Best time to visit Morocco

• Spring (March-May): the best all-rounder. In Marrakech, average highs in April are around 26 °C (79 °F) with lows of 12 °C (54 °F). The north is green after the winter rains.
• Summer (June-August): very hot inland and in the south. In July, Marrakech averages highs of 38 °C (100 °F) and Errachidia, on the edge of the desert, 40 °C (104 °F). The Atlantic coast stays at 26-30 °C (79-86 °F).
• Autumn (September-November): the other great season. October is pleasant across the country; in November the rain returns to the north.
• Winter (December-February): mild days in Marrakech (around 19-20 °C, 66-68 °F) and cold nights, averaging 2-4 °C (36-39 °F) in the south. Snow on the Atlas peaks and rain in the north.

Winter is a popular time for Morocco tours, especially over Christmas and New Year, and it works well if you pack for it. Days are sunny and mild in Marrakech (average highs of 19-20 °C), but nights are cold: average lows of 6-7 °C in Marrakech and 2-4 °C in Errachidia and the desert. The Atlas peaks are usually snow-capped.

The north is the wettest part of the country in winter, so if Chefchaouen and Tangier are on your list, bring a rain jacket. The upside: fewer crowds in the medinas and clear desert skies.

Fes, Meknes, Rabat and Marrakech are best explored in spring and autumn, when walking the medinas isn’t a battle with the heat.

• Fes and Meknes, inland: hot summers (average July highs of 35 °C in Fes) and cool, wet winters, with January lows around 4 °C.
• Rabat, on the Atlantic: milder all year round.
• Marrakech: dry, with sunny winter days, cold nights and very hot summers.

To see them all, browse our imperial cities tours or the 7-day tour from Fes.

In winter the High Atlas peaks are covered in snow, and mountain passes can be affected. It’s beautiful, but cold: in Ouarzazate, just south of the Atlas, average January lows are around 2 °C.

In spring the valleys are green and full of water; in autumn the weather is settled. In summer the Atlas is a welcome break from the heat of Marrakech.

Go for a day on our day trip from Marrakech to the Ourika Valley or the Middle Atlas day trip from Fes, or cross the mountains on the 3-day Marrakech to Fes tour.

Ramadan is the Muslim month of fasting. It follows the lunar calendar, so it starts about 10 or 11 days earlier each year: check the dates for your year before you book.

Travelling during Ramadan is perfectly possible. During the day many local cafés and restaurants close or shorten their hours and life slows down; at sunset the fast is broken and the streets fill up. Out of respect, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in the street during the day.

Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, and about two months later comes Eid al-Adha. Both move each year. They’re family holidays: roads are busy and some shops close for a few days.