At a glance
| Month | Day / night °C | Crowds | Prices | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18 / 6 | Low (after 6 Jan) | Lowest | Cold nights, sunny days, empty sights. Good value. |
| February | 20 / 7 | Low–medium | Low | Almond blossom in the Atlas. Ramadan from mid-month in 2026. |
| March | 23 / 9 | Medium–high | Medium | Spring, gardens green, Ouzoud at full flow. Ramadan until ~19 March 2026. |
| April | 26 / 11 | High | High | Best month with October. Easter is packed. |
| May | 29 / 14 | Medium | Medium | Warm, long days, roses in the Dadès. Very good. |
| June | 34 / 18 | Low–medium | Low | Hot but dry; early June is a bargain. Swimming at Ouzoud starts. |
| July | 38 / 21 | Low (foreign), high (domestic) | Low | Too hot for most. Siesta rhythm essential. |
| August | 38 / 21 | Medium (Moroccan holidays) | Low–medium | Hottest, busiest with domestic tourists. Essaouira instead. |
| September | 33 / 18 | Low–medium | Low–medium | Still hot in the first half; second half is pleasant and quiet. |
| October | 28 / 14 | High | High | Best month. Warm, clear, everything open. Book early. |
| November | 23 / 10 | Medium | Medium | Mild, occasional rain, fewer crowds than October. Underrated. |
| December | 19 / 7 | Medium, then very high | Medium, then peak | Pleasant until the 20th; Christmas–New Year is the most expensive week of the year. |
Temperatures are typical afternoon highs and night lows; records go higher (47°C in August 2023) and lower. Checked October 2026.
Month by month, in detail
October – November: the best
Summer heat gone, no rain to speak of, 25–28°C afternoons. Every sight is open on full hours, the gardens have recovered, and day trips to the Atlas are at their best. The downside is everyone knows it: Majorelle slots for weekends go a week or more ahead, riads charge peak rates, and the last week of October (European autumn half-term) is the busiest non-holiday week of the year. November is the same weather with 30% fewer people.
December – February: the quiet winter
Sunny days of 17–20°C that feel warm in the sun and cold in the shade; nights of 5–8°C that feel colder in a riad with a stone floor. Pack a jacket. The 20th of December to the 6th of January is peak season with prices to match. After that, January and early February are the quietest weeks of the year: empty palaces, Majorelle bookable for the next day, riad rates half of October. Rain comes in short spells, maybe 3–4 wet days a month. Snow on the Atlas from the Badi terrace is the winter bonus.
March – May: spring
March warms fast; by April it is 25°C and the city is in full swing. Easter is the second-busiest period after Christmas. May is excellent and slightly overlooked: 29°C, long evenings, the first swimmers at Ouzoud, fewer tour groups than April. Ouzoud has the most water in March–April after the snowmelt.
June – September: the heat
June starts at 32°C and ends at 36. July and August are 38–42 in the afternoon, with nights around 21. The city does not stop; it changes rhythm: things happen before 11 and after 18, and the middle of the day is for the riad pool, the YSL Museum's air conditioning, or a hammam. Prices are the lowest of the year for riads. The Medina is quieter with foreigners but busy with Moroccan families, especially in August. September cools from mid-month and the second half is a good, cheap time to come.
Ramadan and holidays
Ramadan dates: about 17 February to 19 March in 2026, about 6 February to 8 March in 2027 (dates depend on the moon; each year starts ~11 days earlier). Eid al-Fitr follows immediately with 2–3 days of closures.
- What changes in Ramadan: monuments close 1–2 hours earlier (Majorelle around 17:00, palaces around 16:00, Jardin Secret 16:30). Many local cafés and restaurants close in the daytime; tourist restaurants and riads serve as normal. Alcohol is restricted in some places. Evenings after iftar are lively and the square is wonderful at 22:00.
- Eid al-Adha (about 27 May 2026, 16 May 2027): 2–3 days when most shops and many restaurants close and the city empties out to families. Monuments mostly stay open.
- Moroccan public holidays (1 January, 11 January, 1 May, 30 July, 14 and 20–21 August, 6 and 18 November) bring domestic visitors and busy sights, but nothing closes.
- European school holidays are what actually fill Marrakech: Christmas, February half-term, Easter, late October, and French holidays in general. If you can travel outside them, you will notice.
When to book what
| Item | Peak (Oct–Apr, holidays) | Low season |
|---|---|---|
| Jardin Majorelle | 1–2 weeks ahead for a morning slot | 1–2 days ahead |
| YSL Museum | A few days ahead | Same day |
| Riads (good ones) | 1–3 months ahead | 1–2 weeks ahead |
| Day trips, Agafay | 2–5 days ahead (weekends fill) | Day before |
| Hammam (tourist) | 1–2 days ahead | Same day |
| Palaces, medersa, Jardin Secret | Never; pay at the gate | |
Planning the days themselves? See the 2-day and 3-day itineraries.
When to visit Marrakech: frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Marrakech?
October and April, then March and November. Warm days (22–27°C), cool nights, everything open, no extreme heat. October is slightly busier because of the autumn holidays; April has the gardens at their best. Both need Majorelle booked a week ahead.
Is Marrakech too hot in summer?
July and August regularly hit 38–42°C in the afternoon. It is doable if you follow the locals: out at 7:00, inside or in a pool from 12:00 to 17:00, out again until midnight. Prices drop and the city is emptier. Not the time for a first visit if you can choose.
What is Marrakech like in winter?
December to February: sunny days of 17–20°C, nights at 5–8°C, occasional rain. Riads are cold at night (ask about heating). Christmas and New Year are peak season with peak prices; January and early February are the quietest, cheapest weeks of the year.
Should I avoid Marrakech during Ramadan?
No, but know what changes: monuments close 1–2 hours earlier, many Medina restaurants close until sunset, alcohol is harder to find, and the city comes alive after dark in a way it never does otherwise. Tourist restaurants and riads serve lunch as usual. Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year; in 2026 it runs mid-February to mid-March, in 2027 early February to early March.
When is Marrakech least crowded?
Mid-January to mid-February, the first half of June, and mid-September. Majorelle still needs booking, but you will get the slot you want. Avoid the Easter weeks, the last week of October, Christmas to 6 January, and any Moroccan public holiday weekend.
