I really loved the colourful dress I bought for my Morocco trip.
Modest Clothing for your Morocco Packing List
While there’s no law or rule that women must cover their shoulders and knees in Morocco, it’s generally good advice. You won’t find local women in shorts, tank tops, or strappy sundresses and I always think it’s a good idea to follow local norms. While I didn’t experience it myself, harassment is a real possibility when travelling in Morocco. So despite the high temperatures I always had my shoulders and knees covered and avoided any low-cut tops.
I’ve seen some other packing lists show photos of pretty women in front of beautiful Moroccan backdrops wearing booty shorts or crop tops. Don’t be that person. Sure, you won’t be fined or arrested or anything but why be intentionally disrespectful when it’s not hard to alter your wardrobe slightly. Moroccans are polite and respectful people; just because they don’t openly criticise your appearance, doesn’t mean they are comfortable with it.
You may see other packing lists telling you to bring a scarf to cover your head at religious sites but this is a bit misleading for Morocco because non-Muslims are not allowed in mosques to start with, with the exception of Hasan II in Casablanca. For that mosque, you’re required to take a tour and must leave before services start but you’re not required to cover your head. You do have to take your shoes off though so if you visit, wear some cute socks.
What About Beaches and Pools?
While public life is fairly conservative in Morocco, if you’re taking a dip in your hotel pool, feel free to wear your bikini. You’re not expected to wear any kind of conservative full suit. But if you leave the pool area, cover up.
If you’re visiting the seaside, there’s also some leniency. Essaouira is a tourist town and one of the least conservative areas of the country. If you’re on the beach you can wear your swimsuit or bikini, especially if you’re near tourist hotels and sun loungers. If you stray away into more local areas you’ll likely get some stares. And if you leave the sand, cover up. It would be very culturally insensitive to wander through the medina in your swimsuit and cutoffs. Throw on some breezy linen pants and button-up instead and you’ll still look cute.
Essential Items for Your Morocco Packing List
Beyond the clothes there are other things you should consider packing for Morocco in the spring. Keep in mind that the sun can be relentless and you’ll be walking a lot in dusty areas. Here are some things that I found really helpful:
- Hat, sunglasses
- I got a packable straw bucket hat and it saved me from the sun on multiple days.
- Maybe a sun parasol
- If you’re not a hat person, consider packing an umbrella to use as a sun parasol. With Morocco being so dry, you’ll notice a big temperature difference if you can create some shade.
- Refillable water bottle
- With humidity hitting as low as 12% in Marrakech when I was there, I never felt sweaty but I was definitely losing fluids so having a water bottle with me kept me hydrated.
- Flats – sneakers, sandals
- I love my heels but this was not the trip for them. With uneven ground in the medinas, short hikes, and lots of sandy dunes, sneakers and my trusty Merrell sandals were my go-tos.
- Swimsuit
- Even if you’re not travelling to the beach, pack a swimsuit because many hotels and desert camps have pools and it’s super refreshing on a hot day.
- Scarf
- I bought a pretty, lightweight scarf in the Marrakech medina and used it on chilly mornings/evenings and also as a bit of a sun cover on my arms during the day but it wasn’t necessary to cover my head anywhere.
- Cash
- Many shops in the souks don’t take card so be sure to have cash on you. I used an exchange in the airport and then also found a few bank ATMs around the country to supplement when my supply of dirhams ran low.
- Sweater/jacket
- With temperatures getting up to 35C by midday you might think it’s crazy to bring a sweater but after the sun goes down the temperature drops with it and you’ll find 18C to be quite chilly.
Bonuses to Beat the Heat
It’s no secret it gets hot in Morocco in the spring. To beat the heat, pack a few of these extras in your day bag:
Packing for Morocco in the spring is all about striking the right balance between comfort, cultural respect, and style. By following the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 packing method and prioritizing modest, breathable clothing, you’ll be well-prepared for everything from exploring medinas to lounging by the pool. Remember that while Morocco can get quite hot, it’s still important to cover your shoulders and knees to honour local customs. With a neutral colour palette, a few versatile accessories, and thoughtful extras to beat the heat, you’ll be ready to enjoy your trip without any packing regrets. Safe travels!
