What To Wear In Morocco – Guide For Female Travelers

When I first booked this trip, I honestly had no clue what to pack or how to dress in Morocco! As a female traveller, I knew I had to respect the local culture by wearing modest clothing. 

Morocco has a conservative religious culture that expects female travelers to follow local customs and wear appropriate clothing. In a panic I made sure to google and read a tonne of blog posts on top tips of what to wear and I read multiple Morocco packing guide. Now I’ve been to Morocco, I wanted to share my Morocco packing list and tips & tricks for anyone else in the position I was in.

For context I travelled to Morocco in early spring, specifically in mid-March. The temperature ranged from 10-20* and we did have one very wet day. We went for 5 nights, 6 days and I had plans on either sides of the trip so packed a couple extra bits for those. I couldn’t find an official dress code online but as a predominantly muslim country I knew that foreign tourists had to dress modestly so my packing list reflects this.

Packing Must-Dos

Whilst it is not required for female tourists to wear traditional dress in Morocco, it’s a good idea to pack loose-fitting clothing when visiting conservative countries. Breathable fabrics, long sleeves, loose trousers are great options. I would avoid crop tops, short shorts and tank tops if you want to avoid any unwanted attention. Like I mentioned before, in the majority of big cities in Morocco there isn’t a specific dress code however when visiting religious sites foreign and local women are often required to cover their knees and shoulders. Packing loose pants, long dresses and long-sleeved shirts are good options for these moments. 

We travelled just after the winter months so whilst the sun was hot, it was chilly at night and in the shade. Hence having some warm layers were key on our trip and having a light fleece was much needed. However, Morocco can experience extreme heat and high humidity during the summer months so breathable clothing is key. Comfortable footwear is also a great idea as you will probably do a lot of walking around the big city of Marrakech.

So what clothes did I pack?

• 2x long trousers (both were linen and I LOVED these)
• 2x long-sleeved shirts (so handy)
• 3x basic tops (classics and they roll up super thin)
• 1x cardigan (I got a lot of use out of this)
• 1x jeans (I did have to wear these as the last day was wet and cold)
• 1x short-sleeved t-shirt (always handy to have)
• 1x flowy pants (ended up wearing the linen trousers instead of these)
• 1x long skirts (I didn’t even take this out of the case)
• 1x nice top (again, didn’t use this one)
• 1x swimsuit & coverup (I was hoping we’d be able to use the hotel pool but it was a bit early in the year)

And then I wore leggings, a hoody and a leather jacket to travel in.

Obviously I also packed the essential personal items (eg, underwear) too plus a microfibre towel incase we did have a pool day. We didn’t but this did come in handy on our day trip to the high atlas mountains.

In terms of shoes, I travelled in a pair of basic trainers and then packed a pair of slides and comfortable walking shoes for a Ouzoud Waterfall hike we had booked.

Did I wear it all?

Hell no! I don’t know about anyone else but I tend to hyper fixate on one outfit I love during a trip and have to work hard to not just wear that every single day.

On this trip the MVP was my black linen trousers – I’m literally wearing them as I write this on the plane home. They fit perfectly, kept me warm but were still flowy so not too warm and super comfy walking through the streets.

If I was to do this trip again, there are multiple pieces I wouldn’t even bother packing. And if I found I was missing something, the market stalls were full of cute clothes at a good price so I would just buy it there.

Did you travel carry-on only?

No. But I 100% could’ve done!

We had one checked bag to share on this trip as my sister is way more of a fashionista than I am and likes having multiple outfit options.

As mentioned earlier on, I would happily wear the same outfit over and over again so I think I could’ve definitely done this trip as carry-on only. Maybe even personal item only if I’d been super strategic with packing cubes.

Did you have to cover your hair?

As a non-muslim travelling to a muslim country I was aware that I may have to cover my hair when entering certain places. I didn’t end up having to do this as we didn’t actually enter any religious places.

However, if we did need to do this we saw plenty of scarfs being sold in the medina for just 10DH each. This is around 80p so insanely affordable and would make a good souvenir. You could also come prepared by packing a lightweight scarf to throw into your bag each day.

What are your must-have recommendations?

This will not come as a surprise but I would highly recommend packing a pair of linen trousers. These were genuinely the best thing I packed and came in super handy.

Plus, if you are travelling in the off or shoulder season, it does get chilly in the evenings so I would recommend having a hoody or jumper with you. We did have one wet day where we needed coats so maybe throw in a light waterproof too.

Packing layered clothing is the key to travelling to a country like Morocco where the weather and the modesty requirements can change fast. For instance, a light shirt was a great addition to any outfit. It meant you could cover your shoulders when needed but also take it off when it got too hot.

Hope you found my Marrakech packing list helpful! Have you ever been to Marrakech before? What was the best thing you packed?

Find more Morocco travel tips & recommendations here:

• The Frugal Explorer’s Ultimate Marrakech Travel Guide
• Is The Central House Marrakech Medina Worth It?
• 5 Nights in Marrakech – How Much Did We Actually Spend?