Best Time to Visit Marrakech

Short answer: March to May, and late September to November. Days are warm, evenings are cool, and walking the medina is a pleasure rather than an endurance test.

Spring is the favourite. The orange trees in the riad courtyards blossom, the gardens are at their greenest, and the High Atlas still has snow on its peaks, so the view from the rooftops is at its best. Easter and European school holidays bring crowds and higher riad prices, so book early for those weeks.

Autumn is almost as pleasant, and the light is softer. October in particular is ideal for mountain walks around Imlil, before the first snow closes the higher trails.

Summer is hard work. From June to August daytime temperatures in Marrakech regularly pass 38°C and sometimes much more. The city slows right down between noon and five. If summer is your only option, choose a riad with a plunge pool, sightsee at dawn, and spend a day in the cooler air of the Ourika valley or the mountains.

Winter, from December to February, is sunny and mild at midday, often around 18 to 20°C, but nights are cold, and riads with tiled floors and open courtyards feel colder still. Ask whether your room has heating. Christmas and New Year are busy and expensive.

Ramadan and festivals

Ramadan follows the lunar calendar and moves about 11 days earlier each year, so check the dates when you book. It's a fine time to visit if you plan around it: sights stay open, the day is quieter, and the evenings are festive. Eid al-Fitr, which marks its end, and Eid al-Adha, about two months later, are family holidays, and many shops close for a day or two.

The Marrakech Popular Arts Festival, with folk music and dance from across Morocco, usually takes place in early summer, and the Marrakech International Film Festival in late autumn or early winter. Check this year's dates on their official sites. Our what to wear guide covers the clothes each season needs, and the Atlas day trip guide explains which months suit which valleys.