When to travel to Marrakech

When planning your trip to Marrakech, it's a good idea to know what time of year you want to travel and what the weather will be like. In the case of this inland Moroccan city, the climate is dry Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild winters when it can rain. With this in mind, you're probably wondering what is the best time to travel to Marrakech.

In this post we're going to go over what the weather is like during each season so you can get an idea of what to expect in the city throughout the year and choose the time that best suits your preferences. Read on!

The spring and autumn seasons are the best time to travel to Marrakech.

As it is an inland destination, I advise you to choose the months of September to May to explore the city and avoid the summer months, as the climate is very hot and dry. With temperatures that can easily exceed 40ºC, it can be very difficult to go sightseeing in the streets.

In any case, it's always a good idea to check the average temperatures in Marrakech when planning your trip so you can make the right choices about what you plan to do on your holiday and what clothes to pack in your luggage.

Spring is the best time to visit Marrakech. The days are sunny and the temperatures, although they can hover around 30°C, are pleasant compared to summer. During the day, the weather is not sweltering and you can do plenty of outdoor activities such as booking a trip to the Marrakech desert. At night, temperatures are mild with lows of between 10°C and 15°C, ideal for booking a tour of Marrakech.

March in Marrakech can see lows as low as 9°C, making it a somewhat unpredictable month for weather. So when packing your suitcase, be prepared for anything. Pack clothes suitable for warm temperatures, but don't forget to pack a light jacket or jumper in case it gets chilly in the evenings, or even a swimming costume in case you book a swim in a hammam.

April in Marrakesh and May in Marrakesh have similar weather patterns, although the former can experience occasional showers in the latter as summer approaches.

Tourist inflow

In terms of tourist numbers, visitors and prices increase around Easter, as many Europeans visit Morocco during this time of year. It's high season, so if you want to get a good price for your spring trip, I recommend you compare options and book early.

Next to spring, the other best time to travel to Marrakech is autumn. In September in Marrakesh, temperatures are still warm but not sweltering, hovering around 30°C like in the summer in some European countries. It rarely rains and the skies are usually clear, which is great for spending the day sightseeing around the city and booking a tour of the souks without feeling crowded.

In October temperatures drop a little and there are some autumn showers towards the end of the month. This is also a good time for outdoor activities, such as a camel ride through the Marrakech Palm Grove or exploring central Marrakech.

November sees slightly more rain than previous months (nothing you can't fix with a mackintosh), but temperatures hover around 20°C, so the weather is very pleasant for sightseeing. However, it does get quite chilly in the evenings so I recommend packing a jacket in your luggage.

Tourist numbers

Tourist numbers drop a little in autumn, so prices are more affordable.

Winter is also a good time to visit Marrakech, especially in January and February. You can book a day trip to the desert, a trip to the Atlas Mountains and the Agafay Desert or a 2-day trip to the Zagora Desert, where rain is rare. Do take warm clothes, though, as temperatures plummet at night and can drop to freezing.

Tourist crowds

This season coincides with the low tourist season in Morocco. Since there are fewer visitors, hotels offer good rates that you can take advantage of if you're looking for a cheap trip to Marrakech. However, a curious thing happens in December when, despite being winter, prices soar because many Europeans opt to spend the Christmas holidays in Morocco to escape the snow and cold in their home countries.

To try to get a better price, my advice is that if you want to visit Marrakech in December, make your reservations in advance. In this other post you can read what to see and do in Marrakech in winter.

If there's one term for Marrakech in summer, it's scorching heat. Thermometers can easily soar to 40ºC and minimum temperatures hover around 20ºC, so June, July and August are not the best months to travel to the city if you can't tolerate the sweltering heat.

So even if you decide to travel to Marrakech in summer, I recommend you:

• Pack cool clothes in your suitcase so you don't sweat like a chicken all day.
• Get up early enough to take advantage of the early hours of the day, which will be the least hot, to make your plans in the city.
• After midday, my advice is to relax by the pool at your hotel until lunchtime when you can book a gastronomic tour of Marrakech and sample the delicious Moroccan food.
• At the end of the day, when the sun has set, go for a stroll around the Jamaa el Fna square and have a mint tea. An ideal time to take a tour of the Marrakech Medina, a tour of the souks or even a private tour of Marrakech.
• Set aside a day for an excursion. You can book an excursion to the Ouzoud Waterfalls, an excursion to Essaouira, an excursion to the Ourika Valley or an excursion to Ouarzazate.
• In this other post you can read what to see and do in Marrakech in summer.

Tourist influx

Temperatures start to get very high in June but July and August are perhaps the least desirable months to visit Morocco as they are the highest of the year. However, that doesn't deter many intrepid travellers from visiting Marrakech in summer, so the crowds and prices remain high as it coincides with European tourists' holidays.

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Any time has its advantages to go to the capital of Morocco and discover all the things to see and do in Marrakech. Here's a quick summary so you'll have all the information you need at a glance.