Best Time to Visit Morocco — the question every traveler asks first — is almost always answered with spring (mid-March – May) or autumn (September – October), when daytime temperatures sit in the comfortable 18-28 °C range, rainfall is low, and crowd levels are lighter than midsummer. Climate charts show that interior highs can soar past 40 °C in July–August, while Atlas nights dip toward freezing in January, making these “shoulder” months the sweet spot for comfort and adventure.
Whether you picture camel silhouettes against Saharan sunsets, cedar-scented mountain trails, or lazy mint-tea afternoons in a Marrakech riad, timing matters. In the guide below, we’ll break Morocco’s climate down by season, region, and month, highlight 2025-2026 festival dates, and show how Morocco Trips can craft an itinerary that matches your perfect travel window.
Quick Answer: When Should You Go?
- Spring (mid-March – May) – Wildflowers line the roads, cities average 20-25 °C; ideal for city breaks and Atlas hikes.
- Autumn (September – October) – Post-summer glow, 22-30 °C, crystal-clear desert skies; perfect for photography and camel treks.
- Summer (June – August) – Atlantic breezes keep the coast mild, but inland temps hit 38-45 °C; best for surfers and festival-goers prepared for heat.
- Winter (December – February) – Snow-capped High Atlas, bargain riad rates, daytime highs around 15-20 °C in the north; good for budget travelers.
Continue reading for a region-by-region breakdown, a month-by-month climate table, festival dates, and practical booking tips.
Morocco’s Seasons at a Glance
Spring (mid-March – May)
- Ideal for: city sightseeing, Atlas day-hikes, wildflowers
- Typical temps: 18–28 °C in Marrakech, a few degrees cooler on the coast
- Highlights: Rose Festival in El Kelaâ M’Gouna (early May), shoulder-season airfares
- Watch-outs: Easter school breaks push riad prices up—book 3–4 months ahead
Summer (June – August)
- Ideal for: Atlantic surf towns, cool mountain valleys, music festivals
- Typical temps: 38–45 °C inland; 25–30 °C on the coast with ocean breezes
- Highlights: Gnaoua World Music Festival (late June, Essaouira) and long beach days
- Watch-outs: Midday heat in imperial cities—schedule medina walks at dawn or after sunset
Autumn (September – November)
- Ideal for: Sahara camel treks, photography, harvest celebrations
- Typical temps: 22–30 °C nationwide, crisp desert evenings
- Highlights: Date Festival in Erfoud (October) and grape harvests in the Rif
- Watch-outs: Early-October overlaps with European half-term holidays—secure desert camps early
Winter (December – February)
- Ideal for: budget city breaks, snow sports in the High Atlas
- Typical temps: 15–20 °C on the coast; sub-zero nights in mountain resorts
- Highlights: Low-season hotel deals, quiet UNESCO sites, festive lights in Marrakech
- Watch-outs: Short daylight hours—start excursions by 08:00 for full itineraries
Month-by-Month Guide: Find Your Best Time to Visit Morocco
Below is a practical calendar that shows weather averages, crowd levels, and price trends for every month. Sprinkle this against your bucket-list activities to pinpoint the best time to visit Morocco for you.
