When to travel to Marrakech

When planning your trip to Marrakech, it is a good idea to know the time of year you want to travel and what the weather will be like during that period. This city in inland Morocco has a dry Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters when it can rain. With this in mind, you are probably wondering when is the best time to travel to Marrakech.

In this post, we'll review what the climate 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. Keep reading!

Spring and autumn are the best times to travel to Marrakech.

As it is an inland destination, I recommend choosing the months from September to May to explore the city and avoiding the summer months, as the weather is very hot and dry. With temperatures that can easily exceed 40ºC, it is really difficult to walk around the streets sightseeing.

In any case, it is always a good idea to check the average temperatures in Marrakech when planning your trip so that you can choose the right activities for your holiday and the right clothes to pack.

Spring is the best time to travel to Marrakech. The days are sunny and the temperatures, although they can reach around 30ºC, are pleasant compared to those in summer. During the day, the weather is not stifling and you can do lots of outdoor activities, such as booking an excursion to the Marrakech desert. At night, temperatures are mild, with lows ranging between 10ºC and 15ºC, ideal for booking a tour of Marrakech.

In March in Marrakech, lows can reach 9ºC, making it a somewhat unpredictable month in terms of weather. Therefore, when packing your suitcase, be prepared for anything. Bring clothes suitable for warm temperatures, but don't forget to pack a light jacket or jumper in case it gets cooler in the evenings, or even a swimsuit if you book a hammam.

The months of April and May in Marrakech have similar weather characteristics, although while the former may see occasional rain, the latter hardly sees any as summer approaches.

Tourist numbers

In terms of tourist numbers, visitor numbers and prices increase during Holy Week, as many Europeans visit Morocco during this holiday period. It is high season, so if you want to get a good price for your spring trip, I recommend comparing options and making your reservations in advance.

Along with spring, the other best time to travel to Marrakech is autumn. In September in Marrakech, temperatures remain warm but without being stifling, around 30ºC, similar to summer in some European countries. It rarely rains and the sky is usually clear, which is fantastic for spending the day sightseeing around the city and booking a tour of the souks without feeling overwhelmed.

In October, temperatures drop slightly and there is some autumn rain towards the end of the month. It is also a good time for outdoor activities, such as taking a camel ride through the Palmeraie of Marrakech or exploring the centre of Marrakech.

During November, it rains a little more than in previous months (nothing that can't be fixed with a raincoat), but temperatures hover around 20ºC, so the weather is very pleasant for sightseeing. However, it cools down considerably at night, so I recommend packing a jacket in your luggage.

Tourist numbers

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

Winter is also a good time to visit Marrakech, especially in January and February, as you can book a day trip to the desert, a trip to the Atlas Mountains or a two-day trip to the Zagora desert, as it doesn't rain very often there. Be sure to bring warm clothing, as temperatures drop significantly at night and can reach 0 °C.

Tourist numbers

This season coincides with the low season for tourism in Morocco. As there are fewer visitors, hotels offer good rates that you can take advantage of if you are looking for a budget trip to Marrakech. However, something curious happens in December: despite it being winter, prices skyrocket because many Europeans choose to spend Christmas 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, you should make your reservations in advance. In this other post, you can read about what to see and do in Marrakech in winter.

If there is one term that defines Marrakech in summer, it is scorching heat. Thermometers can easily reach 40ºC and minimum temperatures are around 20ºC, so June, July and August are not the best months to travel to the city if you cannot tolerate the suffocating heat.

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

• Pack light, cool fabrics so you don't spend the whole day sweating like a pig.
• Get up early to take advantage of the first 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 cuisine.
• At the end of the day, when the sun has set, take a stroll around Jamaa el Fna Square and have a mint tea. This is the ideal time to take a tour of the Medina of Marrakech, a tour of the souks or even a private tour of Marrakech.
• Set aside a day for an excursion. You can book a trip to the Ouzoud Waterfalls, an excursion to Essaouira, a trip to the Ourika Valley or an excursion to Ouarzazate.
• In this other post, you can read about what to see and do in Marrakech in summer.

Tourist numbers

In June, temperatures start to get very high, but July and August are perhaps the least convenient months to visit Morocco, as they are the hottest of the year. However, this does not deter many intrepid travellers from visiting Marrakech in summer, so tourist numbers and prices remain high as it coincides with the European tourist holidays.

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Any time of year has its advantages for visiting the capital of Morocco and discovering everything there is to see and do in Marrakesh. Here is a brief summary so that you can see all the information you need at a glance.