What to Wear in Morocco

No — a headscarf is not legally or socially required for female tourists on the street. You will see local Moroccan women both with and without headscarves. The exception is entering a mosque where visitors are permitted: a headscarf is required at the entrance. Carrying a large scarf in your bag means you can cover up quickly when needed, and it doubles as sun protection in the medina.

There is no law mandating tourist dress, but covering shoulders and knees in the medina is strongly recommended — both out of cultural respect and because it significantly reduces the low-level pestering that more revealing clothing can attract, particularly in the old city of Marrakech and Fes. Beach resorts and hotel pool areas are a completely different environment where swimwear is entirely normal.

Lightweight trousers and a short-sleeve shirt work well in most settings. Shorts are fine on the beach or at your hotel but tend to attract more attention in tight medina alleyways. A linen or cotton shirt with the sleeves that can be rolled down is versatile across all contexts. In colder months, layer a fleece under a waterproof jacket — the combination handles everything from a rainy Fes morning to a chilly desert night.

Yes, but context matters. Shorts are fine at beach resorts, hotel pools, and upscale cafe terraces in Gueliz (Marrakech's modern district). In the dense residential parts of the medina, souk alleyways, or smaller towns, longer trousers are far more comfortable socially. Many experienced travellers wear lightweight convertible trousers that zip off at the knee — practical for covering up quickly.

Closed-toe trainers or sturdy flat sandals with a sole thick enough to handle cobblestones. The medina's alleys are uneven, occasionally muddy after rain, and sometimes narrowed by donkeys or motorbikes — open sandals with thin soles get uncomfortable fast. Slip-on shoes are useful for riad and hammam visits where you remove footwear at the door. Save heels for the odd riad rooftop dinner.

Most mosques in Morocco are not open to non-Muslim visitors. The main exception is the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, which runs guided tours for non-Muslims and requires full coverage — shoulders, arms and knees must be concealed, and women must wear a headscarf. Some other mosques allow entry during specific hours; always check in advance and dress for full coverage to be safe.

Linen and cotton are the best choices — they breathe, dry quickly when you wash them in your room, and feel far cooler than synthetic fabrics in 38°C heat. Avoid dark colours which absorb heat and heavy denim which retains warmth and takes too long to dry. Light-coloured, loose-weave linen shirts are widely sold in the Marrakech souks if you find you have under-packed, typically from 150–300 MAD (indicative).