Morocco Packing List: What to Wear & What to Bring

Female tourists are not legally required to wear a headscarf or any specific clothing, but covering your shoulders and knees in city medinas, villages and religious sites is both respectful and practical — it dramatically reduces street harassment. Loose cotton trousers, a long skirt and a lightweight scarf in your bag cover almost every situation. In coastal towns like Agadir and Essaouira the dress code is more relaxed. Swimwear belongs on the beach, not in town streets.

There is no national law requiring tourists to cover up, but social expectations are strong in traditional areas. In Fes, Marrakech's medina, Chefchaouen and any rural or mountain village, shoulders and knees covered is the practical baseline. Mosques that admit non-Muslims (like the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca) do require covered shoulders and knees, and women are expected to wear a headscarf inside. Think of modest dress as a quick passport to warmer interactions and less hassle.

Pack at least three types: sturdy closed-toe walking shoes or trainers for medina cobblestones (your ankles will thank you after day one in Fes), slip-on shoes for the frequent shoe removal at mosques and riad entrances, and closed shoes specifically for the desert — sandals fill instantly with Sahara sand during a camel trek. Flip-flops are useful for hammams and riad pools. Break in any new shoes before arrival; blisters in a Marrakech medina are no fun.

Bring both, but lean on cash. The Moroccan dirham (MAD) is the only legal currency; euros and dollars are not accepted in markets. ATMs are plentiful in cities — BMCE, Attijariwafa and CIH are the most reliable — and most hotels and mid-range restaurants accept Visa/Mastercard. Souks, street food stalls, petit taxis, and hammams are strictly cash. Budget indicatively 300–600 MAD per day for a mid-range solo traveller excluding accommodation. Keep small notes: 10 and 20 MAD bills are useful constantly.

The most useful medications are oral rehydration salts and an anti-diarrhoeal like loperamide — a change in water, spice levels and eating patterns affects many visitors in the first two to three days. Add antihistamine tablets, sun protection (SPF 50, which is expensive locally), pain relief, and any prescription medicines in their original packaging with a doctor's letter if they are controlled substances. Travel insurance that covers medical repatriation is essential; Moroccan hospitals vary dramatically in quality outside Casablanca and Marrakech.

The Sahara has extreme temperature swings: 38°C at noon and 10°C after midnight, even in April. Layer lightweight cotton during the day and add a warm fleece or light puffer for after sunset. A long scarf is essential — it wraps your head and face during sandstorms and doubles as a blanket on a cool camel. Bring closed shoes for dune walking, a headlamp for nighttime camp walks, and a small dry-bag or ziplock for your phone, since fine sand penetrates everything. Leave your main luggage in the vehicle; camps provide bedding.

Avoid bringing revealing clothing intended for medina use — it tends to attract unwanted attention and makes interactions harder. Leave expensive jewellery at home; simple pieces work better in souk crowds. Drones require advance permits from the Moroccan aviation authority (DGAC) — flying without one can result in confiscation. Pork products and alcohol are mostly unavailable (though some hotels serve alcohol). Cannabis is illegal and penalties are strict, regardless of what you may observe locally.