| Month | Avg. Temps* | Crowds | Price Trend | Why It Might Be the Best Time to Visit Morocco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Marrakech 19 °C / 7 °C · Merzouga 17 °C / 4 °C weatherspark.comtimeanddate.com | Low | $$ | Crisp blue skies, empty medinas, snow-capped Atlas—perfect if you like cool days and bargain riad rates. |
| February | 21 °C / 8 °C · 20 °C / 6 °C | Low-moderate | $$ | Almond-blossom season around Tafraoute; a quiet window before spring crowds. |
| March | 23 °C / 10 °C · 24 °C / 11 °C | Rising | $$–$$$ | Wildflowers carpet valleys; Ramadan 2025 starts 2 March (expect shorter café hours but magical sunset meals). |
| April | 26 °C / 12 °C · 28 °C / 15 °C | Moderate | $$$ | Stable sunshine, Sahara nights still mild—many consider April the single best time to visit Morocco. |
| May | 30 °C / 15 °C · 33 °C / 19 °C | High | $$$ | Rose Festival in Dades Valley; long daylight for multi-city itineraries. |
| June | 35 °C / 19 °C · 38 °C / 23 °C | High (coast moderate) | $$$ | Start of festival season (Mawazine, Gnaoua); Atlantic towns stay pleasant. |
| July | 37 °C / 21 °C · 45 °C / 29 °C holiday-weather.com | Peak (inland hot) | $$$$ | Go coastal—Essaouira, Agadir, Asilah—or escape to Ifrane’s cedar forests. |
| August | 37 °C / 22 °C · 44 °C / 28 °C | Peak | $$$$ | Surfers catch consistent swells; mountains offer cool retreats. |
| September | 33 °C / 18 °C · 39 °C / 24 °C | High → Moderate | $$$ | Harvest fairs and crystal-clear desert skies make it another contender for the best time to visit Morocco. |
| October | 29 °C / 15 °C · 34 °C / 20 °C | Moderate | $$–$$$ | Date Festival in Erfoud, fewer families travelling; golden light for photographers. |
| November | 24 °C / 11 °C · 26 °C / 13 °C | Low-moderate | $$ | Ideal trekking weather; cheaper flights after All-Saints holiday. |
| December | 20 °C / 8 °C · 18 °C / 6 °C | Low (rises at Xmas) | $$–$$$ | Clear desert nights for stargazing; Christmas lights in Marrakech—surprisingly, many feel this is the best time to visit Morocco for culture without heat. |
How to Use This Calendar
- Match activities to weather. If camel trekking under mild skies is your priority, October or April deliver the best balance.
- Watch price swings. Accommodation can triple in July–August; visiting in shoulder months often cuts costs by 20–30 %.
- Factor festivals. Booking during Mawazine, Gnaoua, or Ramadan changes daily rhythms but offers unique cultural moments.
Regional Breakdown Where the Best Time to Visit Morocco Shifts by Landscape
Because Morocco packs coastline, mountains, imperial cities, and the Sahara into one kingdom, the best time to visit Morocco changes with each region’s micro-climate. Use the guide below to fine-tune your dates.
Atlantic & Mediterranean Coast
(Tangier • Rabat • Casablanca • Essaouira • Agadir • Dakhla)
- Climate snapshot: Even in high summer, seaside towns stay pleasantly mild; Essaouira’s August days average about 28 °C and cool quickly after sunset.
- Best window: April–June and September–November for warm water, smaller crowds, and steady trade winds (ideal for surfers and kiters).
- Good to know: July–August hotel rates jump, but you’ll rarely suffer inland-style heat, so beach breaks remain comfortable.
Imperial Cities
(Marrakech • Fez • Meknes • Rabat)
- Climate snapshot: Marrakech blooms in April at ~27 °C highs, yet July afternoons soar past 38 °C.
- Best window: Mid-March–May and late-September–October give warm days, cool evenings, and thinner medina crowds—widely regarded as the best time to visit Morocco for culture-heavy itineraries.
- Pro tip: If summer is your only option, schedule palace and souk walks at dawn, retreat to riad courtyards by midday, and save desert extensions for October onward.
Sahara Desert & Oases
(Merzouga • Zagora • Erg Chigaga)
- Climate snapshot: In Merzouga, October tops out near 30 °C with crisp 18 °C nights—perfect for camel treks and star-gazing. weather-and-climate.com
- Best window: October–April. Summer heat regularly exceeds 45 °C and shrinks activity hours to pre-sunrise or post-sunset.
- Plan it: Our 7-Day Morocco Desert Tour runs weekly between October and April to match this comfort band.
Atlas & Rif Mountains
(Imlil • Ifrane • Chefchaouen • Toubkal National Park)
- Climate snapshot: Alpine Ifrane peaks at a mild 27–31 °C in July; winter nights drop below freezing above 2 000 m. weatherspark.com
- Best window: May–June and September–mid-October for clear trails and wildflower-framed valleys; November–March if you’re chasing snow or ski weekends at Oukaïmeden.
- Heads-up: Summer thunderstorms build in late afternoons—start long hikes by 07:00 to summit before clouds roll in.
Major Festivals & Events (2025 – 2026)
Lining up your trip with Morocco’s headline celebrations can turn a good holiday into an unforgettable one. Use this calendar to decide whether a festival is your personal best time to visit Morocco or a signal to shift dates and dodge crowds.
| Dates (2025) | Event | Where | Why It Might Be the Best Time to Visit Morocco |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Mar – 31 Mar | Ramadan | Nationwide | Shorter business hours but magical sunset iftar banquets and night markets. |
| 1 Apr | Eid al-Fitr | Nationwide | Family celebrations; bakeries overflow with almond pastries. |
| Early May | Rose Festival | El Kelaâ M’Gouna | Valleys of pink blossoms, Berber music, and rose-water processions. |
| 20 – 28 Jun | Mawazine Music Festival | Rabat | One of the world’s biggest open-air music events; global headliners meet Moroccan fusion acts. |
| Late Jun | Gnaoua World Music Festival | Essaouira | Four days of trance-drumming, jazz cross-overs, and surf-town vibes. |
| 10 Jul | Eid al-Adha | Nationwide | Culturally rich, but transport and shops slow down for the holiday. |
| 30 Jul | Throne Day | Nationwide | Fireworks over major squares; historic parades in Rabat and Casablanca. |
| Sept (variable) | Date Festival | Erfoud | Palm-grove dances and endless tastings of 200+ date varieties—prime desert travel season. |
| Early Oct | Almond Harvest Fairs | Tafraoute | Open-air souks showcase argan, saffron, and Berber carpets alongside fresh almonds. |
| Nov | Tarfaya Kitesurf Challenge | Tarfaya | Atlantic winds hit their stride; coastal towns buzz with adrenaline. |
| Nov – Dec | Marrakech International Film Festival | Marrakech | Red-carpet glamour meets indie screenings under mild winter skies. |
(Ramadan 2026 is expected to begin around 18 February; simply slide the 2025 religious-holiday dates back by roughly ten days for the 2026 calendar.)
How Festivals Affect Your Trip
- Accommodation spikes: Book riads six months out if visiting during Mawazine, Gnaoua, or Eid periods.
- Transport shifts: Trains and domestic flights fill quickly around Eid holidays—secure seats early.
- Local rhythm: Ramadan shortens daylight café hours, but late-night medinas come alive; many travellers rank it their best time to visit Morocco for authentic cultural immersion.
Best Time for Popular Activities
| Activity | Optimum Months | Quick Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Camel Trekking in the Sahara | Oct – Apr | Clear skies, 18–30 °C highs, cool nights for campfires. |
| Atlas Mountain Hiking | May – Jun & Sep – Oct | Snow has melted but daytime temps stay below 30 °C on lower trails. |
| Surf & Kitesurf (Atlantic Coast) | Apr – Oct | Trade winds steady, water warms to ~22 °C. |
| City Sightseeing (Marrakech, Fez, Meknes) | Mid-Mar – May & late-Sep – Oct | Warm but not scorching; manageable crowd levels. |
| Skiing (Oukaïmeden & Michlifen) | Dec – Feb | Consistent snowpack in the High Atlas. |
Match your must-do experiences to these windows and you’ll lock in the best time to visit Morocco for comfort, cost control, and crowd management.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best time to visit Morocco for a desert camel trek?
October through April. Daytime highs sit between 18 °C and 30 °C, nights are cool enough for campfires, and skies are crystal-clear for stargazing.
Is summer too hot to explore Marrakech and Fez?
June–August afternoons regularly top 38 °C. Plan medina walks at dawn or after sunset, book a riad with a plunge pool, or combine your trip with breezier Atlantic towns.
When are Morocco’s major festivals?
Ramadan shifts 10–11 days earlier each year (2 March 2025; 18 February 2026). Mawazine (late June, Rabat) and Gnaoua (late June, Essaouira) draw huge crowds. Book accommodation six months in advance.
What months offer the lowest prices?
Mid-January to mid-February and early December see reduced riad rates and cheaper domestic flights—often 20–30 % below peak.
Can I surf year-round?
Yes, but April–October delivers the warmest water and most reliable trade-winds on the Atlantic coast (Essaouira, Taghazout, Dakhla).
Is winter a good time to visit the Atlas Mountains?
Absolutely—December–February bring fresh snow to Oukaïmeden and Michlifen ski stations, while lower valleys remain accessible for day-hikes.
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Time to Visit Morocco
Timing your journey is the single biggest factor in unlocking unforgettable memories. Whether you crave Saharan sunsets, festival beats, or snow-dusted villages, bookmark the best time to visit Morocco that matches your dream itinerary—then let Morocco Trips craft the details. Ready? Explore our 7-Day Morocco Desert Tour or request a tailor-made quote today.